USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 20
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The territory included in the Erie conference of the M. E. church extends from the Ohio line to about the middle of Chautauqua county, New York, and as far south as New Castle in Lawrence county. There are six presiding elders' districts named, Erie, Meadville. Clarion, Frank- lin, Jamestown and New Castle, and of these, the Erie district includes the churches of Erie, Fairview, Girard, Greene; Greenfield, Harborcreek. McKean, Millcreek, North East. Summit, Springfield, Waterford and
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Wesleyville. The congregations of this denomination in Erie county with the dates when they were organized, so far as can be learned with certainty is as follows: Albion, before 1850; Ash's Corners, Washington, 1867 : Asbury, Millcreek, 1846 ; Asbury, Union, 1840; Beaver Dam, 1838; Carter Hill. 1835; Cascade St., Erie, 1902; Cherry Hill, 1858; Concord, 1819; Corry, 1862; Cranesville, 1830; Crane Road, Franklin, 186; ; East Springfield. 1825 ; Edenville, Le Bœuf, 1839 ; Edinboro, 1829 ; Elgin, 1854, Eureka, 1867; Fair Haven, 1815; Fairplain, 1840; Fairview, 1817; First, Erie, 1826; Franklin, 1866; Girard, 1815; Gospel Hill, 1816: Hamlin, Summit, 1837; Harborcreek, 1834; Hatch Hollow, 1835; Keepville, 1867; Kingsley, Erie, 1907: Lockport, 1843; Lowville, 1875; McLane, 1863; Miles Grove, 1862; Mill Village. 1810; Middleboro, 1819; North Corry, 1870; North East, 1812; Northville, 1820; Phillipsville, 1840; South Harborcreek. 1830; Simpson, Erie, 1858 ; Sterrettania, 1842; South Hill, Mckean, 1860; Sharp's Corners, Waterford, 1838; Sherrod Hill and Tower School House, in Venango, dates not known; Tenth Street, Erie, 1867; Union City, 1817; Waterford borough, 1814; Watts- burg, 1827; Wales, Greene, 1850; Wellsburg, 1833; Wayne street, Erie, 1889; Wesleyville, 1825; West Greene, 1827; West Springfield, 1801. In this alphabetical arrangement of the Methodist churches, singularly enough, scripture has been verified. for the West Springfield church, the first of the denomination to be organized in Erie county (in 1801) is the last on the list.
The Lutheran church came into existence in Erie county through the efforts of that portion of the early population that immigrated here from the Pennsylvania German settlements in the eastern part of the State. The Pennsylvania German element in the settlement of Erie county entered almost with the beginning, dating back as early as 1801, and between that and 1805 such names as Riblet, Wagner, Ebersole, Brown, Stough, Lang. Zimmerman and Kreider appear on the records. These settled mostly in the rural districts south and east of Erie. There was another influx of this same German-American people in 1825 and a few years later they included the Warfels, Mohrs, Weigels, Metzlers, Bergers. Brennemans, and others. They were all of the Protestant faith, the original immigrants in America coming principally from the Palat- inate. These having been connected with the beginnings of the Lutheran church in America brought to their new home in Erie their faith as well as their German Bibles and their hymn books, copies of which are still occasionally to be found.
These people though separated in an almost unbroken wilderness from the spiritual facilities to which they had been accustomed, did not permit their faith to die out. It was soon after the settlement had been begun that the Lutheran Synod of Eastern Pennsylvania was applied to for aid in a memorial setting forth how deplorable it was "to do without
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sermon, baptism, catechetical instruction and the Lord's supper," and begging for a pastor to visit them occasionally. There is no distinct record of the time of the first pastoral visit or of the minister, but a Rev. Mr. Muckenhaupt was one of the first. The first record book of St. John's in South Erie was begun September 1, 1811, showing that then there was a congregation in existence, and that it had been for some time is proven by the entry in the record that on August 18 and 19, 1808, twenty-four baptisms took place. From that time to the present, the record shows, the congregation has been in continuous existence.
The earliest of the Lutheran missionaries were: Rev. Mr. Mucken- haupt, 1808; Rev. Mr. Scriba, 1811; Rev. Mr. Sackman, 1813; Rev. Mr. Rupert. 1814. The record of the last named is that in his missionary term of four months he preached thirty-eight times, baptized 197 children, gave communion to 117 persons and traveled 1,142 miles. He received $112 from congregations and his long journey cost only $11.03 for trav- eling expenses.
The Synod at Frederickstown in 1815 sent out Rev. Carl W. Colsen, who became a resident pastor in this district, taking up his abode in Meadville and serving the Erie congregation as well-in fact he served four Lutheran churches in this part of the state, and died at Meadville in 1816. Father C. F. Heyer succeeded, serving from 1817 to 1818. Pastor Rupert returned and served for a number of years. The Rev. Mr. Heilig was the first resident Lutheran pastor at Erie, in 1832.
The meetings of the Lutherans were held at first in dwellings and school houses in Eagle Village, then nearly two miles away from Erie. It was a hamlet largely settled by the Pennsylvania Germans. In 1835. however, there having been a strong reinforcement of European Ger- mans, on January first the Lutheran church was reorganized, the new constitution signed by 100 male members, and the church became known as St. John's. Rev. Karl Fred. Stohlman was chosen pastor and did effective work both at Erie and outside, establishing missionary stations at Drake's Mills and Walnut Creek. He secured for St. John's church, from Conrad Brown, Sr., the five acres of ground bounded by Peach, Sassafras, Twenty-Second and Twenty-third streets of the present city of Erie. He served until 1838, and was succeeded by Rev. Michael Kuchler, a most progressive man, who, besides organizing congregations at Girard, Fairview and Millcreek, and the first Sunday school at St. Johns, also erected the first Lutheran church in Erie county, which, located in the piece of ground donated by Mr. Brown, was dedicated as St. John's church, August 8, 1842. From that time forward the growth of St. John's was steady and large until in time it became the largest Protestant church organization in Erie, with over 1,200 com- municants, and 3,500 souls under the care of its pastor.
Meanwhile the process of swarming, which has for long distin- guished it, began during the pastorate of Rev. C. G. Stuebgen, a number
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of members separating to form St. Paul's German Evangelical church. This was in about 1850. Again in 1861 there was another secession which resulted in establishing the first English Lutheran church, now known as the Luther Memorial. Then came Zion's, Bethany, Trinity, St. Stephen's, St. Matthews, St. Luke's and Grace in Erie, while outside there are St. Paul's at Drake's Mills, St. Johns at Girard, East Greene congregation, St. Peter's in Millcreek, Trinity church at Mckean, St. Peters at North East and Grace at Conneaut, all daughters or grand- daughters of St. John's the original Lutheran church of Erie.
At first St. John's church was itself a suburban body, located on Federal Hill, away outside of the town of Erie. While it grew within itself, the town became a city and the city extended its boundaries until at length the Lutheran church was not far from the center of the city, occupying an establishment, thrice rebuilt, and now one of the finest churches in Erie.
While the Roman Catholic church was identified with the French occupation of Erie, from 1753 to 1759, the real history of the church in this county, as representing its permanent establishment here, did not begin until the permanent settlement of the county had been effected. There are no records of the earliest of the missionary labors of this church in Erie county, but it is well known that during the first years of the Nineteenth century there were frequent visits made by priests, who at irregular periods, came on religious errands, to minister to those of their faith who were among the pioneers. The first organization among the Catholics began somewhere about 1830, in the township of Mckean, and it resulted in the erection of a church in 1833. This was the first church of that denomination built in Erie county, even taking the French into consideration, for, during the military occupancy the priests con- nected with the garrisons held services in chapels that were merely apartments in the forts. St. Francis church stood about two miles north of the borough of Middleboro, and it was resorted to by the faithful from long distances, and for several years was the only church of the Catholic faith in the county. The influx of the Germans early in the thirties, and of the Irish, at about the same time, added to the borough of Erie a religious element new to the community, for many of the Germans and most of the Irish were adherents of the Roman Catholic church. The pioneers in Erie were the Germans. The first of that race to find his way to Erie, Wolfgang Erhart, who came in 1830, was a Catholic, and when, soon afterwards, others from the Fatherland were added to the small colony, the thought of forming a church came to the front, realized in 1833, when Father Mosquelette, came here from Phil- adelphia and said mass in a log house belonging to Mr. Erhart. Next year the same priest accompanied by Rt. Rev. Francis Patrick Kenrick, bishop of Philadelphia, again visited Erie, and this time also was fur-
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nished a place of worship by Mr. Erhart, and upon that occasion a number of persons were confirmed. This put energy into the faithful, and taking courage from the success that had attended the effort of the Beech Woods church-at Mckean-a lot was procured on Ninth street between Parade and German, and a frame church was built in 1837.
Meanwhile a very similar process was in operation in the northern part of the town among the English-speaking adherents of the Catholic faith. Rev. Father McCabe held services in the house of John Sullivan in 1832. and this arrangement continued until at length the congregation that had been formed, although poor, decided that they would build a church. This was accomplished in 1844, when work upon St. Patrick's on Fourth street, between French and Holland was begun. The adher- ents of this church were not confined to the borough of Erie alone. The farming community east of Erie as far as the boundaries of Millcreek township contained a number of Catholics, among them the Crowleys, the Fagans and others, and these farmer people were among the most liberal contributors and most faithful workers. The moving spirit was Father R. Brown, who remained five years. long enough to see the building enclosed but not long enough to see it completed. That good fortune fell to his successor, Rev. Father Reynolds, who, however, re- mained but one year.
Originally Erie was attached to the diocese of Philadelphia, and later to that of Pittsburg. In 1853 the diocese of Erie was set off from that of Pittsburg, and included the counties of Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield, Cameron, Elk, Mckean, Potter and Warren, thirteen counties, and Rt. Rev. Michael O'Connor was transferred from Pittsburg to the see of Erie. St. Patrick's Church then became the pro-cathedral. In 1854 he was re-transferred to Pitts- burg, and Rt. Rev. J. M. Young was consecrated as the Bishop of Erie, April 23, 1854. He died September 18, 1866, and Rt. Rev. Tobias Mullen was consecrated August 2, 1868. Bishop Mullen had charge during the period of greatest extension in the history of his church, but his greatest work was the erection of the splendid cathedral at the corner of Tenth and Sassafras streets. The corner stone of this church was laid in 1875; it was dedicated August 2, 1893, having been eighteen years under con- struction. Bishop Mullen was dearly beloved, not alone by those of his faith, but beyond the denominational boundaries. It is doubtful if there ever was a more devoted worker in the cause of his religion-to the people of Erie who had come to know him well, and universally, without regard to class, condition or religious faith, respect and love him, it ap- peared as though there was no such faithful industrious worker any- where. The multitudinous demands upon his time and energies found him always ready and never idle, while he carried about with him a spirit of cheerfulness that was inspiring. He had the satisfaction of seeing the church establishment that was under his most immediate
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personal charge develop steadily. In the city the churches, including the cathedral, numbered eleven, the parochial schools seven; there had been established, in addition to the church establishments in operation when he assumed the duties of his high office, a number of institutions, among them St. Vincent's Hospital, the Villa Marie Academy and the Old People's Home ; a new cemetery had been consecrated and a hand- some cathedral church built, and at all times the duties pertaining to his extensive diocese of thirteen counties had been faithfully performed. It was not to be wondered at, then, that, with the hand of old age laid upon him he should become wearied with his unceasing labors.
It was on August 2, 1868, that he was consecrated as Bishop in the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul at Pittsburg, and came to the see of Erie. For more than thirty years his unremitting toil had been continued. Recognizing the situation his church on February 24, 1898, appointed Rt. Rev. John Fitz Maurice coadjutator bishop with the right of succession. August 10, 1899, Bishop Mullen resigned, for he felt that his labors were at an end. He died April 22, 1900. His fun- eral was a notable event in the history of the Catholic church and of Erie. Archbishop Ryan presided and his assistants were Rt. Rev. Ignatius Horstman, of Cleveland, and Rt. Rev. Edmond F. Pendergast, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, with all the Erie clergy taking part. Throngs of people viewed his remains as they lay in state in the cathe- dral, which is his noblest monument, and in one of its crypts all that is mortal of the good Bishop rests forever from his toil.'
Bishop Fitz Maurice succeeded Bishop Mullen, as it was appointed that he should do, and has continued the work which his predecessors so ably inaugurated. He is respected by all as the head in the Erie dio- cese of the historic church in whose service he faithfully labors.
Of other religious denominations in the county, the oldest and per- haps the most numerous in membership is the Baptist. The first or- ganization of this denomination so far as can be learned was that effect- ed at Lowry's Corners in Harborcreek township in 1822. The church had its origin in the Hoag school house where meetings were held until the building of a meeting house. After a time, however, it went down, and there is no record to show how long it endured. There was a Bap- tist church organized in Springfield township in 1826, which, continu- ing with excellent promises of permanence, built in 1833 on the Ridge road two and a half miles west of East Springfield. In 1831 a church was established in Erie. It was one of the results of a religious re- vival in the First Presbyterian church, and the organization of the body was effected by a council called for the purpose at which some became members on letters and others upon profession. The church building was erected in 1833. The Baptist denomination may have had an even earlier start at North East. There was one of unrecorded date, built in
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the eastern part of the township that became disintegrated. As a success- or of the original a church was built in 1832 on the Buffalo road a short distance east of the village, but it also, in time, fell away. There was a Free-will Baptist church built at Newman's Bridge in Waterford town- ship in 1832, and other churches established were: At McLane in 1838; at West Greene in 1848; at Wattsburg in 1850; the Elk Creek Baptist church in Franklin in 1867. The First Baptist of Erie became at length the head centre of the Baptist denomination in these parts, not only by its missionary work multiplying the church organizations in the city, but stretching its hands still farther, the Wesleyville church having grown from a mission Sunday school established by the First Church of Erie.
The Christian denomination, so called, though not strong in num- bers, came among the earliest, its first church being that organized in Springfield in 1826 by Rev. Asa C. Morrison, with Rev. Josiah Marsh as settled pastor. In Fairview a church was established in 1835. It was not until 1888 that a church of the denomination was organized in the city of Erie.
The Universalists came in the beginning of the forties, churches being established in Springfield, Girard, Elkcreek and Erie, and some of these associations continue in active existence to the present.
The United Brethren is of more recent times. The first church, per- haps, was that organized in 1853 in Elkcreek a mile north of Cranes- ville. In 1857 a church was established at Fairview ; at Branchville in 1865; at Beaverdam in 1870; in Girard township on the State road near the Elkcreek township line in 1870, and at New Ireland in Le Bœuf in 1876.
CHAPTER XIX-SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY.
THE BEGINNINGS OF EDUCATION .- THE PUBLIC SCHOOL LAWS .- DEVEL- OPMENT OF FREE SCHOOLS IN THE RURAL DISTRICTS.
The early years of the permanent settlement were years of toil; almost unintermittent hard labor. Each individual had his part to per- form in the work of conquering the wilderness; of hewing out of the forest primeval a space that was to be reckoned as home; by which or out of which, he was to obtain the necessaries of life-and for years it was barely an existence that was wrenched from the soil. There was, therefore, much to think of connected with the actualities of the then present time. Where there were only adults in the family, of "course all worked; but where there were children they too worked. There was not a time for anything else, and the Scriptural fiat "He that shall not work neither shall he eat" was extended to be very compre- hensive in its embrace. It seemed, indeed, that it had to be, for the struggle for existence demanded it.
But it is not for a moment to be considered as possible that the pioneers of Erie county had entirely lost sight of the interests their off- spring had in something more and better than the life of toil that was the portion of the cattle; that they did not think about educating their children. This would be incredible; for the settlers were of Scotch- Irish and New England stock. When this is said it will be at once un- derstood that any period of apparent indifference to schooling was only due to a forced condition of things. As a rule the earliest settlers were men and women of education ; some of them of quite high attainments, and all of themn respected the knowledge derived from books. There- fore, very early in the history of Erie county the schools came into be- ing.
There was no system of public education at the beginning of the Nineteenth century. And yet it was enjoined as part of the charter of the land. The founders of the state-further back still. William Penn, the founder of the colony, insisted upon the importance of edu- cation. He declared that wisdom and morality "must be carefully propagated by a virtuous education of the youth," and that Governor and Council should "erect and order public schools." Good citizenship- intelligent citizenship-was desired, and to insure this there must be education. The heroes of the Revolution made the matter still more Vol. I-12
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specific by incorporating in their constitution of 1126 a requirement that "a school or schools shall be established in every county," while the constitution of 1290 took a step yet farther in advance by declaring that the Legislature might provide for the establishment of schools throughout the State "in such a manner that the poor may be taught gratis." It will thus be observed that from the very beginning Penn- sylvania was committed to the policy of the education of all of her people.
And this principle early found expression as regards the educa- tional needs of the people of Erie county, for, long before Erie county had been created, when, in fact a mere handful of people had settled down in this section of the woods, the Legislature, in its act pro- viding for the sale of the public lands, in 1299, provided that 500 acres should be held back from each of the Reserve Tracts at Erie and Water- ford. "for the use of such schools and academies as may hereafter be established by law" in these towns. These provisions, declarations and enactments tend to show that in this State of Pennsylvania the educa- tion of the people was ever held as of the greatest importance. However, it was years before, upon this foundation. there was erected the splen- did structure which is now the pardonable boast of the citizens of the Keystone state.
Before the schools of Erie county are considered in detail, it will be profitable to review the evolution of the public school idea in Penn- sylvania, through which the splendid public school system of Erie coun- ty has been developed. It took years to get at the real beginnings of a public school system. That seemed to be one subject which the law makers hesitated to take up and pass upon. It had not been lost sight of. As early as 1821, in his annual message to the Legislature Gov. Heister took occasion to refer to it and to declare it to be "an impera- tive duty to introduce and support a liberal system of education, con- nected with some general religious instruction." No heed was paid to this injunction, perhaps because of the connection suggested. In 1827 Gov. Shultze took up the subject, saying: "Among the injunctions of the Constitution there is none more interesting than that which enjoins it as a duty on the legislature to provide for the education of the poor throughout the Commonwealth." This suggestion was as barren of fruit as Gov. Heister's had been. Perhaps it ought to be, because of its class distinction, and yet it was within the terms of the Constitu- tion, to which he referred. He had not lost interest in the important subject, for the next year he said that he could not forbear from "again calling attention to the subject of public education. To devise means for the establishment of a fund and the adoption of a plan by which the blessings of the more necessary branches of education could be conferred on every family within our borders would be every way wor- thy the Legislature of Pennsylvania."
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Real interest now began to be taken in the important subject. In the gubernatorial campaign of 1829 the policy of public education be- came one of the issues, and was discussed from the hustings. The people were awake with reference to its importance and the governor elected, George Wolf, was a friend of public education. In his inaugural address he took an advanced position with reference to education, and continued to urge the matter upon the attention of the Legislature until, at the session of 1834-35, the first common school act of the state was passed. This act made it optional with each township, ward and borough to adopt the system of free public education. Immediately strong oppo- sition to the measure sprang up. The colleges and private schools op- posed the act being put in force, because they saw, or thought they saw, a loss of their revenues; the wealthy were not in favor of it because they disliked the idea of their children mixing with the children of the poorer people ; penurious people objected because it would result in increased taxation, and various other interests fought it with a vigor that, now the system has become so popular, seems absurd and incredi- ble. At the next session of the Legislature an attempt was made to repeal the law, but there were valiant champions of the system among the lawmakers. Prominent was Thaddeus Stevens, who made a power- ful speech closing with this vigorous sentence: "If the opponent of education were my most intimate personal and political friend, and the free school candidate my most obnoxious enemy. I should deem it my duty as a patriot at this moment of our intellectual crisis. to forget all other considerations, and I should place myself unhesitat- ingly and cordially in the ranks of him whose banner streams in light." The measure was saved. Later. during the administration of Gov. Ritner the free school law was amended and strengthened. Now, estab- lished, the principle of public education made steady progress. In 1849 an act was passed making it obligatory upon townships and other dis- tricts to adopt the public school system. In 1854 it was extended by providing for county superintendents of education and the examination of teachers. In 1857 the act to provide for state normal schools, for education in the science of teaching, was passed, and this was followed by supplementary normal school acts at nine different sessions greatly extending the efficiency of these schools. In 1867 the law providing for teacher's institutes was passed and at the same session it was en- acted that the Courts of Quarter Sessions shall have authority to an- nex lands for school purposes. In 1883 evening schools were provided for. In 1875 provision was made for public or free education in con- nection with homes for friendless children. In 1893 it became law that all school books and supplies should be furnished free of cost to pupils in the public schools. In 1895 the earlier high school law was enlarged and extended, and at the same session provision was made for parks and public playgrounds in connection with the schools, and, perhaps
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