Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 27

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Pennsylvania > Lawrence County > New Castle > Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th > Part 27

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"In 1801 the Baltimore Conference ap- pointed Thornton Fleming to the Pittsburg district, and Joseph Shaw to Shenango Circuit. Asa Shinn was appointed to the Shenango Circuit in 1802. He will be re- membered as a leader in the secession

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movement from the M. E. Church, out of which grew the Protestant Methodist Church, in 1828. George Askin was ap- pointed in 1803, Joseph Hall in 1804, and R. R. Roberts in 1805. The latter, by per- mission of his elder, exchanged circuits with David West, in charge of the Erie Cir- cuit, for the reason that the appointments immediately around the old log cabin built by Mr. Roberts in 1796, and into which he had taken his family and goods, were con- nected with the Erie Conference. Mr. Rob- erts had made arrangements to erect a grist-mill the next year near his rustic log farm-house, and it was on this account that he was this year sent to the Shenango Cir- cuit. In 1806 James Reed was on the She- nango Circuit. In 1807 James Watt and Thomas Church were in charge. In 1808 James Charles. In 1809 Jacob Dowell and Eli Towne. In 1810 James Watt was ap- pointed, he being the first preacher who extended his labors thus far south on this circuit, where the first class was formed by him that year."

"This country, as far north as Lake Erie, was embraced in the Baltimore Con- ference. A district of country, bounded on the east by the Allegheny Mountains, on the south by the Greenbrier Mountains of Virginia, on the west by the limits of the white settlements in what is now the State of Ohio, and on the north by Lake Erie, constituted the Monongahela District."

In 1804 William Richards, a member and licensed exhorter of the M. E. Church, moved his family from Center County, Pennsylvania, and settled them on a farm near "King's Chapel," some three miles north of New Castle, and commenced hold- ing religious meetings in his own house, where, soon after, a class was formed com- posed of William Richards and wife, Rob- ert Simonton and wife, Arthur Chenowith and wife, Mary Ray, Rachel Fisher, John Burns and wife, Michael Carman and wife, William Underwood and wife, Robert Wal- lace and wife, Philip Painter and wife, and Rebecca Carroll. This is believed to have

been the first Methodist class organized in the neighborhood of New Castle. William Richards was its first leader. At that time there were but two circuits in what is now the Erie Conference-Erie and Shenango --- the former with a membership of 349, and the latter with 206- making a total of 555. The first class organized within the territory comprising the present Erie Con- ference was the one already mentioned at the Roberts or Leach settlement, in Mercer County, by Jacob Gurwell and Thomas Mc- Clelland, in 1798, of which Robert R. Rob- erts was the class-leader. The itinerant ministers were first introduced here in 1800

The Pittsburg district of the Baltimore Conference then embraced the settled por- tions of West Virginia and what are now the Pittsburg and Erie Conferences; and the Erie and Shenango Circuits embraced all the country west of the Allegheny River and from the Ohio to Lake Erie.

There was but one quarterly meeting held on the Shenango Circuit in 1801, at which Robert R. Roberts was licensed as an exhorter, and the next year the Quar- terly Conference gave him a license to preach, and he was received on trial by the Baltimore Conference, which convened in Baltimore April 1, 1802. From 1800 to 1816 the annual salary of a traveling preacher was $80 and traveling expenses, and the annual allowance of the wife $80; each child, until seventeen years of age, an annual allowance of $16; those from seven to fourteen years, $24; and no support from the Church in any other way. In 1802 the membership on the Shenango Circuit was sixty-five. No trace can be found of an organized Methodist society in New Castle prior to 1810. In that year Jacob Gruber was appointed presiding elder in the Monongahela District, and James Watt the preacher on the Shenango Circuit, who during that year formed the first class in New Castle, the members of which were Michael Carman and wife, John Bevins and wife, James Squier and wife, and

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Nancy Wallace, with Michael Carman as leader. At that time there was not a Meth- odist meeting-house in the territory em- braced by the Erie Conference, except a small one built of round logs and covered with elap-boards, called "Bruch's Meeting- ing-house," in West Springfield Township, Erie County.

The time when the first Methodist meet- ing-house was built cannot now be ascer- tained with certainty, but it is believed to have been in 1815 or 1816.

New Castle was made a preaching ap- pointment on the Shenango circuit in 1810, by Rev. James Watt, the preacher on the circuit, and who organized the first class, as before mentioned.

In 1811, Abel Robison was appointed to Shenango circuit by the Baltimore Confer- ence, at its session March 20, 1811. Jacob Gruber was presiding elder.

In 1812 the districts were changed, and this section of country was embraced in the Ohio District (named after the Ohio River), Jacob Young presiding elder, and William Knox appointed to Shenango Cir- cuit, in which New Castle was an appoint- ment.

The General Conference, which met in May of that year, transferred the Ohio District to the Ohio Conference with its incumbents.

In 1817 the Shenango Circuit was divid- ed between the Erie and Beaver Circuits, and the name no more appears in the Min- utes of the Conference. The Minutes do not show whether the New Castle appoint- ment was on the Erie or Beaver Circuit from 1817 to 1821, in which latter year the New Castle Circuit was formed.

In May, 1824, the General Conference, which met at Baltimore, formed the Pitts- burgh Conference out of portions of Balti- more, Ohio and Genesee Conferences.

In 1832 the Meadville District was formed, and Zerah H. Gaston appointed presiding elder and D. C. Richie and Ahab Keller to New Castle Circuit. In 1833 Al- fred Brunson was elder in the Meadville

District, and Thomas Thompson sent to New Castle. (At the session of 1833 of the Pittsburg Conference the Allegheny College was placed under the control of the Conference, and opened in September of that year).

In 1834 the Warren District was formed, and Wilder B. Mack appointed elder, and R. B. Gardner, and one to be supplied, to New Castle. In 1835 the Ravenna District was formed, and William Stevens appoint- ed presiding elder, and William Carroll and Thomas Thompson preachers on the New Castle Circuit.

The General Conference, at its session in Cincinnati, in 1836, formed the Erie Conference, which held its first session in Meadville, August 17, 1836. The session was composed of fifty-five members, of which Joseph S. Barris was appointed pre- siding elder on the Meadville District, and E. B. Hill and Thomas Graham to the New Castle Circuit.

In 1840 Warren District embraced New Castle Circuit, with Hiram Kinsley pre- siding elder, and T. Stubbs and D. W. Vorce on the New Castle Circuit.

We have been unable to obtain a com- plete historical sketch of the First M. E. Church. The society now has a fine edi- fice, at the corner of Jefferson and North Streets, and is one of the active religious organizations of the city. The present pastor is Rev. E. E. Higley.

GRACE M. E. CHURCH.

Grace M. E. Church of New Castle was organized in December, 1899, by Rev. A. O. Stone of the Erie Conference, who was assigned to this work by Rev. J. C. Scho- field, who was at that time presiding elder by the New Castle District. During the first three years of its existence services were held in a small building rented from the Welch Congregational Church. During his pastorate a lot was purchased at the corner of Reynolds and Agnew Streets.

Rev. Stone was succeeded by the Rev. C. W. Foulke, in September, 1900, who

FIRST M. E. CHURCH.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

FIVE NEW CASTLE CHURCHES.

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served the church one year. In the autumn of 1902 Rev. J. C. A. Borland was appoint- ed pastor. During his pastorate the pres- ent church was completed and dedicated, the dedication services being held on Feb- ruary 8, 1903. The church- a substantial buff brick structure containing an audi- torium, lecture room, parlor and class rooms-was erected at a cost of $15,000. Mr. Borland continued as pastor for three years, when he was succeeded by Rev. H. M. Burns, who also served three years, closing his pastorate in September, 1908. when G. S. W. Phillips took charge. The present membership of the church is 135, with a Sabbath-school enrollment of 150. The officers for 1908 are as follows :

Trustees: Thomas A. Long, H. W. Cas- tle, W. T. Etter, L. M. Buchanan, H. T. Thompson, C. F. Shoenfeld, Dr. E. H. Perry.

Stewards: Dr. W. A. Womer, William Lang, J. F. Greer, Charles Fletcher, J. C. Pherson, George Pearson, Mrs. L. V. Car- son, Mrs. J. H. Nelson.

Class . leaders : J. H. Reed, Thomas Francis, John McGaughey, J. H. Nelson, Mrs. T. A. Long. Sunday-school superin- tendent, Thomas Francis. Epworth League president, Scott Greer. Ladies' Aid president, Mrs. C. T. Schoenfeld.

MAHONING M. E. SEVENTH WARD CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1867, the first pastor being J. H. Bennett, who served two years. Succeeding pastors have been as follows: D. A. Cowell, two years; B. F. Johnson, one year; J. H. Crawford, three years; Richard Baer, John Crum, W. S. Shepherd, John Eckels, two years; J. K. Mendenhall, two years ; J. C. Rhodes, five years; J. M. Foster, two years; F. R. Peters, five years; C. W. Foulke, three years ; J. F. Black, four years ; T. W. Doug- las, two years; J. B. Espy, one-half year (died suddenly while serving the church, April 23, 1907) ; R. N. Merrill, one and one-half years.

The present membership of the church

is 375; membership of Sabbath-school, 250. Trustees, J. Y. Sheehy, S. A. Barnes, F. Patterson, F. F. Smith, Charles Art- man, Joseph Clark, Joseph Gilmore; stew- ards, Roy Miller, Mrs. John Waddell, Mrs. F. F. Smith, Mrs. Sadie Smith, E. H. Grace, John Louer, I. R. Zahniser, Mrs. C. H. Thompson, J. H. Kelly ; superintendent of Sunday-school, I. R. Zahniser. The building now in use was erected in 1894.

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

The Primitive Methodist began in this city about forty-one years ago with a few members. When the church was organ- ized there were only about six members. A small church was erected at a cost of $1,300. During the erection of the church the services were held in the home of Mr. William Nightengale, and the members were Thomas Kimberly, Henry Blues, William Blues, Charles Boals, Samuel Si- mon and Bryan Teech. A Sabbath-school was organized and the work started out. The church was built on the corner of South Jefferson Street. It was a two-story structure and built of brick. It was consid- ered one of the best two-story structures in the city at that time. The congregation worshiped in this building for many years and then decided to erect another new and beautiful church, which was done in the year 1901. From the little frame build- ing the church has advanced until they have one of the prettiest church structures in the city.

The pastors have been as follows: Rev. Thomas Dodds, Rev. B. Barar, Rev. T. Bateman, Rev. R. Forthgill, Rev. C. R. Roscamp, Rev. S. Penglase, Rev. G. Lees, Rev. H. J. Buckingham, Rev. G. J. Jeffries, Rev. R. W. Wilson, Rev. W. Bently, Rev. G. J. Jeffries (second term). The present membership is 275; Sabbath-school, 200. The officers are: Rev. Jeffries, pastor; T. Kimberly, D. Pitzer, T. Morseley, B. Dy- son, C. Ashton, W. Reck, A. Sands, J. Bath and D. Williams.

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BAPTIST CHURCHES.

The first resident Baptist in this town was Mary Craven, of New Jersey, who, at an advanced age, "came," as she said, "to visit her son and to build a Baptist church in New Castle." In a short time William and Ann Book, members of the Zion Church, Butler County, removed to this place, and these were soon aided by Ed- ward Griswold, Giles O. Griswold, and Maria Griswold, of Connecticut, who had emigrated to Ohio. A prayer-meeting was commenced, and here prayer was offered to God for the outpouring of the Spirit and for success in their efforts to build up a Baptist church. These six were afterwards joined by John C. Davis and Jane, his wife, of Philadelphia. The prayer-meetings were first held in an old log-house in which Rich- ard Craven then resided. This house was on North Street, a few doors west of East, and it is worthy of remark that the meet- ing-house, located at the corner of North and East Streets, is but one-half a square from the place where the first prayer- meeting was held. The first sermons were preached by Rees Davis and John Winter, and these ministers were followed by Will- iam B. Barris and George I. Miles. The church was constituted November 27, 1843. Rees Davis and John Winter, invited by those about to organize, were present. They numbered seven at their organiza- tion. Their first meetings for the preach- ing of the Gospel were held in vacated shops and "upper-rooms," and occasion- ally in other houses of worship. When the Protestant Methodist house was built, the Baptists furnished a small capital, and af- ter this used at times that building. They had a claim on that house until 1848, at which time A. G. Kirk removed to the place and preached in a school-house on North Street. During the summer of 1848 their house of worship was begun, and dedicated the fourth Sabbath of February, 1849.

The first religious interest was in a series of meetings held by George I. Miles. The church being revived and strengthened

by the addition of converts, then called Ed- ward Miles as their pastor for one-half his time. He remained as pastor from 1845 until 1847, residing at Freeport, Pa. In 1848 A. G. Kirk was called as the first resi- dent pastor ; he remained eleven years. In 1859 Jesse B. Williams became pastor; he remained three years. D. W. C. Hervey was their next pastor, who remained three years. Since that time William Cowden, Samuel Williams, Will- iam Leet and George G. Craft and others have been pastors. Intervals between the resignation of one pastor and the settle- ment of another were filled by A. G. Kirk in 1863 and 1875, and by John Parker in 1868.

Since those days the denomination has made good progress and there are now five Baptist churches in New Castle, name- ly: First Baptist Church, corner of East and North Streets, Rev. John Snape, pas- tor; Second Baptist Church, 258 West Falls, Rev. A. M. Patterson, pastor; Em- manuel Baptist Church, corner of Jeffer- son and Reynolds Streets, Rev. W. J. John, pastor; Union Baptist Church, 71 West Lawrence, Rev. Pleasant Tucker, pastor; Hungarian German Baptist Mission, 600 Moravia, John Leber, pastor.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

About 1831-32 Catholic priests began to visit New Castle, where they ministered to the wants of a few scattered families. One of the first Catholics in the county was probably a Mr. Doran, who was buried near Bedford before 1810. Nicholas Brian, another adherent of the Catholic faith, was also in the county at an early date. It is said that he came to America with Lafayette during the Revolutionary War. The date of his settlement in the county is not known. James Mooney lived about one mile north of Mount Jackson and the old man Brian used to attend mass at Mr. Mooney's whenever a priest visited the vicinity.

Lawrence O'Connor, who lived on the

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Mahoning in Union Township, had four sons and six daughters baptized by Father Rafferty, during one of his visits to this region. A colored man named William Arms, who lived in Union Township, a mile above Mahoningtown, had all his chil- dren baptized by Father Gibbs about 1840. Among the sponsors were James Mooney, Walter Flinn and Charles Kelly. The par- ents of William Arms always attended mass as opportunity afforded at Mrs. O'Brien's. They were formerly slaves of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Md., who manumitted them before his death. When the canal was put under contract from Bea- ver to New Castle, there was naturally a great increase in the Catholic population of Lawrence County, more particularly in and around New Castle.

The following are the names of the priests who visited New Castle and vicin- ity in early days, with the dates of such visits, so far as known: Rev. Father Raf- ferty in 1834, or perhaps a few years ear- lier; Father Garland about 1837; Father Gibbs, 1840; Father Mccullough, 1843; Father Reed, 1845; Father Garvey, 1854; Father O'Farrell, 1856; Father Farren, 1860; Father Welch, 1862; Father Carna- han, 1863.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The Catholics erected their first church in New Castle in 1852. It was a frame church located west of the town, and was erected by Father Reid, one of the pioneer priests. Father Reid was succeeded in 1854 by Rev. Peter McGarvey, who was the first resident pastor. In June, 1855, the latter was succeeded by Rev. Thomas O'Farrell, who continued to minister to the congregation and missions until Aug- ust, 1859. He was followed by Rev. John C. Farren, and after the latter's with- drawal, in 1862, the congregation was vis- ited monthly by Rev. Thomas Walsh, of Brady's Bend, Armstrong County. The next resident pastor was Rev. James Cane- vin, and it was during his incumbency that,

on account of the development of the iron industries of this section and the conse- quent settlement here of laborers from other points, many of whom were Catho- lies, a new church was found to be an abso- lute necessity. Accordingly Father Cane- vin purchased a lot situated on the corner of Beaver and North Streets, and began the erection of a church which was com- pleted in 1871. It is a brick structure, 110 feet in length by 45 feet in width; it has a well proportioned tower in the center in front and is of a modified Gothic style of architecture.

Father Canevin was succeeded by Father Hayes, who in April, 1871, opened a school, and in the following month pur- chased a large frame building for a pas- toral residence. The affairs of the church and parish went on thenceforward in a prosperous manner until the panic of 1873 affected the iron industries of New Castle, and many of the employees of the great works were forced to seek employment in other sections. This threw many unex- pected burdens on the members of St. Mary's, but under the guidance of wise priests the congregation weathered all storms.

Father Hayes was succeeded on Feb- ruary 8, 1879, by Rev. Joseph Gallagher, who served faithfully and well until his death, which took place August 11, 1906. On October 31, 1907, Rev. Florence F. O'Shea was appointed rector of St. Mary's and took charge on the 15th of November following.

The first Catholic school in New Castle was opened by the sisters from the Sisters of Mary Orphan School near New Bedford, in the frame church in West New Castle, about 1871. In 1876 the present school building was erected. During 1907 Father O'Shea built additions to the school build- ing, which was necessitated by the large number of students, there being at present 475 on the roll. The school is under the charge of eight sisters of the order of Sis- ters of St. Joseph, and their convent ad-

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joins the pastoral residence on North and Beaver Streets. The work of the school includes, in addition to the subjects taught in the primary grades of the public schools, a complete course in stenography, typewriting, bookkeeping and two years of instruction in Latin. Father O'Shea has under his spiritual care 550 families, com- prising 3,000 souls.

ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.

For many years St. Mary's Church was the only Catholic place of worship in New Castle. With the city's increase of popu- lation there was a corresponding influx of Catholics from other points, and the ac- commodations afforded by the old church were discovered to be totally inadequate. The German Catholics in particular began an agitation for the erection of a new church. After giving the matter careful consideration, Bishop Phelan approved of the plan, and selected Father Francis J. Eger, formerly assistant priest of the Ger- man Catholic Church at Allegheny City, to take charge of the organization. After looking over the ground, Father Phelan purchased for the sum of $4,000 the First Methodist Episcopal Church property. Under his direction the building was put in order and was dedicated December, 1888, by Bishop Phelan. Services were estab- lished, a school was founded, and the little congregation had made a fair start, with plan under consideration for further im- provements, when, on April 29, 1892, the church was totally destroyed by fire. This discouraging circumstance, however, was not sufficient to dampen the ardor of Father Eger and the congregation under his spiritual guidance, but rather inspired them to greater efforts. Immediate action was taken towards the erection of a new building, and after a large amount of ener- getic labor on his part and theirs, it became an accomplished fact, and it now stands as one of the handsomest church edifices in the city. It has a seating capacity for 600 people. The interior is finished in Wiscon-

sin oak, the altars, the choir loft and con- fessionals are of beautiful architecture and fine finish, while a subdued light falls softly upon the worshippers through the beauti- ful stained glass windows, which represent the offerings of piety and self-sacrifice on the part of members of the congregation and of the Sunday-school. The church is also provided with a fine pipe organ, said to be the largest in this section of the state.

The school attached to St. Joseph's is under the charge of three sisters of the order of Divine Providence, and they have 160 pupils, 125 of these being residents.

ST. VITUS' CHURCH.

This church, which provides for the spir- itual wants of the Italian citizens of New Castle, is under the charge of Rev. Nicho- las DeMita, and was dedicated August 15, 1907, by Bishop Reges. ' It is a fine brick structure and was erected at a cost of $70,- 000, the corner stone being laid August 15, 1906. School accommodations are provided in the basement for 400 pupils, under sis- ters of a Catholic order, and the church has a seating capacity of 700. It is of a taste- ful style of architecture and finish, and is an ornament to the city. The pastor, Rev. Father DeMita, is a native of Italy, and was educated to the priesthood in his na- tive land, where he first assumed the duties of the pastoral office. After coming to America he located in Pittsburg, where he organized the Italian mission, which he conducted for eighteen months, showing courage in braving the threats of a certain class of his countrymen who were opposed to anything like moral or religious re- straint. He originated the Catholic Anti- Black Hand Society, which now has a mem- bership of 300 or more, including many prominent Italian citizens. Father DeMita was appointed pastor of St. Vitus in Sep- tember, 1905, and now has 400 families under his spiritual direction.

ST. MARY'S POLISH CATHOLIC CHURCH. This church, which has been established

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a few years, is situated on Maple Street and is now under the care of the Rev. John Andrzejewski, who has had charge of the parish since 1905, having under his care 250 families or about 1,400 souls. In con- nection with the church there is a prosper- ing parish school, which has an enrollment of sixty pupils. Father Andrzejewski was born in Milwaukee of Polish parents. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Ireland, at St. Paul University, and before coming to New Castle was assistant pastor of Butler parish, in Butler County, Penn- sylvania.

GERMAN LUTHERAN.

The first society of this denomination in New Castle was organized by Rev. C. Brown on the 28th of August, 1848, with twenty-seven members. Mr. Brown was located at Beaver and preached the first Lutheran sermon in New Castle on the 10th of September of the same year. The first services of the congregation were held in the West schoolhouse. The first church officers were elected October 8, 1848, and installed November 5th following. The first celebration of the Lord's Supper in the German language was on the 5th of No- vember, 1848.

On the 1st of January, 1849, a constitu- tion was adopted, and on the same day Rev. C. Brown was elected as pastor for the ensuing year. On the 28th of January, 1849, a Sabbath school was organized and superintending officers appointed. The first meeting of the Church Council was held on the 29th of January, 1849. The first meeting of the congregation was held De- cember 23, 1849, to take action upon the resignation of Rev. C. Brown. At the meeting of the Church Council on the 22d of March, 1851, it was resolved to build a church, the dimensions of which should be 40 feet in length, 30 feet in width, and 18 feet in height. The second pastor next fol- lowing Mr. Brown was Rev. H. Manz. Fol- lowing him was Rev. H. C. Kahler, who continued until 1857. At a meeting of the

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Century history of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens, 20th, Part 27

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co. Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Hazen, Aaron L. (Aaron Lyle), 1837- comp. and ed. cn
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1058