USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 17
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Presbyterian Church .- The territory now included within the bounds of the Presbyterian Church of Freedom was origin- ally under the care of the pastors and session of the church in Beaver, and, prior to the year 1841, public preaching and other means of grace were occasionally enjoyed in the village of Free- dom, through the ministrations of Andrew O. Patterson and Anderson B. Quay, pastors, in succession, of the church in Beaver; and of Aaron Williams, formerly pastor of the church in Beaver Falls.
Early in the summer of the year 1841, Joseph Reed, for- merly pastor of the church of Hilands, Ohio Presbytery, com- menced preaching statedly in the village and neighborhood of Freedom.
In the same year, in the month of September, the congrega- tion of Freedom, through their commissioner, presented to the Presbytery of Beaver, then in session at New Brighton, a re- quest to be organized into a separate church. In compliance with this request a committee, consisting of Rev. Messrs. Robert Dilworth, Arthur B. Bradford, and Benjamin C. Critchlow, was appointed, with instructions to visit the scene of Mr. Reed's labors, and organize, if they should think proper, a church at Freedom.
On the 10th day of November, 1841, this committee met, but they found only one male Presbyterian church member
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at Freedom, and for this and other reasons failed to organize there.I
During the time then intervening Mr. Reed died, and a licentiate, Washington Morton, was instructed to labor with these people.
Another request then came from Freedom to be organized into a separate church, with the assurance that there had been an increase in male church members.
A committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Benjamin C. Critchlow, Arthur B. Bradford, and Elder James Cummings, to visit the congregation and, if practicable, to organize the church. This committee met with the congregation, May 9, 1843, and, it having been ascertained that the way was then open for the organization of a church, the following persons pre- sented letters of dismission from the churches of Concord and Pine Creek, namely: Rosetta Hardy, Anne Wagoner, Frances McCaskey, Mary Beatty, Joseph Hall, Elizabeth Wagoner, Matilda Hall, Mary Anderson, Elizabeth Gonter, Robert Hall, Isabella Hall, Michael Bubler, Anne Bryan, Rhoda Phil- lips, Robert Wagoner, from Concord; Daniel Miller, Hannah Miller, James Miller, from Pine Creek-eighteen in all.
Two persons were chosen to fill the office of ruling elder, viz., Joseph Hall and Daniel Miller, who were ordained by Mr. Critch- low, after which the Presbyterian Church of Freedom was de- clared to be fully organized.
The first building erected by this congregation as a house of worship was of brick, 50 by 40 feet, with 18-inch walls. It con- tained fifty-four pews.
The Sabbath school was organized, February 4, 1844, with thirty-nine members. Rev. D. C. Reed was the first pastor, 1847-49. Then followed John Brown, 1851-61; D. P. Lowary, 1863-65; James M. Smith, 1867-72; M. L. Wortman, 1872-80; W. G. Stewart, 1883-87; J. H. Bausman, 1887-89; R. L. Smith, 1889-1901; Percy H. Gordon, the present pastor, was called July 2, 1901, and installed September 26, 1901 ; beginning full time at Freedom, January 1, 1903. The following ministers
1 From the diary of Rev. Robert Dilworth, D.D .- Nov. 11, 1841. "We proceeded to Freedom & held a meeting. Mr. Critchlow preached from Acts 3:19. We then having inquired how many church members would wish to unite with the church in that place, & finding that of 10 or 12 members only one was a male, we judged it inexpedient to organize s church in that place at present."
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supplied the church at intervals, but were not installed as pas- tors: John Launitz, 1861-62; William Mckinney, 1865-66; R. B. Porter, 1881-82; D. L. Dickey, 1882-83.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. Joshua Monroe in 1836, in the public schoolhouse, and con- tinued to hold its religious services in that building until the completion of the basement story of their present church build- ing. The site of their church building and grounds was donated by Phillips & Graham, and the church building was erected under the supervision and during the pastorate of Rev. Peter M. McGowan. It was dedicated in 1842.
The actual cost of the building cannot now be accurately given, as much of the work done was donated, and the chief outlay was for materials used. Even this was reduced to a minimum. During a sudden rise in the Ohio River several of the men connected with this congregation went out in skiffs and caught a sufficient number of pine logs that were adrift in the river, to furnish the material with which to build their church. They secured permission to use the saw-mill, and after working all day at their trades, sev- eral of the men would go to the mill, and by the light of tallow candles would run the mill until midnight, sawing out the lum- ber for their church. Then, while the building was being erected, men unused to carpentry would work until midnight, dressing out flooring by hand, laying floors and dressing lumber for inside finishing, and the making of the pews. Thus by sacrifice and devotion to the cause in which they were greatly interested, the work was at length completed.
The first board of trustees consisted of Martin Fisher, Sam- uel Furnier, Thomas G. Kerr, James McConnel, Daniel Graham, and Thomas Lutton.
Prominent among the names of those who were instrumental in the organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Free- dom, we find the names of Jonathan Betz, Samuel Furnier, Martin Fisher, James McConnel, Samuel S. Coulter, Daniel S. Skillinger, Thomas G. Kerr, Thomas Crooks, Thomas Lut- ton, Robert French, Thomas Reno, Woolman Hunt, Jacob Kronk, John W. Snead, Charles Graham, Daniel Graham, Simon Grim, Hugh S. Robinson, Stephen Phillips, William Merriman, John Folio, James Stoops, Gideon Kinnear, William White, Joseph
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Craig, R. H. McCaskey, Enoch Fowler, James Beabout, and in each case the wives of these men bore an active and conspicuous part.
From this church there have gone forth as ministers of the gospel: N. P. Kerr, Henry Tibbals, L. U. Snead, John R. Wolf, John Fresh, and perhaps others.
Early preachers in this church were Gideon Kinnear, Joshua Monroe, William F. Lauck, J. W. Baker, and others. Later min- isters have been John McCarthy, E. B. Webster, E. M. Wood, Thomas Storer, John Conner, D. L. Dempsey, 1880; Josiah Mansell, 1881-82; J. J. Hill, 1883; D. L. Dempsey, 1884; E. B. Griffin, 1885-86; W. L. McGrew, 1887-88; E. M. Wood, 1889; M. G. Potter, 1890-91; J. D. W. Hazelton, 1892-94; Frank Prosser, 1895-97; A. H. Davies, 1898-1900; J. K. Howe, 1901 -.
The Evangelical Association .- This church was about sixty years ago a mission station in the Harmony circuit, and may be said to have then had its birth. Its present building was erected about 1890, during the pastorate of G. Gahr. Since the organization of the Erie Conference the following ministers have served the congregation: L. Scheuerman, Th. Suhr, G. Götz (twice), C. Walz, H. Wiegand, G. Ott, C. F. Hartung, G. Gähr, J. G. Ziegler, Fr. Handke, S. C. Götz, J. G. Walz, J. A. Hetche, Th. Gahr, J. Finkbeiner, J. Hoffman, C. Holliger, and again J. Hoffman.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Freedom, Pa., was organized as the First German congregation of Freedom and vicinity in the year 1848 by Rev. E. F. Winter of Zelienople, Pa. The services were held in the old schoolhouse in the bor- ough of Freedom up to December 1, 1851, when the present church edifice was dedicated. On March 26, 1853, a constitu- tion was adopted and signed by thirty-nine male and thirty-seven female members. Among the original signers were the following, who are at this writing still active members of this church; Elias Mengel, John Mengel, John Ruckert, Fredrick Kornmann, and Conrad Schleiter, Sr. In the course of time the constitution has undergone various changes, the most important of these being the introduction of the English language, which was previously debarred from the business as well as the religious meetings. German is retained in the chief service; while the Sunday-school, the evening services, Mission League, etc., are now conducted in VOL. 11 .- 12.
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English. The following pastors have served this church: Rev. E. F. Winter, 1848-58; H. C. Kaehler, 1858-61; Casper Scheel, 1861-64; K. Walz, 1864-67; C. A. Frank, 1867-70; P. Born, 1870-76; F. C. E. Lemcke, 1876-1902. The present pastor is Rev. Paul Kummer of Leetsdale, Pa. The Rev. M. R. Smith of Baden, Pa., holds alternate Sunday evening services. Mr. Edward Schleiter is the superintendent of the Sunday-school. The church council is composed of Rev. P. Kummer, president, Mr. Elmer Mengel, secretary; J. A. Mengel, treasurer: trustees: Elias Mengel, John Mengel, John Ruckert, Edward Schleiter, Michael Zahn, Jacob Metzger. The membership at present is sixty, and while the growth is slow it is healthy. Most of the members are among the substantial and best-known citizens of Freedom and vicinity.
Trinity Lutheran Church, in what was formerly St. Clair, now Freedom, was organized October 24, 1869, with the follow- ing charter members: Conrad Brandt, John Minke, Peter Klein, John Hagen, Conrad Schleiter, Henry Minke, Chas. Bischoff- berger, Jacob Brandt, Chas. L. Mohr, Geo. H. Mohr, and John C. Brandt.
Services were held at the residence of Conrad Brandt in St. Clair borough, by Rev. C. A. Frank, who was the first minister of the congregation.
A lot was purchased from Thos. F. Robinson for the sum of $250, January 8, 1870, and the erection of the church build- ing thereon was completed at a cost of $1860.37. The church was dedicated, July 24, 1870. At this time there remained a debt against the church building of $640, which was paid a few years later. Rev. Jacob Wilhelm officiated as pastor from 1872 to 1874, Mr. Frank having been called to Pittsburg. Mr. Wil- helm was succeeded by Rev. Otto Von Zech, who served until January, 1875, being succeeded by Rev. G. J. Mueller, who served faithfully until called to a Western congregation in the year 1879. During the vacancy the congregation was served by the Rev. F. Wambsgans of Allegheny City, until 1880, when it was again supplied with a resident pastor in the person of Rev. P. Pohl, who remained until 1882. From this date until 1888, the congregation secured the services of Rev. F. Wambsgans of Allegheny City, who officiated as pastor both in Allegheny City
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and Freedom. In 1888 the pastor was called to Indianapolis, and was succeeded by Revs. S. M. Soergel and A. W. Myer of Pittsburg; and from this time English and German services were conducted alternately, Mr. Myer conducting the English, and Mr. Soergel the German services. Mr. Soergel served until 1894, when he was called to a congregation in the East, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Mr. Wishmeyer of Allegheny City. The follow- ing year, 1895, the congregation celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the dedication of the church building. About this time the English pastor, Mr. Myer, was called to take charge of one of the Lutheran colleges in the West, and he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Hemmeter, who served with Mr. Wishmeyer until 1897, when Rev. John Schiller of Baltimore was called as pastor, to conduct both German and English services, and served until 1903, when he was called to a congregation in New York City. The vacancy at present is being filled temporarily by Rev. Henry Seiker of Pittsburg.
The Trinity Lutheran Church (English) .- The opening and extension of the Conway railroad yards drew a large number of members from the Crow's Run congregation to Vicary (now a part of Freedom). These members asked for services with the idea of the establishment of a congregation as soon as cir- cumstances would permit. Permission having been obtained from the school board for the use of the schoolhouse there, service was held in Vicary on February 15, 1891. The attend- ance was so encouraging and the desire to organize a congrega- tion so hearty, that after a full explanation of the trials which would naturally result to a weak and struggling organization, all were willing to begin the work. On the 8th of November, 1891, the congregation was organized with eleven members. The offer to donate a building lot by Mr. and Mrs. James Harvey was thankfully accepted; and on the fifth day of September, 1892, ground was broken for the erection of a church building. On the 2d day of October, 1892, the corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. On March 26, 1893, the first service was held in the church. August 20, 1893, the church was dedicated, the Rev. S. A. K. Francis of Trinity Church, Phila- delphia, Pa., preaching the sermon. The first and present pas- tor is the Rev. R. Morris Smith.
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SCHOOLS
The common schools of Freedom are excellent. There has recently been erected a large public school building which is among the best in the county.
PINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
The Freedom National Bank .- A meeting was held in Free- dom, Pa .. January 19. 18;2. at the office ci Pasip Bertel. for the purpose of forming a company for carrying on a general banking business.
A company was formed. composed of the following stock- holders: Philip Bentel, Charles H. Bentel. Jno. F. Bentel. J. G. Bentel. D. E. Lowry. Abram McDonald. J. F. Mueller. Jno. B. Cheney. W. E. Cotter. W. C. Goll. Tobias Hetchie. Simon Grim. and Jno. Minke.
The bank was to be known as P. Bentel & Company. and the business was to be under the supervision and management of Philip Bentel as president, and C. H. Bentel, cashier.
The capital stock of the bank was $40.000.
The bank was opened for business on the first day of Feb- mary. 1872, and continued under the management of the same parties until about 1877 of 1878. when the rest of the stock- Luders were bought out by Philip Bentel.
The business was carried on by Philip and Charles H. Bentel As before. until the death of Philip Bentel. June 30. 1883. Charles H. Bentel then became sole owner and so continued until July 2. 1900. when the bank was merged into a National Bank known as the Freedom National Bank, with a capital of $30.000. and the following officers: Jos. W. Craig. president; A. J. Minke, vice-president; Chas. H. Bentel, cashier: H. F. Linnenbrink, teller: and Jos. W. Craig. Dr. J. R. Lockhart. C. H. Bentel, A. Blatt, A. McDonald. A. J. Minke. D. J. Snead, Jas. A. Harvey, and J. J. McElhany, directors. At the call of November, 1903, this bank had a deposit of $248,610.
The Freedom Savings & Trust Company was chartered June 15. 1003, and opened for business in its permanent quarters, October 19. 1903. The capitalization is $125,000, and practic- ally all of the stock is owned by residents of the vicinity.
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The directors are E. J. Schleiter, H. J. Bock, S. Morgan, R. D. Thompson, W. T. Mohler, John McAndrews, J. B. Hetche, J. R. McKee, and M. J. Beal of Freedom; H. W. Reeves of Beaver Falls; Edwin S. Weyand of Beaver; James C. Chaplin of Pittsburg, M. L. Strock of Baden, and Charles R. Eckert of Monaca. Mr. Schleiter is president; Mr. Chaplin, vice-president; Robert C. Campbell, secretary and assistant-treasurer.
MANUFACTURING CONCERNS OF THE PRESENT DAY
The Freedom Oil Works Company, organized, 1879, by Drs. Stephen A. Craig and H. S. McConnel, built a refinery at Remington, now Conway. This property was sold to the Penn- sylvania Company in 1883, and a refinery built at its present location by S. A. Craig, H. S. McConnel, and A. J. Minke. Messrs. Craig & McConnel retiring during the next three years, the business was continued by A. J. Minke.
In 1889 the Freedom Oil Works Company was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania. Its officers are: Jos. W. Craig, president; A. J. Minke, vice-president; W. H. Baker, secretary and treasurer.
The company has distributing stations and offices at the following places in Pennsylvania: Beaver Falls, Braddock, Car- negie, Connellsville, DuBois, Greensburg, Johnstown, McKees- port, Mt. Pleasant, New Castle, New Kensington, Pine Grove, Pittsburg, Punxsutawney, Scottdale, Sharon, Uniontown; in Ohio at Canton, East Liverpool, Massillon, Newark, Salem, Springfield, Steubenville, Warren, Wellsville, Youngstown; and at Wheeling, W. Va.
The Freedom Casket Company .- April 1, 1889, the Craig Manufacturing Company was organized by J. A. Harvey, D. C. Harvey, S. A. Craig, M.D., and F. S. Craig as a partnership. The firm manufactured cloth caskets, robes and linings, and jobbed a full line of goods adapted to the undertaking trade. On the death of Dr. S. A. Craig, his interest was purchased by the firm, January 1, 1894; and, June 15, 1895, F. L. Wilson purchased the interest of F. S. Craig, who was compelled to retire from business on account of ill-health. The business of the Craig Manufacturing Company increased rapidly, and finding their surroundings too contracted for the needs of the firm they
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determined to enlarge the plant. On the 28th of June, 1901, they were incorporated as The Freedom Casket Company, with a capital stock of $75,000, $60,000 of which was paid in. The increased capital was used in the erection of new buildings, which were begun in the fall of 1901. They erected two brick build- ings, one of three stories and one of two stories with a basement, having now a floor space of about 35,000 square feet. The firm has three salesmen covering the States of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and West Virginia, and its sales amount to about $60,000 annually. The officers of the company are: J. A. Harvey, president; D. C. Harvey, vice-president; and F. L. Wilson, secretary-treasurer. The plant of this company is one of the completest in the State.
Artificial Ice Plant .- This was built in 1898, by John C. McWilliams. The site of the plant is on Eighth Street, extending back to Dutchman's Run. The ice is made from condensed water, the system used being that which employs cold calcium brine. When started the daily output was about six tons, and is now cight tons. Mr. McWilliams has delivery wagons run- ning in Rochester, Freedom, and Baden.
OAK GROVE CEMETERY
The Oak Grove Cemetery of Freedom was incorporated the 14th day of March, 1863, with the following trustees: Robert McCaskey, P. Bentel, Wm. Wagner, A. McDonald, J. I. Park, and Isaac Black. After the charter was procured and a board of trustees organized by electing Robt. McCaskey, president; Isaac Black, secretary; and Philip Bentel, treasurer, it was agreed to purchase a piece of ground from Dr. T. F. Robinson. The purchase was made October 19, 1863, the plot consisting of four acres of ground, for which they paid $403. In 1874 nearly all the lots in the cemetery being sold, the trustees bought three acres for which they paid $300 an acre. In February, 1890, they bought three acres more at the same price. The present trustees are D. E. Lowry, A. McDonald, C. H. Bentel, W. G. Jack, Jas. Manor, and F. G. Duerr, who have been re- elected to the office each year, for over twenty years.
ST. CLAIR BOROUGH
This borough has no longer a corporate existence, having
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been merged in 1896 into Freedom borough, from which it was only separated by a small run, and with which it was for all practical purposes one town. Its post-office had al- ways been Freedom, and its social and business interests were always identical with those of Freedom. The village of St. Clair had been laid out in 1837 by Captain William Vicary, and was often called "Vicary Extension," or "Vicary." It was in- corporated as a borough by a decree of the court, March 25, 1867.ª The first election was held, April 20, 1867, with Jonathan Paul as judge, and James Reed and James Harkins, inspectors. Its population by the census of 1890 was 411; that of Freedom by the same census was 704. The united boroughs are shown by the census of 1900 to have a population of 1783. The union of the two boroughs was by a charter of incorporation issued by the Governor of Pennsylvania, May 4, 1896, under the Act of June 6, 1893.2
1 No. 9, March Sess., 1867; Road Docket No. 3, p. 370.
' P. L., 338.
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View of Phillipsburg (now Monaca), Beaver, Bridgewater, and Rochester. Half-tone from a lithographed drawing made by Adolph Wever in 1842.
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History of Beaver County
been a Polish nobleman named Helvedi,' who was exiled from his native land and, emigrating to America, came to this place and engaged in breeding Merino sheep, being the original im- porter of this valuable breed into this section.
The origin of the town dates back to about 1822, when Phil- lips & Graham established on its site their extensive boat yards. It was first named for Stephen Phillips of this firm, and was long known as Phillipsburg. In 1832 Phillips & Graham sold the entire tract of land on which the town was located to the se- ceders from the Harmony Society at Economy, and removed their boat yards to what is now Freedom, about one mile above and on the opposite side of the river.
The secession from the Harmony Society took place as a result of the differences which arose in that society between the founder, George Rapp, and an adventurer from Germany named Count de Leon .? De Leon and his adherents, numbering some two hundred and fifty persons, removed to Phillipsburg, which they had purchased with the money obtained in a compromise with the leaders of the Harmony Society. Here they estab- lished a colony under the name of the New Philadelphia So- ciety, erecting a church, a hotel, and other buildings, some of which are still standing. The count was made president of the new society, to be aided by twelve trustees.
Financial and other difficulties arose in the society in the lapse of about seventeen months, and a dissolution was decided upon. The following notice was published:
PUBLIC NOTICE
The undersigned, members of the New Philadelphia Society at Phil- lipsburg, in the county of Beaver and commonwealth of Pennsylvania, have been authorized by said society to give public notice of the dissolu- tion of their partnership. The public will therefore take notice that the
" The tract of land on which Monaca now stands, consisting of 330 acres, and described as opposite the mouth of Big Beaver Creek, was granted by the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania by patent bearing date September 5, 1787, to Ephraim Blaine (grandfather of James G. Blaine). In the patent this tract is called "Appetite." (See copy of this patent duly recorded in the proper office in Beaver County, Deed book No. 128, p. 261.)
On the Ist of August, 1813. this tract of land was bought by Francis Helvedi, and was sold by James Lyon, sheriff of Beaver County, as his property to George Rapp by deed dated August 31, 1821. In the deed last named the property is described as "containing 300 acres, then in Moon township, on which is erected two log houses, one kitchen, one large sheep house shingle roofed and one cabin roofed stable, and about 84 acres cleared thereon, 16 acres of which are in meadow."
' See Chapter XXVIII for a fuller account of this secession.
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History of Beaver County
partnership heretofore existing in Phillipsburg aforesaid, and transacting business under the title of the New Philadelphia Society, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. All persons having claims against said partnership are hereby requested to present the same for settlement; and those indebted to said company are required to make payment to Abner Lacock, Stephen Phillips and Adam Schule, who are fully author- ized to settle and adjust the accounts of said partnership.
Given under our hands this 10th day of August. A.D., 1833. Maximilian de Leon, Samuel G. Goentgen, John A. Zickwolf, Jacob Wagner, John Schaefer. Anthony Knapper.
The following month. the count and his family, with a num- ber of followers, sailed down the Ohio River on a flat-boat and settled at Leo Grand de Cour, twelve miles north of Natchi- toches, Louisiana; and there, in October, 1834, the count died
C
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PHILLIPSBURGH. BEAVER COUNTY, PA.
and was buried. The descendants of his company remained in that State, in the parish of Claiborne, where some still survive The members of the society who remained in Phillipsburg car- ried on for some time a co-operative business, but this was soon dissolved, and each individual composing the company set up in
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life for himself in harmony with the general practice of the people about them. Some of the most highly respected, influ- ential, and useful families of Monaca, such as the Wagners,1 Schaefers, Trompeters, Stroheckers, and Franks are from this community.
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