History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. I, Part 76

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. I > Part 76

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The effort to establish the Episcopal church in Louisville seems to have proceeded quite as much from the country gentlemen in the neighborhood as from the residents of the town. Jefferson, like several other prominent points in Ken- tucky, was settled at the very earliest period by a class of highly educated gentlemen from Virginia. Of course they were all traditionally Episcopalians, for that had been the es- tablished religion of Virginia. But unfortunately, at the period of this emigration, the coarse blasphemes of Tom Paine and the more refined infidelity of the French Encyclo- pædists had taken a strong hold upon the Virginia mind. The early emigrants brought with them the taint of these principles, and in many cases the books from which they were derived. And alas ! there was no Church in the wilder- ness to counteract these evil influences and the new spiritual temptations incident to this breaking-off from the ancient stock and from home associations. The consequence was that this generation lived and their children grew up "with_ out God in the world." But religion of some sort is a neces- sity for the human soul. The modes of religion prevalent in the country were revolting rather than attractive to educated men, and therefore when Richard Barnes and Peter B. Orms- by suggested the formation of an Episcopal congregation, the proposal was warmly seconded by the most influential citi- zens of the county.

The projected building was erected in the fall and winter of 1824-25, and is that still standing, much enlarged, beautified, and otherwise im- proved, on the east side of Second street, be- tween Green and Walnut. Upon its completion the Rev. Henry M. Shaw was elected Rector, and soon arrived to assume the duties of the po- sition. Mr. Collins says :

The foundation of the church in Louisville was entirely a lay movement ; for until the completion of the building and

the arrival of the newly elected rector, no clergyman had been present or taken any part in the proceedings. Fourteen churches in Louisville and its immediate vicinity have been the fruit up to this time-1873-of this first action of the laity . of the city and county.

Mr. Collins further epitomizes the history of this church as follows:

In Christ Church, Louisville, Mr. Shaw was succeeded by the brilliant Dr. David C. Page, and he by the Rev. William M. Jackson. During the pastorate of Mr. Jackson, the old building was so crowded that the congregation erected a much larger and finer church, St. Paul's, and the rector and the greater part of the congregation removed to the latter in October, 1839, leaving only a few families whose attachment to the early structure would not permit them to abandon it. To this remnant the Rev. Hamble J. Leacock ministered for a few months. On November 1, 1840, the Rev. Thomas C. Pitkin commenced his work as the rector of this church. In May, 1844, Mr. Pitkin, after a most efficient administration of nearly four years, resigned, and the Rev. James Craik, of Kanawha, Virginia, was elected in his stead. Mr. Craik entered upon the charge of the parish in August, 1844, and has continued to hold the same position down to the present time (1873), twenty-nine years. The original church building has been retained, although frequently enlarged to meet the growing demand for accommodation ; and it is now one of the handsomest and most capacious church edifices in the country.

The venerable Dr. James Craik is still the Rector of this church, assisted by an Associate Rector, his son, the Rev. James Craik, Jr.

The following very full and otherwise unusual- ly valuable sketch of the history of St. Paul's, the first child of Christ church, has been pre- pared for this work, with the utmost kindness and courtesy, by Mr. R. A. Robinson, who has been connected with it for many years:

During the ministry of the Rev. D. C. Page, Rector of Christ church, at that time the only Episcopal church in this city, the members of that parish, and others friendly to the cause, began to agitate the importance of organizing another parish in the western part of the city. With this object in view, a call for a meeting to be held September 28th, 1834, at the Louisville Hotel, was published in the daily papers. The follow- ing gentlemen attended the meeting: Rev. D. C. Page, B. R. McIlvaine, Samuel Gwathmey, William F. Pettit, John P. Smith, Dr. James C. Johnston, Richard Barnes, Dr. J. T. Maddox, John W. Jones, William Wenzell, Thomas Row- land, and James B. Hine. Committees were appointed to obtain subscriptions and for other purposes.

The parish was not organized, however, until

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

May 30, 1836, when the following gentlemen were elected vestrymen of St. Paul's church : Robert N. Miller, Robert C. Thompson, Dr. Joseph Martin, John G. Bassett, A. Y. Claggett, Dr. J. T. Maddox, B. O. Davis, Robert N. Smith, and James B. Hine. The erection of the church edifice was commenced in the spring of 1837, and on the 29th day of April the corner stone was laid, with the usual imposing cere- monies, the Right Rev. B. B. Smith, D. D., Bishop of the diocese, the Rev. B. O. Peers, and the Rev. Robert Ash conducting the services, and the Bishop making the address in . his usual happy manner. The lot was located on the west side of Sixth street, having a front of ninety-one feet, sixty feet north of Walnut street.

The Rev. B. O. Peers commenced services for the new parish in a school-room in the vicinity, and continued for several months, but the great financial panic of May, 1837, caused such gen- eral business prostration in the city that the work on the church building was entirely suspended after the foundation had been laid. The Rev. Mr. Page had resigned the rectorship of Christ church in the meantime, and the Rev. William Jackson, of New York City, accepted a call, en- tered upon his duties as rector of that parish in June, 1837, and was remarkably successful in filling his church (then about one-half the size of the present edifice) to its utmost capacity. In June, 1838, he received a call to New York City, and notified his vestry that he would feel con- strained to accept that call, unless he could have larger church accommodations here. The ves- tries of Christ church and St. Paul's then held a joint meeting, and resolved to complete St. Paul's church, with the understanding that the Rev. William Jackson should become its rector. The work was at once resumed with renewed vigor, and the church so far completed that in October, 1839, it was consecrated, the Rev. Dr. Henshaw, of Baltimore, subsequently Bishop of Rhode Island, preaching the consecration sermon. The population of the city at that time was only about twenty thousand. The new church build ing was a decided advance in architectural beauty, being Gothic, and was the most imposing in the city, costing, probably, $50,000, including the lot.

The greater portion of the members of Christ church followed Mr. Jackson to St. Paul's, but

the mother church property was left intact, with the organ and all the church furnitcre, and many of the oldest members remained and formed the nucleous of the present prosperous parish. The Rev. Hamble Leacock was elected to succeed the Rev. William Jackson as rector of Christ church. In his new parish Mr. Jackson was untiring in his labor of love, and was greatly aided by his estimable wife. They had no chil- dren, and their whole energies were exerted to build up St. Paul's church on a deep and broad foundation. In his first sermon preached in St. Paul's, he says :

It is with no ordinary feelings of pleasure and gratitude to God that we review the rise and progress of this edifice, and the form ition of this new congregation. As no noise of ham- mer or axe was heard in the Temple, so all here has been marked with peace and harmony. Seldom does the history of a parish present a more beautiful specimen of division without discord, Those who have been fellow-worshippers with us, but who, for various reasons, remain in the old sanc- tuary, have, we believe, wished usGod-speed, and our prayer is, that their hive may speedily be soreplenished that they may send forth another colony as strong as this. May peace and prosperity be within our respective walls, and may Christ church and St. Paul's be one, as Christ and Paul were one, that all the passers-by may see that we are intimately united branches of one Catholic and Apostolic Church.

The labors of Mr. Jackson, during his entire ministry in St. Paul's, were crowned with abund- ant success. In the midst of these he was sud- denly stricken down with paralysis, on the 16th of February, 1844, and died after a week's illness. On Sunday, during his illness, prayers were offered up for his recovery, and affectionate allu- sions to his illness were made in their sermons by the ministers of the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic churches of the city. Four young men, a part of the fruits of his ministry, who were preparing for the work of the ministry, nursed him during his last illness. His remains were buried under the chancel of St. Paul's, and a marble tablet erected in the church to his memory.

The Rev. John B. Gallagher, of Savannah, Georgia, was elected to fill the vacancy as rector, and entered upon his duties in the latter part of 1844, the Rt. Rev. B. B. Smith, D. D., occupy- ing the position as rector pro tem. in the mean- time. He was a man of lovely Christian charac- ter, a devoted pastor, and an earnest and effi- cient preacher of the Gospel. He maintained the harmony and prosperity of his parish, and was a worthy successor of Mr. Jackson. In the

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

midst of his labors he was suddenly afflicted by the loss of his excellent wife. He never re- covered from this blow, but continued his work until December, 1848, when the condition of his health required rest and a change of climate. The vestry gave him unlimited leave of absence for a visit to the South. He visited Alabama, but his disease made rapid progress, and in February, 1849, he died.

The following extract from the preamble to the resolutions passed by the vestry, February 5th, portrays the estimation of that body :

The intelligence of the death of our beloved rector, the Rev. 1. B. Gallagher, has filled our souls with the deepest sorrow. The relations which he sustained to us as a body, and to the church on earth, have been dissolved forever. It was our privilege to know him in all the walks of a Christian life. He was emphatically a devoted follower of our blessed Saviour. His character as a man of God was beautifully displayed in all his conduct.

A marble tablet was erected in the church to his memory. During his ministry St. John's church was established on Jefferson street, be- tween Tenth and Eleventh. The Rev. J. C. Talbot, at present Bishop of Indiana, who had been a member of St. Paul's for a number of years, headed the movement. A lot was pur- chased, and a substantial brick church erected, when a colony of about thirty members from St. Paul's church joined him, thus establishing an important church, which has been a blessing to that section of the city.

The Rev. W. Y. Rooker, of New York City, was elected to the vacant rectorship, and en- tered upon his duties in May, 1849, which were continued until March, 1853. At this time he resigned his position as Rector, and returned to England, his native country, where he died some years after. During his ministry the parish was not in a prosperous condition, on account of a want of harmony. But during his rectorship a lot was purchased and paid for in Portland, now a part of this city, forming the basis for the present parish at that place, known as St. Peter's church.

The Rev. Henry M. Dennison, of Williams- burg, Virginia, was elected to fill the vacancy, and began his work in November, 1853. He was a man of brilliant talerts, and soon restored the prosperity of the parish, uniting and harmo- nizing its members. During his ministry the parish of St. Andrew's church was organized by a colony from St. Paul's, and the Rev. John S. Wallace was elected as its first rector. Mr.

Dennison continued the faithful pastor of St. Paul's, but the loss of his wife, by death, was a great shock to him, and somewhat impaired his health and energy. He resigned his position in May, 1857, to accept a parish in Charleston, South Carolina, where he died in about eighteen months of yellow fever, contracted whilst faith- fully visiting the sick and the afflicted.

The Rev. Francis M. Whittle, of Berryville, Virginia, was elected to succeed Mr. Dennison, and entered upon the discharge of his duties in October, 1857. He possessed great energy and strength of character, and was remarkably earnest and impressive in the pulpit. He com- manded the confidence and respect of his own people, and of all with whom he came in contact. During the civil war the people of the city were in a state of great excitement, and political feel- ing was very strong, but his parish remained united and harmonious, and for this result they were largely indebted to his good judgment and wise, non-partisan course. His parish was greatly increased by his earnest, indefatigable labors, which so impaired his health that in February, 1865, the vestry elected the Rev. George D. E. Mortimore as assistant, who continued faithfully to discharge the duties of that office for about two years. In February, 1868, Mr. Whittle re- signed his position as rector, to accept that of assistant bishop of Virginia, his native State. In his letter to the vestry he wrote:

I might say much of the inexpressible sorrow it gives me to thus sever the many ties binding me to the vestry and people of St. Paul's church, which have been forming and strength- ening, without the slightest interruption, for more than ten years, but it is useless. I feel that necessity is laid upon me, and must therefore submit to what seems to be the will of God."

During his ministry the rectory, a three-story residence on the south side of the church, was secured, with a lot sixty feet fronting on Sixth street. A lot on the north side of the church, thirty feet front, had been previously added, giv- ing a front on Sixth street in all of one hundred and eighty-one feet.

Zion church, a colony from St. Paul's, had also been organized and established at the corner of Eighteenth and Chestnut streets, and St. Paul's Mission church was built in the northwest- ern part of the city.

After the death of Bishop Johns, Bishop Whittle succeeded him as Bishop of Virginia,

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

and he now performs the labors of two men with indefatigable zeal and earnestness.

In March, 1868, the Rev. E. T. Perkins, of Leesburg, Virginia, was elected as Rector of St. Paul's church. He entered upon his work the following May, and has remained since that period the faithful and laborious pastor of his people. His parish has continued to occupy under his ministry a position of great strength, second to none in the diocese, notwithstanding the fact that it has lost some of its members who have removed to the southern part of the city, attaching themselves to St. Andrew's and Cal- vary churches. In 1872, the church was greatly enlarged and beautifully improved, an addition of fifteen feet being purchased in the rear of the church. The rectory was also repaired and the back buildings torn down and rebuilt, adding greatly to its convenience and comfort. A chapel was also erected on the thirty feet north of the church, the entire expense of these improvements being about $50,000. With these additions, the church, with all of its appointments, is the most complete and valuable of any parish in the dio- cese, and promises to continue to be, for many years to come, a blessing to the community. The communicants of this church now number about five hundred.

In conclusion, the members of St. Paul's have contributed liberally towards the support of do- mestic and foreign missions, the education of young men for the ministry, the American Bible Society, and other objects of like character. They have also aided materially in the support of the Episcopal Orphan Asylum, the Orphanage of the Good Shepherd, and other charitable in- stitutions. Recently the members inaugurated the movement for the establishment of the John N. Norton Memorial Infirmary, under the aus- pices of the Episcopal Church. A fund has been subscribed amounting to about $50,000 for the building and endowment fund.

The following gentlemen compose the present Vestry and Warden: Wardens-William F. Bullock and R. A. Robinson. Vestrymen-E. N. Maxwell, Charles H. Pettet, Samuel A. Mil- ler, Thomas J. Martin, William H. Byers, George S. Allison, John T. Moore, Dexter Hewett, W. H. Dillingham, N. B. Garrett.

St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal church

is a result from the organization of the Missionary Association of St. Paul's church, June 14, 1855. On Sunday, February 17, 1856, the Rev. H. M. Denison, rector of St. Paul's, made an eloquent and successful appeal to his congregation for the money necessary to buy the lot and build the church, and the first service was held in the new building February 1, 1857. It was consecrated April 15, 1857. The lot was located on the south side of Chestnut street, between Ninth and Tenth streets, the whole outlay being $7,777.50. The first vestry was composed of the following gentlemen: Dr. E. W. Crittenden, Dr. P. H. Cochrane, Judge Edward Garland, J. H. Lindenberger, William Mix, Sr., Edwin Morris, R. A. Robinson, Dr. John J. Smith, and J. H. Wood. The first rec- tor, the Rev. J. S. Wallace, accepted the call . January 30, 1857, and after faithful service re- signed May 23, 1859. The Rev. R. W. Lewis was called August 20, 1859, and after nearly two years' service resigned March 5, 1861. From that date service was held by Rev. Dr. Waller and other clergy until June 6, 1862, when the Rev. Norman Badger was called and served until July 19, 1864, when he also resigned. During the month of July, 1865, the property was sold to the Chestnut Street Baptist church, and is now used by that congregation, the building having been considerably enlarged.

On the 28th of May, 1866, Mr. R. A. Robin- son gave St. Andrew's church a splendid lot 150x200 feet, situated on the northeast corner of Second and Kentucky streets, upon which the present St. Andrew's church was built with the money realized from the sale of the former build- ing and lot. This church was consecrated by the Right Rev. George D. Cummins, D. D., As- sistant Bishop of Kentucky, Sunday, June 21, 1868, free of debt. The Rev. W. Q. Hullihen was called December 14, 1868. During the summer of 1870 it was found necessary to re- construct the building at a cost of $3,000, which amount has also been paid in full. The Rev. W. Q. Hullihen resigned August 17, 1871, and the present rector, Rev. C. H. Sheild, D. D., was called October 26, 1871. Dr. Sheild has built upon the rear of the church lot, fronting Kentucky, a brick two and a half story rectory. At the fifty-third Annual Council of the Protes- tant Episcopal church in the Diocese of Ken-

John N. Norton

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tucky, held in the Church of the Ascension, Frankfort, May 18th to 21st, 1881, St. Andrews reported one hundred and five communicants, twenty-four Sunday-school teachers, one hundred and fifty-seven scholars, and an aggregate of $2,987, 11 contributions. The church is located in one of the most beautiful and rapidly improv- ing portions of the city, and it will, no doubt, become before many years, under God's blessing, one of the strongest and most influential parishes of the diocese .*

St. Stephen's Mission was started with a Sun- day-school by the Rev. Dr. J. N. Norton, and was held in a cottage that was rented by him in April, 1876. Mr. T. B. Hubbell was superinten- dent and was continued until June, 1877, when St. Stephen's church was built and completed by Mrs. J. N. Norton at her own expense. The school was removed to the church, which was consecrated by the Right Rev. T. U. Dudley, Bishop of Kentucky, on Whitsunday, 1877. After a time service was held by Mr. T. B. Hub- bell, lay reader, until February, 1878, when he resigned the charge of the church and Mr. J. G. Swain was appointed superintendent of the school, and J. Pell, lay reader of the church. Mr. Swain held the school for eighteen months, and services were held at night by the Rev. J. T. Helm, on Sundays. J. Pell was then appointed superintendent and continues in the position, also serving as lay reader. +

John Nicholas Norton was born in Waterloo, New York, in 1820. He was the oldest son of the Rev. George Hattey Norton, a native of Vir- ginia, who was nearly related to the Careys, Am- blers, Baylors, and Nicholases of that State. The home influences brought to bear upon him were of the most religious and improving kind, and fully did he respond to them. From a child he knew the Scriptures, and developed a love for books and so remarkable an aptitude for intel- lectual pursuits that from the time he could use the pen, he employed himself in writing little books for the entertainment of his companions. In this, his nonage, he began the cultivation of that virtue which became more and more his distinguishing characteristic - the exact and punctual fulfillment of every duty. It may be

said of him, as it is recorded of some of the greatest men that ever lived, that he took no part in the sports of children, and avoided the rough play of boys. Dr. Norton graduated with honor at Hobart college (from which in after life he re- ceived the degree of Doctor in Divinity) in 1842, and at the General Theological seminary in 1845. He was ordained deacon by Bishop De Lancey in the diocese of Western New York in July of the same year.

Having been furnished at the Seminary with all the tools of his sacred profession, all sharp- ened and polished, he at once, with providential sagacity, determined to place himself where he could hest learn the use of them. He therefore put himself under the ministerial guidance of the Rector of St. Luke's Church, Rochester, who had gained the deserved reputation of being one of the most successful parish priests in the country. Here he remained a year, getting all the experi- ence he could of the proper way of conducting parochial work. At the end of that time he turned his eyes to that portion of the Lord's vine- yard where laborers were most needed. Inflamed with Divine love, and with the words of the Apos- tle of the Gentiles ringing in his ears-"work while it is called to-day" -- he entered upon his duties as a missionary at Frankfort, Kentucky, on the 4th of December, 1846.

He found about two dozen timid and half- hearted communicants worshipping in an insig- nificant little chapel. This day of small things just suited John N. Norton. Such energy as he had to exercise, and such inexhaustible and un- tiring labor as he had to bestow upon the propa- gation of the Everlasting Gospel, could not have found support upon another man's foundation. He was to develop such quenchless zeal, so great powers of persuasion, and such indomitable per- sistence and self-sacrifice, as Kentucky had never seen before, and which was to make all men marvel.

From 1847 to 1850, when the parish became self-supporting, the number of communicants had increased from thirty-two to seventy-eight. In that year the corner-stone of a large and beautiful church was laid, and on the 18th day of August, 1852, was consecrated. But as the congregation continued rapidly increasing, year by year, even this spacious edifice was found to be too small, and had to be enlarged; and as a

* By the favor of Mr ]. E. Hardy, of the Parish.

+ Mr. Pell furnishes this brief but sufficient sketch. 50

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

temple of the Lord it now stands one of the chief prides of the Episcopal Church in Ken- tucky.

Besides his unwearied attention to his duties in his parish, there was scarcely a nook in the surrounding county that he left unvisited. The church and school of St. John in the Wilder- ness were built through his instrumentality, to enlighten the ignorant and to carry the blessed influence of the Gospel to a neglected people.

He also established missions in the neighbor- ing towns of Versailles and Georgetown, to which he personally ministered through the heat of sum- mer and severe exposure in winter, with unabated zeal. Notwithstanding the multitudinous tasks which he had set himself, he found time to write many excellent and edifying books. Among these his Short Sermons, for lay reading, Old Paths, and other volumes have satisfied a demand never attempted to be done before. The good done and to be done for many generations by these works is simply incalculable.

Most clergymen would have considered these and other labors as a sufficient crown of rejoic- ing; but John N. Norton thought nothing was done so long as anything remained to do. His busy feet perpetually carried him about doing good and comforting those that mourned ; his always liberal hand, that regarded not the merit of him who needed, but the extent of his neces- sities as a fellow-creature; his face that glowed with sympathy for all who suffered in mind, body, or estate-these shall not soon be for- gotten.

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History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. I, Part 76

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co. Number of Pages: 814

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 814