Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th, Part 59

Author: Doyle, Joseph Beatty, 1849-1927
Publication date: 1973
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > Steubenville > Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th > Part 59

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).

LUTHERAN.

Services in connection with Zion's Ger- man Lutheran Church were held in the basement of the Second Presbyterian Church soon after 1860, and a regular or- ganization was effected in 1862. A lot was purchased on Fifth Street, below Wash- ington, and a neat brick building erected thereon at a cost of $3,600, a parsonage being added a couple of years later, and an organ gallery in 1870. Rev. George Pfuhl was the first pastor, who was succeeded in 1876 by Rev. Mr. Born. He remained about a year and was succeeded by Rev. C. A. Hermann in 1878; Carl Mildner, 1890; Carl Braun, 1900; A. Lange, 1903; A. Bender, 1905; Oscar Schaer, 1908. During Rev. Lang's administration the building was enlarged and a new pipe organ se- cured. The present membership is about 250, and the trustees are A. Boethe, Henry Floto and William Melching.

During Mr. Born's pastorship there was some dissatisfaction in the congregation and about 1877 a number of members with- drew and formed St. John's Lutheran Church. They met for a while in Barelay's Hall, corner of Sixth and Market Streets. but in 1880 the former African Church lot on the corner of Third and Sonth Streets was purchased and a brick building, with a seating capacity of two hundred erected. The pastors have been Rev. W. L. Meyer, Theodore B. Ebert, P. Rather, A. J. Klind- worth, H. A. P. Ziel, William Schneider, E. C. Stellhorn, C. W. Voss, J. Humberger, R. A. Saltzweddell, K. Braeuer. The pres- ent membership is 127, the trustees being A. B. Dnemlin, E. Bakel and A. Lucas.

OTHER BODIES,

The Universalist and New Jerusalemites have had meetings in private honses and then dissolved.

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A society of Primitive Methodists was organized in 1869, and the following year a one-story brick structure, with capacity for 300 people, was built on the west side of Sixth Street, near Slack, called Latimer Chapel. Their pastors were Rev. G. Parker, W. B. Beach, L. O. Beach, J. W. Reed, Mr. Batch, R. Fothergill and John Mason. They have since dissolved, and the building, after being occupied by the Salvation Army, Colored M. E. and per- haps one or two other organizations, was finally disposed of to private parties.

The Salvation Army, English and Amer- ican Volunteers of America and other or- ganizations have their periodical existence here, but none of them developed into per- manent institutions. The Roman Catholic Church in this section has an interesting history, which is contributed elsewhere.

Quinn Memorial A. M. E. Church is the oldest organization of this denomination in Ohio. It was formed, with eighteen mem- bers in 1823, by Rev. William Pauly Quinn, who was afterwards elected bishop. The organization took place in the house of the first class leader, Jacob Moore, on Fourth Street, three doors north of South Street. They first attempted to buy the lot at the northeast corner of Fifth and North Streets, but lost it. In 1846 they purchased the lot at the northwest corner of South and Third Streets, on which the St. John's German Lutheran Church now stands. Here the congregation began to build a church, which was completed by Rev. Bowman and dedicated by Rev. M. M. Clark. Dur- ing Rev. S. H. Thompson's pastorate, in 1873, this building was torn down and for several years the congregation met in halls and private houses. In 1878 a lot on the corner of Fifth and Washington Streets was purchased from Rev. John Williams and the dwelling thereon converted into a temporary church and pastor's residence combined. Shortly after, under the ad- ministration of Rev. Charles Bundy, the present neat brick church, 50x35 feet in dimensions, with lecture room below and

auditorium above, was built. In 1893 Rev. W. T. Anderson, M. D., finished and fur- nished the auditorium, and the church was dedicated by Bishop D. A. Payne, who re- marked that it was the first he had ever dedicated entirely free of debt. The hand- some two-story brick parsonage, which cost $1,750, was built by Rev. John Dicker- son during his pastorate. The following are the pastors in their order : Revs. Moses Freeman, Jeremiah Miller, Noah C. Can- non, James Gray, George Bowler, Austin Jones, George Coleman, Cousins, Reyn- olds, Turner Roberts, Charleston, Fiatt Davis, George Coleman, Thomas Lawrence, G. Boler, Clinton L. Davis, William New- man, Charles N. Peters, G. Clingerman, S. H. Thompson, J. Coleman, Simon Rad- cliff, Jeremiah Bowman, W. Morgan, T. Sunrise, John Ridgeway, Lewis Gross, Alexander Austin, Nelson Carter, James Stewart, S. N. Thompson, William Ralph, M. M. Smith, S. T. Jones, John Gibbons, S. H. Thompson (third time), Ralph Burns, W. H. Lowry, D. N. Mason, A. March, R. H. Morris, W. H. Coleman, W. I). Mitchell, C. Bundy, B. P. Wheeler, J. W. Lewis, D. W. Butler, W. T. Anderson, M. D., George W. Maxwell, John Dicker- son, Primus Allston, C. D. White, Jackson. The trustees are M. M. Brown, A. J. Guy. John Matthews, George John- son, David Smith. Present membership, one hundred.

In 1876 a number of members withdrew from the A. M. E. congregation and formed what was known as the Sixth Street. M. E. Church. A frame building was erected on the east side of Sixth Street, above Dock, which was occupied for a nunn- ber of years, when financial troubles com- pelled its relinquishment. The congrega- tion afterwards acquired Latimer Chapel, on South Sixth Street, the organization being now known as Simpson M. E. Church. Here they remained until the purchase of the U. P. mission chapel at the head of Adams Street in 1904, which is now their permanent home The pastors of this con-

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gregation have been Rev. Messrs. Posey, Carr, Bougher and others, E. W. Kitchen being the present pastor.

HEBREW CONGREGATIONS.

While there have been Hebrew residents of Steubenville for many years. there does not appear to have been any regular or- ganization until about 1880. Meetings were held on the Sabbath at private houses for a while and then at Barclay's Hall, corner of Sixth and Market Streets. The Syna- gogue B'Nei Israel was formed with more commodious quarters in the Pearce block, on North Fourth Street. During this period a division occurred, and for a while there were two organizations, but they aft- erwards united. On June 4, 1903, they pur- chased the M. P. Church building on Sonth Fifth Street for $11,000, which has been greatly improved and fitted up for relig- ious worship. Among the rabbis in charge have been J. Fineberg, R. B. Raphelson. M. S. Peiros, M. Levy and I. Caplan, the present incumbent. The membership num- bers sixty.

BIBLE SOCIETY.

The Steubenville Female Bible Society is one of the oldest institutions of the city, having been organized as an auxiliary to the American Bible Society in 1818. The object was to place a Bible, free if neces- sary, in every house, and the surplus, after providing for local needs, was sent to the parent society to be used in sending Bibles to all parts of the world. The original officers were: Mrs. Snrah Wells, presi- dent ; Miss Hannah Graham, secretary, and Miss Sarah Findley, treasurer, with an executive committee of twelve.

Among the early members were Mrs. Hetty Beatty, Mrs. Lydia MeDowell, Miss Jane Hoge, Mrs. Ama Dike, Mrs. Rebecca Junkin, Mrs. Mary Semple, Mrs. Hans Wilson, Mrs. Mary Buchanan. Mrs. Re- berea Morse and Mrs. Harriet Conn. Mrs. Sarah C. Moody was secretary for fifty years. Mrs. Emelda B. Donaldson was

elected secretary in 1867, and still holds · that office, keeping up the organization.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

The first organization of the Young Men's Christian Association was effected on February 12, 1867, and reorganized on March 12 of that yenr. The third floor of the MeConville block at Fourth and Mar- ket Streets was secured and a spacions library and reading room fitted up, the library including about a thousand volumes belonging to the City Library. This room proving too expensive, cheaper quarters were seenred in A. Floto's block on North Fourth Street, and on the completion of the new Odd Fellows building in 1873, it wns moved across the street to the second Hoor of that structure, where it remained until the latter part of 1875. There not being sufficient interest to sustain the or- ganization, it was dissolved and the prop- erty sold to pay expenses. During this time a feature of the room was a collection of zoological, geological and other enriosi- ties, the property of Archibald Hamilton, which, unfortunately, has been scattered by his death. Shortly after 1890 the asso- ciation was revived, and for a few years ocenpied Garrett's Hall, when it was again dissolved. Nothing more was done in this direction until the spring of 1904, when $15,000 became available from the estate of John H. Hawkins. At that time, through the interest of David McGowan and Dohr- man Sinclair, M. C. Williams, one of the secretaries of the State Exeentive Com- mittee. came to Steubenville and spent some time in an effort to interest the citi zens of Steubenville in the movement and provide the additional money necessary to purchase a lot and ereet a building. This effort resulted in a subscription of $27,000 being seenred. in addition to the $15,000 gift of Mr. Hawkins. In 1906 T. H. Brad- rick, of Pigna. Ohio, was chosen secretary. and on November 15 of that year a lot be- longing to Miss Ellen Davidson, on Fourth Street, above Washington, 60 by 180 feet.

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HOLY NAME CHURCH. STEUBENVILLE

THE CASCADE. STANTON PARK, STEUBENVILLE

STANTON BOULEVARD, STEUBENVILLE

ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, STEUBENVILLE

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was purchased for $10,000. Herbert B. Briggs, of Cleveland, was appointed archi- tect, and work was begun on the present building a few months later, which was dedicated and opened for use in May, 1909. It is a handsome structure of light pressed brick and terra cotta trimmings, with four stories and basement, occupying practi- cally the entire lot. The basement hus two rooms in front for reading and games, with boiler and machinery rooms and swimming pool in the rear. Above this are the office, main reception rooms, restaurant and other rooms for various purposes. The npper floors are devoted to sleeping rooms and an auditorium seating about 250. The gymnasium is furnished with everything needed in that line, the building is thor- oughly equipped throughout in every detail and elegantly finished in marble and hard- woods. The total cost of the property, in- cluding furniture, was about $125,000, and the whole plant is probably superior to any other in a city of Steubenville's size in the country. The present directors are: H. B. Grier, president ; H. D. Wintringer, vice president ; John Potter, treasurer; Il. H. MeFadden, R. G. Richards, F. A. Ham- mond, A. W. Weber, George Swan. David McGowan, C. B. Crawford, Walter M. Smith, D. M. Gruber, E. M. Fisher. W. S. Walker, George S. Hawkins, F. W. Ewins, H. W. Parmenter, secretary, F. M. Yoem and R. C. Kirk.

EARLY SOCIAL CIRCLES.

Enough has already been written to show that in the way of education, culture and refinement the little town of Steubenville was second to no other in the western country. From an interesting article by Mrs. Ida A. Means in the centennial edi- tion of the Herald-Star some notes are made, throwing light on social affairs of that period. In these circles the Misses Re- beren and Catherine Wells, daughters of Bezaleel Wells, were acknowledged belles. Miss Rebecca was a noted beanty, while Miss Catherine was noted for her intellee-

tunl qualities und wit, and both were great favorites and had many suitors, and their marriages were among the most brilliant social events of the new century. Miss Re- becca married Rev. Philander Chase, son of the bishop of Ohio. Miss Eliza Stokely and Ross Wells were their attendants, and the ceremony was performed in the pres- ence of a brilliant assemblage of distin- guished guests. Rev. Chase lived but a short time, leaving her a widow with one child, Mary Chase. She afterward be- came the wife of Intrepid Morse, the vener- able rector of St. Paul's parish, her second marriage taking place in the old Academy on South High Street, after the evening elirch services. She wore on the occasion a benntiful white leghorn hat, trimmed with an embroidered veil of white net, which was tied around the crown and was thrown back over the silken wedding gown. The veil was embroidered by Miss Sara Wood, a gentlewoman expert in fine needlework. Miss Catherine married Dr. John MeDowell, one of the leading physi- cians of the new city. The younger sis- ters were also most popular young ladies, and Miss Annie married E. B. Kellog and afterward moved to Californin, and Miss Sarah married Rev. Dudley Chase, also a son of the bishop. So that the old home- stead was a scene of many social gather- ings and brilliant marriage festivities that for elegance, hospitality and good cheer were noted throughout the countryside.

There were a number of Marylanders among the aristocratie carly settlers, and John Bayless, who built the old stone man- sion near Portland Station, which is stand- ing in good preservation today, led a bril- liant social set, visitors being entertained each summer from Baltimore, the gentle- men coming on horseback, and the ladies in carriages over the wild mountain roads. Two daughters, Caroline and Sophia, mar- ried Captain George and Leander Mitchell, brothers, of Mt. Pleasant, and removed to St. Louis and Alton, where they became lenders in church, social and philanthropic circles.

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Weddings are among the most historic events of ye olden time, and the first couple married by Rev. Dr. C. C. Beatty, in his first pastorate, were D. L. Collier and Hettie Larimore. The second couple were John D. Slack, and Miss Catherine Spencer in 1823.

One of the most beautiful and romantic pleasure resorts for the young people was "Slack's Linden Hill Gardens," located on Slack Street and reaching southwest to what is now Fourth Street extension and east to where the Pan Handle tracks now run. This beautiful tract was laid out in 1832 in English landscape gardening of terraces, right angles and picturesque walks making an entrancing scene of beauty. The rarest flowers were here brought to perfection and a conservatory, bath house and ice cream and other dainty refreshments were served to visitors. The property was purchased from Mr. Slack by W. R. Allison, at that time the editor of the Herald, in 1852, and remained in the family until 1879.

One of the swells of 1805 was Robert Hening, who came with his brother, James Gordon Hening, from Winchester, Va., and cut quite a swath in social circles, and was always faultlessly attired, as follows: White silk hat, blue broadeloth coat, linen frills, small clothes and shoes of marvelous shine, and was never seen on the street without his umbrella. He was 'a general merchandise and forwarding business man, and carried on business on lower Market Street, on the present site of the Stanley building. The Hening wareroom was after- ward burned.

Captain Spencer, of the first battalion of the Royals, of the English army, mar- ried Alicia Courtenay, a cultured and high- ly educated Irish girl, who married the English soldier without her father's con- sent in 1799, and came to this country in 1803, and to Steubenville in 1804. Her daughter, Catherine, was one of the belles of the day, and, like her beautiful mother, married one of the most prosperous young merchants of the city, Mr. Jolm D. Slack,

without the consent of her guardian, James G. Hening, the action giving great offense to her English ancestors.

Mr. Slack had three large stores, and carried on an extensive business, going east on horseback for goods, which came by ungon over the mountains.

Another society belle was Miss Eliza Stokely, who married James Wilson, only son of Hans Wilson, who left a large estate to the Presbyterian missions. Mrs. Wil- son made her appearance at church after her marriage, in a most beautiful gown of pearl gray merino, which opened down the front over a white satin embroidered petti- coat. There were little gold catches down the side of the dress, so that the skirt could be closed in over the petticoat or left open at will. About the neck she wore a cable watch chain dangling to her waist, and on her head a rice straw hat so thin and fine one could see through it. It was trimmed with roses as large as chrysanthe- mums. "I thought," said the narrator, "I had never seen so beautiful a woman, or one so handsomely dressed."

The Beatty family were also among the oldest settlers and lived in a brick house, corner of Fourth and Market Streets, and were great Churchmen and women. Upon one occasion the ladies' sewing society were gathered there making fancy articles for a church entertainment, and were work- ing upon chemisettes for gentlemen. These were fashioned ont of fine white material, with much puffing and many frills, and were tied about the neck and waist with strings. One of the beaux called in and challenged any lady to don the chem- isette and promenade Market Street, and he would donate $5 to the society. Mrs. Hutchinson took up the dare, donned her bonnet and the chemisette, and, taking the gentleman's arm, went ont for a stroll, and she won the $5 for the fund. Miss Eliza Beatty was one of the children bap- tized by Bishop Chase in 1817, at his first baptism in the city.

An elopement was also among the social happenings of the early part of the cen-

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tury. Miss Fanny Stokely, who was on James Frazer and Mrs. Alexander An- her way to a boarding school in Philadel- drews, who was the mother of E. F. An- drews, the artist. phia, stopped en route at Mr. Dorsey's at Brownsville, Pa. Here she was met by Daniel L. Collier came here from Stock- bridge, Conn., and was one of the most ele- gant and poplar beanx of the century. He married Hetty, daughter of David Lari- more, a most beautiful girl, who is still liv- ing and makes her home with her danghter in Omaha, at the advanced age of ninety- four years. They built the colonial man- sion on Market Street, afterwards the home of Mrs. Dr. Thomas Johnson, the Collier family leaving many years ago for Philadelphia. her lover, Peter Wilson, and they were married, the youthful bride being only in her sixteenth year. The family became fa- mous. George was edneated at West Point and became a classmate of Jeff Davis, and they went to Prairie du Chien, Wis., to- gether. Here Lieutenant Davis met Gen- eral Taylor's daughter and eloped with her. Thomas Wilson married a daughter of David Hoge and settled in Iowa, and was a judge for forty years, and was suc- ceeded by his brother, David. Samuel C. went to California and became one of the most celebrated lawyers of the coast, and his sons succeeded him and have recently won the famous law case for the Stanford University. The eldest daughter married Ross Wells, and their home was noted for hospitality and brilliant entertainments.

George Wilson, a brother of Peter, was a young physician of Philadelphia, and started for the West in 1800. In coming down the river in a flatboat he was wrecked at Brown's Island and hospitably enter- tained by Colonel Brown. Here he met Bezaleel Wells, who persuaded him to set- tle in the now city of Steubenville. His daughter married Dr. Mason and after- ward General Stokely, and was the mother of Gen. John S. Mason, George Mason, the attorney; Mrs. E. S. Wood, Mrs. Colonel Lloyd and Mont. S. Stokely. General Stokely purchased the Grove in 1832.

Among the noted receptions was that of Judge Wright in honor of Henry Clay. It was given at the homestead, corner of Sev- enth and Market Streets, and they had a large drawing room, extending on Market Street, where the brilliant assemblage of guests were presented to Mr. Clay. Mrs. Wright was a sister of Colonel James and Daniel L. Collier. Judge Wright, upon his removal from the city, sold this property to Judge Tappan, whose wife was his sis- ter. Judge Tappan afterward married Mrs. Frazer, the mother of Abner and

Judge Dike built the homestead, now the residence of Thomas Barclay, on Mar- ket Street, and married a daughter of Dr. John McDowell, who was a staff officer on General Washington's staff. During the War of the Revolution a British officer sur- rendered to Dr. McDowell, and his sword, with its silver scabbard, was given to an- other daughter, Mrs. Judge Leavitt, who afterward had the silver made into spoons. Years after, at the wedding of Col. John .J. MeCook and Miss Alexander, of New York, a young English gentleman told the inci- dent of his paternal ancestor losing a silver sword and expressed great anxiety for its recovery. An investigation proved that this historic sword was now doing business as a spoon.

The Andrews family also added to the social status of the city. Martin Andrews. the pioneer, had a large wholesale grocery and his son, John, became a noted physi- cian and president of the State Bank of Ohio, and married Miss Phoebe Lord, of Columbus. He met her while he was visit. ing his sister, the second Mrs. Judge Tap- pan. A son of Dr. Andrews, Martin, mar- ried Carrie Wolcott and became a wealthy resident of Chicago. Dr. Andrews also had a number of other children.

Wells & Dickenson were great sheep raisers, and their wool took the first pre- mimn for fine merino at the State Fair at Baltimore, Md., in the early twenties, it being the first State Fair ever held in the

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY

United States. The premium was a hand- some silver cup. The eup is now in pos- session of Mr. Dickenson's granddaughter, and is a priceless heirloom in the family. Le Marquis de Lafayette was so delighted with the enterprise of Messrs. Wells and Dickenson that he sent them a present of a fine ram and two ewes. The ram was the famons "Bolivar," to which many re- nowned merinos trace their record. This enp was also used as the first communion cup at the first sacrament of the pioneer Episcopal Church, the wine being served from a black bottle.

Among the pioneer clergy was the Rev. George Buchanan, who organized the first United Presbyterian Church. He was born in York, Pa., in 1783. and gradnated at Dickinson College and studied theology under the celebrated Dr. Mason and grad- nated in the first class of the first theolog- ical seminary established in this country. Hle established churches at Richmond and Paris, Pa. Rev. Buchanan also opened a classical school for boys in the basement of his residence on upper Market Street, among the number being Edwin M. Stan- ton; Dr. John Newton, the first American missionary to India; Judge Johnson, of Cincinnati; Judge Wilson, of Iowa; John Hoge, lawyer, of San Francisco; the Wellses, Wrights, Dohrmans, Tappans, Sutherlands, George Beatty, and others, who becane prominent. He was in de- mand throughout the countryside to per- form the marriage ceremony and married five hundred couples during his ministry, and had some rich experiences, and at one time after riding to Island Creek to marry a couple, the groom offered to pay the fee in a bushel of castor oil beans, which were jocosely declined. He was chaplain of the regiment which rendezvoused here in the War of 1812. A report came in that the British and Indians were going to sweep down on the city, and the sokliers were panie-stricken. Rev. Buchanan called them together in the court house and preached a powerful sermon from the text, "Go up to battle, for the Lord is with yon." This

inspired great conrage, and, riding his fa- mous horse, "Punch," he led the host to rout the enemy. but, alas, it was a false alarm.

Judge Wilson's family were one of the most popular in the city, and their elegant homestead on Logan Street, afterward occupied by Col. James Collier, was the scene of many gay festivities. He had a large family, and his eldest danghter mar- ried Mr. Larimore, a brother of Mrs. Daniel Collier. His youngest son, Joseph Wilson, who studied for the ministry and married Miss Woodrow Wilson, is the noted professor and writer at Princeton C'ollege.

Mrs. Sheldon, a handsome and cultured lady, of Hartford, Conn., also selected Steubenville as her home, and had a family of beautiful daughters, who were popular young ladies of the first social era of the city. The eldest married David Moody, Sr., the cashier of the Farmers and Me- chanies' Bank. The other daughters mar- ried Christopher Orth, Alexander Me- Dowell and Dr. John McCook. They all reared large families, and their sons and danghters occupied honored positions in the work.

Rev. Obadiah Jennings, of the First Presbyterian Church, was a man of learn- ing, and afterward became president of Washington and Jefferson College, and his wife was a sister of Daniel Potter, and his daughter married Governer Wise, of Vir- ginia. He was succeeded here by Rev. C. C. Beatty, son of Major Erknries Beatty, pay- master of the western army, who made a survey of the Ohio in 1785, and afterward settled in Steubenville. Rev. Beatty's first wife was a sister of Rev. Matthew Brown. president of Washington & Jefferson Col- lege, and he afterward married Miss Hettie Davis, who founded the Steubenville Fe- male Seminary in 1829.

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Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, 20th, Part 59

Author: Doyle, Joseph Beatty, 1849-1927 Publication date: 1973 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 584

Author: Doyle, Joseph Beatty, 1849-1927
Publication date: 1973
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 584