USA > Pennsylvania > Beaver County > History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and Its Centennial Celebration, Volume II > Part 18
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A remarkable instance of religious fanaticism is given in an occurrence which took place here in the spring of 1846, when a man from Ohio, named Keil, proclaimed himself as the Christ, and announced that he would be crucified on a certain day. This man was in no way connected with Count de Leon, though
" Jacob Wagner was born May 3, 1801, at Uebtingen, Würtemberg, Germany. His parents were Johann Georg and Anna Maria (Huber) Wagner. His third birthday was passed on the ocean en route with his parents to America. Pushing their way inland his parents bought a farm on Yellow Creek in Butler County, Pennsylvania, upon which they made their home. In the course of a few years, however. this land was sold, and the pro- ceeds, with all other of their earthly possessions, turned into the treasury of the Harmony Society, then coming into prominence under the leadership of George Rapp, which society they joined.
Following the fortunes of the organization young Wagner grew to manhood, receiving a fair German education, but forbidden under penalty of incurring the displeasure of Rapp to learn the English language. Despite this obstacle, however, he persisted secretly in the study of English until he had a good knowledge of it, much to his advantage in later days. Wagner became one of the leading members among the younger people of the Harmony Society, and was intrusted with many commissions of importance in its affairs. His penetrating mind probed the depths of the constitution of the communal system under which he lived and rejected its errors. His influence with the older leaders was impaired by this independence of thought, but was constantly augmented among the younger and more progressive minds in the community.
When in 1832, the secession from the Harmony Society of a large number of members under Maximilian, Count de Leon, took place, Wagner was one of the leading spirits in the movement, and when the communistic system was abolished in the newly founded town he was esteemed the best qualified among its citizens for transacting business with the outside world. Accordingly he was selected by the company owning and operating the woolen mill (see cut opposite) as its agent and president, in which capacity he traveled all over western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, buying wool and selling the products of the factory. He filled many offices of trust besides in church, school, and civil affairs, and in all respects earned and kept the confidence and affection of his fellow citizens, and in his home life he was equally devoted and happy. On the ad of November, 1834 he was united in marriage to Helen Christine Heydt. Six children were born to them, Phillipena (Mrs. C. Erbeck), Mary, Johanna, Israel, Melinda (Mrs. Rev. D. L. Roth) and Jonathan, who died in infancy. Jacob Wagner died April 9, 1884, aged 82 years, 11 months. His widow survived him five years, dying March 13, 1889, at almost the same age-82 years. The sur- vivors at this date (1904) are Mary, Israel and Mrs. Roth.
Among the families, first in point of time and in influence, in Monaca, are the Schaefers. Jacob Schaefer, their progenitor, was born February 21, 1801, at Knittlimer [Knittlingen?] Würtemberg, Germany. His widowed mother emigrated with him in 1806 to Pennsylvania, and became a full member of the Harmony Society, in which Jacob grew up, and in which he became finally one of the most useful and influential members and officers. He learned the trades of carpentry, dyeing, and machinery.
Jacob Schaefer took an active part in the secession from the Harmony Society in 1832, and was chosen one of the twelve trustees of the New Philadelphia Society into which the seceders were afterwards organized. On the dissolution of the latter society heywas made one of the committee to adjust its affairs. The property which fell to his share he culti- vated for a number of years thereafter and he died at Phillipsburg February 24, 1887
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the popular tradition has always represented him as one of the followers of that celebrity. The crucifixion was actually ar- ranged for in all its details, the cross being made and the hole for it dug on the hillside just above the present P. & L. E. Rail- way trestle, to the west of the town, on the farm of George Frank, now of the estate of Dr. W. G. Taylor's heirs. It was on a warm Sunday morning, the town was crowded with people, and the excitement was intense. But the false Christ disap- pointed the multitude, and, with some of his deluded disciples, who had been seceders from the Harmony Society, fled to Oregon, where he died.
Several large buildings which had been erected by the New Philadelphia Society were, in 1848, sold to Dr. Edward Acker for a sanatorium, known as Water Cure, which flourished for a time under his management, and was afterwards carried on by Dr. Baeltz. Later these buildings were used for a hotel and pleasure resort kept by a man named Cimiotti, and in 1865 they were bought by Rev. William G. Taylor, D.D., for housing the Soldiers' Orphans School, which he was then about establishing at Phillipsburg.
This school was the first of the kind under State appoint- ment in the western part of Pennsylvania, and was organized by Dr. Taylor under appointment from Governor Andrew G. Curtin. It was put in operation in March, 1866, and continued successfully until 1876, new buildings being added and large purchases of ground being made at various periods; but in August of the latter year the main building was accidentally destroyed by fire, and it was not thought advisable to rebuild. The scholars were transferred to other institutions, and the school ended its career.
INCORPORATION
We have said that the name New Philadelphia in part and for a time displaced the original name of this place, Phillips- burg, but seven years after the dissolution of the society the town was incorporated into a borough under the latter and primitive name.1 A petition praying for this incorporation was presented at the September term of court in 18392 by Jacob
' On a map of the Ohio in Lloyd's Steamboat Directory and Disasters, 1856, this point is named Jacobsburg.
* Quarter Sessions Docket No. 3, No. 17, Sept. Sess., 1839, p. 162.
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Schaefer, Adam Schule, and others, a plan of the town accom- panying the petition. The petition was approved by the grand jury, Major Robert Darragh, foreman; and the decree was made by the court, March 6, 1840.' The following first Mon- day of April the first borough election was held in the tavern of William Stumm. January 26, 1880, by virtue of a decree of the Court of Quarter Sessions, the borough of Phillipsburg was made subject to the provisions of the Act of April 3, 1851, relating to boroughs.2 September 20, 1892, the corporate name of the borough was changed to Monaca.3 This was done partly to obviate the confusion arising from the fact that there is another town in the State having the name of Philipsburg.
Harris's Directory gives the names of citizens of this place in 1841, with their occupations, as follows :
Merchants-Anthony Knapper, Israel Bentel. Carpenters-John Bell, Henry Sunk, John Trompeter, Casper Koehler, George Voght, David Lais (Lay), Henry Young. Farmers-J. Strohecker, Francis Bonet, Jacob Barker, Jacob Grain, C. Frank, George Frank, Daniel Voght, Frederick Speyerer. Blacksmiths-Bernard Zeigler, George Zeigler, David Wagner, Jacob Veiginger, Simon Wagner. Shoemakers-George Schnauffer, Adam Keller, George Lais (Lay), Tersius Kramer. Hotel- keepers-George N. Fisher, "76 Hotel," Peter Stupp. Millwrights- Michael Forstner, George Forstner. Weavers-George Reiff, Jacob Duer. Physician-Edward Acker. Coopers-Jacob Sanders, M. Faut, Andrew Faut. Laborers-Jacob Miner, Jacob Voght. Blue Dyers-Jacob Schaefer, Charles Schmalhausen. Bricklayers-Rheinhold Frank, August Schmidt, Christian Authenriet. Tailors-Reinmund Gann, Francis Zeigler. Wool Grader-Jacob Wagner. Miller-A. Schule. Wheelwright-John Bauer. Brickmaker-Jacob Koenig. Wool Carder-Frederick Speyerer. Sur- veyor-Charles Kramer. Tinner-Christian Smith. Sawyer-W. Horman. Ferryman-John Rainbow [Rambo?]. Butcher-John Schamburgher. Barbers-Alexander Gempill, Joseph Kreg, Conrad Gann. Minister-Rev. Ferdinand Winter. Burgess, justice of the peace and manager of the semi- mary-L. F. Le Goullon. Council-Israel Bentel, Christian Authenriet, Jacob Schaefer.
It will be seen from this list of names that the population of the place was at this time predominantly German. This was due to the fact that the people were largely the remainder of the New Philadelphia Society, the original members of which had been emigrants to this country from the "Fatherland."
1 Quarter Sessions, Docket No. 3, No. 17, September Sessions, 1839, p. 162.
" Quarter Sessions, Misc. Docket No. 1, p. 63.
' Quarter Sessions. Misc. Docket No. 2, No. 13, June Sessions, 1892, pp. 24-25
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The later accessions to the population of the town were also, mainly, the same in nationality.
MANUFACTURES
Until the coming of the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railroad, Monaca was a small and sleepy village of some four hundred inhabitants. The construction of this road gave an impetus to business, good shipping facilities being created by it, and soon manufacturing establishments began to seek locations in the town, bringing an increase of population.
The Phoenix Glass Company of Monaca, Pa., was organized in August, 1880, under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania; the principal stockholders being Andrew Howard and W. I. Miller. The capital stock was $30,000, which was increased in 1887 to $250,000; and the company was reorganized in 1891, under the Laws of the State of West Virginia, with an author- ized capital of $700,000. They started as a chimney factory, and in 1884 commenced the manufacture of colored effects in table- ware, globes, etc., being pioneers in this industry in this country.
Their entire output is now devoted to glass for lighting devices for electricity, gas, acetylene, and oil, employing about 1100 hands, with an average monthly pay roll of $40,000. An- drew Howard has been president of the company since its organ- ization :; A. H. Patterson, of New York City, is vice-president and manager of sales department; and E. P. Ebberts, of Pitts- burg, is secretary and treasurer, having been elected to that position at the time of the resignation of W. I. Miller, November I, 1888. Some of the beautiful lamps manufactured by this company have sold in New York at prices as high as four or five hundred dollars, and the firm has employed artists from Japan and all parts of Europe in its decorating department.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
The Monaca National Bank was organized May 2, 1901, chartered July 1, 1901, and opened for business the Ist of Au- gust following. Its capital is $25,000, and it is officered as follows: George Lay, president; James R. Gormley, M.D., vice- president; Robert L. Hood, cashier. The officers, with M. W.
1 Mr. Howard died February 27, 1904, and was succeeded in the presidency by his son, Thomas H. Howard.
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Carey, H. C. Glasser, Henry J. Eckert, and Charles Houston, are the directors.
The Citizens' National Bank of Monaca, Pa .- This institu- tion was chartered June 25, 1901, and started business, July I, 1901, with a capital of $50,000. The officers at the time of organization were: John T. Taylor, president; John J. Allen, vice-president; Thomas C. Fry, cashier; directors: John T. Taylor, James H. Welch, Henry C. Fry, Edward Kaye, Christian Will, John J. Allen, Frederick Bechtel, Jere C. Martin, and Albert M. Jolly.
The present officers are: John T. Taylor, president; John J. Allen, vice-president; Mont. D. Youtes, cashier; Miss Frances L. Youtes, assistant; directors: John T. Taylor, James H. Welch, Edward Kaye, Christian Will, John J. Allen, Frederick Bechtel, Jere C. Martin, Washington L. Shrum, Charles M. Wagner. The present capital is $50,000; the surplus, $9000; and deposits, $100,000.
CHURCHES
St. Peter's United Evangelical Protestant Church of Phillips- burg .- During the stay of Count de Leon and his followers at Phillipsburg, preaching was a part of the religious life of the society, the services being in charge of the count himself. Dr. Samuel G. Goentgen also preached occasionally. After the final dissolution of the society a minister from Pittsburg, a Mr. Daubert, came at intervals to preach for the people during the years 1834 and 1835. He was followed by Rev. E. F. Winter, under whose pastoral care the congregation became more thor- oughly organized, and finally assumed the name given above. Mr. Winter remained in the field for a period of twenty-five years, or from 1834 to April, 1859. He was a man of more than ordinary talents, possessing in addition to his scholarly and ministerial attainments considerable taste in music and the arts of drawing and painting. He served in connection with Phil- lipsburg two other congregations, one at Zelienople, where in all he preached forty years, and one in the country, known as Burry's Church. He also supplied at Freedom, Bridgewater, Unionville, and Breitensteins. Mr. Winter died at Zelienople in May, 1884, and is buried at that place.
History of Beaver County
3. Rev. Y .. Zimmerman ichlowed, and was pastor until 1861. En :30: the church was supplied by two pastors, Rev. J. C. Juble mil March, and Rey Car! Heischman, who came in the all amd stayed three months. Som :363 to 1864 the pastorates were those of J. P Henty. G. Pishi, and C. Schul. Cari Jackel followed. 1905-06: P.o. E. F. Gese. ISo ;: J. O. Zwicker. 1868; C. F. Steinbach. = 860-70: P Bom -170 -.. Rev. Mr. Dethlefs was here for a short ame. Rev. F. C. E. Lemcke was the last pastor. serving from r1 ;; antil rger. M- Lemcke was a Lutheran, a member of the Pittsburg Synod of the General Council. The services of the church are conducted in the German language. The house of worship was built by the New Philadelphia Society m r$32 and remodeled in 1988. and 's a neat and substantial trame structure. Its tower contained :wo sells. which were the first church teils in use in the Beaver Valley. One of them be- came cracked. and the other was sent. together with the first communion service of the church. to Rajahmudry, India, to Miss Agnes I. Schade. a highiy indential. talented, and indus- trious missionary of the Lutheran Church who went out from this congregation. The pipe-organ in this church. still in use, was the first in the valley.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer .- This church was an outgrowth of a union Sunday-school. which, gradually assuming a Lutheran type. was organized into a Luth- eran congregation by the Rev. W. A. Passavant. Jr. The pre- liminary steps were taken. May ;. 1882. at which time three trustees. viz., N. H. Trompeter. Robert Merryman, and E. R. Frank were elected. A constitution prepared for its churches by the Pittsburg Synod of the General Council Lutherans. was adopted. July 1. 1887. and the congregation was chartered, De- cember 8. 1889. the following persons signing the charter: W. A. Passavant. N. H. Trompeter. James Miller. E. B. Steifel. Arthur Brady, and William C. Vollhardt. This congregation worships in a substantial brick building, which was erected in 1888 under the supervision of Mr. Passavant at a cost of $7000. Mr. Passa- vant supplied the church from its inception, and, receiving a call to assume the regular pastorate, October 24. 1886, accepted and served until November 1, 1890. He was followed by Rev. F. W. Kohler, who took charge, November 6, 1890, and served
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for four years. Then followed two years of supplies, and, De- cember 1, 1896, Rev. C. L. Holloway became pastor. He re- signed in 1902 on account of ill-health, and was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. R. G. Rosenbaum. There are 86 active members on the roll of this church, and an enrollment of 138 scholars in the Sunday-school.
The Presbyterian Church .- Presbyterian services in Phillips- burg had their beginning in occasional preaching by Rev. W. G. Taylor, D.D., in the chapel of the Orphans' School. Neighbor- ing pastors gave assistance from time to time; and Rev. Aaron M. Buchanan, who was supplying North Branch Church, preached at Phillipsburg and urged some action looking towards regular services there. In November, 1884, Sunday evening services were begun in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and later, through the assistance of Dr. Taylor, a hall on Fourth Street was secured.
Eventually the people were able to undertake the work of building, and in November, 1886, their present house of worship was dedicated. It is a large frame building of two stories, 40 x 60 feet.
The church was regularly organized by a committee of the Presbytery of Pittsburg, April 16, 1885, with an enrollment of twenty-three members. W. J. Porter, J. D. Anderson, and B. F. Potter were chosen ruling elders.
The first pastor was H. F. Earseman, who was ordained and installed, June 30, 1885. He remained until December 31, 1886, when by mutual agreement the relation was dissolved. Matthew Rutherford was then called, and on June 14, 1887, he was ordained and installed. This pastorate continued until 1890; then Rev. J. J. Srodes followed and remained until 1897. Rev. J. T. Hackett was installed the same year, and remained until the present pastor, Rev. S. A. Bowers was installed, July 26, 1904. The number of contributing members at present is 150.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- About the year 1828, William Elliot, a Methodist, came from the State of Ohio and purchased a farm three miles south of the Ohio River, in Moon township. Services were often held in Mr. Elliot's (better known as Squire Elliott) house by the Revs. Richard Armstrong, VOL. 11 .- 13.
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strong, Joshua Monroe, and others. In 1841 Philip Cooper, also from Ohio, bought a farm in the same township five miles south of Phillipsburg, near New Sheffield. He was also a Methodist, and his home became a stopping-place for the preachers of those days. The Cooper family were highly esteemed in the commun ity, and were faithful supporters of the church. The late Dr. John Cooper, an able and honored physician of Allegheny City, was of this family.
The Rev. Cornelius Jackson and others frequently preached at Cooper's and other places in the township; and Rev. R. Hawkins, then pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Bridgewater, preached in an unoccupied log house on the farm of Mr. John Johnson. This appointment, however, only lasted a short time. In 1844 Rev. Joshua Monroe of Beaver preached at the house of William Elliot a few times, the regular appoint- ment being at that time in a schoolhouse near the Presbyterian Church. This appointment also was of short duration. No regularly organized society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was effected in this neighborhood until the year 1858, when the Rev. John Murray of Bridgewater began preaching during the summer months at what was called the Davis schoolhouse. On October Ist of that year a two-days meeting was held, and a class was formed as the result of the efforts of Dr. Murray, who left the work in charge of the Rev. Latchall McGuire, then pas- tor at Shousetown. At the annual conference in the spring of 1859, Mr. McGuire was returned to the charge with the Rev. T. N. Boyle as his assistant. The next summer a camp-meeting was held on the farm of Carbon Prophater, under the direction of the above-mentioned ministers and Rev. Dr. C. A. Holmes, presiding elder of the district. In the fall of that year a frame church building, 35 x 45 feet, and costing about $1000, was erected on the grounds of the camp-meeting, Carbon Prophater donating one acre for its site. This building was dedicated by Dr. C. A. Holmes in December following, 1859, and was called McGuire's Chapel. The accessions received at the camp-meet- ing and at the dedication enlarged the membership to about one hundred. The chapel remained on the Shousetown circuit until 1864, with Rev. J. V. Yarnall as preacher in charge, and Dr. William Cox, presiding elder. By them a building commit- tee was appointed contemplating the erection of a church in
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Phillipsburg, three miles north of the chapel. The following are among the first members at McGuire's Chapel: Daniel Carey, Adaline Carey, Philip Cooper, Columbus Cooper, Elizabeth Cooper, Margaret Elliot, Joseph Craig, Jacob Glasser, Elizabeth Glasser, Carbon Prophater and wife, Caroline Hamilton, and members of the Landis and Huselton families. Pastors in charge have been: Latchall McGuire, 1859; John Wright and L. Keigle, assistant, 1860; J. J. Jackson and - Farrall, 1861; J. J. Jackson and N. P. Kerr, 1862; M. M. Eaton, 1863; J. V. Yarnall and James Jones, 1864. In the spring of 1865, on the organization of a society in Phillipsburg, McGuire's Chapel was attached to it as one charge, and the same ministers served both congregations.
In 1865, as just stated, a Methodist church was organized in ' Phillipsburg, some of the charter members being M. W. Carey, J. W. Carey, Daniel Carey, Adaline Carey, Samuel Bickerstaff, Hannah Bickerstaff, Christian Merryman, and Sarah Baker. The society erected the following year a neat frame house of worship, 35 × 45 feet, at a cost of about $2500. It was dedi- cated, May 6, 1866, by Rev. J. J. McIlyar, assisted by Rev. Dr. J. Horner. J. V. Yarnall was the first pastor in this charge, and there have followed him Thomas Patterson, 1866; N. P. Kerr, 1867; J. B. Wallace, 1869-70; - Baker, 1871; John Hud- dleson, 1872-73; J. L. Stiffey, 1874; D. N. Stafford, 1875; Joseph Wright, 1877-78; A. J. Rich, 1879-80; J. L. Stiffey, 1881; J. H. Hull (supply), 1882; David Day (supply), 1883; W. F. Lauck, 1884; J. L. Deans, 1885; D. L. Dempsey, 1886- 89; A. H. Davies, 1890-92; W. E. E. Barcus, 1893; George E. Cable, 1894-96; J. M. Pascoe, 1897-98; J. H. Laverty, 1899-04; and the present pastor, F. D. Essenwein, 1904.
SCHOOLS
The public schools of Monaca have from the first been good. In 1904 there were eight rooms in a substantial brick building, with three rooms in other places; and eleven teachers, the prin- cipal being Prof. D. C. Locke. There is also a high school, with a three-years course, well equipped in every respect.
An institution of great importance to the Lutheran Church in America, viz., Thiel College, had its beginning in this place.
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The following sketch of this institution was prepared for this work by the Rev. D. Luther Roth, D.D., of Pittsburg, Pa .:
THIEL COLLEGE IN PHILLIPSBURG. For more than a quarter of a cen- tury before it took definite shape, the idea of a Christian college for the education of the youth of the Lutheran Church in western Pennsylvania had been cherished by godly men. During all those years it was made the subject of earnest prayer that God would raise up some one who would provide the means for the establishing of such an institution. And at length those prayers were answered. Mr. A. Louis Thiel, a member of the Second German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Pittsburg, called upon his pastor, the Rev. G. A. Wenzel, D.D., and informed him that he wished to consult him as to the most useful way of appropriating the tenth part of his income for years past. amounting to the sum of four thousand dollars.
Although having prayed earnestly for just such an opening the worthy Doctor was now alarmed at the responsibility thrust upon him. He took counsel with his brethern and for fifteen months the whole I matter was held in abeyance, the money, in the meantime, being put on interest, everything awaiting the indications of Divine Providence. Various places were visited and at length, in the spring of 1866, a prop- erty, formerly the Water Cure Hotel of Cimiotti, in Phillipsburg (now Monaca), Beaver County, Pa., was purchased for $4,500; the interest and original donation paying for the whole. Later an adjoining house and lot were bought for $1,000. In the autumn of the same year the main edifice, formerly a hotel and ballroom, was set aside with religious service, to the sacred purpose of Christian education and, without the knowledge of the benevolent donor, received the title of "Thiel Hall."
The instructions in the school had been already begun a few weeks earlier under the direction of Prof. Giese, of Milwaukee, with five pupils. Who they were does not appear precisely, but the probabilities are that they were these: Kossuth L. Acker, Clara Bott, Mary Bryan, Caroline Berkemeier, Gottlieb Berkemeier.
This humble beginning, insignificant as it was in the eyes of men, was a work of faith and love and was accompanied with the visible blessing of God. New students flocked in and at the close of the first year another instructor was needed, who was found in the Rev. W. Kopp, of Paxton, Illinois.
Then the Rev. Mr. Giese accepted a call to New York and the Rev. H. E. Jacobs, D.D., L.L.D., assisted by Prof. J. F. Feitshans, of Pennsyl- vania College, Gettysburg, carried on the work with many evidences of Divine favor. Both of these men were called to professorships in other institutions, and then, a collegiate charter having been obtained from the Legislature of Pennsylvania, the entire institution was transferred to the corporation thus erected and Thiel College was opened Sept. Ist., 1870.
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