Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 47

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 47

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).

enrolled as charter members. The tent was used until October, when a temporary struct- ure was built. The church was supplied by students until April, 1905, when Rev. Francis A. Kearns came from the First Presbyterian Church of Kinsman, Ohio. He was installed May 5, 1905.

HUNGARIAN EVANGELICAL REFORMED CHURCH.

In 1883 a mission chapel was built by the First Church on Mahoning avenue and a Sun- day school organized, which flourished until 1905, when the location was given over for the erection of a Presbyterian Church for Mag- vars. This church, called the Hungarian Evangelical Reformed Church, had been or- ganized in 1902, through the efforts of Rev. Julius Hamborsky, of Lackawanna Presby- tery, who, visiting Youngstown, found sev- eral hundred Protestant Magyars in the city and neighboring towns without a preacher or church. The congregation occupied the mis- sion chapel until the erection of the church, a handsome stone edifice, which was dedicated October 15, 1905. The first pastor was Rev. Geza Kacziany, Ph. D., who was in charge from March. 1903, to October of the same year. Rev. Bela Bassa acted as stated supply from January, 1904, to March, 1904, when he was installed as pastor, this relation continu- ing until March, 1907. Iu March, 1907, Rev. Louis Manassy was called.

The Second Presbyterian Church was an outgrowth of the Mission Sabbath school work started in Youngstown in 1872 by a few of the enterprising church members of this and other denominations. . J. F. Wilson, I. A. Justice, Henry B. Shields and Henry A. Evans were among the number. In 1874 a building was secured on Covington street, as a place of worship. and was thus used until 1879. when the church removed to a new meeting house on the corner of Rayen avenue and Liberty street, a frame structure 35x60 feet, tastefully furnished.

The first pastor was Rev. Robert Scott. a graduate of Auburn College. . After a suc-

Dign.ced by Google

346

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

cessful pastorate, ending in the fall of 1879. he was succeeded by Rev. S. G. Hair, a suc- cessful Christian laborer, who accomplished a great work for the church. His efforts were well seconded by his wife, who was an earnest worker. She was an accomplished organist. and with the assistance of I. A. Justice as leader of the choir, contributed an important feature of the church service.

Rev. Wesley M. Hyde and Rev. Julius . 1. Herold were subsequent pastors of this church.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Methodism began its career in the wilder- ness of western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio in 1800. Self-sacrificing itinerant preachers followed closely after or kept company with the sturdy pioneers who grappled with the hardships of frontier life and prepared the way for the pleasant homes, commercial prosperity and religious blessings which we enjoy today.

The Rev. Shadrick Bostwick, originally a physician, who had been appointed in April 1803, by the Baltimore conference as mission- ary to Deerfield Circuit, erected a house at Deerfield and established his family there. Pen- etrating the forest he organized a member of societies in different places, and among others visited Youngstown, where he was refused permission to preach in the Presbyterian Church and on the invitation of Judge Rayen conducted Methodist services in the latter's barn. With this exception cordial relations have always existed between the two churches. A class was formed, consisting of Moses Craw- ford and his wife Isabel, John Hogue and wife. Isaac Powers and Jeremiah Breaden. Mr. Powers was especially noted as a faithful and earnest worker in the church nutil his death in 1861. His wife, Mrs. Leah Frazee Powers, became a member two years after the organization of the Society and "for fifty-nine years her sweet spirit and gentle nrinner were a benediction to all who met her."

In 1804. Shadrick Bostwick was again ap- pointed to the Deeitfield Circuit, which was then more than 400 miles in circumference. and the hardships of the four weeks' round made on horseback through the untamed wil-

derness were almost incredible. At the end of this year Dr. Bostwick returned to the prac- tice of medicine, locating first in Youngstown and then in Canfield. He continued to preach however, until his death which occurred in 1837. A young man named Robert R. Roberts was appointed to the cnrcuit in 1805 who after- wards rose to distinction in the church and worthily filled the office of Bishop.

"For a while the little society worshipped in the log school house on the Diamond. Soon the meetings were moved to the home of Mr. Crawford, a log building standing on Front street west of Hazel. Afterward they were held in the home of Mr. Hogue. The quar- terly meetings were held in such large build- ings as could be secured, the ball room of Mr. Holland's tavern being sometimes used on such occasions."

A lot was purchased about the year 1810 on Phelps street north of the present edifice for the sum of $20.00, and a small unpreten- tious buikling erected thereon. In 1828, the Society built a substantial brick church on the site where the old church now stands, north- west corner of Front and P'helps streets. It had a gallery on three sides and accommo- dated quite a large congregation.

Two years later abont fifty members, repre- senting the greater proportion of the Society. seceded and formed a new organization- the Methodist Protestant Church. This divi- sion was keenly felt by the remaining few. bnt though some felt almost discouraged they set to work with indomitable energy to repair the breach, and it was proved that the days of the Metlunlist Church in this community were not yet membered.

"A commodions frame building took the place of the brick Imilding in 1841 which was enlarged and reunkleled during the pastorates of Rev. G. W. Maltby and Dr. John Peate. The charge became a station in 1842 and we finds this interesting entry of that date: "The charge estimated for the support of the preacher, consisting of himself, wife and one child. $305.00, including $40.00 house rent. The entire sum was paid in full."

Ground was broken for the beautiful tent-

Dljized by Google

347

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

ple in which the society now worships, in May, 1883. Eighty years after the establish- ment of the society, the corner stone of the new church was laid with appropriate services, Bishop Andrews officiating, and the building, completed at a cost of over $70,000.00, was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God by Bishop Bowman, Thus was completed a beau- tiful temple of worship whose foundations were laid in the pastorate of Dr. C. V. Wilson and whose dedication came in that of Dr. D. C. Osborne. With the completion of Trinity Church, the Society entered upon its most prosperous period and now numbers between 1.300 and 1.400 members.

From the mother church have branched out several other efficient and flourishing societies. In 1877, the Belmont Society was organized; in 1888, Epworth; and in 1901, Grace. Wil- son Avenue M. E. Church was started as an independent organization and is now a regular part of the regular organized Methodism of the city.

The first Methodist Sunday-school in Youngstown was organized in 1826, in the pastorate of Robert Hopkins. W. H. Fitch was superintendent ; Alva U. Upham and Sam- uer Black were teachers. Other noted superin- tendents were Alexander McKinnie. John F. Hollingsworth, William Breaden, Richard Brown ( who served nearly twenty years), Prof. J. A. Leonard. Edmund L. Brown, Ar- thur O. Fording, and George L. Fordyce. Phillip M. Haas served the school as chorister more than thirty years.

Trinity has ever been known as a young people's church. Among the many young peo- ple's organizations that have been active in ad- vancing the welfare and work of the church should be mentioned one that was started in 1872 by a Sunday-school class of children, and was called "The Chimes," taking its ,name from the initial effort to raise money to procure chimes for the new church under contempla- tion. The children raised $1,200.00, which was eventually used as part payment on the organ. Later the old name and object were abandoned, and "The Guild" continued the ag-

itation, raising $6,000.00 to help furnish the church and parsonage. Out of this organiza- tion grew the Oxford League, and later the present Epworth League, a strong society of great spiritual power.

The Ladies' Aid and the Ladies' and Pas- tors' Union have contributed very materially to the prosperity of the church. The former was organized in June, 1855. with Mrs. Nancy Breaden as the first president. This society contributed $6,000.00 toward the new church, and $6,500.00 to the parsonage; many hun- dreds also have been contributed for furnish- ing and renovating the church. The church contributes largely and regularly to mission- ary and benevolent enterprises.

Among the host of noble workers for relig- ien in connection with this society may be men- tioned John F. Hollingsworth, class leader, chorister and Sunday-school Superintendent; Stephen F. Burnett, who for years conducted a Sunday afternoon class at his house at 310 West Federal street, and his wife Harriet; Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McKinnie, the form- er a steward for many years: Edward and Mary Irwin Moore, earnest and faithful work- ers who were led to accept Methodist doctrine by a chance sermon which Mary's father heard John Wesley preach while on a tour through Ireland; Edwin Bell, formerly church treas- urer, and his wife Isabell; Dr. William Brea- den, an ordained local preacher of great ability and piety : James Cartwright, leader and for many years secretary of the Sunday-school; Henry Dove, class leader ; Mr. and Mrs. An- drew Shaffer, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Brown, C. P. Hutchinson and Richard Brown. Of the last named a sketch may be found in another chapter of this volume. Of a strong and beau- tiful Christian character he "made possible by his generosity and tireless activity the beauti- ful edifice" in which the Society now worships.

More than one hundred ministers have served this charge during the century and more of its existence, as for much of this per- iod it was a large circuit, and the preacher in charge had one or two colleagues. The Rev. C. W. Tinsley, the present pastor, who came

Digiced by Google

348

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

here from Terre Haute, Indiana, assumed pas- toral charge of Trinity in September, 1906.

RICHARD BROWN MEMORIAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL CHAPEL.

Mrs. Henrietta A. Brown, desiring to ad- vance God's kingdom, and to honor the memory of her late husband, Richard Brown, Esq., de- termined to erect for that purpose a memorial Sunday-school Chapel. With this object in view she selected the following Board of Trus- tees :

Mr. William A. Kingsley, president ; Mrs. Cyrus E. Felton, vice-president; Mr. Walter C. McKain, secretary ; Mr. W. Marcus Wal- lace, treasurer ; Mr. George Tod, Jr., Mr. Will V. Faunce, Miss Arabelle Crandall, Mr. Char- les R. Clegg, Mr. Thomas McDonald.

The Board was incorporated under the laws of Ohio, November 28, 1904.

Mr. Kingsley was a most efficient president, but was compelled to resign on account of a change of residence, and his resignation was reluctantly accepted. Mr. George Tod, Jr., was elected president, and Mr. George E. Dud- ley was elected to fill the vacancy on the Board.

In June, 1904, a location on the corner of Elm street and Woodbine avenue was se- cured. Plans were adopted for a memorial chapel and also for a future church, sufficient space having been reserved for that purpose. A building committee was appointed, consist- ing of Mr. George Tod. Jr., Mr. W. Marcus Wallace. Mr. Will V. Faunce, Mr. Charles R. Clegg. Mrs. Cyrus E. Felton.

· The chapel is now completed and stands as a memorial of the kindly and beloved Chris- tian gentleman, whose life of forty-seven years was identified with all the best interests of Youngstown, with the cause of Christ in all this region, and in particular with the Method- ist Episcopal Church, which he so devotedly loved.

"Uncle Richard" was a life-long Sunday- school worker. Twenty-one years of the time he was superintendent of the Sunday-school at Trinity Church. His wife, "Aunt Hetty"

was a Sunday-school teacher for fifty con- secutive years.

The chapel is an expression of the wife's devotion to her husband. But in this commun- ity for generations to come, when the name carved on the stone over the entrance is read, the thought in the mind of the reader will be, of the two lives that flowed together for so many years in blessings to others.

The chapel stands as a free gift to the Methodist Episcopal Church to be used for the training of men and women and children in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL

From a Sketch by J. M. Butler, Junior Warden.

The first public services, according to the Prayer Book of the Episcopal Church, held on the Western Reserve, were held in our neigh- boring township of Boardman, in 1807 by Joseph Platt as lay reader, and was so contin- ued, alternately in Boardman and Canfield, un- til the summer of 1817, when the Parish was regularly organized and called St. James Par- ish by Rev. R. Searle from Plymouth, Connec- ticut. The members of the organization were citizens of that and neighboring townships, pioneers from the older States, Episcopalians who brought their prayer books, as well as their Bibles, with them. Among them were- from Connecticut-Joseph Platt and his son, Eli, from New Milford; Ethel Starr, from Danbury ; Mrs. George Tod, from New Haven ; Judson Canfield. from Salisbury; and Judge Turhand Kirtland, from Wallingford.

A meeting was held June 20, 1809, to con- sider the organization of a church. At this meeting the following petition was presented, which has been copied verbatim from the old record :

"BOARDMAN, June 20th, 1809

"We. the subscribers, Inhabitants of the Towns of Brardman, Canfield and Poland, in the County of Trumbull and State of Ohio, being desirous Jo pro- mote the worship of God after the order of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. having for some time pası met and attended

Digitizedby Google

349

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

divine service according to the established forms of that Church & finding ourselves under great incon- veniences for the want of Prayer Books & Sermons, to remedy which and to endeavor to procure the assis- tance of a worthy teacher, judge it best lo form our- selves into a regular Episcopal Society, investing the same with the proper officers, thereby putting our- selves in a proper situation to petition the Rt. Revd. the Bishop of the State of New York, praying him to incorporate us and grant us such relief as in his wis- dom he may deem meet and consistent.

"We appoint Saturday the 12th day of August nex1 to meet at the Town of Boardman for the above purpose.

Subscribers' Names.

Turhand Kirtland,

Subscribers' Names. Eleazor Fairchild,

Ensign Church,

Ziba Loveland,

Chas. Chittenden,

Arad Way,

Josiah Wetmore,

Eleazor Gilson,

Samuel Blocker,

Eleazor C Fairchild,

Joseph Plaît,

Russell F. Starr,

Ethel Starr,

Eli Plati,

Francis Dowler,

John Loveland,

John Liddle.

Lewis Hoyt,

John Dowler,

Joseph Liddle,

Jared Kirtland."

"Saturday 12th, August, 1809.

"Met and adjourned to the 4th of Sept., Turhand Kirtland. Esqr., appointed Moderator & Ethel Starr, Clk., when the following persons were duly appointed as officers (to wit) Joseph Platt. Warden, Turhand Kirtland, Ethel Starr & Lewis Hoyt, Vestry. ETHEL STARK, Society Clerk."

BOARDMAN, Sept. 4th, 1809.

"At a meeting of the professors uf the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, inhabitants of Board- man, Canfield & Poland in the county of Trumbull & State of Ohio, holden at the School house near the center of Boardman by appointment aforesaid for the purpose of forming themselves into a regular Episco- pal Society & investing the same with proper society officers, voted at this meeting unanimously. Turhand Kirtland. Moderator, Ethel Starr. Clerk, Joseph Platt. Warden, Turhand Kirtland, Ethel Starr & Lewis Hoyt, Vestry."

"At a meeting held Aug. 27, 18to, it was 'on mo- tion voted that a committee be appointed to draw a subscription for the obtaining and supporting a respect- able Clergyman from the States of Connecticut or New York to come to this place and visit us, and tarry as long as the Society and himself can agree Voted, that we will associate with any persons in the

town of Young's Town who will associate with us and that they share with us all the benefits of said Society.""

The first clergyman of this Church who officiated in Boardman or on the Western Re- serve, so far as is known, was Rev. Jackson Kemper, afterwards widely known as Mis- sionary Bishop of the Northwest, and subse- quently as Bishop of Wisconsin. Mr. Kemper, in the Fall of 1814, was on a Missionary tour in Western Pennsylvania, under the auspices of "The Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania," which he had aided in form- ing. He visited Pittsburgh, and there Rev. Mr. Taylor, Rector of Trinity Church, informed him of the Episcopal Church in Boardman, and that Joseph Platt, during a business visit to that city the previous Summer, had requested that, if possible, some clergyman of the Church might be sent to them. Mr. Kemper cordially accepted the invitation, went to Boardman. and spent some weeks in preaching there and in Canfield, Poland, and probably Youngs- town, though we have no authentic informa- tion as to his preaching in the latter place. During this time, in September, 1814, he bap- tized twenty-nine persons, among whom were Hon. Sheldon Newton and Billius Kirtland. Two years later, from September 19 to 22, 1816, Rev. Jacob Morgan Douglas, in the et- ploy of the same society, visited Boardman and neighboring townships. He baptized fif- teen persons.

On March 23, 1817, Rev. Roger Searle, who had come from Plymouth, Connecticut, to Ohio, as a missionary, officiated in Board- man. He called a meeting of the Vestry, and then a new formula was adopted and sub- scribed. in which was incorporated the name of the Parish, Saint James, and a declaration of submission to the constitutional Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.

Rev. Searle visited various places in Ohio and Kentucky, performing missionary work, returned to Connecticut, and in the Fall re- moved with his family to Canfield. He preached, for a time, in Boardman and Can-

Diga.ced by Google

350

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

field, and other places in Ohio, also organizing parishes, and then removed to Medina, Ohio, but visited his old parishes of Boardman and Canfield occasionally. He died September 6, 1826. Says one who knew him well :- "He will ever be regarded as the chief pioneer mis- sionary of the Western Reserve, so far as this (Episcopal Church) is concerned. During the nine years and over of his labors in this field he organized thirteen parishes in Ohio and four in Kentucky."

The Diocese of Ohio was organized at a convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, held at Columbus on January 5, 1818, Rev. Philander Chase, a missionary from New York, being its president. An adjourned meet- ing of the convention was held at Worthing- ton, Ohio, on June 3, 1818, where, on June 21, Mr. Chase was unanimously elected Bishop of Ohio. He was consecrated in St. James' Church, in Philadelphia, on February 11, 1819, by Rt. Rev. William White, one of the Ameri- can Bishops consecrated in Lambeth Chapel, England, assisted by Bishops Hobart of New York, Kemp of Maryland, and Croes of New Jersey. His journey from Ohio to Philadel- phia and return was made on horseback.

He made his first Episcopal visitation to Canfield October 6, 1819. He also visited Youngstown, passing through, but for want of time did not preach there. He again visited the parishes of Boardman and Canfield in August, 1823. and baptized and confirmed sev- .eral persons. He visited Youngstown in 1825 and preached there.

Rev. Marcus Tullius Cicero Wing was the first settled Rector in the new Church. Hav- ing raised $4oo for him, on September 5. 1829. the Vestry decided to give him a call to take charge of the Parish, in connection with Youngstown and Vienna. He was then an instructor in Kenyon College, the new Epis- copal College, at Gambier, Ohio. He accepted the call. We have no record of the services he held, if any. at Youngstown, but it is on re- cord at Boardman that after the first year he was engaged for two-thirds of the time for the same sum. $400 per year. He resigned this charge on September 25. 1831, and re-

turned to Gamlier, where he held for many years a professorship in Kenyon College.

Rev. John L. Bryan was then engaged as Rector, and continued in that relation, two- thirds of the time, at Boardman, until October 13, 1834.

Rev. Joshua L. Harrison, from West Farms, New York, was called December 25. 1835, accepted the call, and came to the Par- ish in the Spring of 1836. He also officiated at Canfield, a new Church having been erected at that place. He was the first to hold regular services at Youngstown; prior to this time the services had been very irregular.

The Rectorship was vacant until May. 1840, when Rev. Joseph T. Eaton came to the Parish and remained until April, 1845, hold- ing services in Warren part of the time. Rev. William Granville, from Medina, Ohio, on July 13, 1845, preached, for the first time, in Canfield, and officiated there and at Boardman until March 22. 1846.

Henry M. Boardman removed to Board- man in 1819, and resided there until his death, resulting from an accident, on December 17, 1846. Soon after his arrival he was elected Clerk of the Parish. He was succeeded in May, 1848, by Rev. Joseph Adderly, who was succeeded in December, 1852, by the Rev. C. S. Doolittle, who officiated about four years,

until after September, 1856. There was again a vacancy and Rev. A. T. McMurphy entered upon the Rectorate about October, 1857, and continued as Rector of Boardman and Canfiekl until 1863. officiating occasionally in Youngs- town and other places, and was largely instru- mental in organizing the Parish of St. John's in Youngstown.

CHURCH EDIFICE IN BOARDMAN.

At a meeting held in the house of Mr. Ethel Starr. September 5. 1825. on motion it was resolved to build a Church, and a building committee, consisting of Asa Baldwin, H. M. Boardman and Trial Tanner. was appointed. On August 23. 1829, the Church was conse- crated by Bishop Chase.

The building was remodeled in 1881, bnt

Doiized by Google

351

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

the chancel remains practically the same as it was built in 1827. Many articles of furniture belonging to the original edifice are still in use, some of them very old, among which may be noted the quaint old baptismal font brought from New Milford, Connecticut, an old-fash- ioned Communion table, and the stained glass window erected in memory of Hon. Elijah Boardman and his wife Mary Anna. This win- dow was for many years in the Church at New Milford, but was removed to Boardman when the old Church at that place was taken down.

The Youngstown Church had its beginning through the Sunday school work begun in the early fifties by Mrs. Jesse Thornton, nee Miss Henrietta Foster, a sister of Stephen C. Foster, the song writer. Mrs. Thornton, who was an Episcopalian, taught a class of young children every Sunday in one of the rooms of her home on West Federal street. Her daughters, Mary (afterwards Mrs. Major Crosman ) and Eliza, assisted in this work, which was continued for several years, until the Thorntons removed to Warren, Ohio. Some of the scholars who at- tended her class became teachers of the Sunday School held in the old brick schoolhouse, cor- ner of Wood and Champion streets, of which mention is made further on.

Rev. A. T. McMurphy, as already stated, became Rector of St. James' Church, in Board- man, in 1857. He frequently held services in Youngstown. Rev. C. S. Abbott. of Warren, also held services occasionally, the Presbyter- ians and Methodists generously furnishing the use of their Churches on these occasions. With her increasing population many additions were made to the number of Episcopalians, and it was considered desirable to form a Church organization. For this purpose a meeting of "The Friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Youngstown" was held on July 7, 1859. of which Mr. M. T. Jewell was chair- man, and Hiram A. Hall, secretary. Revs. McMurphy and Abbott were present. They in- structed the meeting as to the measures neces- sary to effect an organization. It was resolved that "It was desirable and practicable to organ- ize a Parish of the Protestant Episcopal

Church in Youngstown," and on motion of Mr. Jewell, "St. John's" was adopted as the name of the Parish. Committees were ap- pointed, one to prepare a petition and procure signatures, and another to procure a suitable room for holding church services, and Revs. McMurphy and Abbott were invited to hold services here as often as might be convenient, it being understood that their services would be remunerated and they would be hospitably and handsomely entertained. Rev. C. S. Ab- bott, in a letter dated February 8, 1898, stated that "at odd intervals in preceding years, Cler- gymen had been invited by friends of former parishioners to visit them and hold services, but there was no thought, so far as I know, from these invitations, of any permanent work as their result. I held services and preached on the afternoon of Trinity Sunday, June 19, 1859. The Methodist Church was kindly loaned to us for the service. This was the be- ginning of the Church movement. On Thurs- day night, July 7, Mr. McMurphy and myself took the incipient steps towards organizing the Parish. The meeting was held in a small frame building,-session room, I think it was called, -on the grounds of and belonging to the Presbyterian Church."

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.

Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 47

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993