USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Official report of the centennial celebration of the founding of the city of Cleveland and the settlement of the Western Reserve > Part 32
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
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Bohemian, I Polish, and 2 Russian congregations: the first two representing the mod- ern reform, the other six the strict orthodox element, and ranging in membership from 30 to 150. Closely connected with our congregational life are our benevolent institu- tions, which belong to the practical part of the Jewish religion. There are 17 Jewish charitable societies in this city, the most prominent of which is the Hebrew Relief Society, which dates back to the time of the first settlers. With the annual collections, which amount to between $5,000 and $6,000, the poor in our midst are sufficiently sup- , ported that they need not fall a burden to the city. And in this noble work the society is ably assisted by the Council of Jewish Women, founded November 21, 1894, with about 250 members, and a present membership of 350; the most prominent ladies of the city taking an active part in the distribution of charity and in the promotion of the educational branches. The oldest Ladies' Benevolent Society in the city is " The Daughters of Israel," established in 1860. Their helping hand reaches far beyond the boundary, and very liberal donations were sent to the yellow fever sufferers in Mem- phis and New Orleans. With but two dollars annual dues they have a surplus in their treasury of $11,000, though some time ago they presented $600 to the Jewish Orphan Asylum, $5,000 to the Montefiore Home, and $coo to the same Institution to furnish a sick-room. We cannot close this sketch without making mention of these two institu- tions, which respectively take care of the orphans and provide for the aged and infirm Israelites. The Jewish Orphan Asylum, after having been dedicated on July 14, 1868, ·opened its portals to receive 38 orphaned children on September 29 of the same year. New buildings were added at different periods, which add a prominent share to the beauty of our city, and in which are at present comfortably sheltered and excellently educated 500 little inmates. And the other is the Montefiore Kesher Home, which was bought in 1881 for $25,000, and was duly dedicated in ISS2. Since then it has been enlarged with an expenditure of about again as much, and has now a sinking fund of $42,000, and a balance in the general fund of $24,000. It opened with four inmates, and takes care now of 46, men and women, whose ages range from 65 to 103.
Mrs. W. A. Ingham read an account of the Methodist Episcopal Church as follows:
The history of the Methodist. Episcopal Church, and indeed, of each branch of Protestantism, is older in the suburbs of our city than in the present business centers. This is not surprising, as the pioneers of 1796-1818, finding Cleveland harbor at the foot of huge sand hills blown by the lake winds, pushed for their first settlement further back, where fruit would grow and where saw, grist, and fulling mills might be erected; hence the now beautiful Forest City was then a minute " village, six miles from Newburgh."
The Moravians, missionaries to the Indians, pitched their tents in June, 1786; on November 10 of the same year they dedicated their little chapel in what is now Inde- pendence township, Cuyahoga County, calling their settlement " Pilgerruh," " Pil- grim's Rest."
The earliest period of our city's existence is void of religious interest, except as we read that in 1799 the Rev. William Wick, Presbyterian, preached, possibly once, locating in Youngstown, O. In 1800-1801, he entertained in his cabin the Rev. Joseph Badger, Congregational representative of a Connecticut home missionary society, en route to explore this wilderness, preaching as he had opportunity.
Old Trinity Parish was organized at Phineas Shepard's log house on the present site of No. 230 Pearl street (old number), November 9, 1816, by the Rev. Roger Searle, rector of St. Peter's Parish, Plymouth, Conn.
But to my subject - Methodism in Cleveland. Before 1812 the Baltimore Confer- ence extended over this lake region. No official mention is made of this tract of country in connection with the Methodist Church until 1820, when it has place in the minutes of the Ohio Conference. Some idea of the extent of the last named may be found in the fact that West Wheeling Chautauqua, Erie and Detroit were included within its limits.
The Cuyahoga River vicinity was embraced in New Connecticut Circuit, Ohio District. In 1824, was formed the Pittsburg Conference, in which were located the lands east of the Cuyahoga, and the West Side allotted to the Michigan Conference until 1837. James B. Finley being presiding elder of Ohio District, it is said that early in 1818 a circuit rider drew up to a double log farm house built on a quarter section in Brooklyn, our present forty-second ward, and saying that he was looking up the lost sheep, gathered a class of eight members, four of them named Fish, the other half Brainard. It is also quite certain that our gospel was heard in Newburgh the same
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year, but we have of this no absolutely reliable record. In August, 18:8, Cuyahoga Circuit was made and to its round appointed Ezra Booth and Dennis Goddard. In ISIg, the Rev. William Swazy succeeded to Ohio District - a man of extraordinary fervor, abounding in labor.
Thorough research proves that in 1821 a class was formed in Euclid Creek, num- bering at least ten persons. Our services were held in the cabins of pioneers, in barns, and later in log and frame school houses. These ministers of the period were men of one work, eminent in sacrifice; sleeping at night by forest fires of their own kindling with flint and tinder; saddle bags for pillows, and their camlet cloaks for covering; anon, arising to scare away the prowling wolf. Without bridges, they and their intelligent ponies forded swollen streams. With pole in hand, these itinerants picked their way among ice-floes, drying themselves in the wigwams of Red Jacket and other friendly Indians.
It is expected that in this Centennial we are specifically mindful of the pioneers, and personally, I have become much interested in the clergymen herein named, and in the Rev. Ira Eddy, who organized a class in Hudson, O., in 1822. In 1823, Cleveland was a remote and insignificant point upon Hudson Circuit, Portland District, brave Ira Eddy in charge. His circuit embraced six hundred miles of travel. My interest is deep in the Rev. John Crawford, the organizer; in Milton Colt, eloquent and power- ful; Francis A. Dighton, talented and of great promise, dying at twenty-six; earnest Mr. Prescott, whose name is found in Brunswick cemetery; nor shall be omitted young Mr. Bump, the schoolmaster and local preacher - afterward drowned in a bridgeless river of Arkansas during the performance of almost superhuman labor.
What of our church in the city proper ? There is a tradition that a New England gentleman wishing to see Methodism planted here in 1820, sent the deed of a lot cor- ner of Ontario and Rockwell streets, but no one was found sufficiently interested, nor with money enough to pay the recorder's fee.
Through the agency of Grace Johnston, wife of a lake captain, preaching was heard here in 1822, and occasionally from that time to 1827, in which year the Rev. John Crawford formed the pioneer class of the first Methodist Episcopal Church, num- bering nine persons; Andrew Tomlinson, leader. Elijah Peet, residing in Newburgh, used to bring cut wood in his wagon from his distant home over almost impassable roads, and with his wife came early on Sunday mornings and made the fire to keep comfortable the handful of Methodist people at the class meeting.
John Crawford organized another class in 1827, enrolling fourteen, at Hubbard's, on Kinsman street, that being a central point for members residing at either extreme of the settlement. Those at Doan's corners traveled thither up the present East Madi- son avenue, over an Indian foot-path.
Let us for a moment trace the fortunes of the pioneer First Church. From 1827 to 1841, the members worshiped in halls and rented rooms. Unmoved by indescrib- able adversity, under the pastorate of F. A. Dighton, in 1836, the trustees chose the site for old St. Clair, corner of Wood street, then quite in the suburbs of the city. Nearly all of the ground north to the lake shore and east of Erie street was covered . with oak and hazel, beyond which lay a vast quagmire partly cleared. Not until several years later, April, 1841, was their edifice complete and dedicated.
A class was permanently established at Doan's Corners, now Euclid Avenue M. E. Church, in 1831, by the Rev. Milton Colt, who organized also the first Methodist Sunday-school in the village of Cleveland, in a building known as the Infant School Room, on the west side of Academy Lane, half way from St. Clair to Lake street.
At Newburgh, our present Miles Park Church, a class of nine was formed early in 1832.
Hanover Street, now Franklin Avenue, saw the light in 1833, at a private house on Pearl street.
We have, then, five original churches, Brooklyn, First, Euclid Avenue, Miles Park and Franklin Avenue. Mothers are they of Sabbath-schools and missions, developing into thirty denominational centers.
In 1836, our territory east of the Cuyahoga became a part of the Erie Conference which was formed that year. In 1840, by a revision of boundaries, the North Ohio Conference was formed, and that portion lying west of the river boundary was in- cluded in it. By another revision in 1876, the East Ohio Conference was made and the part of Cleveland known as the East Side became a part of it. Franklin Avenue Church, a strong center in the North Ohio division; vigorous and alert, she takes high rank among city churches of all denominations.
Epworth Memorial commemorates the unification of all our young people's asso- ciations throughout the world into the Epworth League; these societies were consoli-
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dated May 15, 1889. This church was once called Erie Street, having been colonized from First Church in 1850. Upon its removal to the corner of Prospect and Hunting- ton streets, it was named in 1875, "Christ Methodist Episcopal Church." In 1883 it was combined with Cottage Mission and became Central Church, corner Willson avenue and Prospect street. This historic building is now a Salvation Army barracks, giving place to a structure whose architectural symmetry and exquisite arrangement make it celebrated.
Bridge Street, now Gordon Avenue, was colonized from Hanover Street, in 1855.
Willson Avenue Church began as a mission in 1857, on St. Clair street, near Perry. In the early sixties by removal to Waring street and Mariposa Park, it was known for eight years as Waring Street Mission. Upon reaching self-maintenance it became Waring Street Church. Its next transition was into a tabernacle for temporary use, on a fine lot corner of Superior and Aaron streets. For three years, or since 1893, it has been permanently located on Willson avenue, corner of Luther, in a delightful residence portion of the city, in a substantial gray stone structure with all modern facilities.
Scovill Avenue, built largely through the liberality of one man, was founded in IS66.
Lorain Street Church was founded in 1868 by the Rev. Hugh L. Parish.
Woodland Avenue, a mission of Scovill Avenue, was first comfortably housed in IS70, and is now a flourishing center with a fine new building.
Jennings, formerly Pelton Avenue, was founded in 1871.
Broadway was organized in 1872, and its original meeting-place purchased and presented by Horace Wilkins and H. A. Massey.
German Methodism was slow in progress. In 1847, the Rev. C. Helwig formed a class here, which after years of struggle developed into the now prosperous center, corner Scovill and Sterling avenues.
St. Paul's German, corner Harbor and Bridge streets, was established in 1852.
From 1872 to 1886, there was a steady growth in each parish.
In 1874, the pioneer First Church found itself in the present elegant and commo- dious edifice, corner Euclid avenue and Erie street, her property worth $150,000.
Bishop Mathew Simpson, in his " Encyclopedia of Methodism," published in 1878, estimates the property valuation of our city churches at that time as $462,500. Now, we may safely say, with all our acquisitions these figures are three-quarters of a million.
In 1886 the Methodist Church and Sunday-School Alliance was organized, develop- ing into the City Church Extension Society. From the tenth annual report of its first president, Mr. Wilson M. Day, I learn that during the ten years' existence of the alli- ance, nine churches were rebuilt, Epworth Memorial, Willson, Jennings, Gordon, Woodland and Parkwood avenues, First German, St. Clair and Asbury. Several were built in new territory, Grace, Woodland Hills, Wade Park, Ferncliff, Trinity. Rosedale, Walworth Swedish, Bethany and Immanuel German.
Cory Chapel (colored) has removed from a leased lot to its own.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, formed first in 1850, has two buildings - St. John's and Lexington.
Clark Avenue and Kingsley Mission are, as we may say, in a foreign field.
The State of Ohio numbers one-ninth of the two and one-half millions of Method- ists in the United States; of these, Cleveland has a little over 8,ooo members and 32,000 adherents, distributed in thirty churches; Sabbath school scholars enrolled October i, 1805, 7,953. Foreign missionaries who have gone out from our midst are six, stationed in India, China and Corea. Of city missionaries and deaconesses there are a score. Our grand missionary and aid societies raise annually, thousands of dollars. Our laymen and women include citizens of high standing; our Bible classes, mission bands and circles and Epworth Leagues are a conquering force, accepting their high privilege of helping to bring the multitudes to Christ.
The Methodist churches of the city are interested in four institutions of learning - Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, whose medical department is located here; Bald- win University at Berea, Mt. Union College, Alliance, O. ; Allegheny College at Meadville, Pa., and in two summer assemblies, Chautauqua, N. Y., and Lakeside, O.
The last paper of the session was a history of Cleveland Presbyteri- anism, read by Rev. A. C. Ludlow, being in its essential points as fol- lows:
The first effectual efforts to establish and to sustain institutions of religion upon
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the Western Reserve were made by Presbyterians and Congregationalists. The first two missionaries sent into these then Western wilds were the Rev. William Wick, a Presbyterian from Pennsylvania, who came to Youngstown in 1799, and the Rev. Joseph Badger, a Congregationalist from New England, who came in 1800. These two men labored together for the establishment of ordinances of religion, and fore- shadowed the "Plan of Union" under which the new Presbyterian and Congregational churches were governed for a number of years.
Many Christian churches were founded by these men and their co-workers, in the small villages of Northern Ohio, before a church was established in Cleveland. One of these early organizations was the old Euclid Church, afterwards known as the Col- lamer, and now the East Cleveland Presbyterian Church. It was founded in 1807, and for twenty years the few Christians in the village of Cleveland worshiped in the Euclid Church. A fine modern church edifice has lately been erected upon the site of this historic meeting-house, and Rev. D. L. Hickok, the present pastor, ministers to a people that are soon to become a city congregation.
The First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, known as the Old Stone Church, and often termed by Presbyterians "The Mother of Us All," was the outgrowth of a Union Sunday-school held in a primitive court-house which stood on what is now the Public Square .. This school, opened in June, 1819, with Mr. Elisha Taylor as superin- tendent, became, September 19, 1820, the First Presbyterian Church. The names of the charter members are thus chronicled in the records of that time: "Elisha Taylor and Ann, his wife; T. J. Hamlin, P. B. Andrews, Sophia L. Perry, widow; Bertha Johnson, widow; Sophia Walworth, Mrs. Mabel How, Henry Baird and Ann, his wife; Rebecca Carter, widow; Juliana Long, Isabella Williamson, Miss Harriet How, Minerva Merwin."
For thirteen years this little band of believers worshiped in various buildings, such as school houses or public halls, until the basement of the first "Old Stone Church " was ready for occupancy. This first stone edifice was dedicated February 26, 1834. Until this time there had been no settled pastor, but Rev. Messrs. Randolph Stone, William McLean, S. J. Bradstreet, John Sessions, Samuel Hutchins and John Keep had served as stated supplies. During the year in which the church was dedi- cated, the Rev. John Keep, the last of the stated supplies, founded a church on the west side of the river and became its pastor. This church was known as the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, which to-day is the First Congregational Church of Cleveland.
The First Presbyterian, or Old Stone Church, then called its first settled pastor, Rev. Samuel C. Aiken, D. D., of Utica, N. Y. At the time of his coming, Cleveland was a village of a little over 5,000 inhabitants. Of Dr. Aiken, and the period in which he came to the work in Cleveland, Dr. Goodrich said: "There was, at this time, an unusual disposition toward spurious excitement, which gave abundant occasion for mischief in the church, especially among the newer settlements. The dreams of per- fectionism, the vagaries of Millerism, and the premonitory stir and struggle of the great anti-slavery and temperance movements were engrossing many minds and . throwing unstable men everywhere off their balance. To Dr. Aiken's clear and prac- tical wisdom, his weight of character, as well as his unselfish consecration to the serv- ice of Christ, we owe it, that this church (the Old Stone) escaped the disorders which rent asunder so many other Christian bodies, and held on its way with growing strength and unity." Soon after Dr. Aiken commenced his work, in 1834, the church building was outgrown by the congregation, and to relieve the pressure a colony of "twenty of the best families" went forth, in 1836, to form a Second Presbyterian Church, but after'a year of life the members returned to the mother church. It is thought that the financial troubles of 1837 had something to do with the failure of this attempt to form another church. A powerful revival in 1840, under the preaching of Rev. J. T. Avery, added about 170 members to the First Church, and this prepared the way for a secession of some, who had become dissatisfied with Dr. Aiken's moder- ate views on the slavery issue of the day, to form a Congregational church, but the latter enterprise was wrecked by Second Adventism. The church edifice which this body of seceders had built on the Public Square near the Old Stone Church was sold to pay debts, and finally became the home of the Second Presbyterian Church which was successfully organized in June, 1844, on the old charter of 1837, with fifty-eight char- ter members. This colony went out with Dr. Aiken's blessing, he presiding at the formation of the new church. In this wooden building, which now stands at the corner of Erie street and Central avenue, the Second Church worshiped until 1851, when it oe- cupied the lecture room of the stone church which for twenty years graced Superior street, opposite the present Post Office. This edifice was destroyed by fire in 1876,
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whereupon the congregation erected its present fine house of worship on Prospect street, at the corner of Sterling avenue. Four pastors, Doctors Canfield, Eells, Hawks and Pomeroy, served this church for almost fifty years, and at the death of Dr. Pome- roy, who was pastor for twenty-one years, Rev. Dr. Paul F. Sutphen, the present pastor, commenced his work.
Six years after the Second Presbyterian Church was formed, thirty members left the First Church to form what was known for two years as the Free Presbyterian Church. This organization took more radical grounds upon the slavery question than the pastor of the First Church held, and this Free Presbyterian Church became a Con- gregational church, the beginning of what is now Plymouth Congregational Church of this city.
This secession, in 1850, did not weaken the mother church, for three years later, in 1853, owing to the overcrowded con- dition of the First Church, the Euclid Street, now Euclid Avenue Presby- terian Church, was formed, thirteen members of the First Church, among whom was the veteran Elisha Tay- lor, founder of the Old Stone Church, leaving the parent organization. This new congregation erected the present large edifice, at the corner of Euclid avenue and Brownell street, and the church has been served by Rev. Messrs. Bittinger, Monteith, Lyman, who died at his post; Bald- win, Jeffers, Robertson, Davis, and by the Rev. Dr. S. P. Sprecher, the present pastor. This church has lately received an endowment of $100,000 from Miss Anne Walworth. In March of the same year, 1853, in which the Euclid Avenue Presby- terian Church was founded, the Ex- ecutive Committee of the old school Presbyterian Church sent Dr. Fred- erick Brown to Cleveland to found a church of that type, and from this effort came the Westminster Presby- terian Church, whose building stood on Prospect street, at the corner of Huntington street. After the re- union of the old and new school churches, this church, being heavily in debt, and occupying the same ter- ritory as that occupied by the Euclid Avenue Presbyterian Church, was disbanded and the property sold.
After the colony left the First Church to form the Euclid Avenue Church, the parent organization so outgrew her house of worship that the second Old Stone edifice was erected at a cost of $60,000.
STATUE OF COMMODORE . PERRY.
This building was dedicated August 12, 1855, but March 7, 1857, it was burned. With the partial insurance and earnest efforts of the disappointed congregation the church home was rebuilt, and dedicated January 17. 1858. The same year, Rev. William H. Goodrich, D. D., became associate pastor with Dr. Aiken, and three years later, in 1861, Dr. Aiken was made pastor emeritus. Dur- ing the twenty-three years' pastorate of Dr. Aiken, 880 persons united with the Old Stone Church, and he saw the city grow from a population of 5,000 to over 60,009.
In IS59, the year after Dr. Goodrich assumed practical leadership in the work of the First Church, a mission was started on St. Clair street, which became in time the North Presbyterian Church. In 1865, fifty-one members were dismissed from the First Church to form this new congregation. For some time the North Church was located on Aaron street, but the present site is at the corner of Superior street and
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Case avenue. . Dr. Anson Smythe, Rev. H. R. Hoisington, and Dr. William Gaston, the present pastor, have served this organization, and under Dr. Gaston's ministry the North Church has sent out two colonies. In 1890, a Sunday-school was opened on Becker avenue which grew into the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, Rev. Charles L. Chalfant, pastor, and early in 1893, steps were taken to form a church in Glenville by members of the North Church, who lived in that suburb. Rev. T. Y. Gardner is pastor of this Glenville Presbyterian Church. Thus a line of Presbyterian churches has gone from the Old Stone Church eastward along the northern part of the city.
Dr. Goodrich's pastorate in the First Church extended from 1858 to 1874, three years at the beginning as associate pastor with Dr. Aiken, the last two years as senior pastor with Rev. Hiram C. Haydn, D. D. Dr. Haydn was installed as associate pastor at the close of August, 1872, and during his terms of service in the Old Stone Church the fountain source of Cleveland Presbyterianism has continued to send forth her power into all parts of the city.
Near the close of the year 1878, Dr. Haydn re-opened a mission Sunday-school, which had existed for some years on Euclid avenue, east of Willson avenue, but which had been closed on account of the death of some of the most active workers. This was the humble beginning of the strong Calvary Presbyterian Church, which existed for some time in collegiate relation with the mother church. This collegiate form of church work was still further extended in the establishment of a second branch of the First Church, at the corner of Cedar and Bolton avenues. These three organizations enjoyed for a number of years the pastoral care of Dr. Haydn and his assistants, Rev. Messrs. Rollo Ogden, J. W. Simpson, Wilton M. Smith, Joseph Seldon, Burt E. How- ard, William Knight and R. A. George. This collegiate form of work was abandoned July 1, 1892, when Calvary Presbyterian Church was made an independent congrega- tion. This church possesses a fine property on Euclid avenue, at the corner of East Madison avenue, and has had one pastor, Rev. David (. Mears, D. D., who lately re- signed. The Bolton Mission remained under the care of the First Church until May 3, 1896, when it was organized into the Bolton Avenue Presbyterian Church, with Rev. John S. Zelie, pastor.
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