USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Connellsville > Centennial history of the borough of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, 1806-1906 > Part 23
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as aforesaid, the subscribers shall meet and choose seven trustees, three of whom shall belong to the Baptist, three to the Presbyterian, and one to the Episcopalian church, who shall select a suitable piece of ground on which the same shall be erected and hold it in trust for the purposes above mentioned."
The date of this subscription paper is somewhere be- tween 1808 and 1817. The proposed Union meeting-house was never built, but the effort to secure it is an indication of friendly relations between the denominations referred to.
The methods of raising church funds have undergone many changes. At one time, funds were raised by subscrip- tion. The amount subscribed was often called "steepens" (stipend), and some subscribers paid their share of the preacher's salary in vegetables, grain, flour, or other pro- visions. Church dues were also paid in work, in boards or in nails. A debt due, in 1828, to the Methodist Episcopal church of this place was settled, in part, by delivering to the trustees one hundred pounds of bar iron at four cents a pound. Penny collections were taken up in a hat, a basket or in a black poke attached to a pole.
Church services have been much reduced in length. The "long prayer" was often a half-hour long, and the ser- mon occupied from an hour and a half to two hours. In warm weather men were at liberty to remove their coats, and the minister frequently set them the example. Drowsy hearers could rise, and overcome their drowsiness by stand- ing awhile. It is said that, on a summer's day, one might have seen twenty, thirty, forty people, of both sexes and of all ages, "standing bolt upright," in various parts of the house, during the sermon. When our Borough was incor- porated, in 1806, there was not a church building within its limits. The old log school house was still in use as a house of worship. Several years passed before a church building was erected. Now there are sixteen in Connells- ville and five in New Haven, and almost all denominations are represented in our community. How great the trans-
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TEMPLES OF THE FATHERS
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formation since the days when the forests were our tem- ples and "the aisles of the dim wood" rang with "hymns of lofty cheer !"
Twenty-five years ago or more large numbers of peo- ple from central Europe began coming into the Connells- ville coke region. They are chiefly from Austria and Hun- gary, and number at the present time about thirty-two thou- sand in the region, representing thirteen different national- ities and languages, Slovak, Bohemian, Croatian, Magyar, Polish and others. In recent years, they have been build- ing churches of their own. In the United States there are now about 260 Catholic churches and about 120 Protestant churches for these people. Connellsville has a Slovak Lutheran church and a Magyar or Hungarian Catholic church, and New Haven has a Slovak Catholic and a Polish Catholic. There is a Greek Catholic church at Leisenring No. 1, about two and a half miles west of us. These people are mainly employed at the coke plants, though not a few are in business, and on small farms.
In 1881, there were only three or four Italian families living in Connellsville and New Haven, but in the last eight or ten years their numbers have multiplied, by a remarka- ble immigration, until at present the resident Italian popu- lation of the two Boroughs and Dunbar township is esti- mated at three thousand persons. They are engaged in var- ious kinds of business and labor, try to get their own homes and send their children to English schools. There is now an Italian Catholic church in Connellsville. A service for Protestant Italians has been conducted for a year and a half in the Presbyterian church, under the direction of an Italian missionary.
We proceed now to give brief historical sketches of our existing local churches, in the order of their formation :
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CONNELLSVILLE.
This church was organized June. 26, 1796. It is the oldest ecclesiastical organization in Connellsville, and the
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fourth oldest Baptist church in Fayette county. The Great Bethel Baptist church, Uniontown, was constituted in 1770, the church at Turkeyfoot in 1774, the Mt. Moriah church in 1784.
The following persons were the first members: David Lobdell, Joshua Lobdell, Samuel Trevor, Caleb Trevor, Michael Bryant, Sarah Muir, Sarah Trevor, Nancy Bryant and Mary Lobdell. The first deacons were Samuel Trevor and David Lobdell.
During the first eight years, there being no regular pastor, the services were conducted by visiting clergymen or by men selected from their own number.
The first regularly installed pastor was the Rev. James Frey, who served from 1804 to 1809, Rev. George Watkins served from 1810 to 1815, Rev. James Estep, afterward D. D., became pastor in 1815, and continued as such until 1830. His was the longest pastorate in the history of the congre- gation, and it was during his pastorate that the first house of worship was erected. Deacon Samuel Trevor and his brother, Caleb, donated the ground for the building, on the southwest corner of Pittsburgh and Apple streets, and contributed generously to its erection. It was built in 1817, and was a one-story brick building, with three large Cor- inthian columns in front. In this house, the church wor- shipped sixty years.
The first years were years of steady growth in num- bers and influence. Many of the officers and members were representative persons in the Borough, and the church stood high in the esteem and confidence of the community. During this period and for many years afterward, Deacon Provance McCormick was a tower of strength to the church. He was an active and prominent office-bearer in the church for fifty-six years.
The harmony and prosperity were seriously interrupted by the agitation and discussions connected with the rise of a new ecclesiastical organization under the leadership of the Rev. Alexander Campbell, a Baptist minister and a
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THE THREE HOUSES OF WORSHIP OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
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member of the Redstone Association. The controversy lasted several years.
At a meeting of the Association in the old Redstone church at Smock, Franklin township, in September, 1826, a heated and prolonged discussion was held on the questions then at issue among Baptists. Rev. Alexander Campbell was the leader of one side, and Rev. William Brownfield, of the Great Bethel church, Uniontown, the leader of the other side. When the vote was taken, the "regular" Baptists, under Brownfield, were found in the majority, and the op- posing forces were practically excluded from membership in the association. Mr. Campbell and followers left the house and, at their request, he mounted a rock and preached a sermon on the matter in controversy.
In time, the excluded churches formed a new associa- tion, which afterward withdrew from the Baptist connec- tion, and became known simply as Christian churches. Al- most every congregation in the Redstone Association was affected by this movement, and the Connellsville church was no exception. Many members withdrew from it, weak- ening it to such an extent that for some years it was diffi- cult to continue the work. In 1832, Rev. Benoni Allen was in charge; in 1835, Rev. J. P. Rockafeller ; in 1837, Rev. Milton Sutton, who served the church four years. From 1840 to 1850, the pastors were the Revs. J. W. Tisdale, E. D. Brown and John Parker. The Rev. W. W. Hickman was pastor in 1851-2. Rev. John Scott was pastor for a time soon after, but from 1854 to 1864, the church was served mainly by supplies. Revs. W. W. Hickman, N. B. Critchfield, David Williams and W. H. Cooper had pastoral charge from 1864 to 1875. Rev. R. C. Morgan served for several years, beginning April, 1876.
The old meeting house was taken down in 1877, and a two-storied brick building was erected in its stead, on the same site. This was a substantial and, for that time, com- modious building, and cost about $12,000.
For several years of the next decade, the congregation
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had many trials and there was much division and hindrance in the work. Peace and harmony were, in a measure, re- stored under the tactful and consecrated leadership of the Rev. James A. Maxwell, who took charge, early in 1892. Mr. Maxwell remained four years, resigning in March, 1896, to accept a call to the First Baptist church, McKees- port, Pa. During Mr. Maxwell's administration, a congre- gation of seceded Baptists, which had been in existence sev- eral years and had been served by the Revs. Hamilton and Preston as successive pastors, agreed to disband their or- ganization and return, as most of them did, to the old church.
Soon after the close of this excellent and fruitful pas- torate, an unfortunate choice of pastor was made, and the church was subjected to a severe trial. A small number withdrew, though the congregation, in general, stood firm and loyal. Rev. J. Spencer Kennard, D. D., was secured in 1897 as a stated supply, and acted as such for several months. He proved to be an experienced and able adviser and leader.
Rev. T. J. Edwards was pastor from 1898 until 1904. Dur- ing his pastoral term, the congregation disposed of its prop- erty on the corner of Pittsburgh and Apple streets, realizing $17,000 from the sale, and built the fine stone structure at the southeast corner of Baldwin avenue and South Pitts- burgh street. This, its third house of worship, with organ, and furnishings, cost about $40,000. It is of old English Gothic architecture, well-built and of graceful proportions. The auditorium, with its massive columns, symmetrical arches and beautiful decorations, presents a most pleasing and attractive appearance.
Rev. Maynard R. Thompson ministered to the church from July, 1904 to July, 1905, and Rev. A. A. DeLarme from October, 1905 to September, 1906. Mr. DeLarme re- signed in order to take the pastoral charge of the First church, Mckeesport, as the successor of Rev. Jas. A. Max- well. The membership of the Connellsville church, in May,
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1906, was 301, and during the past year, over $3,000 has been raised for congregational, denominational and benevo- lent purposes.
The present pastor, Rev. E. A. E. Palmquist, took charge of the church, November 1, 1906. The official mem- bers are as follows: L. V. Marshall, church clerk; Chas. Hatfield, treasurer; John Bailey, W. E. Penn, William Stauffer, David B. Evans, R. L. Boyd, C. S. Smutz, David Workman, deacons; F. C. Rose, Austin Cable, W. G. Rob- inson, A. M. Smith, Theodore Hazen, trustees; J. J. Mit- chell, Superintendent Sabbath School.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The early history of Methodism in Connellsville is in- volved in some degree of obscurity. It is certain that the Redstone circuit, the first circuit west of the mountains, was formed in 1784; but it is not known precisely when Con- nellsville became an appointment or preaching place on that circuit, when a formal organization was effected, or even when the first house of worship was erected.
It is certain, however, that Connellsville was an appoint- ment on the Redstone circuit in 1800, that Rezin Cash and Isaac Robbins were the circuit preachers that year, and that members were received into the church, among them the wife of Dr. James Francis.
It is beyond doubt that Rev. Anthony Mansfield Ban- ning, John Page, Greenbury Jones, George Mathiot and es- pecially Zachariah Connell took part in the establishment of the church. Zachariah Connell was a member of the first recorded board of trustees. He was devotedly attached to the Methodist church, opened the doors of his own home to religious meetings, conducting meetings himself, and evidently very generous in the support of the church. He was a "teetotaler," an exemplary Christian, honest and pub- lic spirited, and held family worship morning and evening.
Until 1863, the Connellsville congregation was, with the exception of one or two years, on a circuit of appoint-
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ments. Two, sometimes three, preachers were on the cir- cuit, and among these were Thornton Fleming, "of excellent memory" (1813), Charles Thorn, Jacob K. Miller (1828), David Sharp, Jeremiah Knox (1835), Samuel Wakefield, D. L. Dempsey (1838), P. M. McGowan, Joseph Ray (1847), Wm. Stewart, John Wakefield (1855).
The first stationed pastor, after the church was taken off the circuit in 1863, was J. W. Weaver. The next year Charles W. Smith was pastor. He spent from September 5 to October 17 of the year in front of Petersburg in the service of the Christian commission.
The following is a list of the pastors from that time to the present: James J. Jones, 1865-7, Chas. W. Scott 1868-9, Simpson W. Horner 1870-1, T. H. Wilkinson 1872-4, J. F. Jones 1875-6, John A. Danks 1877-9, Joseph Hollingshead 1880, M. L. Weekly 1881, Robert T. Miller 1881-4, Robert B. Mansell 1884-7, John W. Baker 1887-91, T. F. Pershing 1891-6, Joseph B. Risk 1896-99, M. J. Sleppy ('99-1902), M. A. Rigg (1902-06).
The present pastor, A. J. Ashe, took charge in October, 1906. The first house of worship was the "old stone house on the hill, "which was situated on the southwest corner of Prospect street and Orchard alley. It is not known pre- cisely when it was built, but it was built at some time before the death of Zachariah Connell in 1813, for in an old docu- ment of unknown date, Zachariah Connell is named as one of the "trustees of the Methodist meeting-house in Con- nellsville." The structure seems to have been long, how- ever, in reaching completion. It is implied, in a financial statement, dated January 2, 1815, that the house was not ceiled and floored long before that date. The pulpit was contracted for by the women of the congregation and paid for by them as shown by a subscription list, dated November 29, 1819. Hiram Herbert, the pioneer cabinet maker, built the pulpit. Michael Gilmore "sealed" and floored the build- in3.
The property was sold in 1836 to John Taylor, who sold
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it in 1836 to John Taylor, who sold to Gebhart, Freeman & Co., and for some years it was used as a foundry. About thirty-five years ago, it was purchased by the Roman Cath- olic congregation.
In 1836, a part of lot No. 132, southwest corner of Apple street and Meadow alley, was bought for $100 from William Davidson. The deed bears date of March 1, 1837. A one-story brick church was erected, in 1836, upon this ground, and was used as a house of worship until, during the pastorate of Rev. Robert T. Miller (1881-4), it was taken down to be replaced by the present two-story brick building.
The present building was not completed until in the early part of Rev. R. B. Mansell's pastorate (1884-87), though the lecture room was in use for service before Rev. Mr. Miller's term closed.
The building is neatly and substantially constructed, with a graceful spire, with large and handsome windows, with a sonorous bell and with a seating capacity of some- what more than four hundred. The church was dedicated, June 14, 1885, by Bishop Edward G. Andrews, D. D., L.L. D., then of Washington, D. C., now of New York, who preached in the morning on, "Have Faith in God," and in the evening on, "Whatsoever a man Soweth That Shall He Also Reap."
During T. H. Wilkinson's pastorate ('72-74), a lot was secured on the southwest corner of Pittsburgh street and North alley, and a two-story frame parsonage was built thereon. This house was sold for $5,500 in 1893, and a two-story frame house purchased in its stead for $4,000. This house, situated on the northeast corner of Eighth street and Murphy avenue, was occupied as a parsonage for several years. It was sold during M. J. Sleppy's pastorate, and the present large, convenient and attractive brick par- sonage was built on ground donated by A. B. Morton, and situated on the northwest corner of South Pittsburgh street and Morton avenue. The building was erected 1900-1, and cost $7,500.
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The first board of trustees, of which we have record, consisted of Zachariah Connell, Anthony Mansfield Banning, Greenbury Jones, John Page and, perhaps, one other.
The trustees in 1823 were George Mathiot, Stewart Johnston, Michael Lore, Gustavus Kells, Samuel Parker, Theophilus Sheppard and Ashier Smith. In 1819, Charles McLane was secretary and treasurer.
May 30, 1830, George Mathiot, John W. Phillips, Asher Smith, and Jacob Conrad were trustees. March 1, 1837, John Wilson, Philip Snyder, Jacob Conrad, Levi B. Page, and Samuel Marshall were trustees. In 1848, the trustees were Levi B. Page, John Wilson, Henry Detweiler, James Wilkey and Dr. Lutellus Lindley.
The present officers of the congregation are, as fol- lows: trustees, John B. Skinner, Christian Felty, A. J. Francis, L. A. Howard, George Powell, Albert B. Kurtz, F. C. Johnston, S. W. Metzler; stewards, W. H. Hugus, W. J. Hicks, Harry Crossland, C. E. Demuth, A. A. Clark, A. M. Simpson, Henry Rhodes, E. W. Horner, A. H. Murie, John B. Davis, Dr. S. G. McCune, W. S. Behanna, S. B. Henry.
The church has a prosperous Sabbath school, a large and active Epworth League, several missionary and other societies and a membership of about five hundred.
THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH
On the second day of November, 1830, a general con- vention of those who came to be known as Methodist Prot- estants was held in Baltimore, Md. At that convention, a constitution was framed and adopted, with rules for the dis- cipline and government of the church.
It was at about this date that the Methodist Protestant congregation of Connellsville was established. An old M. E. conference record describes 1830 as the year of a "radi- cal secession at Connellsville," and the statistics of the cir- cuit show a decrease of 139 members that year. On the 30th of January, 1831, it was announced, at a meeting of
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the trustees of the M. E. church, that John W. Phillips and Asher Smith, who had long been members of the board, "declined serving any longer as trustees." It may be pre- sumed that, inasmuch as these two men were among the founders of the M. P. congregation, that congregation had but lately been founded.
It is altogether likely, therefore, that the organization dates from November or December, 1830. The meeting for effecting the organization was held in the Baptist church, and was presided over by the Rev. George Brown.
Moses Scott, a weaver in New Haven and a local preacher in the M. E. church, entered into the new organiza- tion with great zeal, and traveled widely through this re- gion, establishing several other societies. A circuit, with twelve appointments upon it, was formed, called the Union circuit, and connected with the Ohio Methodist Protestant Conference. Moses Scott was ordained deacon by the con- ference in 1831, and was appointed to this circuit, with Wil- liam Marshall as his associate. They served one year. With the exception of the year 1848, the Connellsville church was attached to a circuit, usually with two preachers in charge, until 1869, when it became a station. Among those who were on the circuit were James Robinson, in 1839, John Scott, D. D., in 1843, George Brown in 1849, Henry Lucas, in 1858-59, and 1865-6, and James B. Lucas, in 1861-2.
The stationed pastors from 1869 down have been, C. P. Jordan, William Reeves, William Collier, John Gregory, A. D. Brown, J. F. Dyer, Geo. C. Sheppard, F. M. Foster, A. R. Seaman, A. E. Fletcher, Geo. C. Conway, A. W. Rob- ertson, P. T. Conway, Geo. W. Morris, and W. H. Gladden.
Rev. Leigh Layman, for eleven years a missionary in Japan, is the present pastor, having taken charge of the- church in September, 1906.
Ground for a house of worship was donated by John Wesley Phillips, already mentioned as having been a trustee in the M. E. church, son-in-law of Zachariah Connell. He was also a liberal contributor to the erection of the building,
1
ward
1. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
3. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
4. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH
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which took place in 1832, when William College and James Porter were on the circuit. The ground is on the south side of Apple street, near Arch, and the first house of wor- ship erected on it, was a plain one-story brick building, with three doors, one in the front, and one on each side, the side doors opening into an aisle running crosswise in front of the pulpit. The opening sermon was preached by the Rev. J. B. Lucas, from the text, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?"
The trustees in 1833 were John Wesley Phillips, Asher Smith, Thomas Kilpatrick, Samuel Freeman, Isaac W. Francis, John Stillwagon and John Semple.
During the pastorate of Rev. George C., Sheppard which began in 1882, the first church building was removed, and the present attractive and commodious house of wor- ship was reared in its stead. The erection of the new house began April 1, 1883, and was dedicated December 23, 1883. Rev. George B. McElroy, of Adrian, Mich., preached in the morning, and Rev. Dr. T. H. Colhouer, of Pittsburgh, in the evening. In the afternoon, a fraternal service was held, with addresses by neighboring pastors and visitors. The weather was exceedingly unfavorable. A fierce moun- tain storm fell upon the town that morning, with rain, sleet, snow and furious blasts of boisterous wind, continuing all day long. The church was filled nevertheless, at these ded- icatory services, and the cost of its erection ($14,000) was almost entirely provided for during the day.
During the pastorate of William Collier (1871-73) the parsonage was built, a two-story frame house next door to the church on the east. The present officers of the congre- gation are Rev. Leigh Layman, pastor ; Lloyd Johnston, Worth Kilpatrick, Geo. B. Brown, Joseph Stillwagon, Jo- seph DeHaven, Jesse Herbert, trustees; B. L. Berg, C. L. Inks, W. W. Pickett, Wm. McDowell, Mrs. Mora Shaner, Mrs. Melissa Caudy, Miss Etta Berger, Miss Mabel Still- wagon, stewards.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
This church was organized October 4th, 1831. On that date, the Presbytery of Redstone was in session in the Re- hoboth church, near Bellevernon and, at that meeting, "a memorial" was received "from the inhabitants of Connells- ville," "praying to be organized into a congregation and, also, to obtain supplies." The record of Presbytery states that the memorial "was granted."
Twenty-two names were enrolled, namely: Alexander Johnston, Mrs. Margaret Johnston, Miss Nancy Johnston (afterward Mrs. James Blackstone), William Lytle, Mrs. Mary Lytle, Isaac Taylor, Mrs. Rachel Taylor, Mrs. Sarah Turner, Dr. Joseph Rogers, Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, Eliz- abeth Canon, Nancy Norton, Louisa .Norton, Margaret Francis, Harriet Fuller, Margaret Lytle, Caroline Trevor, Mary Barnett, Samuel Finley, Mary Finley, Samuel McCor- mick and Elizabeth McCormick. Of these 22 persons, 19 had belonged to the Tyrone church (Tyrone township) and the twenty-two are all now dead.
These charter members, almost all of them, were resi- dents of Connellsville. There were other Presbyterians, members of the Laurel Hill church, living in Dunbar town- ship and near our town, most of whom, in a comparatively short time, identified themselves with the new organization.
Alexander Johnston, who came to Connellsville in 1808, already an elder in the Tyrone church, served as the first and, for ten months, the only elder in the Connellsville church. A Scotch-Irishman by birth, a Presbyterian by con- viction, a man of great force of character and of great per- severance in church work, the congregation is largely in- debted to him for its success in the early years of its his- tory. For many years before the organization was formed, Mr. Johnston held meetings for prayer and conference in his own house, and secured preaching services at frequent intervals, these services being held in homes, in the school house, or in one of the churches, as opportunity was af-
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forded. These services were conducted for the most part by neighboring Presbyterian ministers, sometimes by Rev. James Guthrie, pastor of Laurel Hill and Tyrone and some- times by Rev. William Wylie, pastor of the Uniontown church.
After its organization, the church was supplied for a time by the Rev. T. M. Chestnut, being followed by the Rev. John L. Hawkins as stated supply from December 15, 1831, to June 20, 1837, becoming pastor at the latter date. He was under the direction of the general assembly's board of missions during the period of his service as stated supply, and labored alternately at Connellsville and Indian Creek, there being a number of families at Indian Creek belonging to the Connellsville church.
The first pastor, Rev. John L. Hawkins, was born in Chambersburg, Pa., August 8th, 1800; graduated from Washington College in 1818 ; licensed by Washington (Pa.) Presbytery, April 21, 1825, and ordained by same, October, 1827. After serving the Connellsville church five and a half years as stated supply, Mr. Hawkins was installed pastor on the 20th of June, 1837, on a salary of $400 a year. At his installation, Rev. William Johnston presided, and Rev. Noah H. Gillett preached. His pastorate continued until April 12, 1843. After leaving this charge, he served the churches of Sharon, Mt. Carmel, Baxter Springs and Car- bondale, Kansas, and was honorably retired in 1887. He died at Fort Scott, Kansas, June 14th, 1897, in the 97th year of his age.
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