History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 175

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 175
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 175

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THOMSON CHAPEL M. E. CHURCH.

(Kindly contributed by the Rev. I. K. Rader, pastor.)

This society was formed in the fall of 1868, by the appoint- ment of B. W. Risher, leader, and Benjamin Ford, assistant. The following were the members of the class : Sarah A. Ford, Hester Aldridge, Edward Canby, Mary Ford, Letitia Melvin, Mrs. Canby,

Mary J. Canby, Eunice Risher, Charles Canby.

This society was struck off from Kramer Chapel in the fall of 1868. Rev. J. R Keyes served it from about December until the session of conference, which met in March, 1869, at which time Rev. W. B. Grace was appointed by the conference In the winter of 1870, the work experienced a gracious revival, by which many of the present leading members were added to the society. The church edifice is a neai frame, 55x35 feet, eighteen feet story. Rev. Grace served the charge from March, 1869, to March, 1871. Rev. S. H. Cravens succeeded Mr. Grace and served one year. Rev. W. Brown was appointed in March, 1872, and served one year. From March, 1873, to March, 1874, Rev. J. Q. A. Miller had pastoral charge. Rev. L. H. Stewart was appointed in March, 1874. He was returned by the two succeeding conferences, meeting in the springs of 1875-6. The General Conference, which met at Baltimore in 1876, divided the Pittsburgh Conference and formed the East Ohio Conference, The new conference met in September, of 1876. At this time Mr. Stewart's pastoral charge ceased and Rev. A. J. Lane was appointed. He served two years. The present pastor, Rev. I. K. Rader was appointed to the charge in September, 1878. The present membership of the church is, members in full connection, 96; probationers, 80.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Some time before the society of the church was formed, a Sunday school was organized in a nail factory. The empty nail kegs served as seats. Mrs. Benjamin Ford served as sex- ton, distributing the kegs before the service and returning them to their place when the service was over. At this time the several preachers stationed in the city preached in the factory by turns to the school at 4 o'clock P. M. Since the organization of the church the school has had a continued history of varied success. It is now superintended by Mr. George M. Smith and numbers, in cold weather, about two hundred, in the hot months, about one-half this number. It is organized as per discipline into a missionary society, with monthly meetings.

HAMLINE CHAPEL,

Was erected in 1844, on the corner of Fourth and North streets, and remained connected with the Kramer M. E. Church until December, 1854, and was controlled by the same trustees until that time. When they separated their organization and elected a board of trustecs. The church has a membership of 180. The building has a capacity of seating five hundred, with a basement room occupied for Sabbath School that will seat two hundred. The Sunday School numbers 100 scholars, 18 teachers, 1 superintendent, 1 assistant superintendent and 1 treasurer. The following are the present officers: John M. Cook, super- intendent; F. M. Mooney, assistant superintendent; I. H. Wat- son, secretary ; Martin Simms, treasurer. The present board of trustees are as follows : John McCracken, I. C. Copeland, James Parks, Wm. Evans, Wm. R. Burgoin, John H. Lindsey and Johnson Mooney, and G. W. Gray, Pastor.

FINLEY CHAPEL.

This is a M. E. place of worship located on Fourth street ex- tension in the sixth ward, and consists of a neat brick structure, said to accommodate in the neighborhood of 400 persons. It

was built in 1868, at a cost of about $4,000. Its pastors in the past have been the Revs. J. R. Keys, W. B. Grace, D. H. Snow- den, J. H. Eky, G. W. Gruber and A. Appleton. The present pastor is the Rev. J. M. Bray.

ST. PAUL'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

The parish of St. Paul's Church, Steubenville, was organized on the 17th day of May, A. D. 1819, at the residence of Wm. R. Dickenson, by the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, bishop of the dio- cese of Ohio. The article of the association reads as follows :

We whose names are hereunto affixed, deeply impressed with the truth and importance of the Christian religion, and anxious- ly desirous of promoting its holy influences in the hearts and lives of ourselves, our families and neighbors, do hereby associate ourselves together by the name, style and title of St. Paul's Church, Steubenville, in connection with the Protestant Episco- cal Church, in the State of Ohio. The parish thns organized proceeded to elect officers for its government, and Brice Veirs was chosen senior warden, George Chapman, junior warden, and Nicholas Hutchins, Jacob C. Hoghland and Ephraim Root, jr., vestrymen. The organization then effected has continued by uninterrupted succession to the present day. The parish was regularly incorporated by the legislature of the State in 1825.

The first rector was the Rev. Intrepid Morse. He took charge of it near the beginning of its corporate existence, but about half of his time for the first few years was given to the build- ing up of other congregations in the neighborhood. When he was absent the service was read by lay readers, among whom Mr. Edward Wood seems to have officiated most frequently.

The congregation had no church, but worshiped sometimes in the room over the old market house, sometimes in the build- ing then belonging to the congregation of Kramer Chapel. In 1822 they took up a temporary abode in the upper room of the old Academy, still standing on High street, where they remained until their first church was ready for occupation,

Through the labors of the women of the parish the lot on the corner of Fourth and Adams streets was purchased, and the men then taking hold of the work money was collected and the corner stone of a church was laid by the Rev. Intrepid Morse on the 9th of July, 1832. The address on the occasion was de- livered by the Rev. Mr. Wheat, of St. Matthew's Church, Wheel- ing. The church was opened for service on Sept. 13, 1833, and duly consecrated to the worship of Almighty God on Dec. 8, 1833, by the Right Rev. C. P. McIlvain, bishop of the Diocese. This building served the purposes of the congregation for forty- six years, during which time fifteen feet were added to it at the west end, and considerable changes and improvements were made in the internal arrangements. In March of the present year it was taken down to give place to the handsome stone edifice now erecting on the same site.

During the sixty years of its existence the parish has been served by only four rectors. The first minister, the Rev. In- trepid Morse, had charge of it for forty-six years; that is, from the beginning of its existence to the 10th of Oct., 1865, when he resigned the rectorship on account of advancing years and growing infirmities.

On the 20th of November, 1865, the vestry extended a call to the Rev. Charles Gillette, D. D., to take charge of the congrega- tion, which he accepted on the 31st of January, 1866. His ministerial charge continued only about twenty months, as he resigned his position on the 21st of Oct., 1867. It is rarely given to a clergyman to accomplish so much and to win so thoroughly the affections of a congregation, as he did during his short stay in Steubenville.

For nearly a year there was a vacancy in the rectorship when, on the 2d of Sept., 1868, it was offered to the Rev An- drew Hull, D. D., who accepted and filled the position for two years, resigning on the 15th of May, 1871.

Again there was a vacancy of several months, but on the 20th of Nov., 1871, an invitation was sent to the Rev. Thomas D. Pitts, the present incumbent, to become rector of the parish. He accepted in January, 1872, and entered upon his duties on March 3d, of the same year, being the third Sunday in Lent. During all these years the parish has steadily grown in num- bers and usefulness. Since its organization eleven hundred and sixty-four persons have been baptized; five hundred and seven- teen have received confirmation ; there have been upon the rolls about eight hundred and twenty-five communicants; two hun- dred and sixty-four couples have been united in holy matri- mony ; and six hundred and fifteen funerals have been attended. The amount of money expended during so long a time cannot

64-B. & J. Cos.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

of course be arrived at with any degree of exaetness ; but for the seven years and a half of the present rectorship, about $50,000 have been expended for all purposes, including the cost of the new church now building. It is expected that the church will be completed by the 1st of January, 1880. The corner- stone was laid on the 13th of May, 1879, by the Rt. Rev. G. T. Bedell, assisted by the rector of the parish. The address was delivered by the Rev. John W. Brown, D. D., of Trinity church, Cleveland, and a number of elergymen and a great concoursc of people witnessed the ceremonies and participated in the servi- ces. The church will be an ornament to the city, and a marvel of cheapness-the total cost, including all furniture, being less than $25,000. The architect is Geo. W. Hcadt, of Philadelphia, and the contractor Robert Hyde, of Steubenville; Arehier & Boal, of the same place, being contractors for the stone work. Great credit is due these gentlemen, one and all, for the very sueeessful issue which the work is now approaching. The comple- tion of this church free from debt, is not only a source of great satisfaction to the congregation, but it marks the beginning of a new cra of prosperity, of which it is to be hoped they will not be slow to avail themselves.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

This church being truly Catholic, as its name indieates, hav- ing over two hundred millions of souls in its membership all over the world ; has an organization and system of membership so peculiarly its own that unless explained its early history in Jefferson county, would be, by most readers, generally misun- derstood, A Catholic is a Catholic the whole world over-that is, any one baptized and instructed in the Catholic faith is a member of the Catholic church, no matter where he goes or where he may reside. For instance, take the ease of a man who, baptised and instructed as we have said, should go from home and settle down hundreds of miles away from any of his brethren, and who should not see the face of his brethren for years and years, yet, if he lives up to his faith he is as much of a member of the Catholic church as if he were a resident of New York, Paris, Dublin or Rome itself, and were all the time a prominent pew holder in the most magnifiecnt Catholic eathe- drals worshipping in the presence of bishops, priests and the people. Again, a certain Catholic in America is as much a member of the Catholic church in Europe, China or the East Indies, as he is of the church at home. There is no such thing as a Roll of membership, or a church certifieate to transfer a member from one local church to another. Just as the govern- ment does not attempt to keep a roll of the citizens, neither does the Catholic church attempt to keep a roll of her swarming millions of members throughout the world. These things, then, being understood, it will be readily seen that the early history of the Catholic church in Jefferson county does not begin with the time when her membership became so numerous here that publie services were held, a church edifiee built and a resident pastor ministered to the spiritual wants of his people. Long be- tore this the Catholic church was making steady progress in this county, even before the opening of the present century, several prominent Catholics were found in the vieinity of Steu- benville, Amongst these will be remembered Mr. Tiernan, who was a farmer and whose two sons, Michael and John, were af- terwards merehants in Steubenville. There was also a wealthy and refined family named Sullivan, owning a large farm across the river in Virginia. One of the family was Dr. Sullivan, who practiced medieine in Steubenville. Also Mr. John Rodgers, who came to this place about 1792, and built a powder mill on Cross Creek before the war of 1812. He also erected at that early day a lumber mill and flouring mill on Cross Creek, and shipped his flour to New Orleans in flat boats to find a market.

He was regarded as a man of great ability and enterprisc. His name was as good as a bond amongst the business men of the West and South. Though born in Ireland he conversed with his Pennsylvania German customers in their own tongue, and was besides a fine Latin seholar.

Two of his children are Mrs. Davis, of Clinton street, and Mrs. McGuire, whose daughter is Mrs. Capt. MeCann, corner of Seventh and Logan streets, Steubenville.

Mr. McGuire and Mr. John Brady, whose farm is at the head of Market street, were also carly settlers. There was also a Mrs. Butler, Old Mammy Butler she was ealled, who lived on North street, and a Mr. Fanning, who was a cabinet maker. These with many others whose names are forgotten were all in Steubenville and vieinity. They fondly elung to the old faith of their fathers, and taught the same to their children and grand-

children. And thus the Catholic Church was gradually gaining ground long before a building, surmounted by a cross, made its appearance. As an instance of the devotedness ot these early settlers to their holy faitli, some would go to Pittsburgh to ro- ceive holy communion, and John Tiernan, then in business in Steubenville, wrote and had printed a little book in defenee of the Catholic faith, in reply to some local agitation against Cathol- icity at that time.

The spark of living faith was kept alive by thic visits of the good old Catholie missionary priests from Pittsburgh. The first of these was Rev. Father O'Brien, and he was succeeded by Rev, Father McGuire. These good priests visited these scattered members of their flock down the Ohio from house to house, bap tized the children, joined the young people in marriage, offered the holy sacrifice of the mass, presented the gospel, instructed the rising generation, visited the siek and buried the dead. A few yet living remember them well, and how the glad news would pass from house to house when the good father camc amongst them. This continued until about the year 1830. Steubenville by this time was getting to be a lively river town, and its man- ufacturing industries attracted skilled workmen from the East, many of whom were Catholies. Rev. Father McGrady, an Irish priest of great talent and energy, then residing in Hanover, Co- lumbia county, had by this time taken charge of Steubenville as a missionary, and seeing the congregation in Steubenville grow- ing rapidly, be laid the foundation of St. Pins Church, the first Catholic Church in Jefferson county in 1832. The church was a small brick building, and occupied the site of the present St. Peter's Catholic Church, corner Fourth and Logan streets, Steu- benville. Good old Mr. MeGuire deserves special mention for the aetive part he took in raising funds for the new church, which though small, was then a great undertaking.

Rev. Father McGrady attended his charge in Steubenville every two weeks till March, 1835, when he was sueceeded by the Rev. Father James Conlan. About this time (1835) there were (besides the families already mentioned) the following Catholic families residing in the town of Steubenville : Mr. Pat- riek Duffy, Mr. James McLuinness, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Owen Con- nelly, Mr. I. McCarty, Mr.John Smith and Mr. Owesncy.

During the administration of Father Conlan quite a number of German Catholics were added to the rising congregation, in- cluding the families of Mr. John Bord, Mr. John Nath and Mr. Parola, in 1837. Also the Baslers, Kellers and Mr. Standley, lately deceased. In fact, by this time the congregation was so numerous that it is impossible to give names. Rev. Father Jas. Conlan, like his predecessor, resided in Hanover and Steuben- ville every two weeks alternately for ten years, till he was suc- ceeded by Rev. James F. Kearney, in March, 1845.

Rev. Father Kearney was the first resident pastor of Steuben- ville and held divine services every Sunday in the little brick church of St. Pius, erected by Father McGrady, in 1832. He remained in charge until October, 1848, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Father O'Farrell, who was pastor till Angust 1, 1850, when on his removal from Steubenville, Father Kearney again looked after the congregation till December of the same year, when Archbishop Purcell appointed Rev. Emanuel Thien- pont, pastor of St. Pius church, Steubenville, December, 1850. Father Thienpont was a native of Belgium, a man of great in- dustry and administrative ability, and taken altogether, as good a specimen of the old missionary priests as could be found in the last half century. Taking advantage of the favorable circum- stances afforded by numerous public works connected with the building of the Pan-Handle railroad then through Steubenville, he took down the little church of St. Pius and ereeted on its site in 1853, the present large edifice known as St. Peter's church.

Reluctantly indeed did the good Catholies of Steubenville lay hands on their little church-to tear it away seemed to tcar away a thing deep in their hearts and affection, for twenty-one years it had sheltered the little flock who knelt before its altar; it was the first monument to the faith of its founders in the county, many of whom had passed away. Within it was a histo- rical sanctuary in the affections of the living-outside were de- posited the remains of her dead.

But it was an age of progress in this as in all things else, sen- timent had to give way before necessity, the dead had to give way to the living. A piece of land was purchased west of the city, a cemetery was opened and the remains of the dead were transferred therc. This cemetery is now about filled close with those that followed since, and a new cemetery on a large scale is about to be opened wherein it is hoped, the remains of our Cath- olic pioneers may find a third and last resting place, surrounded by their descendants and brethren.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

But to return to the subject-the new Church of St. Peters was built in 1853 and dedicated by the Archbishop of Cincinnati, Most Rev. J. B. Purcell. Father Thienpont managed its affairs so well that not only was the church paid for, but there was money in the treasury when he gave up his charge, in July, 1865, after a pastorate of fifteen years. Years were crowding on the good old missionary and he was removed to an easier charge. He died as he had lived on the mission in Logan in 1873, and was buried in Columbus in the New Catholic cemetery. His valuable library he gave to the seminary in Columbus and his property-most of which he inherited-he gave to the Diocese. He was a specimen of a type of old missionary clergy fast pass- ing away, "and we shall not look upon his like again." He was succeeded (1865) by his assistant, Rev. W. T. Bigelow, a young man of great promise, whose useful life was cut short on January 21, 1871, by the small-pox, then prevalent amongst his flock. He contracted the disease which ended his life in hero- ically ministering to the sick, and died universally admired and regretted. During the five and a half years of his pastoral charge he enlarged the Church of St. Peters and built the pas- tor's residence adjoining. He also established for the first time here a Catholic school under charge of the Sisters of Charity.

An attempt was made before this to start a Catholic sehool, under charge of some lady teachers-members of the congrega- tion-Miss Kate O'Brien first, and afterwards Miss Munay and others, but the school never prospered till given in charge of the Sisters.

Father Bigelow was succeeded by his assistant, Rev. Father Tuomey, who soon followed him to the grave, on Dec. 16, 1873. He, too, like his predecessor, was a man who held more than an ordinary place in the hearts of the people, and his memory is proudly cherished.

Rev. J. A. Munay, who was assistant to Rev. Father Tuomey, now took charge of St. Peter's congregation. He displayed wonderful ability in paying off large debts that were steadily increasing since Father Thienpont's time. On the first of Au- gust, 1876, Rev. Munay gave up his charge here to assist his brother, Rev. I. B. Munay, of Chillicothe, where he still re- mains. His assistant, Rev. H. B. Dues, remained in charge till Rev. B. Wisman, of Canal Dover, was appointed pastor in the January following, 1877. Rev. B. Wisman's health failing in the second year of his charge in Steubenville he retired to Cin- cinnati under care of a physician, and was succeed by the Rev. M. M. A. Hartnedy, who took charge February 28th, 1879.

Thus have we traced the history of this church as far as we could learn from the record of the church itself, and the nar- rative simply told by some of its oldest members, who are fast passing away. Men who have seen the congregation in its in- fancy, noted its steady progress, till to-day it is the largest in the city of Steubenville, or county of Jefferson. St. Peters alone having fully 2,000 members, not to speak of those situ- ated at other points in the county, Hammondsville, Irondale, Sloan's Station, Lagrange, Mingo and other smaller missions throughout the county. At Hammondsville there is a church building on the knoll overlooking the village. It was formerly a school, and was purchased by Father Bigelow in 1871, the clergyman of St. Peter's church, Steubenville. The schools of St. Peter's church are yet under charge of the sisters of charity, and have an attendance of 400 pupils. It is now (1879) a graded school, and in a flourishing condition.

Rev. Father Hartnedy, the present pastor, has also estab- lisbed a high school of 52 pupils at St. Peter's, where all the higher branches of a liberal education are taught, including Latin, book-keeping, mathematics, logic, history and philosophy. Its graduates will go forth from year to year with treasures of science and faith -science for the world, and faith lighting the way to the hereafter.

ST. JOHN'S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Though several residents in this vicinity anterior to 1876 were of this persuation, yet it was not until that year that efforts were successfully made to organize a church, the members of which worship in Barclay Hall, on the corner of Sixth and Mar- ket streets, as they have not yet gained sufficient strength as a body to erect a sacred edifice of their own. Their pastor is the Rev. Theodore P. Ebert, and we understand they are succeeding very satisfactorily as a religious body.

GERMAN LUTHERN EVANGELICAL CHURCHI

Is the name of a prosperous religious denomination that was regularly organized in 1862, services having been previously I-64-B. & J. Cos.

held in the Presbyterian Churches. A neat brick building capable of seating 300 persons was erected on North Fifth street at a cost of $3,600, a parsonage being added two years later, and the church building itself being improved and enlarged by the ad- dition of an organ gallery in 1870. Rev. George Pfuhl was the first minister, who served until 1876, when he was succeeded by by Rev. Mr. Born, and he, in turn, by the present pastor, the Rev. C. A. Harmann.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This religious body was organized in Steubenville the latter part of the year 1875, with 40 members, and Rev. H. M. Tenney called to the pastorate, who yet labors most aceeptably in this field. The first place of worship was in the old Philharmonic Hall on North Fourth street, but since then a hall has been se- cured on the second floor of the Odd Fellows' building, nicely fitted up, supplied with sufficient chairs to seat 250 people, and termed Congregational Hall. A nucleus of a building fund for a new church has been formed.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Is found located on North Fourth street, and traces its origin back to Alexander Campbell, who among his early labors founded a congregation at Steubenville, but the first authentic records of the society are dated in 1841, when the small brick church was built on Dock street between Fourth and Fifth, which was oecu- pied for thirty years when it was sold and the Second Presby- terian Church building on Fourth street above Washington pur- chased for $8,000, the Presbyterians moving at that time to their new building at the corner of Fourth and Washington streets. The congregation passed through many trials, and cannot be said to have attained a permanency until 1865, when Elder J. White became pastor, and remained in charge for two years, and did a good work which was continued by Elders L. Southmayed, A. Walden, W. H. Blanks and A. H. Carter, The present church will seat about 500 people, and has a baptistery back of the pul- pit where the ordinanee of baptism can be administered in full · view of the congregation.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 175

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728