History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 117

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408

USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio > Part 117

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Under the lead of the new Rector the Church soon showed evidence of new life and unwonted advancement. It was his first Pastoral care, and continued for 20 years (until 1868), when he resigned to continue his service in Brook- lyn, New York. The withdrawal of Dr. Wal- bridge was an occasion of much interest with the Church, and called forth a strong expres- sion of regret at his step and desire for his welfare and usefulness. In a letter dated at Brooklyn, November 27, 1876, Dr. Walbridge refers with some detail, to the condition of Toledo as found on his arrival and during the earlier years of his residence here. Among other things, he said :

It was in the latter part of the first week in April, after a slow, lingering-by-the-way voyage from Buf- falo, on that even then venerable high-pressure, hoarse-coughing, tub-shaped steamer Dewitt Clinton, that I reached your city in the very nick of time, the frost-loosening, cloud showering, spring tide season, to see it in the full bloom of its then chief glory, viz .: The glory of mud ; mud on the right of you, mud on the left of you, mud right in front of you, mud everywhere. Incomparable mud, yellow and blue ; here and there green, sometimes stiff, generally soft and always greasy.

I doubt if the very worst conditioned streets in the newest quarters of your rapidly growing, wide- spreading City can afford the beholder an approxi-

mate idea of the forbidding aspect of its chief avenue in 1848. From Adams almost to Monroe on Summit street, now fronted on either side with large and elegant structures, and entirely occupied with mercantile buildings, was banked on both sides with walls of clay varying in height from 5 to 20 feet, and looked very much like the channel of an abandoned ship-eanal. On the Northerly side there was a plank side-walk, here and there tipped up by the pressure of scooping slides of its clay rampart, to an angle, at all times inconvenient, and on a wet day often put- ting uncareful pedestrians through acrobatic exer- cises more amnsing to the beliolders, than satisfac- tory to the performers. The roadway for the spring and fall and sometimes for most of the winter season, was very much like the puddling pit of an old fashioned brick yard, severely challenging the courage of a strong team, and sometimes compell- ing the inglorious surrender of a half loaded cart to the sovereign majesty of mud.

Dr. Walbridge located his family on Elm Street, and his letter describes a trip thence to the Church, thus :

Let us go now and see the Church, observing on our way its immediate surroundings. We can reach it from Down Town by the plank walk on the North - westerly side of Summit Street, the only one con- necting two nuclei of residences, which were dis- tinctly separated by a broad unoccupied space, ex- tending from Cherry nearly to Madison. Near the Northwest corner of Cherry Street are two frame dwellings, one occupied by Egbert S. Brown, a Vestry- man of the Parish. Passing diagonally across the head of St. Clair Street and looking in the direction of that Street, over the low land, here and there dotted with bogs a little more swampy than the rest, we see scarcely a house of any kind short of Ira L. Clark's at the corner of Washington and Michigan, and Edward Bissell's one-story cottage at the corner of Monroe and Eleventh Streets. Passing on, we see neither store nor dwelling on either side of Summit Street until within 10 or 12 rods of Adams we find what was evidently intended for a dwelling, now occupied as a furniture shop (Stockman's), and near it is a small brick building, in which was the Postoffice. Nearing Adams, at our right hand corner is a deep excavation made preparatory to the erec- tion of a large public Hotel, which the boys call "Trinity Pond." Nearly opposite is a two-story wooden structure standing on log stilts over the head of a deep ravine, the office of the Toledo Blade. Looking towards the River over ponds of water, in- closed by the filling in of Water Street, we see here and there a number of store houses dotting the River front, notably those at the foot of Cherry Street, occupied by Brown & King, Denison B. Smith, C. A. King & Co., and others. Or suppose we come from the opposite direction from the Indiana House, a pretentious edifice, with ponderous columns sup- porting nothing, at the corner of Perry and Summit Streets. We first pass a few stores closely packed together, till arriving mid-way between Monroe and Jefferson we come to a high clay bank, on which stands a dilapidated structure called the Jefferson House; beyond that the continuation of the same bank with nothing on it; then Stow's jewelry store, at the corner of Jefferson, crossing which, save one wood frame loftily perched, we find no buildings of any kind on either side of Summit Street. Going along Adams to near its intersection with St. Clair, we come to the Church yard gate, ascend a short flight of steps to the Church yard level, then about 20 feet further another flight and we stand on a nar- row uncovered platform at the Church door, from whence looking across St. Clair Street nothing ob-

503

PERMANENT RELIGIOUS WORK.

structs a wide view of the native forest. Across Summit Street the eye rests upon the broad River and its beautiful further shore, bright with living verdure even to the water's edge.

Entering the Church we find a flat ceiled room 30 feet long, 60 wide, having windows large enough for a Cathedral, but comfortably darkened with outside blinds. Against the rear end wall a black fortifica- tion, looking very much like the Judge's bench in a Court House, and broad enough to hold a platoon of Soldiers, this was the pulpit. The robing room was a dark closet, about three by six feet, at one end of the vestibule; at the other end, stairs leading to a gallery over the vestibule. This location of the robing retreat, it will be seen, requires the Minister to do some traveling during service time (four times the length of the Church), for it would have been very perilous in those days to have preached in a surplice anywhere, and especially in Ohio. Entering the pulpit, we have on our left hand, occupying a large square pew, Judge Mason and family, on the right, a cluster of young unmarried men, Manly, Everts, Phillips and others. In the fartber right hand pew, Henry Bennett and family. Correspond- ing in the far corner, Decins Wadsworth and family. Elsewhere scattered about, Matthew Johnson, Egbert S. Brown*, General Brown, CharlesI. Scott*, Levi S. Lownsbury, George Pendleton, Robert Lawton, T. H. Hough, James M. Comstock. Edward Strong, James M. Whitney, Tra L. Clark, Willard J. Daniels, Charles A. King*, Judge Tilden*, Doctor Hazlett, Thomas Dun- lap*, D. B. Smith*, Frank J. King*, A. W. Fairbanks*, Frederick Bissell, and many others with their fami- lies, making together a congregation of a hundred and more, in point of intelligence and social standing much above the average.

Of the 26 persons here named by Dr. Wal- bridge as in the congregation of 1848, the eight marked with a star were living in November, 1887.

In February, 1869, Rev. James Mulcahey, D. D., was elected Rector, and accepted the call, and remained with the Church to its gen- eral acceptance and success until his resigna- tion in January, 1874, at which time he was appointed as a minister in Trinity Church, New York City.

January 24, 1874, Rev. E. R. Atwill was elected Rector, and declined.

In March following, Rev. Leighton Cole- man, D. D., was elected, and soon entered upon the work, remaining until March, 1876, when, in consequence of the ill health of Mrs. Cole- man, he resigned ; but his resignation not being accepted, Rev. Professor Brooke was engaged temporarily to act. In November, 1877, Dr. Coleman resumed his work, and continued it until July, 1879, when, owing to the continued iliness of Mrs. Coleman, he finally withdrew and went to England, where he and his family remained until 1887, when he became the Rector of a Church in Sayre. Pennsylvania.

Rev. Edwin R. Atwill, D.D., was again elected Rector, accepted and entered upon the dis- charge of the duties of the office in January, 1882. His only previous Church work bad been at Burlington, Vermont, where he labored for 12 years. He continnes in Trinity to the general acceptance of the Parish.

The membership of the Church in 1856 was 100; in 1866, 245; in 1882, 300; and in 1886, 390.

Tho site of Trinity Church (lots 163 and 164, Port Lawrence), was donated to Trinity Soci- ety by the American Land Company, of which Charles Butler was the President, in July, 1844, upon the condition " that within - years from date, the Society erect thereon a build- ing for a Church, and forever occupy the premises for a Church and Parsonage, and for no other purpose whatever." Previous to that time (December, 1843), these lots had been for- feited and reforfeited by non-payment of taxes, and had been sold at public sale for such delin - queney. One was purchased by Jerome Myers for $7.00, and the other by Daniel McBain for $6.50 ; and both transferred to Trinity Church, having evidently been purchased with that view.

A financial statement of the Parish prepared in 1886, showed the aggregate contributions to the support of Trinity Church, to local mission enterprises and to other Church work, to have reached the large sum of $316,710. Among the objects included in such expenditure were the following :

The original house of worship, completed in 1844, $4,000; the building of St. John's Chapel in 1870, and Grace Church in 1873-4, $11,500 ; the cost of the present Trinity edifice, $47,000; the grand organ in Trinity, purchased in 1870, $6,300; Calvary Mission and Chapel, 1873-'76. $5,300; Parish School, 1874, $3,000; Trinity Parish Building and Chapel, 1875, $25,700. Fromu pew rents and special offerings for current expenditures, from 1858 (wben the record begins), $157,428. The report does not include tbe contributions by the several Ladies' Benevolent Societies of the l'arish during the past 20 years, which are estimated to amount to several thousand dollars.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. In 1860, Rev. Henry B. Walbridge, D. D., Rector of Trinity Church, laid before his Vestry a proposition from Mr. Stephen Thorn, of Utica, New York, to lease to the Vestry, lot 604. Port Lawrence Division (Eleventh Street), for the sum of $50 for the first year, $20 additional each succeeding year to 1870, with the privilege of purchasing the same any time within two years for $1,500, or for $1,750 if within six years. The proposition was accepted, and C. A. King, C. Yardley and D. B. Smith were appointed to complete the contract; and also to make a contract for a Chapel building. On the 9th December, 1861, the Committee reported the completion of the building, furnished, at a cost of $1,424.85. The Rector gave it the name of St. John's Chapel. It was abont one-half the size of the present Church edifice, and was paid for by the Vestry of Trinity Church.

In the same month (December, 1861), Rev. N. R. High, then Rector of a Parish in Logans- port, Ind., was called by the Vestry of Trinity Church to be assistant minister and have charge

50-1

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

of St. John's Chapel, at a salary of $600 per year. He arrived in Toledo January 2, 1862, and found a small Chapel, ground not paid for, and no congregation. Ile devoted himself to his work as Rector most diligently, and in a short time had a fair congregation about him. The mother Church for a time continued to bear a portion of the expenses of the Mission ; but in April, 1863, it seemed best for the congrega- tion that it should sever its connection with Trinity as a Mission, and become a Parish. There was a meeting of the congregation called, Wardens and Vestrymen elected and the Parish duly incorporated. The first election of officers resulted as follows: Senior Warden, Timothy Tredwell; Junior Warden, T. Jackson ; Ves- trymen, W. L. Lamb, C. M. Woodbury, A. L. Kelsey, Ilenry Bennett, G. II. Martin, D. Segur, T. Crampton and W. Merchant.

In the spring of 1864 the rectory was built on the same lot, some $300 having been raised by the Ladies' Aid Society, and the remainder begged by the Rector, who used to call himself " Chief of Beggars."

In August, 1865, the lot was purchased of Mr. Thorn for $1,750.

In 1866, there was $1,000 yet due on the lot, and just when the Vestry were taking steps to raise the money to pay it, a fire damaged the Church very seriously, but as it stimulated the persevering Rector and his people to greater efforts, it resulted in advantage by additions to the house, which was made much more com- modious.

In February, 1881, Mr. High was attacked with severe hemorrhages, from which he never recovered, although he continued to minister to the Parish until within two weeks of his death, February 19, 1884.

At the expiration of Mr. High's ministry, there was an average congregation of 200, and a communion list of about the same number. All who knew him bear witness to his faithful- ness.

After Mr. Iligh's death, the Rev. Chas. II. DeGarmo was called as Rector.

GRACE CHURCHI .- In 1868, a Mission was started, under the auspices of Trinity Church, in the First Ward of the City, at first finding accommodations at the residence of Miss Anna Church, on Erie near Bush Street. Rev. Dr. Mulcahey, while Rector of Trinity, took an active part in the work. The Parish was or- ganized in February, 1873, with the following Vestrymen : Henry Bennett, Courtland Yard- ley. A. G. Clark E. D. Potter, Jr., A. L. Kelsey, Wm. Shiell, W. W. Backus, and Irwin 1. Mil- lard. The first Wardens were : F. L. Nichols, as Senior, and E. G. Peckham, as Junior.

C. A. King contributed a lot as a site for a Church, which was sold, the proceeds being nsed in the purchase of the location on Stick- ney Avenue. With contributions from Trinity Parish, with H. S. Walbridge as Chairman of

the Building Committee, the present edifice was erected at a cost of $7,000. For a time Rev. E. T. Perkins, and afterwards Rev. Samuel French, Assistant at Trinity, acted as Rector. From 1873 to 1875, Rev. Frank M. Hall thus served the Church ; being succeeded by Revs. S. S. Stevens, Arnold Carstensen, E. L. Kemp, Samuel Moran, S. P. Blackiston, and A. P. Gorrell. While Rector of Trinity, Rev. Dr. Coleman took an active interest in the enter- prise, as has Rev. Dr. Atwill since he succeeded Dr. Coleman. In 1882 the former gentleman was elected Rector of Grace, and appointed Rev. W. C. Hopkins as his Assistant, who be- gan his service in July of that year, and con- tinued the same until 1883, when he was elected Rector, and continues as such. A Rectory has been provided, mainly through the liberality of members of Trinity Parish.

CALVARY MISSION .- In the Summer of 1869, Rev. Dr. Mulcahey, of Trinity, began occasional services in the Fifth Ward, at first occupying Chamberlin Hall, Southeast corner Broadway and Segur Avenue, which in 1871 resulted in the organization of Calvary Mission. During the same year a handsome Chapel was erected on Broadway. Rev. E. T. Perkins, then re- cently ordained here, was placed in charge of the work, which was successful until the building was burned. This misfortune was not overcome until the erection in 1878 of the present superior house on Western Avenue, near Broadway. Since Mr. Perkins, the cler- gymen in charge have been Rev. Mr. Welton, who died in the service; and Rev. C. T. Stout. The communion list of the Church is about 100, and average attendance 200.

ST. PAUL'S MISSION .- In 1884, Rev. Dr. At- will, Rector of Trinity Church, commenced services in East Toledo, with more especial reference to supplying religious privileges to the laboring population in connection with the Maumee Rolling Mills, then expected soon to be in full operation. Delay in the full com- mencement of that establishment seriously af- fected the religious enterprise, which, notwith- standing, has gained a foothold, and now, under improved conditions, promises success. It is known as St. Paul's Mission, and Dr. At- will now holds services there each Sabbath afternoon.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Record of the earlier steps taken toward the establishment of Churches of the Catholic de- nomination, is difficult to be found. Under the administration of Bishop (late Archbishop) Purcell, Priests made irregular visits to the Maumee Valley for special work. Among these are named Fathers McNamee and How- ard. As near as can now be ascertained, the first definite steps toward permanent work by that Church at this point, were taken by Father Armedeus Rappe, in 1841. That gentleman

595

PERMANENT RELIGIOUS WORK.

had spent the first years of his priesthood in France, and at the head of an important institution of that country. Ere long his atten- tion was drawn to Church work in America, and he became interested therein. It so hap- pened, that about that time (1839) Bishop Purcell visited Europe, and Father Rappe met him in London. The result of the interview was an engagement for the young Priest to come to the United States, and he reached Cineinnati the latter part of 1840, when he was sent to Chillicothe, to learn English of Marshall Anderson. In 1841, he was sent to Toledo. Of the state of things in this new field at that time, a writer personally familiar with the same, says :

Catholics here (Toledo) were very few in number and had neither Church nor Priest. Tithin was the nearest place whence sick calls were attended. The Miami & Erie Canal was being built about this time, and there came a large influx of Catholic laborers, who settled along the line of the Canal and Maumee River. There was much sickness here, the dread " Maumee fever" undermining the strongest consti- tution and hurrying many of its vietims to early graves. There was also much intemperance among laborers, who spent their hard-earned money for drink and allowed their families to want. To this uncultivated and uninviting field of labor Father Rappe was sent by the Bishop. His "Parish limits" extended from Toledo to the Indiana State line and as far South as Allen County. From the Summer of 1841 to the Spring of 1846 his labors, privations and difficulties of all kinds were indeed trying. He never lost courage, but, full of missionary zeal and self-sacrifice, labored faithfully among his people. It was here that he first saw the terrible effects of in- temperance which so filled him with a horror of this vice that he fought it then and during the remainder of his life by word and example. Thousands bless his memory for the energetic measures he took in rescuing them from drunkards' graves.

Father Rappe was alone in this field for five years, when his excessive labors were shared by Father Louis De Goesbriand, subsequently Bishop of Burlington, Vermont. Of the situa- tion at Toledo at that time, he wrote as follows:

At certain seasons it was almost impossible to meet a healthy-looking person, and frequently entire families were sick and unable to help one another. Apart from the terrible malarial fever, we were occa- sionally visited by such epidemies as erysipelas, and towards the end of 1847 we saw the ship fever stricken emigrants landing on the docks to die among strangers within a few honrs after arrival.

Upon the arrival of Father Rappe, matters began to change. A Parish was organized, and named St. Francis de Sales. He soon pur- chased the building formerly occupied by the Presbyterian Church, corner of Cherry and Superior Streets, at a cost, including the lot, of $2,400. The building was of wood, and now constitutes a portion of the School building, in rear of St. Francis de Sales edifice. Temper- ance Societies were formed to resist the sad ravages of alcohol among the people ; and by day and by night the energetic missionary was

seen wherever his presence could promote the well-being - spiritual or temporal -of his parishioners. Results soon appeared, in the reformation of large numbers of laborers on the Canal, who had been squandering their wages in dissipation, but many of whom soon became sober and provident, and invested in homes the means so long sunk in drink. The early records are missing. The first found is that of the baptism by Father Rappe, October 31, 1841, of James, son of Thomas David and Catherine Comerford-David Borien and Mary Ann Borien acting as sponsors. Father Rappe for a time supplied also a Church at Maumee City, visiting both on each Sabbath.

The completion of the Canal left the larger portion of the Catholic laborers without em- ployment, and most of them soon left, whereby Father Rappe's local charge was materially re- duced in importance. But the extent of his field devolved upon him great responsibility and incessant labor. He continued to say mass regularly at Toledo and Maumee on Sun- days, and on week days at Providence, Defi- ance, Poplar Ridge, and occasionally at Fre- mont and La Prairie. In January, 1847, the City Council voted to Rev. Armedeus Rappe, the sum of $50, for ringing the City bell three times a day during the year 1846. In 1847 the Diocese of Cleveland was formed, and Father Rappe was consecrated as its Bishop, at Cinein- nati, October 10, 1847. Father De Goesbriand remained in charge of the Toledo Parish until succeeded by Father Phillip Foley, in February, 1848. The latter remained until October, 1854, being meantime assisted at different periods by Fathers J. Moran, S. C. Lanner, N. Pouchel and James Monahan. Father A. Campion succeeded Father Foley in 1854, and was sneceeded by Father R. A. Sidley, May 30, 1856. Father O'Connor served as Assistant from February, 1855, till June 28, 1858, when Father John Quin came. In March, 1859, Father Boff succeeded as Priest, with Father Quin as Assistant, until November, 1860, being then succeeded by Father Thomas Halley, who remained until Father T. P. Thorpe came in 1861. Father Boff remained until October 11, 1872, at which time Father James O'Reilly took charge, and retained it until his death, in October, 1885. He was succeeded by Rev. P. F. Quigley, D. D., in 1886, who yet remains in charge of the Parish.

The pastorates most conspienons in the his- tory of St. Francis de Sales Church, are those of Fathers Rappe, Foley, Boff and O'Reilly, each of whom not only ffilled'his charge to the satisfaction of the people and of the Bishop, but in high degree won the respect and con- fidence of the people of Toledo generally. Of the four named, Father O'Reilly was the only one who died while in charge of the Parish, and the demonstration on the part both of the parishioners and citizens generally which at-

596

HISTORY OF TOLEDO AND LUCAS COUNTY.

tended his burial, exceeded anything of the kind ever known in the City.

The Catholic population in Toledo, from the first, was composed chiefly of the Irish, Ger- man and French nationalities. The former for many years largely predominated. In the course of time, with the increase of population, the demands for Church accommodations be- came such as to require the establishment of new Parishes, and very naturally, these to greater or less extent, were arranged to suit the different leading nationalities of the Church. The first step in that direction consisted of the organization of St. Mary's Church, for Ger- mans, in 1854. Reverend Charles Evrard was appointed as Pastor. The labors incident to such charge were greatly heightened by the fact that he was a Frenchman, without knowledge of the German language. But such was his devotion and resources, that within a few months he was permitted to see laid the foun- dation of the large Church at the corner of Cherry and Michigan Streets, the rear portion (60x100 feet) of which was dedicated in October, 1856. Such was Father Evrard's spirit of de- votion to his work, that he was often seen among the laborers on the Church, himself handling and wheeling brick, sand and mortar, as best would forward the work. At the end of eight more years of toil and embarrassment, he saw the edifice completed. In September, 1867, he was removed to Tiffin, where he re- mained until his death, in 1885. The next Pastor of St. Mary's was Rev. C. Viere, who remained until October, 1869, when the Church passed under the immediate charge of the Jesuit Fathers, which relation has since been maintained. Rev. Father Spiecker, from Buf- falo, was the next Pastor, who was succeeded by Rev. John B. Kansleiter, under whose ad- ministration the large School building, known as St. Mary's School, was projected, which was completed under Rev. Nicholas Greisch, the succeeding Pastor. Under the plan of this School, it was proposed that every child of the Parish should be educated, at whatever ex- pense necessary to the more wealthy members of the Church. The present Pastor ( Decem- ber, 1887) is Rev. Aloysius Sigg ; Rev. Bazilius Hackfely as Assistant and Chaplain of St. Vin- cent Hospital.

In connection with this Parish, the following named associations have been organized, to wit : St. Joseph's School Association, in 1855 ; St. Michael's Benevolent Association, in 1872 : and Brauch 194 Catholic Knights of America, in 1878.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, Part 117

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1408

Author: Waggoner, Clark, 1820-1903
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: New York and Toledo : Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1408