Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 46

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1074

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United States army, and saw service as such in the Philippine Islands.

George Brinton Sturgeon, M. D., was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, in December, 1863. After previous medical study in Wadsworth, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, and Cleveland, Ohio, he was graduated at Cleveland in 1892, and began practice in that city. He also followed his profession for some time in Hartsgrove, Ohio, subsequently coming to Youngstown.

Dr. John D. Reese is a native of Wales, and came to America in 1887 at the age of thirty-two years. He had worked in rolling mills in his native land, and after coming to Youngstown continued in that occupation for some five years. The nature of his employ-

ment had given him some practice in amateur surgery, even in his early years, and had more- over given a bent to his mind which was to determine his future career. He gave up mill work and entered upon the practice of minor surgery, at the same time applying himself to gain a fuller theoretical knowledge of the sub- ject in the works of standard authors. He has since acquired a considerable reputation in his special field of activity, and is one of the best known citizens of Youngstown. He is a 32d degree Mason. He was married in Wales to Sarah Richards, and he and his wife are the parents of five children. Further biographical mention of Dr. Reese is made in another part of this volume.

CHAPTER XXIII

RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT

First Churches and Pioncer Ministers- General History of Religious Organisations- Churches and Clergy of Today.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Presbyterians of Redstone (1781) and Ohio (1798) were the first organized west of the Allegheny mountains. The First Pres- byterian Church of Youngstown belonged or- iginally to the Presbytery of Ohio, but became a part of the Presbytery of Erie when the lat- ter was erected by the Synod of West Vir- ginia, October 2, 1801.

This embraced all the churches and settle- ments north and northwest of the Ohio and Allegheny rivers, extending from Beaver, Pennsylvania, on the south, to Lake Erie on the north, and from the Allegheny river on the east to Canfield, Ohio, on the west. The. population was mainly Presbyterian. The Youngstown Church remained in this connec- tion until 1808, when it was included in the newly organized Presbytery of Hartford. In 1839 it was received undrr the care of Trum- bull Presbytery, of which it was a member until the formation of Mahoning Presbytery in 1870.

The exact date of the organization of the Youngstown church is not known, the early records being lost. William Wick and Joseph Badger were the first regular preachers on the Reserve. The latter was sent west by the Con- necticut Missionary Society, and held the first

Presbyterian service at Warren in the fall of 1800. Baptist services had previously been held at that point, but no church society was organized. Mr. Badger says in his journal that he reached Youngstown in the latter part of December, 1800, and "arrived at the cabin of Rev. Dr . Wick about dark. I was received by this brother and sister as a familiar friend. William Wick was settled in charge of three small settlements, Hopewell, Neshannock and Youngstown a few weeks before I reached the Reserve." Mr. Badger preached at Youngs- town on the last Sabbath of the year 1800. It is possible that the church had not then been formally organized. The late Calvin C. Wick, youngest son of Rev. Mr. Wick, stated that he had been informed that the organization took place in May, 1800; that his father had preached in Youngstown early in 1799, and that an occasional sermon had been given by a pioneer minister of Western Pennsylvania as early as 1798, in Youngstown or vicinity, at a private house.

At any rate, in 1801, Mr. Wick was re- leased from the pastorate at Neshannock and installed over the congregation at Youngs- town for half his time.

All that is known as to the date of the erection of the first meeting-house is that it was prior to 1805. It was built of logs and

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stood about at the present intersection of Wood and Market streets. This house was occasionally used for public meetings, and also for the village school. It served a useful pur- pose until 1832, when a new structure was built on East Federal street, between Cham- pion and Walnut streets. The first elders were Caleb Baldwin and William Stewart, the for- mer of whom died in 1813, the latter, October 28, 1831. Other elders elected during the pastorate of Mr. Wick were William McClel- land, elected 1805, withdrew 1839; Samuel Bryson, elected 1806, died 1832; John Dun- can, elected 1806, resigned 1813; John Nel- son, elected 1811, dismissed 1832.

The church prospered under the faithful ministry of Mr. Wick, though, owing to the country being new and sparsely settled, its in- crease in membership was slow.

William Wick was of Puritan descent, and was born on Long Island, New York, June 29, 1768, son of Lemuel and Deborah Wick. In 1790 he removed to Washington county, Penn- sylvania, and about 1794 married Miss Eliza- beth McFarland, youngest daughter of Colonel Daniel McFarland, an officer in the Revolu- tionary army. He had settled down to farm- ing, but an acquaintance with Dr. McMillan, an earnest Presbyterian divine, changed his course of life, and he was prevailed upon to enter upon a course of study, preparatory to the work of the Christian ministry, for which his talents and piety designated him. He com- pleted an academical course at Cannonsburg in 1797, and read theology in Dr. McMillan's log cabin. Licensed to preach by the Presby- tery of Ohio, August 28, 1799, he soon after became pastor at Neshannock and Hopewell, and subsequently at Youngstown. After re- ceiving aid from the Connecticut Missionary Society for about two years, his charge became self-sustaining. "He took a warm interest in missionary work and associated with Revs. McCurdy, Marquis, Badger, Hughes, and other early divines in devising means for re- ligious service in border settlements. About 1803 there was an awakening of religious in- terest, which greatly strengthened the church at Youngstown."

The period of Mr. Wick's ministry was brief. Before leaving the farm he had ex- perienced delicate health, and on that account hesitated to enter the ministry. There was no cause for alarm, however, until 1814, when, in October, a severe cold affected his lungs. He continued to preach during the winter, but his strength rapidly failed, and he died at Hopewell, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1815, in the forty-seventh year of his age, and the six- teenth of his ministry. At his own request he was buried at Youngstown. His family con- sisted of eight sons and three daughters, "most of whom have been among the most promi- nent citizens of Youngstown."

It is not known who served the church dur- ing the year succeeding Mr. Wick's death. Rev. John Core, licensed to preach in 1816, was ordained pastor at Youngstown, June 25, 1817, at which time he was thirty-two years old. He was a successful pastor and served in this field six years, during which time more than one hundred were added to the church at Youngstown. A Sunday-school was formed in 1820, Elder Samuel Bryson being superin- tendent, but it is probable that it had not a continuous existence, as a union Sunday- school of all denominations was organized in the "Academy" in 1827, by the Rev. Mr. Har- ned, which the Presbyterian children attended until the completion of the church on East Federal street in 1832.

In April, 1823, Mr. Core resigned and from that time until 1830 the church was de- pendent upon stated supplies. The Rev. Enoch Bouton served as stated supply from 1824 till 1826; and from 1826 till 1829 Rev. Nathan Harned acted in that capacity. Mr. Harned was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1789. His name first appears upon the records of the Erie Presbytery in 1824. After serving as pastor of several small congregations in Pennsylvania, he joined the Hartford Presby- tery in 1826 and was called to Youngstown as stated supply. Failing health compelled him to resign this charge in 1829. His ministerial labors really ceased here, although he subse- quently acted as a supply whenever his health would permit. He died in New York in 1854.

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In 1827 Abraham Nelson and John McMurray were chosen to the eldership. Both were dis- missed in 1832.

Rev. Ward Stafford was called to the pas- torate of Youngstown in January, 1830, and April 5, following, was ordained pastor by the Presbytery of Hartford. Mr. Stafford was born in 1789, and entered the ministry in 1815. Until 1829 he had been engaged in missionary work in New York city, gathering together and preaching to the poorer classes. During his seven years pastorate in Youngstown about one hundred members were added to the church. He resigned his charge in 1837. A new church was built in 1832 on Federal street, and was used until 1866, in which year the present building was erected.

The subject of building, as is often the case, caused considerable discord in the con- gregation, which added to previous differences on the subject of choir singing, threatened serious trouble. But these difficulties were finally solved by the organization of the church at Liberty. Forty-three members of the Youngstown Church were dismissed, among them being three of the four elders composing the session. Their places were filled by Dr. Henry Manning, John Laughbridge and James Thorn. "Those who attached themselves to the Liberty Church were generally opposed to choir singing. When the Presbyterian Church was disturbed by the unfortunate division into Old-school and New-school, Youngstown was almost unanimous in its adherence to the New- schcol. One member, William McClelland, chose the Old-school, but was refused admit- tance by the Liberty Church on a letter from the Youngstown Church. This incident shows the bitterness of feeling then existing among these two branches of Christians. The period of Dr. Stafford's pastorate was the most em- barrassing in the history of the congregation, but by the time his successor was installed all differences had been settled. The questions which had divided the congregation were of a general character, and no blame for their in- trusion upon the peaceful growth of the church can be attached to the pastor." He had done all that lay in his power to preserve unity.

Mr. Stafford's successor in the pastorate- was Rev. Charles A. Boardman. He was born. in Connecticut in 1788. He was ordained in 1818 in Preston, Connecticut, the charge being delivered by the Rev. Lyman Beecher. Before coming to Youngstown, Mr. Boardman preached at New Haven and Westport, Con- necticut, and was agent for the Western Re- serve College. He was installed pastor at Youngstown, August 6, 1839, by the Presby- tery of Trumbull, which had lately been formed. "It was largely, indeed, owing to his influence," says the Church Manual, "that the church voted to attach itself to the New-school wing, as he positively refused to become its pastor while it remained an Old-school con- gregation." The same publication refers to him as much more than an ordinary man, pos- sessed of a fine intellect, "and universally be- loved for his many virtues, both as a man and a Christian." In 1854-three years after the death of his wife-he asked the congregation to unite with him in a petition to the Presby- tery to release him from the charge. The re- quest was reluctantly consented to. From this- time until his death in 1860, he resided with his son-in-law, S. B. McEwen, at Monroe, Wisconsin. His body was brought to Youngs- town for burial. The funeral services, held July 29th in the Presbyterian Church, were at- tended by two thousand persons.

During the year 1843 three elders were elected-William Rice, dismissed, July I, 1872; James Buck, died April 12, 1856; and Lemuel Wick, dismissed December 23, 1846.

From 1855 to 1859 the church was sup- plied by Rev. Frederick H. Brown, who, how- ever, was never regularly chosen pastor. He was a man of tact and energy, but of feeble health, which caused him finally to abandon ministerial labors. He died at Elyria, July 31, 1861.

Dr. Levi B. Wilson, the fifth regular pas- tor of this church, was born at Plymouth, Ohio, in 1821. He graduated in 1848 from the literary department of Western Reserve Col- lege, and from the theological department in 1850. He had charge of Central College, Blendon, Ohio, till 1855, and before coming

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to Youngstown served as pastor of the Central College Church (consisting of six members, one of whom was his wife), and the Congre- gational Church, Windham, Ohio. His call to Youngstown was received and accepted in September, 1859. Just ten years later he re- signed the charge and removed to Kansas. It was during his ministry that Youngstown be- gan its rapid growth. Simultaneously the church increased in wealth and numbers, mak- ing the erection of a new meeting-house a necessity. The present structure on the corner of Wood street and Wick avenue, was com- pleted in 1866. Three elders were chosen in 1857: Jonathan Warner, Robert M. Mont- gomery and John Gibson. In 1865 William Bonnell, Augustus B. Cornell and Reuben Mc- Millen were chosen to the eldership.

May 5, 1870, Rev. Daniel H. Evans was installed pastor by the Presbytery of Trum- bull, having begun his labors here in the pre- ceding February. Mr. Evans was born in Ripley, Ohio, in 1838. He entered Miami University in 1855, and was graduated in 1859. Beginning his theological studies at the Western Theological Seminary, at Alle- gheny, Pennsylvania, he was graduated from Andover, Massachusetts, in 1862. He was ordained in 1863, and settled as pastor at Grand Haven, Michigan, in 1866. Subse- quently stationed for a short time at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, he came to Youngstown in 1870. Here he remained as pastor until March, 1901.

Mr. Evans married Sarah J. Livingston, in January, 1863, and had a family of three daughters and five sons. During his pastorate the following elders were chosen: 1873, Gid- eon Cornell, who died in 1877; and Thomas H. Wilson. In 1877 George Cornell and Robert McCurdy were elected.

Rev. William Herbert Hudnut was called in July. 1899, to assume the co-pastorate with Rev. Dr. Evans. This relation continued until March 31, 1901, when Dr. Evans withdrew and Mr. Hudnut assumed full charge of the church.

Mr. Hudnut was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1865. His college course was taken

at Princeton and Union Seminaries, from the latter of which he was graduated in the spring of 1890. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Hudson in 1890, having previously ac- cepted the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church of Port Jervis, New York. He was married in June, 1890, to Miss Harriet S. Beecher. In the summer of 1905 he accepted a call to Grace Church, Brooklyn, where he re- mained until coming to Youngstown.

The Helen Memorial Chapel was dedicated May 4, 1890, for the use of the Sunday school and other religious services of the church. It was built and presented to the church by Myron C. Wick and his wife, Elizabeth Bon- nell Wick, as a memorial of their daughter Helen.

In May, 1900, the church celebrated its centennial anniversary, beginning on Sabbath morning, the 27th, and continuing throughout the week. At the opening service an historical sermon was preached by Rev. D. H. Evans, D. D., and in the evening Rev. W. G. White, of Westminster Church, preached on the Presby- terian Church on the Western Reserve. On Monday evening, the 28th, a reception was given in honor of Rev. Dr. Evans upon the completion of his thirteenth year as pastor. A missionary celebration was held on Wednes- day, addressed by Rev. A. W. Halsey, secre- tary of the board of Foreign Missions, and Rev. John Dixon, secretary of the Board of Home Missions. At the Thanksgiving serv- ice on Thursday Rev. Charles H. Gatman preached the public sermon.

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The membership of the First Church stead- ily increased through the years and when, in 1893 the number of communicants had reached 775, a division seemed to promise in- creased usefulness, and Westminster Church was formed. One hundred and fifty-two members of the First Church received letters of dismissal to the new organization, and be- came charter members.

Services was held in a hall until July, 1900, when the congregation entered the building

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on the corner of Forest and Market streets. Rev. William Garrison White was in- stalled as pastor in February, 1894, holding this relation until his death, March 4, 1904. Mr. White was born in Port Bryon, New York, in 1863. He was graduated from Ham- ilton College and Auburn Theological Semi- nary, after which he assumed a pastorate at Cuba, New York, remaining there until he was called to Youngstown. He was a man of rare gifts, spiritual, intellectual, and social. Devoted to his church, his devotion was re- paid in a high degree by the love and loyalty of his people. His commanding character and his broad spirit, fearless, yet ever kindly, made him a power for righteousness in the city, where his loss was as deeply mourned as in his church. He was succeeded in the pastor- ate by Rev. Thomas J. Stevenson.

MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Memorial Presbyterian Church was or- ganized November 16, 1903, with 95 mem- bers. The church building on the corner of Wick avenue and McGuffey street, was dedi- cated December 4, 1904, and Rev. Daniel H. Evans, D. D., was installed as pastor, Decem- ber 6, 1904.

EVERGREEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Evergreen Presbyterian Church had its infancy in a union mission Sunday school on Iron street (now Fairmont avenue). Those interested in the mission offered to transfer their interests to the Presbyterian Church. April 27, 1903, a committee previously ap- pointed by the Mahoning Presbytery, consist- ing of Rev. William G. White, Rev. J. P. An- clerson, Rev. W. H. Hudnut, Jacob C. Barrett, and D. M. Ramsey, met and took preliminary steps toward the organization of a church. Ar- ticles of incorporation were drawn up and signed. The lot on Iron street was sold and a lot on Dallas avenue was secured. Here the Sabbath school and preaching services were held in a tent. The church was duly or- ganized August 8, 1904. About forty were

enrolled as charter members. The tent was used until October, when a temporary struct- ure was built. The church was supplied by students until April, 1905, when Rev. Francis A. Kearns came from the First Presbyterian Church of Kinsman, Ohio. He was installed May 5, 1905.

HUNGARIAN EVANGELICAL REFORMED CHURCH.

In 1883 a mission chapel was built by the First Church on Mahoning avenue and a Sun- day school organized, which flourished until 1905, when the location was given over for the erection of a Presbyterian Church for Mag- vars. This church, called the Hungarian Evangelical Reformed Church, had been or- ganized in 1902, through the efforts of Rev. Julius Hamborsky, of Lackawanna Presby- tery, who, visiting Youngstown, found sev- eral hundred Protestant Magyars in the city and neighboring towns without a preacher or church. The congregation occupied the mis- sion chapel until the erection of the church, a handsome stone edifice, which was dedicated October 15, 1905. The first pastor was Rev. Geza Kacziany, Ph. D., who was in charge from March, 1903, to October of the same year. Rev. Bela Bassa acted as stated supply from January, 1904, to March, 1904, when he was installed as pastor, this relation continu- ing until March, 1907. In March, 1907, Rev. Louis Manassy was called.

The Second Presbyterian Church was an outgrowth of the Mission Sabbath school work started in Youngstown in 1872 by a few of the enterprising church members of this and other denominations. J. F. Wilson, I. A. Justice, Henry B. Shields and Henry A. Evans were among the number. In 1874 a building was secured on Covington street, as a place of worship, and was thus used until 1879. when the church removed to a new meeting house on the corner of Rayen avenue and Liberty street. a frame structure 35x60 feet. tastefully furnished.

The first pastor was Rev. Robert Scott. a graduate of Auburn College. After a suc-

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cessful pastorate, ending in the fall of 1879, he was succeeded by Rev. S. G. Hair, a suc- :cessful Christian laborer, who accomplished a great work for the church. His efforts were well seconded by his wife, who was an earnest worker. She was an accomplished organist, and with the assistance of I. A. Justice as leader of the choir, contributed an important feature of the church service.

Rev. Wesley M. Hyde and Rev. Julius A. "Herold were subsequent pastors of this church.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Methodism began its career in the wilder- ness of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio in 1800. Self-sacrificing itinerant preachers followed closely after or kept company with the sturdy pioneers who grappled with the "hardships of frontier life and prepared the way for the pleasant homes, commercial prosperity and religious blessings which we enjoy today.

The Rev. Shadrick Bostwick, originally a physician, who had been appointed in April 1803, by the Baltimore conference as mission- ary to Deerfield Circuit, erected a house at Deerfield and established his family there. Pen- etrating the forest he organized a number of · societies in different places, and among others visited Youngstown, where he was refused permission to preach in the Presbyterian Church and on the invitation of Judge Rayen conducted Methodist services in the latter's barn. With this exception cordial relations have always existed between the two churches. A class was formed, consisting of Moses Craw- ford and his wife Isabel, John Hogue and wife, Isaac Powers and Jeremiah Breaden. Mr. Powers was especially noted as a faithful and earnest worker in the church until his death in 1861. His wife, Mrs. Leah Frazee Powers, became a member two years after the organization of the Society and "for fifty-nine years her sweet spirit and gentle manner were a benediction to all who met her."

In 1804, Shadrick Bostwick was again ap- 'pointed to the Deedfield Circuit, which was then more than 400 miles in circumference, and the hardships of the four weeks' round -made on horseback through the untamed wil-

derness were almost incredible. At the end of this year Dr. Bostwick returned to the prac- tice of medicine, locating first in Youngstown and then in Canfield. He continued to preach however, until his death which occurred in 1837. A young man named Robert R. Roberts was appointed to the curcuit in 1805 who after- wards rose to distinction in the church and worthily filled the office of Bishop.

"For a while the little society worshipped in the log school house on the Diamond. Soon the meetings were moved to the home of Mr. Crawford, a log building standing on Front street west of Hazel. Afterward they were held in the home of Mr. Hogue. The quar- terly meetings were held in such large build- ings as could be secured, the ball room of Mr. Holland's tavern being sometimes used on such occasions."

A lot was purchased about the year 1810 on Phelps street north of the present edifice for the sum of $20.00, and a small unpreten- tious building erected thereon. In 1828, the Society built a substantial brick church on the site where the old church now stands, north- west corner of Front and Phelps streets. It had a gallery on three sides and accommo- dated quite a large congregation.

Two years later about fifty members, repre- senting the greater proportion of the Society, seceded and formed a new organization- the Methodist Protestant Church. This divi- sion was keenly felt by the remaining few, but though some felt almost discouraged they set to work with indomitable energy to repair the breach, and it was proved that the days of the Methodist Church in this community were not yet numbered.

"A commodious frame building took the place of the brick building in 1841 which was enlarged and remodeled during the pastorates of Rev. G. W. Maltby and Dr. John Peate. The charge became a station in 1842 and we finds this interesting entry of that date: "The charge estimated for the support of the preacher, consisting of himself, wife and one child, $305.00, including $40.00 house rent. The entire sum was paid in full."

Ground was broken for the beautiful tem-

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ple in which the society now worships, in May, 1883. Eighty years after the establish- ment of the society, the corner stone of the new church was laid with appropriate services, Bishop Andrews officiating, and the building, completed at a cost of over $70,000.00, was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God by Bishop Bowman. Thus was completed a beau- tiful temple of worship whose foundations were laid in the pastorate of Dr. C. V. Wilson and whose dedication came in that of Dr. D. C. Osborne. With the completion of Trinity Church, the Society entered upon its most prosperous period and now numbers between 1,300 and 1,400 members.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 46

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1074

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1074