Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 47

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

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th > Part 47

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From the mother church have branched out several other efficient and flourishing societies. In 1877, the Belmont Society was organized ; in 1888, Epworth; and in 1901, Grace. Wil- son Avenue M. E. Church was started as an independent organization and is now a regular part of the regular organized Methodism of the city.

The first Methodist Sunday-school in Youngstown was organized in 1826, in the pastorate of Robert Hopkins. W. H. Fitch was superintendent ; Alva U. Upham and Sam- uer Black were teachers. Other noted superin- tendents were Alexander McKinnie, John F. Hollingsworth, William Breaden, Richard Brown (who served nearly twenty years), Prof. J. A. Leonard, Edmund L. Brown, Ar- thur O. Fording, and George L. Fordyce. Phillip M. Haas served the school as chorister more than thirty years.

Trinity has ever been known as a young people's church. Among the many young peo- ple's organizations that have been active in ad- vancing the welfare and work of the church should be mentioned one that was started in 1872 by a Sunday-school class of children, and was called "The Chimes," taking its name from the initial effort to raise money to procure chimes for the new church under contempla- tion. The children raised $1,200.00, which was eventually used as part payment on the organ. Later the old name and object were abandoned, and "The Guild" continued the ag-

itation, raising $6,000.00 to help furnish the church and parsonage. Out of this organiza- tion grew the Oxford League, and later the present Epworth League, a strong society of great spiritual power.

The Ladies' Aid and the Ladies' and Pas- tors' Union have contributed very materially to the prosperity of the church. The former was organized in June, 1855, with Mrs. Nancy Breaden as the first president. This society contributed $6,000.00 toward the new church, and $6,500.00 to the parsonage; many hun- dreds also have been contributed for furnish- ing and renovating the church. The church contributes largely and regularly to mission- ary and benevolent enterprises.

Among the host of noble workers for relig- ion in connection with this society may be men- tioned John F. Hollingsworth, class leader, chorister and Sunday-school Superintendent ; Stephen F. Burnett, who for years conducted a Sunday afternoon class at his house at 310 West Federal street, and his wife Harriet; Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McKinnie, the form- er a steward for many years; Edward and Mary Irwin Moore, earnest and faithful work- ers who were led to accept Methodist doctrine by a chance sermon which Mary's father heard John Wesley preach while on a tour through Ireland; Edwin Bell, formerly church treas- urer, and his wife Isabell; Dr. William Brea- den, an ordained local preacher of great ability and piety; James Cartwright, leader and for many years secretary of the Sunday-school; Henry Dove, class leader; Mr. and Mrs. An- drew Shaffer, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Brown, C. P. Hutchinson and Richard Brown. Of the last named a sketch may be found in another chapter of this volume. Of a strong and beau- tiful Christian character he "made possible by his generosity and tireless activity the beauti- ful edifice" in which the Society now worships.

More than one hundred ministers have served this charge during the century and more of its existence, as for much of this per- iod it was a large circuit, and the preacher in charge had one or two colleagues. The Rev. C. W. Tinsley, the present pastor, who came

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here from Terre Haute, Indiana, assumed pas- toral charge of Trinity in September, 1906.

RICHARD BROWN MEMORIAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL CHAPEL.

Mrs. Henrietta A. Brown, desiring to ad- vance God's kingdom, and to honor the memory of her late husband, Richard Brown, Esq., de- termined to erect for that purpose a memorial Sunday-school Chapel. With this object in view she selected the following Board of Trus- tees :

Mr. William A. Kingsley, president; Mrs. Cyrus E. Felton, vice-president; Mr. Walter C. McKain, secretary; Mr. W. Marcus Wal- lace, treasurer ; Mr. George Tod, Jr., Mr. Will V. Faunce, Miss Arabelle Crandall, Mr. Char- les R. Clegg, Mr. Thomas McDonald.

The Board was incorporated under the laws of Ohio, November 28, 1904.

Mr. Kingsley was a most efficient president, but was compelled to resign on account of a change of residence, and his resignation was reluctantly accepted. Mr. George Tod, Jr., was elected president, and Mr. George E. Dud- ley was elected to fill the vacancy on the Board.

In June, 1904, a location on the corner of Elm street and Woodbine avenue was se- cured. Plans were adopted for a memorial chapel and also for a future church, sufficient space having been reserved for that purpose. A building committee was appointed, consist- ing of Mr. George Tod, Jr., Mr. W. Marcus Wallace, Mr. Will V. Faunce, Mr. Charles R. Clegg, Mrs. Cyrus E. Felton.

The chapel is now completed and stands as a memorial of the kindly and beloved Chris- tian gentleman, whose life of forty-seven years was identified with all the best interests of Youngstown, with the cause of Christ in all this region, and in particular with the Method- ist Episcopal Church, which he so devotedly loved.

"Uncle Richard" was a life-long Sunday- school worker. Twenty-one years of the time he was superintendent of the Sunday-school at Trinity Church. His wife, "Aunt Hetty"

was a Sunday-school teacher for fifty con- secutive years.

The chapel is an expression of the wife's devotion to her husband. But in this commun- ity for generations to come, when the name carved on the stone over the entrance is read, the thought in the mind of the reader will be, of the two lives that flowed together for so many years in blessings to others.

The chapel stands as a free gift to the Methodist Episcopal Church to be used for the training of men and women and children in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL

From a Sketch by J. M. Butler, Junior Warden.

The first public services, according to the Prayer Book of the Episcopal Church, held on the Western Reserve, were held in our neigh- boring township of Boardman, in 1807 by Joseph Platt as lay reader, and was so contin- ued, alternately in Boardman and Canfield, un- til the summer of 1817, when the Parish was regularly organized and called St. James Par- ish by Rev. R. Searle from Plymouth, Connec- ticut. The members of the organization were citizens of that and neighboring townships, pioneers from the older States, Episcopalians who brought their prayer books, as well as their Bibles, with them. Among them were- from Connecticut-Joseph Platt and his son, Eli, from New Milford; Ethel Starr, from Danbury ; Mrs. George Tod, from New Haven; Judson Canfield, from Salisbury; and Judge Turhand Kirtland, from Wallingford.

A meeting was held June 20, 1809, to con- sider the organization of a church. At this meeting the following petition was presented, which has been copied verbatim from the old record :

"BOARDMAN, June 20th. 1809.

"We, the subscribers, Inhabitants of the Towns of Boardman, Canfield and Poland, in the County of Trumbull and State of Ohio, being desirous to pro- mote the worship of God after the order of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, having for some time past met and attended

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divine service according to the established forms of that Church & finding ourselves under great incon- veniences for the want of Prayer Books & Sermons, to remedy which and to endeavor to procure the assis- tance of a worthy teacher, judge it best to form our- selves into a regular Episcopal Society, investing the same with the proper officers, thereby putting our- selves in a proper situation to petition the Rt. Revd. the Bishop of the State of New York, praying him to incorporate us and grant us such relief as in his wis- dom he may deem meet and consistent.

"We appoint Saturday the 12th day of August next to meet at the Town of Boardman for the above purpose.

Subscribers' Names.

Turhand Kirtland,

Eleazor Fairchild,

Ensign Church,

Ziba Loveland,

Chas. Chittenden,

Arad Way,

Josiah Wetmore,

Eleazor Gilson,

Samuel Blocker,

Eleazor C Fairchild,

Joseph Platt,

Russell F. Starr,

Ethel Starr,

Eli Platt,

Francis Dowler,

John Loveland,

John Liddle.

Lewis Hoyt,

John Dowler, Joseph Liddle,

Jared Kirtland."

"Saturday 12th, August, 1809.

"Met and adjourned to the 4th of Sept., Turhand Kirtland. Esqr., appointed Moderator & Ethel Starr, Clk., when the following persons were duly appointed as. officers (to wit) Joseph Platt. Warden, Turhand Kirtland, Ethel Starr & Lewis Hoyt, Vestry. ETHEL STARR, Society Clerk."

BOARDMAN, Sept. 4th, 1809.

"At a meeting of the professors of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, inhabitants of Board- man, Canfield & Poland in the county of Trumbull & State of Ohio, holden at the School house near the center of Boardman by appointment aforesaid for the purpose of forming themselves into a regular Episco- pal Society & investing the same with proper society officers, voted at this meeting unanimously. Turhand Kirtland, Moderator, Ethel Starr. Clerk, Joseph Platt, Warden, Turhand Kirtland, Ethel Starr & Lewis Hoyt, Vestry."

"At a meeting held Aug. 27, 1810, it was 'on mo- tion voted that a committee be appointed to draw a subscription for the obtaining and supporting a respect- able Clergyman from the States of Connecticut or New York to come to this place and visit us, and tarry as long as the Society and himself can agree *

* * Voted, that we will associate with any persons in the

town of Young's Town who will associate with us and that they share with us all the benefits of said Society.'"

The first clergyman of this Church who officiated in Boardman or on the Western Re- serve, so far as is known, was Rev. Jackson Kemper, afterwards widely known as Mis- sionary Bishop of the Northwest, and subse- quently as Bishop of Wisconsin. Mr. Kemper, in the Fall of 1814, was on a Missionary tour in Western Pennsylvania, under the auspices of "The Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania," which he had aided in form- ing. He visited Pittsburgh, and there Rev. Mr. Taylor, Rector of Trinity Church, informed him of the Episcopal Church in Boardman, and that Joseph Platt, during a business visit to that city the previous Summer, had requested that. if possible, some clergyman of the Church might be sent to them. Mr. Kemper cordially accepted the invitation, went to Boardman, and spent some weeks in preaching there and in Canfield, Poland, and probably Youngs- town, though we have no authentic informa- tion as to his preaching in the latter place. During this time, in September, 1814, he bap- tized twenty-nine persons, among whom were Hon. Sheldon Newton and Billius Kirtland. Two years later, from September 19 to 22, 1816, Rev. Jacob Morgan Douglas, in the em- ploy of the same society, visited Boardman and neighboring townships. He baptized fif- teen persons.

On March 23, 1817, Rev. Roger Searle, who had come from Plymouth, Connecticut. to Ohio, as a missionary, officiated in Board- man. He called a meeting of the Vestry, and then a new formula was adopted and sub- scribed, in which was incorporated the name of the Parish, Saint James, and a declaration of submission to the constitutional Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.

Rev. Searle visited various places in Ohio and Kentucky, performing missionary work. returned to Connecticut, and in the Fall re- moved with his family to Canfield. He preached, for a time, in Boardman and Can-

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field, and other places in Ohio, also organizing parishes, and then removed to Medina, Ohio, but visited his old parishes of Boardman and Canfield occasionally. He died September 6, 1826. Says one who knew him well :- "He will ever be regarded as the chief pioneer mis- sionary of the Western Reserve, so far as this (Episcopal Church) is concerned. During the nine years and over of his labors in this field he organized thirteen parishes in Ohio and four in Kentucky."

The Diocese of Ohio was organized at a convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, held at Columbus on January 5, 1818, Rev. Philander Chase, a missionary from New York, being its president. An adjourned meet- ing of the convention was held at Worthing- ton, Ohio, on June 3, 1818, where, on June 21, Mr. Chase was unanimously elected Bishop of Ohio. He was consecrated in St. James' Church, in Philadelphia, on February 11, 1819, by Rt. Rev. William White, one of the Ameri- can Bishops consecrated in Lambeth Chapel, England, assisted by Bishops Hobart of New York, Kemp of Maryland, and Croes of New Jersey. His journey from Ohio to Philadel- phia and return was made on horseback.

He made his first Episcopal visitation to Canfield October 6, 1819. He also visited Youngstown, passing through, but for want of time did not preach there. He again visited the parishes of Boardman and Canfield in August, 1823, and baptized and confirmed sev- eral persons. He visited Youngstown in 1825 and preached there.

Rev. Marcus Tullius Cicero Wing was the first settled Rector in the new Church. Hav- ing raised $400 for him, on September 5, 1829, the Vestry decided to give him a call to take charge of the Parish, in connection with Youngstown and Vienna. He was then an instructor in Kenyon College, the new Epis- copal College, at Gambier, Ohio. He accepted the call. We have no record of the services he held, if any, at Youngstown, but it is on re- cord at Boardman that after the first year he was engaged for two-thirds of the time for the same sum, $400 per year. He resigned this charge on September 25. 1831, and re-

turned to Gambier, where he held for many years a professorship in Kenyon College.

Rev. John L. Bryan was then engaged as Rector, and continued in that relation, two- thirds of the time, at Boardman, until October 13, 1834.

Rev. Joshua L. Harrison, from West Farms, New York, was called December 25. 1835, accepted the call, and came to the Par- ish in the Spring of 1836. He also officiated at Canfield, a new Church having been erected at that place. He was the first to hold regular services at Youngstown ; prior to this time the services had been very irregular.

The Rectorship was vacant until May, 1840, when Rev. Joseph T. Eaton came to the Parish and remained until April, 1845, hold- ing services in Warren part of the time. Rev. William Granville, from Medina, Ohio, on July 13, 1845, preached, for the first time, in Canfield, and officiated there and at Boardman until March 22, 1846.

Henry M. Boardman removed to Board- man in 1819, and resided there until his death, resulting from an accident, on December 17, 1846. Soon after his arrival he was elected Clerk of the Parish. He was succeeded in May, 1848, by Rev. Joseph Adderly, who was succeeded in December, 1852, by the Rev. C. S. Doolittle, who officiated about four years, until after September, 1856. There was again a vacancy and Rev. A. T. McMurphy entered upon the Rectorate about October, 1857, and continued as Rector of Boardman and Canfield until 1863, officiating occasionally in Youngs- town and other places, and was largely instru- mental in organizing the Parish of St. John's in Youngstown.

CHURCH EDIFICE IN BOARDMAN.

At a meeting held in the house of Mr. Ethel Starr, September 5, 1825, on motion it was resolved to build a Church, and a building committee, consisting of Asa Baldwin, H. M. Boardman and Trial Tanner, was appointed. On August 23, 1829, the Church was conse- crated by Bishop Chase.

The building was remodeled in 1881, but

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the chancel remains practically the same as it was built in 1827. Many articles of furniture belonging to the original edifice are still in use, some of them very old, among which may be noted the quaint old baptismal font brought from New Milford, Connecticut, an old-fash- ioned Communion table, and the stained glass window erected in memory of Hon. Elijah Boardman and his wife Mary Anna. This win- dow was for many years in the Church at New Milford, but was removed to Boardman when the old Church at that place was taken down.

The Youngstown Church had its beginning through the Sunday school work begun in the early fifties by Mrs. Jesse Thornton, nce Miss Henrietta Foster, a sister of Stephen C. Foster, the song writer. Mrs. Thornton, who was an Episcopalian, taught a class of young children every Sunday in one of the rooms of her home on West Federal street. Her daughters, Mary (afterwards Mrs. Major Crosman) and Eliza, assisted in this work, which was continued for several years, until the Thorntons removed to Warren, Ohio. Some of the scholars who at- tended her class became teachers of the Sunday School held in the old brick schoolhouse, cor- ner of Wood and Champion streets, of which mention is made further on.

Rev. A. T. McMurphy, as already stated, became Rector of St. James' Church, in Board- man, in 1857. He frequently held services in Youngstown. Rev. C. S. Abbott, of Warren, also held services occasionally, the Presbyter- ians and Methodists generously furnishing the use of their Churches on these occasions. With her increasing population many additions were made to the number of Episcopalians, and it was considered desirable to form a Church organization. For this purpose a meeting of "The Friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Youngstown" was held on July 7, 1859, of which Mr. M. T. Jewell was chair- man, and Hiram A. Hall, secretary. Revs. McMurphy and Abbott were present. They in- structed the meeting as to the measures neces- sary to effect an organization. It was resolved that "It was desirable and practicable to organ- ize a Parish of the Protestant Episcopal

Church in Youngstown," and on motion of Mr. Jewell, "St. John's" was adopted as the name of the Parish. Committees were ap- pointed, one to prepare a petition and procure signatures, and another to procure a suitable room for holding church services, and Revs. McMurphy and Abbott were invited to hold services here as often as might be convenient, it being understood that their services would be remunerated and they would be hospitably and handsomely entertained. Rev. C. S. Ab- bott, in a letter dated February 8, 1898, stated that "at odd intervals in preceding years, Cler- gymen had been invited by friends of former parishioners to visit them and hold services, but there was no thought, so far as I know, from these invitations, of any permanent work as their result. I held services and preached on the afternoon of Trinity Sunday, June 19, 1859. The Methodist Church was kindly loaned to us for the service. This was the be- ginning of the Church movement. On Thurs- day night, July 7, Mr. McMurphy and myself took the incipient steps towards organizing the Parish. The meeting was held in a small frame building,-session room, I think it was called, -on the grounds of and belonging to the Presbyterian Church."

Bishop Bedell visited Youngstown on November 29, 1859, and the requisite number of names having been signed to the petition, he advised a notice to be given for a meeting to be held for organization.

On December 13, of the same year, the Vestry met, and after electing Mr. Jewell their secretary, took steps toward having a Church of their own by starting a subscription paper to obtain subscriptions "for the purpose of pur- chasing a lot and erecting thereon a suitable Church edifice."

BUILDING THE FIRST CHURCH.

On. Easter Monday of the year 1861 the Vestry appointed Messieurs W. J. Hitchcock. F. O. Arms, John W. Ellis and M. T. Jewell as the building committee, and on May 27. of that year, the corner-stone of the Church

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was laid by the then Assistant Bishop, Gregory T. Bedell, assisted by the Rev. A. T. McMur- phy, of Boardman.

The building was completed in the early part of the year 1862, and consecrated by Bishop Bedell, October 21, 1863. Rev. Wyllys Hall, of Portsmouth, Ohio, came to the Parish on invitation in October, 1861, and on Decem- ber 15, of that year was elected rector. On September 15, 1865, he resigned, and his re- signation was accepted, to take effect on the 25th of the same month. This was Mr. Hall's first charge, but he is favorably spoken of by those who knew him and remember the good work he did when the Parish was new and struggling for existence. Mr. Hall is now re- tired and lives at San Mateo, California.

REV. SAMUEL MAXWELL, RECTOR.

Mr. Maxwell was born August 6, 1839, at Albany, New York. He graduated as an A. B. from College of the City of New York. After a post graduate course, he received de- gree of Bachelor of Science. He then took a course at the Theological Seminary in Alex- andria, Virginia. In 1861 he was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Horatio Potter in the Church of the Epiphany and became Assist- ant Rector at St. Mark's Church, New York. In 1863 he went to Akron, Ohio, and on March 23, 1866, the Vestry of St. John's Church, Youngstown, unanimously elected him as Rec- tor. He accepted the call and entered upon his duties May 1, 1866. During Mr. Maxwell's administration of seventeen years the Parish prospered exceedingly, making it- possible to extend the work and add improvements to the Parish. The increased growth of the Parish having made it very necessary to have more church room, there were commenced in 1879 a series of improvements, all under the super- vision of Mr. Maxwell. The thoroughly re- modeled Church was opened with appropriate services by Bishop Bedell on May 20, 1880. Mr. Maxwell built up St. John's Church from a small Parish to a vigorous, self-sustaining, aggressive institution, and when his energies

and ability had finally excited the interest of other Parishes and a call was given him to extend his labors into the wider field of Trin- ity Church, of Pittsburg, his people were com- pelled reluctantly to give him up. After many years in Pittsburg, Mr. Maxwell went to a Parish on Long Island, New York, and in the Autumn of 1896 was stricken with apoplexy while conducting services. He never regained consciousness, dying in a few hours.

On March 29, 1883, the Vestry elected the Rev. F. B. Avery, who accepted and held his first services Sunday, April 8, 1883. In 1883-1884 St. James' Chapel was built on a lot given by James and David Mackey, at the southwest corner of Albert and State streets, near the mills of the Mahoning Valley Iron Company. The Chapel was opened February 24, 1884.

Mr. Avery resigned February 12, 1889, to take charge of St. Mark's Church, Frank- ford, a suburb of Philadelphia.

September 23, 1889, the Vestry extended a call to Rev. Robert R. Claiborne, of Silver Spring, Maryland, who accepted at once, and held his first service on Sunday, October 13, 1889.

During the rectorship of Mr. Avery a movement was started for the erection of a new Church edifice as it was felt that the old building was insufficient for the needs of the Parish, but no practical measures were adopted to that end until, in April, 1891, a building committee was appointed which recommended the purchase from Dr. Woodbridge of his lot on Wick avenue. On the approval of the ves- try, the purchase was made for $14,000. Ow- ing, however, to the period of financial depres- sion which followed, no steps were then taken for the erection of the building. The immedi- ate necessity for such action became apparent when in December, 1895, the old Church was seriously damaged by fire. On January 6, 1896, the Vestry appointed a building com- mittee consisting of James Mackey, J. L. Bots- ford, W. J. Hitchcock and Henry Tod. Messrs. Tod and Mackey resigning in the May following, their places on the committee were -

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taken by E. L. Ford and J. M. Butler. Plans were obtained from Mr. William H. Wood, the architect and accepted. The contract for the superstructure was let in April, 1897. The Church, though not quite completed, was for- mally dedicated by the Bishop, the Rt. Rev. William A. Leonard, D. D., May 22, 1898, with appropriate ceremonies, the Bishop's ad- dress being listened to by an audience of nearly one thousand people.

From the time Mr. Claiborne resigned February 4, 1892, until the autumn of the same year, services were conducted by Lay-reader Mr. J. M. Reno, and Clergy from Kenyon Col- lege and surrounding Parishes. On invitation of the Bishop, the Rev. A. L. Frazer, Jr., of Lima, Ohio, held services on Sunday morning, August 14, 1892, and after services the follow- ing Sunday, the Vestry extended a call to him, which he accepted, entering upon his duties on All Saints Day, of the same year.

Mr. Frazer was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, July 20, 1858, where he received his education, until he entered Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio. Graduating in 1880, he entered upon a business career, which was pursued until 1886. At that time he began his theological course at Bexley Hall, Kenyon College, remaining there two years. He served as lay-reader the second year of his course at Berkshire, Galena, and at Trinity Church, Columbus. September 28, 1887, he was ordained Deacon by Bishop Peterkin, of West Virginia, and ordained to the priesthood September 30, 1888, at Par- kersburg. West Virginia. Immediately there- after he went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, as As- sistant Rector of St. Luke's Church. In Octo- ber, 1889, he became Rector of Christ Church, Lima, Ohio. In 1895 he was elected Dean of the Northeast Convocation, which office he now holds.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 47

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