Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 63

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > Butler > Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th > Part 63

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The present church edifice was dedicated October 4, 1894. It occupies the site of the old brick structure on the corner of North and Mckean streets and was erected at a cost of about $50,000, exclusive of the lot. During the same year the society pur- chased the old Nixon Hotel property on McKean Street adjoining the church prop- erty, and erected the present parsonage at a cost of about $6,000. Previous to the building of the new church a pipe organ was installed in the old church building at a cost of about $3,000, and this was in- stalled in the new edifice when it was com- pleted. The present membership of the so- ciety is 775, and it has a thoroughly equipped organization. J. A. Gibson is su- perintendent of the Sunday school, and Elias Ritts, assistant superintendent.

The German Reformed Church. The German Reformed Society of Lutler was organized some time previous to 1864, and for a number of years the services were held in the court house. In 1864 the church building was erected on Mifflin Street, which is now occupied by the First Baptist Church, and was dedicated as St. Paul's German Reformed Church of But- ler. Owing to dissensions in the congre- gation this society dissolved about 1870. The church building was sold to the First

ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, BUTLER

ENGLISH LUTHERAN BUTLER

CHURCH,

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BUTLER

ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, BUTLER

EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BUTLER

GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH, BUTLER

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Baptist Congregation in 1878, and about the same time the English speaking mem- bers of the old society joined in with the new organization started by Rev. T. F. Stauffer on West North Street.

St. Paul's Reformed Church, Southside, dates back to 1877, when Rev. T. F. Stauf- fer, who was then superintendent of St. Paul's Orphans Home at Butler, com- menced preaching to a few members of the Reformed Society residing in Butler borough and vicinity. These services met with success, and on the evening of August 22, 1878, an organization was effected. Im- mediate steps were taken towards securing a house of worship, and the old Evangel- ical Lutheran Church, located on the cor- ner of North and Church Streets, which was then vacant, was purchased, refitted and dedicated on the 25th of August, 1878. Rev. Stauffer continued as pastor until September 1, 1882. He was succeeded December 1, 1886, by Rev. D. N. Harnish, who is the present pastor.

It being found desirable to build a new church in Springdale, a handsome brick edifice on Walker Avenue was erected, and dedicated in June, 1890. The cost of the building was $12,000, including the lot, the latter being a donation by Mrs. Sarah Mackey. A parsonage was erected in 1898 at a cost of $3,000, on ground donated by Mrs. Mackey. A pipe organ was installed in 1903. The membership of the society in January, 1909, was 320. V. K. Irvine was superintendent of the Sunday school. The church has a number of well organized societies. The membership of the Sunday school is about 300.

Bethany Reformed Church. The early history of Bethany Reformed church is that of St. Paul's Church until June, 1890, when the latter society erected their new church edifice and removed to the south side. A number of members of the old society who were opposed to removing the congregation to the new location, retained the church property at the corner of North

and Church Streets, and organized a new society under the above title. Rev. J. W. Pontius, the present pastor, was called on December 1, 1907. The present member- ship of the congregation is 106. W. A. Ashbaugh is superintendent of the Sun- day school.

St. Paul's Orphans Home is an institu- tion that has occupied a prominent position in Butler for forty years. The buildings are situated on the hill on the east side of the town, now occupied by residences, and within the limits of the borough. The main building is three stories high, and contains parlors, a library, reading rooms, superintendent's offices, living-rooms for the officers, dining-rooms, and kitchen. This building was orginally erected as a dwell- ing by Captain McCall about 1840. The other buildings on the grounds are the boys' dormitories, a large schoolhouse, stables and other buildings of the institu- tion. These buildings originally stood in the midst of a beautiful lawn surrounded by thirty acres of land, with a capacity to accommodate about 200 children.

The home was dedicated December 10, 1867, by Rev. George B. Russell, D. D., as- sisted by Rev. T. J. Barkley, Rev. F. K. Levan and Rev. Wm. M. Landis. It was chartered by the state March 23, 1868, the charter granting the privilege of receiving orphan children of all denominations of christians, and also children of deceased soldiers and sailors who were citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, and served in the War of the Rebellion. The home was founded originally by St. Paul's Classis of the Reformed Church, but the title was subsequently transferred to the Pittsburg Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States, and is under the general management of the boards of that denom- ination.

The first superintendent of the home was Rev. C. A. Limberg, now deceased, who held the position until 1871, when he re- signed. He was succeeded by Rev. J. B.

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Thompson, who entered upon his duties June 1, 1871, and continued until April 1, 1877. Rev. T. F. Stauffer, who had been elected November 21, 1876, at a meeting of the board of directors, assumed the du- ties of superintendent until April 5, 1877, and continued until September 5, 1882. During his term a north wing was added to the main building, greatly increasing the capacity of the home.

At the meeting of the board of directors held in June, 1882, Rev. P. C. Prugh, D. D., of Xenia, Ohio, was elected superin- tendent, and took charge of the home Sep- tember 5, 1882. He continued as super- intendent for a period of more than twenty years, during which time large additions and improvements were made on the build- ings and grounds at a cost of $13,000. A full third story was placed on the main building, additional dormitories and store houses built, and a large brick chapel and school erected. A large number of sol- diers' orphans were inmates of this home up until about 1893, when the State au- thorities consolidated the soldiers' orphans school under their care and withdrew the patronage from the local institution. Dur- ing this time the school became noted for its efficiency, and received the highest com- mendations by the State Board of Soldiers and Sailors' Orphans' Schools. The larg- est number of children at any one time pre- vious to 1895 was 190, 165 of which were soldiers' orphans. Rev. Prugh resigned as superintendent, and was succeeded in Sep- tember, 1903, by Rev. D. H. Leader, the present incumbent.

As early as 1902 the question of remov- ing the home to some other location within the territory of Pittsburg Synod was ad- vocated, but met with strenuous opposition on the part of the members of the Re- formed Church and the directors of the Home in the Butler district. The exten- sion of the residence portion of the town in the direction of the Home and almost

surrounding the grounds, made the prop- erty very valuable, and in July, 1906, the board of directors considered a proposi- tion made by real estate parties of Butler. and the Home and grounds were sold for a consideration of $80,000. After some difficulty a new location was secured at Greenville, in Mercer County, where suit- able buildings were erected in 1908-9, and the old institution was formally closed on the 1st of April of that year and the in- mates removed to the new home.

The object of the founders of this insti- tution was to provide for the maintenance and christian training of orphan children, principally of the Reformed Church, and also for others for whose support payment is made by guardians and friends. Appli- cation for admittance may be made to the superintendent, to the board of directors, and children are received by indenture. This enables those in authority in the Home to again indenture them when suit- able christian homes can be found and re- tain guardianship over them until of age.

The Church of God, located on Second Street, Institute Hill, was organized by Elder J. W. Davis and his son, Rev. George W. Davis, who was the first pastor, Janu- ary 1, 1893. Previous to that time these two ministers held a series of meetings beginning in October, 1892, in the chapel of the old Institute Building. These meet- ings were attended with success, and the organization followed. In March, 1893. a building committee was appointed, a lot was secured on Second Street, and a frame structure 40x50 feet in size was erected at a cost of $3,000, and was dedicated Sep- tember 17, 1893. At this time J. W. Davis, F. M. Hewitt and A. J. Avey were chosen trustees. The total value of the property owned by the society in 1908 was about $12,000. The present pastor, Rev. R. B. Bowser, came here in October, 1908. The membership of the society is 100, and the Sabbath school enrollment averages from

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ninety to 100. The society is in a flour- ishing condition and is increasing in mem- bership.

The First Baptist Church of Butler was organized April 29, 1876, at Boyd's Hall in Springdale, with about six members. A number of persons participated in the first organization, but did not have their letters to unite with the members of the society at that time. Meetings were held every Sunday which were led by B. H. Osborne until November 8, 1876, when the associa- tion was formally recognized as a regular Baptist Church. Rev. T. H. Jones was the first pastor installed, who gave the so- ciety about half of his time, Mr. Osborne conducting the alternate meetings. A char- ter was granted March 13, 1877, to the so- ciety on petition of B. H. Osborne, W. M. Farnsworth, William Watson, C. Morse and Adolphus Haberlin, who were named as directors and trustees.

On the 16th of June, 1877, the society purchased the German Reformed meeting house on Mifflin Street, which they imme- diately occupied, and services were held every Sunday. After a thorough renova- tion and material improvement, the church was dedicated November 4th of that year, Rev. J. P. Jones officiating. Rev. U. L. Joyce, the present pastor, assumed charge in 1908, succeeding Rev. G. E. Enterline. The present membership is about 175 and the congregation is enjoying a prosperous growth.

Free Methodist Church. Previous to 1893 Rev. Mr. Toby, Rev. Mr. Wayne and Rev. Mr. Shelheimer, preachers of the Free Methodist Society, held services in the Springdale Hose House, and in a tent on Spring Avenue. The present society was organized early in 1893, and the first regu- lar pastor assigned to the congregation was Rev. R. H. Freshwater. In the mean- time a lot had been secured on Spring Ave- nue, and the building which had been com- menced under the pastorate of Rev. Wayne was completed under the care of Rev.

Freshwater. The society has prospered from the beginning, and at the present time has ninety-four communicant members, a large Sunday school, and a well organized missionary society. Rev. Mr. Grace is the present pastor.

The Second Baptist Church (Colored) was organized about 1895 by Rev. Pleasant Tucker, who came here from Youngstown, Ohio. He was assisted in the organization by F. P. Perry. At that time there were about eight members, and probably a dozen colored families in the town. Through Mr. Tucker's efforts a lot was secured on West North Street, and a frame building erected at a cost of about $500, which was dedi- cated in October, 1900. In October, 1907, Rev. M. C. Smith, the present pastor, took charge of the congregation. The present membership is about twenty-five.

The Shiloh Baptist Church (Colored) was organized about 1906 by the colored people of the west end, and services are now held in a rented hall on Pillow Street. The pastor is Rev. D. D. Dade.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized about 1904, and holds services in a rented hall on Water Street. The membership of this organi- zation is small. Rev. J. W. Riley is the pastor.

B'Nai Abraham Congregation (Hebrew) was chartered by the courts of Butler County March 22, 1906. The subscribers to the charter were Samuel Oram, A. Smul- ovitz, A. Jacobs, H. Zuckeman, Arthur Smulovitz, Aaron Fisvitz, Joseph Esko- vitz, Joseph Breman, Max Zeefe, A. Wohl, Joe Pollack and Morris Pollack. The con- gregation now numbers about seventy members and holds services in a hall in the Reiber block on South Main Street. The present pastor is Rev. Harris Rosen- berg. The society has purchased a lot and contemplates the erection of a suitable house of worship in the near future.

Wesleyan Methodist Church. In the winter of 1908-9 Rev. F. B. Hawk began

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preaching to a small society of people in Phillips, John Douglass, and T. W. Lati- the west end of the town, which was or- mer. The pastor of the congregation is Rev. George Rader. ganized as the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Services were held at No. 12 First Ave. St. John Neponucene Roman Catholic Church (Polish) was organized in 1904 among the Polish and Slavish residents of Lyndora by Rev. Father Beckavick. The society has a large number of communi- cants, and has erected a handsome church and parish house in Lyndora. nue, and in February, 1909, the member- ship was large enough to consider the ad- visability of a formal organization. The society has gained the recognition of the boards of the Wesleyan Church, and a new church will be erected here in the near future.

Millennium Dawn. A branch of the re- ligious society known as the "Millennium Dawn" has been in existence in Butler since 1888. The head of the society is Rev. Russell of Pittsburg. Meetings were held for a number of years at the resi- dence of the late George Walters, and in recent years meetings were held twice a week in the building on Center Avenue owned by Miss Louisa and Miss Annie Reif. Brother Hersh of Pittsburg has been ministering to the local society, and also a small circle of the believers at Mount Chestnut and at Prospect.

Christian Science. The Christian Sci- ence reading room was established in July, 1908, in the Butler County National Bank building. The local society, which is in- creasing in numbers gradually, is a branch of the mother church in Boston. Meetings are held on Wednesday evening, and on Sunday morning, and are conducted by Miss Harriet Putnam, who is the first reader, and Mrs. Homer Graves, who is the second reader. The local society was organized through the efforts of Mrs. Thomas NeNair and others.

The First Christian Church of Butler was organized in 1907, and the meetings of the society are held in the Y. M. C. A. Building on the Diamond. A charter was secured for the congregation June 29, 1908, and during that year a lot was purchased on West North Street, and the erection of a church building commenced. The subscribers to the charter are Thomas W. Phillips, Jr., George W. Hobaugh, H. C.

St. Michael's Greek Catholic Church was chartered February 4, 1907. The society has a large membership among the Greeks of the town, and has a church building in Inydora in which the services are held. The pastor is Rev. F. Michael.

The Orthodox Greek Church, or the Church of Russia, has a society of about sixty families, of which Rev. Philip Sched- enovitch is the pastor. Services are held in halls, or at the homes of its members. Rev. Schedenovitch is also the editor of a paper which he publishes in the interest of his people in this community.

The Gospel Prohibition Church. A num- ber of people who were interested in the advancement of the Prohibition party or- ganized a religious association in Butler about 1898, which was known as The Gospel Prohibition Church. The leader of the movement was Rev. I. G. Pollard, of Butler, who was an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The movement was backed financially by sev- eral well known business men of Butler, who were affiliated with the Prohibition party, and who believed that too much re- straint was placed on the ministers in dis- cussing temperance and political reform from the pulpit.

Rev. Pollard succeeded in organizing a small society in Butler and building the brick church on Mercer Street, now occu- pied by the Christian and Missionary Alli- ance. Another organization was effected at Callery Junction and a small church built there, while the third congregation was organized at Renfrew, and for several

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years services were held in a rented hall. While the new organization met with the approval of a certain element in favor of the political reforms of the Prohibition party, it failed to meet with the financial support it needed, and in the course of a few years the three organizations died out.

The Christian and Missionary Alliance was organized in Butler in 1904, by Rev. George W. Davis, who had previously to that time been pastor of the Church of God on Institute Hill. A charter was granted on June 17, 1905. The new asso- ciation purchased the property of the Gospel Prohibition Church on Mercer Street, and the following year built a brick parsonage which adjoins the church build- ing. In 1906 Rev. Davis was succeeded by Rev. John Cox, the present pastor, and the congregation is now in a flourishing condition.

SCHOOLS (PRIVATE).

Butler Academy. The beginnings of education in Butler borough date back to the first decade of its history. Soon after the town site was established the pioneers began the movement for education which resulted in the founding of Butler Acad- emy, an institution which is referred to by many of the older citizens of the town. The Butler Academy was founded under the act of February 6, 1811, which pro- vided for the election of six trustees and appropriated the sum of $2,000 towards sustaining such an institution, $1,000 of the amount to be expended on the building and apparatus, and $1,000 to be invested, the interest on which was to be applied to- ward the payment of teachers, and the edu- cation of five poor children. The organi- zation of the trustees of the academy was effected March 27, 1811, when lots were cast for the term of service. Jacob Mech- ling and Walter Lowrie were to serve one year, Samuel Williamson and John Gil- more for two years, and John McQuistion

and Robert Graham for three years. Sub- sequently the trustees of the institution were elected at the October election. John Gilmore was chosen secretary of the first board, and the first order drawn was on the State treasurer for $1,000 in favor of William Purviance for the purpose of erecting a building and purchasing books for the use of the academy. Two days later the board loaned to John Negley $1,000 from the productive fund, which was secured by his house and lot in Butler, and his mill near the town, now the Walter mill. Mr. Negley not only paid a heavy interest for the loan, but donated $150 to the academy fund. In July, 1811, John Purviance was awarded the contract for building the academy, the price being seven hundred and ninety-eight dollars. The board also elected Jacob Mechling treas- urer and, Walter Lowrie librarian. This building, which stood at the northeast cor- ner of Mckean and Jefferson streets, was completed in August, 1812. In May, 1813, donation lot No. 13, consisting of five hun- dred acres patented to the academy March 25, 1813, was sold to Arthur and George Frazier for $750, to be paid in three in- stallments.

The academy was opened in 1812, and Samuel Glass was employed as the first teacher. His salary was $60 per annum, besides which he charged each pupil an extra fee for tuition. A Mr. Williamson taught about the same period, and later Adam Kuhn was employed, who conducted an English and Latin school. In the twen- ties a teacher's salary seems to have been $100, with what he could collect from the patrons in addition.

In 1832 the trustees of the academy dis- cussed the qualifications of a classical teacher, and resolved to employ no one who could not at least teach the Latin and Greek languages, and algebra and survey- ing. Rev. Isaiah Niblock and Dr. James Graham were soon after appointed teach-

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ers, and in 1833 Thomas Mahard was em- ployed to take charge of the academy. Rev. Loyal Young, then pastor of the Presby- terian church of Butler, was employed as a teacher of the languages in 1834, and dis- charged his duties for several years in a highly satisfactory manner.

Subsequent to 1838 the annual tuition fee was reduced to $8 for the classical de- partment, and $2 for the English depart- ment. In September, 1843, DePark Taylor was hired as principal at an annual salary of $1,000, and in 1847 the tuition was fixed at $4 for the course in classics, and $3 for the common English branches. Rev. Will- iam White was principal from 1848 to April, 1860. During the existence of the academy the board of trustees embraced many of the leading pioneers of Butler.

The question of consolidating the Butler Academy and the Witherspoon Institute was suggested to the board March 8, 1865, and William S. Boyd and Ebenezer Mc- Junkin were appointed a committee to con- sult with the Presbytery of Allegheny of the Presbyterian church. The articles of consolidation were signed in June, 1865, and in November the conditions presented by Allegheny Presbytery were accepted. On August 20, 1866, the last act of the aca- demy trustees was recorded, which con- veyed the real estate, buildings and funds of the Academy board to the school di- rectors of Butler borough, subject to the restrictions given in the act of April 11, 1862.

Many of the leading men of Butler today were educated in this old academy, and many who honor the professions and trades outside of the county received lib- eral instruction within its walls. The old stone academy stood on the site of the Jef- ferson Street School Building and faced Jefferson Street. It was built of dressed stone, was two stories high, and had one room on each floor. The upper floor was reached from the north side by a massive stone stairway on the outside of the build-

ing. This old historie pile was removed in 1876, to make way for a more commodious and modern building.

Witherspoon Institute, which was one of the prominent educational institutions in western Pennsylvania during the middle of the century, owed its origin in a large measure to Rev. Loyal Young of Butler. On the 6th of February, 1849, a conven- tion of Presbyterians was held in Butler to consider the project of establishing an academy within the bounds of the Butler congregation. Rev. J. M. Smith presided at the meeting, with Rev. Newton Bracken secretary. A resolution favoring the pro- ject was adopted, and a committee was named to raise a fund of $5,000. Town- ship and borough committees were ap- pointed at the same time, and on December 14, 1849, a literary and religious institu- tion was incorporated.

Meetings were held at intervals until April 10, 1850, when the Presbytery of Allegheny established a school at Butler and gave it the name of "Witherspoon In- stitute." Rev. Loyal Young was appointed principal, and David Hall assistant. The school was opened May 13, 1850, in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church. In July, 1851, Rev. L. Young re- signed as principal and was succeeded by Rev. Martin Ryerson, who continued until 1852, when he resigned because of ill health. Rev. L. Young was again elected principal, and J. R. Coulter assistant. From that time up to 1878 the principals were, in succession, T. R. Coulter, Rev. John Smalley, Rev. L. Young (third time), Mr. J. S. Boyd, Rev. William I. Brugh, Rev. J. W. Hamilton, Prof. Creighton, and Rev. H. Q. Watters.

Up to this time the institute had been conducted as a sectarian school under the care of Allegheny Presbytery. In April, 1897, the institute was opened by Prof. B. S. Bancroft as a non-sectarian school, and the following September Prof. J. C. Tins- man became associated with Prof. Ban-

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croft. Under Prof. Bancroft's direction the school flourished, and in 1882 one hun- dred and seventy-two students were en- rolled, and a corps of seven teachers em- ployed. Prof. Bancroft conducted the in- stitute until the fall of 1887, when a lack of patronage induced him to close it and open a private school. The loss of patron- age was principally due to the higher prices charged students for board in But- ler than in other towns where academies were conducted.

The first institute building was erected in 1851, on North Main Street, on the site of the English Lutheran Church. North and south wings were added to the build- ing in 1864, the Commonwealth granting $2,500 toward the expense of this improve- ment. This property was sold in 1877 by the trustees of the institute to the English Lutheran Church for $6,000. Rev. Mr. Brugh was the leading spirit in the project to found a college on Institute Hill. Four acres were purchased on First street, and a building erected and occupied. The Al- legheny Presbytery finally withdrew its support from the school, and the property was sold to W. H. H. Riddle and passed from the ownership of the Presbyterian church. In March, 1889, is was purchased by Charles Duffy, and at the present time it is owned by the Butler Silk Mill, and is used for a factory.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 63

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1526

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526