USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland, (Vol. 1) > Part 54
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The vigor with which the new bishop expressed his temperance senti- ments in the days when the cause had made so little progress illustrates the character of the man. Bishop Rappe was a real democrat and in that character a model pioneer. In his first pastoral letter he says to the clergy, from whose ranks he had been elevated: "It is indeed consoling, venerable brethren of the clergy, that in discharging the functions of a ministry so sublime and perilous, I will be seconded by your devotion, your talents, your virtues and your experience. For several years I have fought in your ranks, shared your toils, admired your zeal and witnessed with joy the success that crowned your efforts. It was then one of my greatest pleasures while associated with you in the ministry to call you friends, and now placed at your head, as the first sentinel of the camp of Israel, I desire more than ever to be regarded as your friend and father, rather than your superior."
It would be a history of achievement to follow the twenty-three years of his work as bishop of the Cleveland diocese. He was a truly great man but like all in authority he had his troubles and these led to his resignation in 1870. In brief, he was charged with favoring the French and German speaking priests over the Irish, and, finally, charges against his character were taken to Rome. These charges he declared to be false but believing that another course would bring injury to the church, he resigned. The fact that his monument now adorns the church yard of the cathedral at East Ninth and Superior would indicate that the people of his diocese believed in him. As we have said, Bishop Rappe, when he assumed his duties as Bishop of Cleveland, took possession of St. Mary's Church on the Flats and made it his cathedral, but previous to that time, in 1845, Rev. Peter Mclaughlin, observing that the trend of the city was eastward, purchased, out in the woods, three lots from the heirs of the May estate. Father Mclaughlin had some plans drawn for a new cathedral on this site at the corner of the present Superior and East Ninth streets but when the building of the structure was actually in hand, Bishop Rappe secured new plans from New York which were followed in the construction. This, the second church building and first cathedral, designed as such, was begun in 1848 and occupied later and named St. John's Cathedral.
St. Mary's on the Flats was occupied after the removal of Bishop Rappe to the new cathedral by a German congregation known as St.
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Mary's of the Asumption. They remained until 1863, then it was the home of the French Catholics for two years. From 1865 to 1868 it was the meeting place of the St. Malachi Society, for two years after that the Bohemian Catholics, and from 1872 the Polish Catholics. This old building when the final service that we have referred to was held had had a varied history.
Rev. Louis De Goesbriand, who was later a bishop, was the first pastor at the new cathedral. Connected with the early history of that church may be mentioned Reverends Conlan, Mareshal, Canaher, Walsh, Hannin, Thorpe, Carrell and Gallagher. After the resignation of Bishop Rappe, Father Edward Hannin of Toledo was appointed administrator of the diocese until the installing of the new bishop.
Rt. Rev. Richard Gilmour, the second bishop of Cleveland, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and was born in 1824. His parents were Scotch Covenanters. The family emigrated to Pennsylvania. Here the son was converted to the Catholic faith. He was made a priest by Archbishop Purcell of Cincinnati, and after serving in various positions was on April 14, 1872, consecrated Bishop of Cleveland to succeed Bishop Rappe. He was a man of great force of character and as a promoter and defender of the parochial school system had a national reputation. Often attacked by the public press he founded the Catholic Universe and made it an organ of his church. Rev. T. P. Thorpe was its first editor and Manly Tello succeeded him. The bishop, although active in the dis- charge of the duties pertaining to his position in the church, did not become known to the general public for some time. His first appearance in public as a citizen was on the occasion of the mass meeting on the Public Square, called to give expression to the general sympathy aroused by the assassination of President Garfield. This meeting was held July 4, 1881, when the stricken President was at the point of death. The eloquent address on that occasion by the bishop gave him a prominent place in the citizenry of the growing city. He died in 1891 while holding his position as Bishop of Cleveland. He was a man given to charity and after thirty-nine years of hard work in this high position, he died without a cent-except (as given in a comprehensive biography published in the paper he had founded) "the arrears of his current year's salary, and without owning a foot of land, except his mother's grave."
The third Bishop of Cleveland was the Rt. Rev. Ignatius Horst- man, who was a native of Philadelphia. His parents were natives of Germany. He was installed in the cathedral March 9, 1892. In 1897 he celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Cleveland Diocese in a golden jubilee. This was held in St. John's Cathedral. Bishop Horstman's appointment was made by Pope Leo XIII. He was a diligent collector of books and works of art and his fine library of five thousand volumes he gave to the diocese of Cleveland. He died in office and his funeral was attended by two archbishops, eighteen bishops and over four hundred priests.
Rt. Rev. John P. Farrelly was the fourth bishop of the Cleve- land diocese, installed at St. John's Cathedral June 13, 1909. He was a native of Tennessee. He was a man of great scholarly attainments, and was secretary of the American College at Rome when appointed Bishop of Cleveland. It is said that he spoke Italian, French, Spanish, German, Greek and Latin fluently. He died in 1921 and was buried from St. John's Cathedral. The home that he occupied in Cleveland, on Ambler Parkway, Cleveland Heights, was the gift of the priests of his parish.
The fifth and present bishop is Rt. Rev. Joseph C. Schrembs, who assumed the duties of the office June 16, 1921. He presides over the
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tenth largest diocese in the United States, being exceeded only by New York, Chicago, Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Newark, Pittsburgh, Hart- ford and Detroit. His immediate official family consists of Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas C. O'Reilly, Episcopal delegate ; Rev. Patrick J. O'Connell, chan- cellor ; Rev. Carl E. Frey, bishop's secretary; and Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph F. Smith, vicar general. It would not be beyond the province of history to say of Bishop Schrembs that, though his work is not completed, in ability, eloquence, religious zeal and all that goes to make up a good bishop and a good citizen he is a fit successor to those who have gone before. The reader must remember that "history is never hysterical, never proceeds by catastrophes and cataclysms, and it is only by this that we can comprehend its higher meaning."
From St. John's, in the early '70s, fifteen Catholic parishes had been formed. Rev. F. M. Boff and Rev. T. P. Thorpe were pastors of the early day. The latter afterwards became a bishop. While pastor of St. John's, Father Thorpe renovated and beautified the interior and raised the spire 240 feet above the sidewalk. This building stands today, one of the old landmarks. It is of brick, Gothic in style, fronting seventy-eight feet on East Ninth Street and 175 feet on Superior Avenue.
We must mention a few of the early churches organized since St. Mary's and St. John's. St. Peter's, organized in 1853 for German speak- ing parishioners in various parts of the city ; schoolhouse, pastor's residence and chapel erected at the corner of Superior and Dodge (East Seven- teenth Street). Rt. Rev. Msgr. Nicholas Pfeil, rector at the present time. The church was built in 1859. The Convent, Sisters of Notre Dame, had its inception in the building of a schoolhouse in 1873. The convent was built in 1873. Revs. F. Westerholt and Thomas Litterst were early pastors. The first council consisted of John Kuhr, John M. Luew, Matthias Wagner and Frederick Twilling. Among the early pastors were Revs. James Ringell, Matthias Kreusch, Peter Kreusch, N. Roupp, J. H. Luhr and F. Westerholt. St. Mary's of the Assumption (German) organized in 1853, to whom Bishop Rappe gave the use of St. Mary's on the Flats when he removed his headquarters to St. John's, must be included. St. Peter's we have mentioned as having been organized the same year. St. Patrick's was organized in 1854 by Rev. James Conlon, who was its first pastor. For more than ten years this was the home of the English speaking Catholics of the West Side. The corner stone of its building on Bridge Street was laid by Archbishop Purcell in 1871, and the dedicatory sermon was preached by Bishop Gilmour, then of Dayton, Ohio. Rev. M. O'Callaghan followed Rev. James Conlan as pastor. The present pastor of this historic church is Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis T. Moran, who is treasurer general of the National Catholic Educational Association, but finds time in addition to his church and other official duties to take a part in the civil life of his city. He has been for some years an active member of the Cleveland Chamber of Industry.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception was organized as a mission in 1856 and a chapel was built at the corner of Superior and Lyman (East Forty-first) streets. At first services were held in a frame building at this locality by Revs. J. F. Solam, F. Sullivan and A. M. Martin. The first regular pastor was Rev. A. Sauvadet and among the early members were James Watson, O. M. Doran, Joseph Harkins, Thomas Mahar, Daniel and Dennis Mulcahy, Dennis Sheridan, James Crotty, Daniel Taylor, Thomas O'Rieley, Patrick Fennell and Andrew McNally. Rev. T. P. Thorpe succeeded to the pastorate in 1870, being appointed by Rev. E. Hannin, administrator of the diocese, and the corner stone of the church was laid. Rev. A. R. Sidley was an early pastor. The present pastor is
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Rev. George F. Murphy. St. Bridget's was an early church organized in 1857 by Bishop Rappe with twenty members. A small brick building was erected at the corner of Prospect and Perry. Reverends O'Connor, Martin, Quinn, Leigh, Monaghan, Kelley, McGuire, McMahon and others have been connected with the early history of this church.
St. Mary's of the Holy Rosary was organized in Newburgh in 1860. A stone church was built in 1863 when there were but thirty families represented in the organization. Among the early pastors were Revs. Francis Sullivan, J. Kuhn, John Daudet and J. F. Gallagher. St. Augus- tine's, on the Heights or South Side, was organized in the '60s. St. Joseph's (German) was organized in 1862 by Andrew Krasney and Kilian Schlosser of the Franciscan Fathers in America. Revs. Capistran Zwinge and Dominicus Drossler were early preachers. It was at first a German church and then Bohemian. St. Wenceslaus (Bohemian) was organized in 1867 and among its early pastors were Revs. A. Kresing, George Beranek, J. Revis and Anthony Hynek. A monastery was established in 1868 at Hazen and Chapel streets, which was advanced to a convent in 1877. St. Steven's was organized in 1869 by Rev. H. Falk, who was followed by Rev. C. Reichlin, St. Columbkill's was organized in 1870 by Father O'Reilley, but in 1872 it was attached to St. John's Cathedral by Bishop Gilmour. St. Malachi's, organized in 1865; the Church of the Holy Family, and Church of the Annunciation, in 1870; and St. Prokops (Bohemian), in 1872, are among the early churches organized in the city.
Since Father Dillon began his work eighty-six churches have been formed in Cleveland. There are many fine church buildings and schools, monasteries and convents. There are ten Polish Catholic churches, eight German, seven Slovak, three Slovenian, two Syrian, two colored, five Bohemian, four Italian, two Romanian, one Magyar, one Croatian, one Lithuanian and one Syro-Maronite.
In fixing the chronological order of the founding of Cleveland's early churches the Congregational churches seem to come next, but some authorities would put them earlier. So closely allied have they been with the Presbyterian Church that their distinctive character, although that of the Pilgrim fathers, has often been hidden by this alliance. Dr. Henry M. Ladd said of this his chosen denomination : "Congregationalism has been defined as sanctified common sense. Each church governs itself, but it does not stand alone; it stands for ecclesiastical democracy, pure and simple. It stands in the fellowship of a common masterhood, and a common brotherhood in the active and aggressive service of the Kingdom of Christ on earth. If Congregationalism had not so lavishly given itself away for the enrichment of other denominations, it would be stronger in itself today." Again he said: "Congregationalism, poorly understood and greatly undervalued in the course of time found its way to Cleveland. In the opening days of this closing century (this was written in 1896) a few Congregationalists from New England blazed their way westward through the forests and across the rivers, to what was then the far West, and settled within the present borders of this city. In those days the minds of men in New England were so holden that they could not see beyond the Hudson River, and Presbyterianism and Congregationalism went forth hand in hand, but the latter was led blindfolded. Those were the days of a rude genesis; and though too frequently the Presbyterian Lion lay down with the Congregational Lamb inside, nevertheless Con- gregationalism was there."
The Archwood Avenue Congregational Church is designated by some early annals as the oldest Congregational church in the city and yet it was organized July 25, 1819, by missionaries of the Presbyterian Church and
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for nearly fifty years was connected with the Cleveland Presbytery in a "plan of union." It is referred to in its early records as the Congregational Church of Brooklyn, was incorporated as "First Congregational Society of Brooklyn," and there is a record of the meeting of this society held in 1831. It was a "Presbigational" Church. In the '40s, the records show, a certain deacon was disciplined because he was seen coming from the direction of Brigg's tavern in a state of intoxication. A man and his wife were expelled from the church because they believed in universal salvation. A deacon was brought up for discipline because of using "very profane language." A resolution was offered in a meeting of the church and society in 1847 as follows: Resolved, that we will neither invite a slave-holder to our pulpit, nor welcome him to the communion table ; and that we will have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dark- ness, but rather reprove them. This resolution was debated and lost. The original membership of the church consisted of six persons. Just how large it had grown when this anti-slavery resolution was presented is not definitely known. Revs. William McLane, S. I. Bradstreet, B. B. Drake and Thomas Lee preached until 1840. Then came a lapse of services until Rev. B. Foltz became pastor. He was followed by Rev. Calvin Durfee. The pastorate of Rev. J. B. Allen extended from 1856 to 1867. Then came Revs. W. H. Rice, C. L. Hamlin, J. A. Bates, E. H. Votaw, J. W. Hargrave, J. M. Merrill and George H. Peeke. Reverend Har- grave was again pastor following Reverend Peeke. During his first pas- torate the present church building on Archwood was erected and the church home moved from Newburgh Street (Denison Avenue). The present pastor is Rev. Robert B. Blythe, whose pastorate is just about to close. The early officers include James Sears, Abel Hinckley and Hiram Welch, and among its members have been Dr. James Hedley and wife, O. L. Neff and wife, H. M. Farnsworth and wife, Dr. G. B. Farnsworth and wife, Alice ; Francis B. Cunningham and wife, Mrs. Mary L. Turner, C. Day, and Zula Wheelock, Dr. Lincoln Wheelock, J. A. Tousley, Mrs. Ellen J. and Fred W. Sears, Mrs. Ella C. Wheelock, Mrs. Daisy Witten- myer, George S. Kain and wife, and in one family, Mrs. Mary S., Ara- bella, George H., Wilfred, John F., Reginald, Winnifred and Samuel Singleton. There was Mrs. Nellie F. Laird, later Mrs. Mellon, who was at the head of the non-partisan Christian Temperance Union for some years. Mrs. Paul Kitzsteiner was president of the Ladies' Social Union, under the second pastorate of J. W. Hargrave. If space would permit it would be interesting to give more names of those who have been con- nected with this first church.
The present First Congregational Church was organized Dec. 21, 1834. Among the first members were Mrs. Ursula M. Taylor, Miss Cath- erine Taylor, Mrs. Lufkin, Mrs. Jane McGuire, Miss Ester Taft (Robin- son), Miss C. H. Buxton (Skinner). A temporary house of worship was erected in 1835. The first pastor was Rev. John Keep. It first adopted the Presbyterian name but was Congregational in form. Rev. J. D. Pickands succeeded Reverend Keep. In 1838 forty-four members withdrew to form a strictly Congregational church, and three years later the two churches united. After the reunion Rev. S. B. Canfield was called to the pastorate. He was followed by Rev. C. L. Watson, and he by Rev. James A. Thome, who remained for twenty years and more. Under the ministry of Rev. S. H. Lee three missions were established and placed in charge of Rev. S. B. Shipman. Rev. H. M. Tenney followed Mr. Lee in 1880 and during his ministry the present church building was begun and its completion and formal dedication in December of 1893 occurred during the ministry of Rev. James W. Malcolm. It is located
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at the corner of Franklin and West Forty-fifth Street. To be more exact, it was under the ministry of Rev. A. E. Thompson, who followed Rever- end Tenney, that the corner stone of the new auditorium was laid. Rever- end Malcolm obtained a wide reputation as a popular lecturer while serving as pastor of this church and his lectures and writings on Lincoln gave him a prominence in the public eye for many years. The present pastor is Rev. W. F. Kedzie.
The Euclid Avenue Congregational Church was organized Novem- ber 30, 1843, by Revs. S. C. Aiken and S. C. Cady. It was called the First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland. The original members were Cyrus Ford, Clarissa Ford, Horace Ford, Horatio Ford, Samuel Cozad, Hetty Ann Cozad, Elizabeth Walters, Edwin Cowles, Almena M. Cowles, Jonathan Bowles, Samuel F. Baldwin, Lydia Baldwin, Rhoda Clark, Cornelius Cookley, Harriet Cookley, Jarvis F. Hanks, Charlotte Hanks and Romelia L. Hanks. Cyrus Ford, Jarvis F. Hanks and Samuel W. Baldwin were the first elders. A large number of the first members, in fact all but one, were of the Congregational faith by birth and training. In 1852, on account of the attitude of the Presbyterian Church on the subject of slavery, this church withdrew and became independent and then Congregational. The early pastors in their order were Revs. Anthony McReynolds, C. L. Watson, C. W. Torrey, A. D. Barber, Albert M. Richardson, J. E. Twitchell and Henry M. Ladd. From being called the First Congregational Church of East Cleveland, on January 4, 1872, its corporate name was changed to the present name which heads this para- graph. The first building was erected and dedicated in 1849 on Doan (105th) near Euclid. This was 40 by 60 feet and cost a little over three thousand dollars. This became too small and a new brick church was built in 1867 at the corner of Logan and Euclid. This had a seating capacity of 600 and was eighty-eight feet in depth with a chapel in the rear. It cost $25,000 and was the largest and finest in the neighborhood. This advance came during the ministry of Rev. Albert M. Richardson. Rev. Henry M. Ladd began his ministry in 1883. He had been a success- ful African explorer and missionary under the American Association, just previous, and entered into his ministry with great energy. This second church soon became too small and a stone church was built in 1887. The idea voiced by the builders was to erect a church "good enough for the rich man and not too good for the poor man." The windows in the new structure in memory of Captain Bradley and his daughter were the first of the kind in the city, showing glass folded so as to represent drapery. Among the active members of this church have been J. W. Moore, H. Clark Ford, L. V. Denis, Miss Miriam Smith, J. G. Frazer, President Thwing of the Western Reserve University, and Henry Ford. The present pastor of the church is Rev. F. Q. Blanchard. Like the Old Stone church of the Presbyterian denomination this church has been the mother church and has aided in founding a number of the later Con- gregational churches of the city.
Plymouth Congregational Church has an interesting history. It has been said that when this church was organized Cleveland was a pro-slavery town. In 1850, Rev. E. H. Nevin was holding revival meetings in the Old Stone Church. He was an outspoken abolitionist and Benajah Barker, who was converted at these meetings, had like views on the subject of slavery. Barker enlisted a number of members of the church in the project of founding another, presumably with anti-slavery as one of its cardinal doctrines. They had been aroused by the incident of the pastor of one of the leading churches hiding behind a church column while a fugitive slave was arrested in the
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church and carried away into bondage. The new church was organized with thirty members. It was first called the Free Presbyterian Church. Afterwards it was styled the Third Presbyterian Church. It was inde- pendent in its government until 1852 when it became Plymouth Con- gregational Church. The first pastor was Rev. E. H. Nevin mentioned. The first church building was the Round Church or Tabernacle on Wood. This building had been vacated by the "Millerites" after their disappointment over the failure of the Angel Gabriel to arrive and
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announce the end of the world in 1843. They erected a church at the corner of Euclid and East Ninth, where the Hickox Building now stands. When built this was the finest church in the city. This was sold to the First Baptist Society and their next home was on Prospect Street and Oak Place. Here they remained for twenty years. Their next location was at Prospect and Perry, where a fine church was erected. Among the early pastors have been Revs. James C. White, the second pastor, Samuel Wolcott, Charles Terry Collins, George A. Leavitt, Livingston L. Taylor. The early members of prominence have been George Hall, of piano fame; S. C. Smith, merchant; L. M. Pitkin, iron manufacturer; L. F. Mellon, charity worker; J. G. W. Cowles, prominent in city affairs; M. M. Hobart, attorney; W. H. Doering, D. Charlesworth, A. W. Strong, J. W. Tyler, W. B. Davis, Geo. L. Schryver, and S. H. Stilson. This church with a large membership
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but never financially strong was dissolved in 1913 and the present Plymouth Church at Coventry Road and Weymouth is its heir but really a new organization. The present pastor is Rev. Charles H. Myers. It was organized in 1916.
The Welsh Congregational Church was organized in Newburgh in 1858 at the home of William E. Jones. It began its work in a little frame building on Wales Street, twenty by thirty feet. It had a family start, for the original promoters were David I., John, Thomas D., George M., Evan and William E. Jones. In 1876 a fine brick church was built at a cost of $16,000 and the name changed to the Centennial Church The services were conducted in the Welsh language. There were fifteen original members but only seven of them were Joneses. David I. Jones and his brother, John Jones, together started in a small way the mill, which grew into the Cleveland Rolling Mill Company. It is said the church services were conducted in the Welsh language "because nothing will touch a Welshman's heart like the harmonious chords that swell in the consonants of his mother's language." They had no preacher at first. Finally the secretary of the organization, George M. Jones, was induced to supply the pulpit. Rev. R. Richards was another supply. Then Rev. W. Watkins was engaged as a regular pastor. Among the early pastors have been Revs. John E. Jones, W. Lewis, W. P. Edwards, E. Bowen, J. V. Stephens and T. Henry Jones. On the membership roll in 1896 there were thirty-four by the name of Jones. This church has recently been called upon to mourn the death of its pastor, Rev. Isaac T. Williams.
Pilgrim Congregational Church located at Starkweather Avenue and West Fourteenth Street is designated in the early annals as University Heights Congregational Church. It was organized in 1859 and was at first undenominational. It was served by pastors from three different denominations. Revs. William H. Brewster, T. K. Noble, William H. Warren and N. M. Calhoun were early ministers, and Henry R. Hadlow, Dr. Charles Buffett, John G. Jennings, Dr. A. G. Hart, Martin House, Hiram V. Wilson, Stephen Owen, Alexander C. Caskey, and Isaac P. Lamson were early officers. The church united with the Congrega- tional Conference in 1862. Meetings were first held in a schoolhouse, then in a building on University Street. Rev. Julian M. Sturtevant was pastor from 1885 to 1890. Rev. Charles S. Mills was installed as pastor in 1891 and Rev. Dan F. Bradley, the present pastor, began his ministry in the church in 1905. A church building at the corner of Jennings (West Fourteenth) and Howard streets, begun in 1865, was dedicated in 1870. In 1877 this building was enlarged and in 1894 the present building was dedicated during the pastorate of Rev. Charles S. Mills. The associate pastor at this time was Rev. Irving W. Metcalf. Just before the dedication of this new church, Pilgrim Church Institute in connection with Pilgrim Church was organized. Thus with the building of this structure costing with its site $150,000 was put in operation the first institutional church in the City of Cleveland. Its success has exceeded the expectations of its founders. The Institute was organized Novem- ber 9, 1894, with Charles P. Olney as its president, Dr. W. J. Sheppard, vice president ; Miss Josephine M. Hartzell, secretary; Irving W. Metcalf, treasurer ; Henry C. Holt, auditor, and a board of trustees of twenty-four elected by the church and society, Pastors Mills and Metcalf, being ex-officio members. This first board consisted of J. J. Crooks, John G. Jennings, Jr., Charles L. Fish, Theodore P. Lyman, A. M. Gibbons, Michael Riser, F. W. Throssel, R. S. Gardner, Mrs. Charles Buffet, Mrs. Charles F. Olney, Miss Harriet S. Kinney, Miss Jeannette Hart,
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