History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 52

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 52

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the malice of preachers and the stupidity and ignorance of men! !

Just prior to 1838, Rt. Rev. John B. Pur- cell, encouraged and assisted by the co-opera- tion of the few zealous Catholic people of Ma- rietta, bought the present church grounds from Mrs. Mary Brophy, at a very reasonable price -Mrs. Brophy herself being a Catholic. The house which occupied part of the lots ( there were two, 180 by 180 feet) had been erected by John Brough, father of the war govern- or ( 1863) of the State of Ohio. He sold it to Mrs. Brophy, and when it fell into the hands of the then Bishop of Cincinnati, he placed Patrick Waters in charge of the property. By him the building was used as a grocery store. Being a two-story brick building, one room on the second floor was used, at intervals, as a chapel, where the visiting priest said Mass and preached the Word of God to the little Catholic flock of Marietta.

Such was the state of affairs prior to June, 1838. In that year Rev. James McCoffery was made the first resident pastor. He converted the store-room of the building into the first church and occupied the second floor as a par- sonage. He remained in charge for 11 years, and besides the little flock at home he attended the widely scattered Catholic people along the shores of the Muskingum River, as far as Mc- Connelsville, and also at Newport on the Ohio, at Fleming, Vincent and Cutler, going nortli also as far as Cambridge. In the month of October, 1849, he was followed by Rev. Rob- ert 1. Lawrence, who remained until April, 1850.

Rev. Peter Perry was appointed pastor and took charge, in the month of April, 1850. By this time, in consequence of the Muskingum River improvement, many additional Catholic people came to Marietta, and the necessity of a larger and more commodious church became the problem that presented itself for solution. Hugh Brennan and John Burke-the uncle of D. B. Torpy-interested themselves very much to the end of erecting a new church. Under the leadership of Father Perry, the new church was begun.

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At that time, however, the agitation was commenced to change the location. The ob- jection then, as now, was that the church would be too near the river and and in a district where the floods would inevitably reach it. The contest grew warm-many contending that the church should be built farther up the street-nearer to the cemetery, which had been located at the other and upper end of Fourth street. Under the leadership of Hugh Brennan, who from selfish motives wished to retain the present locality, he having a grocery and saloon near by, on Greene street, Rt. Rev. John B. Purcell was prevailed upon to decide in favor of the first chosen church location. The fear of a flood accounts for the height of the church floor from the street level. The year 1884, however, the flood rose above the altar table.

The church was begun in 1850, and after three years completed. The greatest amount subscribed by any one individual was $100. and that amount was given by but three per- sons, i. e., Father Perry, Hugh Brennan and John Burke.

What may be of interest to state is the fact that the clay out of which the bricks for the new building were made, was taken from an old Indian mound-supposed to be an old pre- historic fortification, situated about where now passes Sacra Via street.

Rev. Peter Perry remained in charge for five years. Owing to the poverty of the in- dividual members of his flock, he was unable to meet the total indebtedness incurred and hence, when in September, 1855, he was suc- ceeded by Rev. R. P. O'Neil, the church debt of some few thousand dollars was one of the heavy burdens with which the new pastor had to contend. The new building, as yet unfur- nished, had cost something like seven or eight thousand dollars-four of which had been paid. Father O'Neil, however, bravely faced his new duties and it is during his short ad- ministration that we find the first attempt made to commence a parochial school. A school so- ciety was established, the members of which paid a monthly fee of 25 cents, which, placed in the treasury, was the beginning of a school

fund and served afterward as a little founda- tion on which a parochial school was built and maintained for a few years.

Father O'Neil was succeeded in the pastor- al charge of St. Mary's Church by Rev. R. B. Hardy, April, 1850, and he remained only a year, was succeeded in March, 1857, by Rev. O. A. Walker.

Father Walker had temporarily severed his connection with the Dominicans, owing to the filial duty that devolved solely upon him to support his aged father and mother. Accom- panied by his parents, he took possession of the old grocery building, which had served its time as both church and parsonage, and used the second floor as a parsonage. The first floor-the oldl storeroom-the first chapel- he immediately converted into a school room.

This, then, is the first attempt, carried out successfully, toward the maintenance of a pa- rochial school.

The action taken was as commendable as it was necessary. John Sheridan, a brother of Gen. Phil Sheridan, was engaged as teacher and served in that capacity for a very meagre salary-$15 per month-for several years. In the meanwhile the thought of converting part of the church basement into a school room was ripening. The year 1858 saw the change ef- fected. The basement of the church was parti- tioned off and the school was continued under the new arrangement. John Sheridan was fol- lowed as teacher by Miss Elizabeth Griffin ; she in turn by Mrs. C. H. Bukey, who was suc- ceeded by Miss Rose Minor.

The school did not give entire satisfaction and during its lease of life of about five years -from 1857 to 1862-was continually strug- gling for its very existence. The pastor in charge. Father Walker, did his utmost to bring the school up to the necessary standard of ex- cellence, but being continually hampered by a want of proper assistance, on the part of his flock, unable in consequence to pay a teach- er the proper salary and, above all, his care mostly taxed for the purpose of liquidating the church debt, it is not at all to be wondered at that, when the Civil. War distracted the coun- try, the increasing difficulties soon determined

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the fate of the first brave effort in behalf of Christian education.

In the meanwhile Father Walker had the old church (parsonage ) school building taken down and used, as much as feasible, the old material in the construction of the present par- sonage. He placed the new parsonage in the rear of the lot so as to make the pastor's en- trance to the church direct from the house, in immediate connection with the church building. The church debt was now paid, the elegant center altar procured, a school attempted and. against mountainous difficulties, carried on for five years, the new parsonage erected and completed-when in June, 1862, Father Walk- er was succeeded by Rev. J. D. Rvan.

: During the latter's administration the church building was condemned as no longer safe for public meetings. The increasing weight of the shingle roof legan to spread the walls outward, and hence, for some time, while the necessary repairs were being made, church services were held in the Court House. At this time the agitation for a new location, out of reach of high water, again forced itself to the front. Not understanding the principle that "present sacrifice secures future enjoyment." the majority of the congregation contented themselves with doing only what, at that very moment, was absolutely necessary, and re- paired the church by tying the walls with iron "hog chains,' and by supporting the roof with two rows of pillars.

Father Ryan was the first resident pastor who died in the parsonage. The sad event occurred in the month of August, 1870. The body of the beloved pastor was buried in the Catholic Cemetery of Sidney, Ohio. His par- ents had made Sidney their home and, in ac- cordance with their wishes, the remains were placed in the family burial lot of the cemetery at that place.

Rev. Charles F. Shelhamer became pastor on the demise of Father Ryan and continuer the administration for five years, i. e., from August, 1870, to November, 1875. During his incumbency, the church was handsomely fres- i coed and stained glass windows replaced those of the ordinary glass. Father P. Thurheimer

sticceeded Father Shelhamer in the administra- tion of affairs and during his pastorship of three years ( November, 1875, to September, 1878) he tried his utmost to revive the paroch- ial school. He realized very keenly the ne- cessity of such a school, but the apathy of the church members checked every effort made in that direction. In September, 1878, Father F. J. Campbell was appointed pastor of the church and he, too, at the earnest injuncton of the then Bishop Rosecrans-the first bishop of the Co- lumbus diocese, which had been established in March, 1868-endeavored to resurrect the pa- rochial school. The same apathy, the same in- difference that made every zealous effort of his predecessors abortive, in that direction, pre- vailed again on this occasion. Discouraged, he asked for and obtained a new charge, and in November, 1879. the next year, was succeeded I by Rev. John B. Kuehn.

The administration of Father Kuehn proved the longest of any in the history of this parish. Taking charge in 1879, he con- tinted to zealously labor in the interest of the flock entrusted to his care until July, 1892, when, after three weeks of serious illness, for- tified by the sacraments of the church, he peace- fully died. At his own request he was buried in the cemetery of his bereaved tlock. He had said: "I want to be buried among my peo- ple."

During Father Kuehn's administration the church spire was completed, a chimie of bells procured, the interior of the church again beau- tifully frescoed, and, under his paternal guid- ance, the flock seemed to take a new life and Catholicity, in Marietta, seemed to be rejuven- ated, breathing forth its spirit of pristine vigor.

Father Kuehn was succeeded by Rev. F. M. Woesman. He found also, shortly after his advent, the absolute necessity of establish- ing a parochial school. The catechism hour of a Sunday, the meager and irregular attend- ance, on the part of the children, seemed to him to be far from sufficient to meet satis- factorily the urgent needs of a moral training, which constitutes the sacred right of the little ones of the flock. To insure the future spiritual well-being of the flock, to fix the in-

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fluence of the church on a more permanent basis, to properly meet the demands of the rights of "the little ones," the establishment of a school for Christian education long, long ago has proved itself one of the most essential adjuncts to attain the end which our Lord has marked out for his church, i. e., the salvation of immortal souls. Encouraged by his Lordship, Rt. Rev. John N. Watterson, Bishop of Coluiin- bus, who on the occasion of his visit to Mariet- ta on May 19, 1895, earnestly advocated the design of the pastor of erecting a parochial school .- the rector immediately took the in- itiative and on June 14th of the same year the first step toward carrying out the long pro- jected design was taken. Though, at first, the members of the congregation seemed to be in a hesitating mood, as to helping on the work, this apathy was soon pushed aside by the earnestness displayed and the great majority generously assisted with their monied con- tributions. As nearly everywhere, so also here, there were a few who on other occasions were loudest in their professed zeal, for the spiritual advancement of God's church, on this occasion became not only eloquently dumb in encourag- ing the work as it was progressing, but were suddenly stricken by imaginary dire poverty and contributed nothing or very little toward the great object in view. But this did not im- pede the work in the least, and it is confidently asserted that the shirkers in the ranks did not enrich themselves by deserting the standard of duty. "God always blesses the cheerful giver and is not to be outdone in generosity."

It is also worthy of record to state, that. on this occasion also, as several times before. in the history of the parish, a futile effort was irla le to change the locality of the church edi- fice-to seek a more central location-out of the reach of future probable foods. In fact an option was secured on a piece of property situated on the corner of Fifth and White streets, above Putnam. It could have been purchased for $5,000. Rt. Rev. John A. Wat- terson approved of the project of erecting a temporary church and school combination building on the newly selected site, but the outlay of probably $20,000 deterred the peo- i

ple from entertaining the project. They had occasion, however, soon to regret their short- sightedness, when, on March 28. 1898, three years after their school buikdling had been com- pleted, the Ohio and Muskingum rivers rushed out of their banks and the water rose to the height of four feet and a half above the first Hoor of the new building.

The new parochial school edifice was erect- ed in the year 1805 and dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop John A. Watterson, September 6, 1 800: On the occasion of the dedication, the Buell G. A. R. Post and Knights of St. George presented the school with "the flag of the stars and stripes." The beautiful parade that pre- ceded the dedicating ceremonies was headed by a platoon of the city police. They had just received their new uniform and for the first time in the history of the town, its police graced a public parade with their presence. The then acting mayor was said to be conven- iently indisposed and did not honor the oc- casion with his presence. Such events, how- ever, sometimes occur and in small places are expected.

The white-robed nuns of St. Dominic were invited to take charge of the school. It opened September 7, 1896, with three class rooms, preparatory to fitting the pupils for a high school course. Sister Frances Lilly was the superioress of the little band of five Sisters who inaugurated this new venture, in the in- terest of Christian education.

AAssociated with the Superior were Sister M. Austin ( Rush), Sister Constance ( Keelty ), Sister Isidore ( Bennett ) and the housekeeper, Sister Augustine (Lawlor ).

Sister M. Austin became the prefect of the school and it is owing to her ability and im- selfish zeal, next to the blessing of God, that the new undertaking is thus far crowned with success. She succeeded Sister Frances Lilly as superior of the community, and for the last three years, acting in that capacity, besides continually advancing the interest of the High School Department in particular and the entire school in general, she has displayed an executive ability of no inferior order.

From the very outset, the school proved

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a most decided success and at this writing counts an attendance of more than 200 pupils, with four class teachers, two music teachers and one art teacher. The blessing of God surely rests upon this undertaking.

The new parochial school building was en- larged two years after its erection as to the convent part, giving an additional large dor- mitory and four additional music rooms, bring- ing the financial outlay of the structure to nearly $10,000. Since then, however, the con- gregation has finally taken the first step toward procuring a new church site, by the purchase of the "Putnam Hall" property. It is the most central location to be found in Marietta for a Catholic Church. It is unsurpassed for the beauty of its location and it comprises a tract of land 180 feet square. It is situated on the Northeast corner of Fourth and Wooster streets. The price paid is $15.750, and was bought from Fidelio S. Henry,

This closes the little sketch in these school annals. May God bless his church and shower | down his benediction upon this portion of his flock, so that Marietta may indeed worthily bear the name of Marv. the mother of Jesus Christ. Our Lord and God.

Note :- There is a large Catholic church at Churchtown, St. John's; Ave Maria, not far from Lowell: St. Ambrose at Vincent ; and a chapel at Belpre.

The Central Christian Church

Purchased the house of worship on Fourth street, formerly occupied by the Presbyterians. This building was badly damaged by the tor- nado which passed over Marietta in the sum- mer of 1902, and for the present the congre- gation is meeting in the new Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon. The pastor of the Central Chrisian Church also ministers to a congregation at Reno.

The Christian Union Church.

Among the smaller church organizations in Marietta, the Christian Union Church, located near Mile Run on the west side, contributes

" in a large degree to the active religious work accomplished in the city. Work was begun by this congregation first as a mission, and under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Risden, a large num- ber of spirited revivals were held, giving great encouragement for the organization of the church.

The organization was accomplished in 1895, and work was begun on a church edifice. The present church building is a neat and at- tractive frame structure, and is a great credit to the members, through whose unaided efforts the necessary funds were raised.

The church society is non-denominational, and is accomplishing a vast amount of good in the locality in which it is situated. Con- nected with the church is a well organized Sab- bath-school which is in a very flourishing con- dition.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

The First Congregational Church of Marietta.

(From a Sermon by the present pastor, Dr. J. R. Nichols.)

The pioneers, whose advance guard floated down the Ohio and landed at the mouth of the Muskingum River, April 7, 1788, were men who took a deep interest in religious and Chris- tian education. The movement which brought them into the Western Country was not dis- tinctively a religious movement, as that earlier one had been, which brought our fathers to Plymouth Rock, but many of then! were worthy descendants of noble sires, who had in- herited a strong love for the institutions of religion and education, and not a few were men of marked religious life. Among the promoters of the Ohio Company was a promi- nent New England clergyman, Rev. Manasseh Cutler, LL. D., who visited the colony at Marietta during the first summer and preached to the colonists, although he never became a resident : in the charter of the company, pro- vision was made for the cause of education and religion by setting aside certain sections of land in every township to their support. In coming into this Western world, the pioneers had no-

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idea of leaving behind the institutions whose benefits they had enjoyed in the East. and which had contributed so much to the worth of the civilization which they hoped to trans- plant to the valleys of these beautiful rivers. In July, Rev. Daniel Breck, a Congregational clergyman of Topsfield, Massachusetts, visited Marietta, coming either in company with the second deputation, who landed July 13th, or a few days behind them, and on the following Sunday, July 20th, he began public worship in the Northwest Territory, preaching in a "1.ooth" on the banks of the Muskingum. probably nearly opposite this church. Said booth had been erected a few days before for the first Fourth of July celebration. Mr. Breck spent five Sundays in Marietta and it is probable that he conducted religious services on every Sunday. Immediately on his depart- ure, came Rev. Manasseh Cutler, who con- ducted worship in the Northwest Block-house at the Campus Martius, on the three following Sundays. Being thus well started, services were regularly conducted by laymen for several months, and ever afterward in the brief inter- vals when the colony was without an ordained clergyman, until the coming of Daniel Story, on March 19, 1789. Until 1797, Mr. Story was in the employ of the Ohio Company and looked to them for his salary, although there is evidence that part of his salary was raised by subscription. December 6, 1796, the church was organized with 31 menbers, and 16 months later Mr. Story was asked to become the first pastor, although it is probable that he had acted in the capacity of a religious teacher up to this time, since his name appears among the charter members. In the spring of 1797. Mr. Story left Marietta for the East, and it was not until the spring of 1798. nearly a year later, that the matter of salary and other per- plexing questions were settled, and Mr. Story accepted the call and was ordained to the gos- pel ministry in the East, on August 15, 1798, before returning to his Western parish. Rev. Manasseh Cutler had been instructed to act for the church in co-operation with Mr. Story, in calling the ordaining council, which con- vened in Hamilton, Massachusetts. In April

of the following year, two years after the call had been extended by the church, Rev. A. Story returned to the young church on the banks of the Muskingum, which had been patiently awaiting the return of their pastor.

Up to this time religious services were held principally in the Northwest Block-house, at Campus Martius, with supplementary services at Munsells' Hall, at "the Point." Sometime in the year 1707. the Muskingum Academy was projected, which building was completed on the lot adjoining this church early in the year 1800, and became the meeting place of the church for public services until the erec- tion of this building, some years later. and for business and devotional meetings until its re- moval to Second street, in 1832, where it was used as a dwelling house until 1887, when it was torn down and an ancient landmark was destroyed.

As the community grew and the number at- tending divine worship increased, the old Academy building became too straitened for a meeting place, and plans were under consider- ation looking toward the building of a church. In the meantime the First Religious Society of Marietta was organized, March 2. 1801. and articles of agreement had been drawn up and signed by 127 male citizens, which is sup- posed to have comprised nearly every male citizen in Marietta at that time. The Society seems to have been formed to secure the co- operation of all the citizens of the town who were favorable to the maintenance of religious teaching and worship, but who for one reason or another were not members of the church. which had been Congregational in spirit, sym- pathy and in forms of government and wor- ship from its formation. This Society has con- tinued unto the present day the efficient organ and helper of this church in locking after its material interests, although the membership of the church and Society has been practically identical for many years.

As early as February 7. 1803. a committee , was appointed by this Society to report "a plan of meeting house, together with the prob- able expense thereof." But owing to differences Fof opinion, which brought divisive influences

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into the Society, this committee never rendered' a report, or, if so, it was not recorded. Three years later, in 1896, October 11th, the Society took steps looking toward incorporation by an act of the State Legislature, in order that they might own and control property ; and such an act was passed in the following February. At the same meeting, which provided for incor- porating the Society, the following resolution was passed : "That Rufus Putnam, Joshua Shipman and Benjamin Ives Gilman be a com- mittee to report a plan of a meeting house for the use of this Society, with an estimate of the expense," and they also provided for a second committee to apply to the trustees man- aging the lands set apart for religious purposes for such rents as had accrued to the credit of the First Religious Society for the purpose of building a meeting house or houses. Very soon after the act of incorporation was passed. this committee reported to the Society a plan for a meeting house on February 24, 1807.

The scheme for raising funds to build the church was novel. It contemplated raising all mpneys either from rents accruing from lands set aside for such purpose or from the sale of pews, and all subscriptions made for the build- ing were to be regarded as a loan to the So- ciety and to draw interest from the time the money was paid. A subscription paper was drawn up and circulated, which bears the names of various well known citizens of that time, stating the amounts they agreed to pay and the commodity in which they would pay, whether lumber, merchandise, leather. shoes, etc. This very interesting and valuable docu- ment has been preserved even unto this day. One is led to wonder whether such a scheme was ever adopted for building another church ? When sufficient encouragement had been given to guarantee the success of the scheme, work was begun in the summer of 1807: in 1808. the building was enclosed and used for public worship, and in 1800, on May 28th, it was dedicated to the worship of God. andid the praises and rejoicings of the people. A hymn written for the occasion has been preserved.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 52

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490