A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume I, Part 46

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1262

USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume I > Part 46

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The Euclid Avenue Church of Christ was organized October 7, 1843. Our church in the village of Euclid, organized in 1830, had members living in the neighborhood of Doan's Corners, and these arranged for a meeting to be held in a maple grove on Doan brook, near where Euclid avenue now crosses it. This meeting was held July 4th, and the ministers who attended it were Jonas Hartzell, Matthew Clapp, Dr. J. P. Robinson, William Hayden, A. S. Hayden, William Collins, and Lathrop Cooley. Jonas Hartzell was the chief speaker. There were about thirty conversions.

On August 7, 1843, a petition was presented to the Euclid church, signed by seventeen persons, requesting a formal dismissal that they might organize a church at Doan's Corners. The request being granted, a meeting of conference was held September 4th at the residence of Colonel Gardner. Formal organi- zation was made at his residence October 7, 1843, when twenty-eight persons were enrolled as members, and elders and deacons were chosen. The house in which the organization was formed still stands but slightly changed. It is No. 731 Ansel avenue, near Doan street. Of the twenty-eight charter mem- bers, Mrs. Ruth D. Willard is the only one still remaining upon our church roll. Many changes have taken place in these fifty-five years. -

Meetings were first held in private houses and in the old stone schoolhouse when not used by others. There were in those days but few settled pastors. Our ministers were evangelists, holding meetings everywhere, and visiting the churches at stated times. Matthew S. Clapp, living at Mentor, visited this newly organized church twice a month during the year 1844. Ezra B. Violl, living at Willoughby, visited it once a month during 1845, and William Hayden, living in Geauga county, came whenever his other engagements would permit. Dur- ing the year 1846 he came regularly twice a month. It seems that during 1847

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and 1848 no definite arrangement was made with any one for regular preaching services, but occasional visits were made by Almon P. Green, William Collins, J. P. Robinson, William Hayden, A. S. Hayden, M. S. Clapp, William Lilly, Lathrop Cooley and others.

In 1848 permission was granted to the church to erect a building on the public grounds of the village. These grounds are on the north side of Euclid avenue, between Doan and Republic streets. Building was begun in the sum- mer of 1848, but the chapel was not ready for use until April, 1849. It was a frame structure, twenty-eight by forty-two feet, and cost about one thousand one hundred dollars.

In 1809 a modern church complete in all its appointments and seating a thousand people was completed on the southwest corner of Euclid avenue and One Hundredth streets. The pastor, Rev. J. H. Goldner, has been the leader of this great movement for eleven years.

The thirteen Disciple churches of Cleveland are formed into a union for church extension, and have accomplished much aggressive work in planting churches in needy parts of the city. There are more than five thousand church members and a large Sunday school enrollment. A feature of the Disciple or- ganization is the Bible study development to secure trained teachers for the Sunday school.

In 1909 the United Presbyterians numbered five churches with five pastors, with a vigorous membership and a fine property.

In 1843 the first United Presbyterian church was organized, mostly of Scotch people, and built a church on Erie street, near Bolivar street. From Horatio Ford's diary, he says: "The Presbyterian church in East Cleveland was built in 1846, by many small contributions. People gave labor, lumber and stone proceeds from the sale of farm products. Not a man in East Cleveland had a bank account."

LUTHERAN.

In 1843 several Lutheran families withdrew from the congregation of the "Schifflein Christi" and organized the Evangelical Lutheran Zion church. A church was built by this congregation on the corner of Erie and Bolivar streets. From this mother church have developed nearly all the evangelical Lutheran congregations of the city. David Schuh was the first pastor and served one year, succeeded by August Schmidt. Dr. H. C. Schwan was called to the pas- torate in 1851, and to his wisdom and zeal the church owes, in large measure, its prosperity. In 1902 it began a splendid new church building.

Evangelical Lutheran Trinity church was organized in 1853, the first Ger- man congregation on the west side. Rev. J. C. W. Linderman was the first pas- tor.

The English Evangelical Lutheran Emmanuel church was organized in 1880, St. John's church in 1878, Christ church in 1889, St. Luke's in 1895, St. Mat- thew's in 1884, St. Paul's in 1873, and St. Peter's in 1883.

Euclid Avenue Baptist Church

Rev. S. C. Aiken

Rov. Lewis Burton

Rev. W. H. Goodrich

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CHURCHES.

In 1853 the First Evangelical Protestant church was organized on the west side under the name of the "United German Evangelical Protestant Church of the West Side." The corner stone of its first church was laid November 28, 1853. The building stood on Kentucky street. Phillip Stempel, a learned man, driven from the fatherland by the revolutions of that period, was pastor. He served the church until 1875.

In 1858, St. Paul's church was organized, the first house of worship standing on the corner of Scovill avenue and Greenwood street, by Rev. M. Steinert.

Zion church was organized in 1867 by Pastor Bauer. Its first church stood on the corner of Tremont and College streets.

INDEPENDENT LUTHERAN CHURCHES.

The first German church formed in Cleveland was the congregation of "Zum Schifflein Christi," The Ship of Christ. It was organized in April, 1835, and built its first church on the corner of Hamilton and Erie streets in 1842. It pros- pered, and in 1875 built a large church on Superior street.

In 1875 the Case Avenue Independent Lutheran church was organized, and in 1879 the Independent Protestant Evangelical church, on Harbor street.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL REFORMED CHURCHES.

In 1848 a small chapel was erected on Tracy street, where a number of German families gathered weekly for prayer meetings. They had no regular pastor, and called themselves "Brüder Gemeinde"-Brethren Congregation. In 1858 it was incorporated and the following year Dr. H. J. Ruetenik was chosen pastor. Soon thereafter, a new church was built on the corner of Penn and Carroll streets.

This mother church has aided in the establishing of nine Reformed churches. The Second church was organized in 1864, the Eighth Reformed church in 1886.

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.

The oldest church of this denomination in Cleveland is the Salem church on Linden street. It was organized in 1841 as a mission. In 1854, Superior Street church was founded, and in 1863, the Jennings Avenue church. These have multiplied into prosperous churches.

In 1876 Cleveland was chosen as headquarters for the denomination and its extensive publishing house was erected on Woodland avenue. Since that date, many of its leading ministers have made Cleveland their home. Among these, none is more revered and influential than Bishop Wm. Horn, whose literary attainments have brought him wide recognition.

GERMAN BAPTIST.

The First German Baptist church was organized in 1866 and built their church on the corner of Front and Scovill avenue. The Second church was organ-

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ized in 1877, and this edifice built on Case avenue and Kelly street. The Pub- lishing house of the denomination was brought to Cleveland in 1877, and its denominational literature has been printed here since that date.

GERMAN METHODIST.

The first German Methodist church was organized as a mission in 1846 and built a church on Prospect street, near Miami street ; this church, now called the Bethany church, has been the mother of three other congregations and sev- eral missions.

UNITARIAN.

The church of the Unity dedicated its first house of worship on Prospect street near Erie, on October 17, 1880. Previous to this time the congregation had worshiped in various halls; in Case hall in the '6os, when Rev. T. B. For- bush was the pastor; in the '70s in Weisgerber's hall. Rev. F. L. Hosmer was called to the church in 1878 and remained until 1892, building up a notable congregation. But the beginnings of Unitarianism in Cleveland antedate these events. As early as 1836, Rev. Geo. W. Hosmer, then of Buffalo, later President of Antioch College, visited the Unitarian families in Cleveland, who had come here from New England. Other clergymen preached here occasionally and in 1854 through the efforts of Chas. Bradburn, Rev. A. D. Mayo of Massachusetts, began a pastorate, that was of only one year's duration, but of large interest and influence throughout the state. In 1904 the congregation occupied its new church on Euclid avenue and Genesee (East Eighty-third) street, where, under the leadership of Rev. Minot O. Simons, its influence is constantly widening.

It will be seen by the foregoing records and tables, that nearly all the Pro- testant denominations are represented among the Cleveland churches. The older denominations with their strong organizations leading in numbers and in- fluence, and increasing rapidly. But some of the best work done is by de- nominations which are represented by but one or two organizations, such as the Free Baptists, the Dutch Reformed, the Reformed Episcopal, the Wesleyan Methodists, and the Friends. As is usual the great stream runs along the ortho- dox lines, but such churches as the Unity church on Euclid avenue which stands for intelligent liberalism with its cultured and public-spirited pastor is a large and helpful influence in the life and thought of the city. The Salvation Army with its eight corps, reach certain discouraged classes of the community for uplift and reform. The Christian Scientists, though a recent development, have three churches with a fine property, and an increasing constituency.

From these various churches go the interest and enthusiasm which sustains Cleveland's multiform charities, and public institutions. In more recent times, these varied denominations cooperate for evangelistic services of a general char- acter. Each month the ministers of all denominations meet in an association to discuss the general ethical and religious problems of the city. The antagon- isms of former days are now unknown among the representatives of these various branches of the Christian church of Cleveland. The exchange of pul- pits among the pastors is a common incident. Groups of churches of different orders unite for Thanksgiving services and evening services in the parks, during

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the summer. And in the Young Women's and Young Men's Christian Associa- tions is found a common ground for human service. Ministers of a dozen de- nominations unite in clubs to discuss theological questions, and all are satisfied that "God fulfils himself in many ways, lest one good custom should corrupt the world."

CHAPTER XL.

CATHOLICITY IN CLEVELAND.

BY THE RIGHT REV. MONSIGNOR GEORGE F. HOUCK.

(1826-1909).

Full thirty years elapsed after Moses Cleaveland landed on the banks of the Cuyahoga, before any Catholics settled in the territory now covered by Ohio's metropolis. Their advent dates back to 1826, when many Catholic Irish were induced to come hither to work on the construction of the Ohio canal, ground for which had been broken on July 4, 1825, in Cleveland, then numbering about five hundred inhabitants. The influx of Catholic laborers doubled this number within a year.

The Right Rev. Edward Fenwick, first bishop of Cincinnati, was informed that many of his flock were located at Cleveland, and along the canal as far as Akron, and that they were without the ministrations of a priest. Accordingly he directed the Dominican fathers, stationed in Perry county, Ohio, to send a priest to Cleveland, whose duty it should be to visit them at stated times and attend to their spiritual wants. The Rev. Thomas Martin, a member of the Dominican order, was sent in compliance with the bishop's direction, his first visit being made during the autumn of 1826. Later on he was succeeded by the Very Rev. Stephen T. Badin (the first priest ordained in the United States), who came at irregular intervals. There is no record of any other priests having come to Cleveland, until the advent of the Rev. John Dillon, who was sent here by Bishop Purcell in the early part of 1835, as the first resident pastor. He as his predecessors, said mass in private houses, as there was no other place to be had then. However, shortly after his arrival he succeeded in securing a large room, thirty by forty feet, known as Shakespeare hall. It was in the upper story of the Merwin building, located at the foot of Superior street, near the present Atwater block. This hall he fitted up as a temporary place of wor- ship, as best he could with the limited means at his disposal, and in it said mass for a short time.

Among the frequent attendants at the Catholic services held in this hall were several Protestant gentlemen. They were attracted by the eloquence of Father Dillon, for whom they had conceived a great regard and admiration, because of his talent and amiability. One of these gentlemen was the Hon. Harvey Rice, who died in 1891, and was one of Cleveland's most distinguished

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citizens. He settled in Cleveland in 1824, two years before a Catholic priest or layman had come. He was, therefore, a living witness to the wonderful growth of Catholicity in Cleveland, and to him the writer is greatly indebted for much of the information here given in connection with the early history of the Catholic church in this city. Of Father Dillon he said, that he was a culti- vated and scholarly gentlemen, polished in manner and an eloquent preacher ; that his zeal was limited only by his physical ability, and that he was truly a father to his spiritual children.

The Hon. Truman P. Handy, one of our honored citizens, was also person- ally acquainted with the Rev. Dillon and held him in high esteem.

When Father Dillon came to Cleveland, he found the Catholics very few in numbers and very poor as to worldly possessions. Added to this he also unfortunately found much intemperance, and very little regard for the sacred- ness of the Sunday, but he set manfully to work to correct these evils and to elevate the moral and social condition of his poor and despised charge.

The next place in which Father Dillon held public services in Cleveland, was in a one story frame cottage, on the west side of Erie street (now East Ninth street), near Prospect avenue. The building is still standing on the old site. In it there were several rooms, the largest serving as a "church," the others as the pastoral residence. A few months later Father Dillon secured Mechanics' hall, in Farmers' block, at the corner of Prospect avenue and On- tario street, and transformed it into a temporary church. He continued, how- ever, to reside in the house above mentioned, till his death.

Father Dillon had tired of halls as makeshifts for a church. Besides, the growing number of Catholics made such inconveniently small for their ac- commodation. But the people were too poor to build a church. He therefore sought help elsewhere and obtained much from kind and generous Protes- tants. He also went, among other places, to New York city, where his elo- quent appeals for assistance resulted in his returning with about one thousand dollars for the proposed church. But shortly after his return to Cleveland, he fell a victim to bilious fever, and died October 16, 1836, at the age of twenty- nine years-a little more than two years after his ordination to the priest- hood. His death was a severe blow to his little flock, and was lamented by all. The Cleveland Advertiser, a secular paper, in its issue of October 20, 1836, said of him: "The death of Father Dillon will be deeply felt by his bereaved and afflicted church. He was one of the first of our clergy in point of talent and piety, and though he labored in obscurity, yet he labored faithfully and well." His remains were interred in the Erie street cemetery, but a short dis- tance from the place in which he had resided and died. Eleven months the Catholics of Cleveland were without a resident pastor. The Rev. H. D. Junc- ker came occasionally from Canton, where he was stationed between 1836 and 1837. In September, 1837, the Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer, a recent arrival from Quebec, was sent as Father Dillon's successor. His pastoral residence was a small frame cottage, located at the corner of Superior and Muirson streets. During his pastorate, he said mass in the third story of the Farmers' block, above mentioned.

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

October 24, 1837, Messrs. James S. Clark, Richard Hilliard and Edmund Clark, conveyed by land contract to the Right Rev. John B. Purcell, bishop of Cincinnati, "in trust for the Roman Catholic society of Our Lady of the Lake, of said Cleveland, the following piece or parcel of land, to-wit: Lots numbered 218 and 219 (corner Columbus and Girard streets), in the plat of Cleveland centre," subject to the following conditions: "Provided always, and these are on the express condition, that said society shall within and during the space of four months from the date of this agreement, erect, build, finish and complete outwardly a respectable and suitable frame house or church building for public worship, and commence regularly holding their meetings therein; to have and to hold the above premises with the appurtenances thereof so long as the same shall be occupied as aforesaid, and so much longer as said church shall own and occupy regularly a respectable lot and house for public worship upon the plat at Cleveland centre." A deed was executed by the above named gentlemen on November 21, 1842, covering the land contract.

Father O'Dwyer at once set to work to increase the building fund secured by the lamented Father Dillon, and to begin the much needed and long looked- for church. In a few months the building was erected on the above mentioned lots, but could not be completed for lack of means. Meanwhile also, Father O'Dwyer left Cleveland, about June, 1839. The church stood unfinished for months, till Bishop Purcell, coming to Cleveland during September of the same year, and remaining for three weeks, had it so far pushed towards comple- tion that mass was said in it for the first time in October, 1839. During his stay in Cleveland at this time the bishop also prepared a class of children for first communion, which was administered to them in the new church by Father Henni, who had come from Cincinnati to assist the bishop.

Although the Catholics of Cleveland now had a church, they were with- out a resident pastor from the time Father O'Dwyer left. Meanwhile, however, through the exertion of the laity the church was plastered and properly provided with the necessary outfit, and all were anxiously awaiting its dedication and the appointment of a shepherd for the shepherdless flock.

The former expectation was realized on Sunday, June 7, 1840, when the solemn and impressive dedicatory ceremonies were performed by the Right Rev. Doctor de Forbin-Janson, bishop of Toule-Nancy, France, then on a visit to the United States. The Right Rev. Bishop Purcell assisted at the ceremony and preached an eloquent and appropriate discourse on the occasion. The frame building, fifty-three by eighty-one feet, had four well wrought Doric columns and was neatly plastered and pewed. The cost of the building, ex- clusive of furniture, was about three thousand dollars.

The church was dedicated to "Our Lady of the Lake," but by popular usage the name was soon changed to St. Mary's on the "Flats," that part of the city being so called. The church served as a house of God for all the Catholics of Cleveland till 1852.

In October, 1840, the Rev. Peter Mclaughlin was appointed Father O'Dwyer's successor. He received a most cordial welcome from the Catholics of Cleveland, who had been without a resident pastor for nearly a year, de- pending solely on occasional visits of priests from Cincinnati and Dayton. The

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pastorate of Cleveland's Catholics was Father Mclaughlin's first appointment, he having been ordained by Bishop Purcell only a few weeks previous. He was a man of much energy and an eloquent preacher. Being also conversant to some extent with the German language, he satisfied the wants of his "mixed" congregation, many of the members having come from Germany. Under his direction the new church was entirely finished, a choir was organized and a reed organ secured.

With a sharp, keen eye to the future growth of Catholicity in Cleveland, and with a view to locating a church in the upper and better portion of the city, and more conveniently situated for his congregation, Father Mclaughlin purchased from Thomas May four lots, fronting Superior and Erie streets, the site of the present cathedral. The lots were secured by land contract, dated January 22, 1845; the purchase price was four thousand dollars. The lots were bought on Father Mclaughlin's responsibility, transferred to and assumed by Bishop Purcell, October 15, 1845. Father Mclaughlin was much blamed by some of his parishioners for buying lots "in the country." Erie street was at that time the east boundary of the built up portion of the city.

The purchase of these lots was the beginning of an unkind feeling towards Father McLaughlin. Finding that he could no longer profitably serve their spiritual interests, he asked his bishop to relieve him from the pastorate of St. Mary's. His request was granted, and to the grief of the greater portion of his congregation, and to the sorrow of all the Protestant citizens of Cleveland, who learned to respect him for his ability and honesty of purpose, he left in February, 1846, after nearly six years of faithful and disinterested work among his people. A few days before his departure the Rev. Maurice Howard ar- rived as his successor.

Besides attending to St. Mary's congregation, Cleveland, Father Howard had charge of missions in Lake, Lorain and Geauga counties, which had been attended by Father Mclaughlin. He had as his assistant for some months the Rev. Michael A. Byrne, who had also shared Father Mclaughlin's labor a short time. During his pastorate the diocese of Cleveland was erected, and the Rt. Rev. Amad- eus Rappe consecrated bishop thereof, October 10, 1847.

Bishop Rappe saw the pressing need of better and more ample church facili- ties for the rapidly increasing number of Catholics of his Episcopal city, the church on the "Flats" having become much too small to accommodate them. Be- sides, the Germans were clamoring for sermons in their native tongue. The bishop secured the aid of the Sanguinist Fathers from Thompson, Seneca county, the Revs. Mathias Kreusch and Jacob Ringeli, to minister to the Germans, who now received separate services in old St. Mary's.

October 23, 1848, the bishop purchased from Thomas May, five lots adjoining those secured some years previous by Father Mclaughlin. On one of these lots, immediately east of the present cathedral and on the site of the Episcopal resi- dence, he had a temporary frame structure erected, known as the church of the Nativity. Mass was celebrated in it for the first time on Christmas, 1848. The building served as a "chapel of ease" to St. Mary's on the Flats, till the completion of the present cathedral, November, 1852.

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Old St. Mary's Church, first Catholic church in Cleveland. built, 1838

ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL

Bishop Richard Gilmour

Bishop Louis Rappe

Bishop Ignatius Horstmann

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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND

January, 1848, the Rev. Louis de Goesbriand succeeded Father Howard in the pastorate of St. Mary's, and was also appointed the vicar general of Bishop Rappe, retaining the latter position till his consecration as bishop of Burlington, October, 1853. Father de Goesbriand was assisted during the time of his pastorate of Cleveland's first and only congregation by the Rev. James Conlan, and occasionally by the above named Sanguinist fathers.

From October, 1847, till November 7, 1852, St. Mary's church on the Flats, as yet the only Catholic church in Cleveland, served as the first cathedral of the diocese. On last mentioned date the present cathedral, corner of Superior and Erie streets, was finished and consecrated. St. Mary's was then assigned to the Germans who were placed under the pastoral care of the above mentioned San- guinist fathers and the Rev. N. Roupp, till the advent of the Rev. John H. Luhr, February, 1853. He was appointed their first resident pastor. As the Catholic Germans lived too widely separated to make St. Mary's conveniently located for all, Father Luhr's proposition, to have those living east of the river organize as a distinct congregation, was approved by Bishop Rappe, who author- ized them to purchase a site for church purposes at the corner of Superior and Dodge streets. This was the beginning of St. Peter's congregation.

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A history of Cleveland, Ohio, Volume I, Part 46

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1262

Author: Orth, Samuel Peter, 1873-1922; Clarke, S.J., publishing company
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago-Cleveland : The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1262