History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 43

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658

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When subscriptions were solicited Bishop Hopkins contributed $100, and others followed according to their means, when it was found that $1,000 had been secured. This sum was deemed sufficient with which to begin the erection of the building. It was at once put under contract. Prior to its completion ser- vices were held in the court house, Rev. Ayres officiating as rector.

The first pastor of the new church was the Rev. M. P. Bonnell. He began

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

his work in 1221, holding services for a time in the court house, and served about three years. Ile was succeeded by the Rev. William G. Hilton, who remained about six years, when he resigned. Rev. Thomas Crumpton followed and served about six months, when he was succeeded by the Rev. B. B. Killikelly in 1533, who remained until 1837, when the Rev. William White, D. D., began his labors, and continued until 1877, a period of forty years. He then resigned and was succeeded by the Rev. Daniel I. Edwards, who took charge January 8, 1878. The latter remained until the 13th of April, ISSO, when he tendered his resigna . tion to take effect June 1st, following. An interregnum of a few months fol- lowed, when a call was extended to the Rev. Edmund Burke, who accepted, and took charge as rector December I, ISSO. He remained until August 8, 1852, when he was succeeded by the Rev. S. II. S. Gallaudet. He served as pastor until 1884, when the Rev. John Landon came, and remained until August 30, 1891. On the 15th of September, 1892, he was succeeded by the Rev. Miles S. Ilemenway, the present rector.

The total number of actual communicants, as shown by the report of 1891, is 177; entitled to the communion as recorded in parish register, 198. During the past year there was a total gain of fifty-one. The Sunday school has a mem- bership of ninety, with ten teachers, and there are 100 volumes in the library. The church property, including the rectory, is valued.at $9,000. It is contem- plated to erect a new church on the site of the old building at an early date, and as the location is commanding, the improvement will add much to the appearance of this part of East Jefferson street. It is a source of some pride to the com- municants of St. Peter's that their church is the fourth oldest in the diocese of Pittsburg.

St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of the oldest church organizations in Butler. Official records of ministerial acts among German Lutherans date From [S]B. The first entry in the church book is the baptism of Samuel Bernhard, son of Philip and Mary Margaret Bernhard, August 29, ISI3, by Rev. Jacob Schnee. This minister continued his missionary visits, preaching occasionally in a carpenter shop, to the close of 1817, baptizing in the meantime a large number of German residents.

Early in November, 1521, Bishop J. C. G. Schweitzerbarth, a scholarly divine hailing from Stuttgart, Germany, took charge of the interests of Luther- anism in this place, attending for a series of years from his headquarters in Zelienople to eleven stations in Butler and adjoining counties. He invariably wore a clerical robe when on his ministerial journeys about the country. He preached every four weeks in the old court-house, whilst for communion services he availed himself of the courtesy of the United Presbyterian church. When he came here he found but six members. June 3, 1821, he first administered com- munion to the congregation, having the day previous confirmed his first class of catechumens and effected a preliminary organization. The officials chosen were Jacob Mechling, John McCollough and John Henshew. In addition to these, the first communicants were : Joseph Moser, Henry Young, Isaac Yetter, Jacob Baht, Henry Steinmann, A. Buechle, Mrs. Elizabeth Shaner, M. MeCo)- lough, Magdalena Henshew, Catherine Moser, Louise Brinker, Anna Young,

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BUTLER BOROUGH (CONTINUED).

Mary Yetter. Elizabeth Traushu, Elizabeth Beselit and Miss Helen Henshew. The catechumens were : Jacob Shaner. Philip Grub, Peter Pflueger, David and Abraham Henshew, Catherine Grub, Elizabeth Braun, Sarah Baht, Mary Buechle. Elizabeth IIenshew, Elizabeth McCollough and Magdalena Young.

Such was the beginning of semi-organized existence. Ten years later, says Rev. E. Cronenwett, from whom these facts are gathered, steps were taken to draft a permanent constitution, to secure a charter, and build a church. The application to the legislature for an act of incorporation was signed November 25, 1837, by the following council : J. C. G. Schweitzerbarth, pastor; Jacob Mechling, Jacob Shaner, Jacob Walter, Isaac Yetter, Peter Nicholas. John Sar- ver. David Henshew, Dr. Carl Eichholtz, John Dull, John Oesterling and John Michael Zimmerman.

The charter became a law April 13, 1841, and according to its provisions the foregoing council, or their successors in office, are constituted a corporate and body politic in law and in fact, to have continuance forever by the name, style and title, " The Ministers, Trustees. Elders and Deacons of the German Evangelical Lutheran Congreg ation of St. Marcus Church in Butler."

In the meantime preparations for building the new church had steadily been going on. It was to be of brick, forty by sixty, with an annex of twenty-two feet, with a basement of eight feet for school purposes, the whole surmounted by a belfry. The site was on the corner of Wayne and Mckean streets, and the corner stone wa- laid with appropriate ceremonies July 8, 1840. It was dedicated September 26, 1841, by the Revs. J. C. G. Schweitzerbarth, D. Roth- acker, and 11. Melsheimer, respectively the president, secretary and treasurer of the " Eastern Districts of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and other States," of its sixth convention, then being held in Butler.

As the cost of the building was about $4,000, the members, then numbering 200 communicants, discovered that they had overestimated their financial strength, and the church council got themselves individually into sore straits. To redeem their personal property from attachment, as well as to save the church from the hammer, they severally, after exhausting their own resources, made journeys else- where to solicit aid. Sufficient success attended their efforts to tide the congre- gation over the sorest need, and the church was saved. Prosperity began again to smile upon the congregation. In 1847 a small organ was bought, and soon after a burial ground was purchased.

The congregation originally had among its numbers a sprinkling of Amer- ican born people. Some of these, together with others, were, through Rey. G. Bassler, organized into an English Lutheran congregation on the 16th of Jan- uary, 1843, and for a few years they held service in the German church. This drew off the English element, and in consequence St. Mark's congregation remained purely German. Bishop Schweitzerbarth's pastoral relation with the congregation continued till April, 1849, a period of nearly twenty eight years. During the latter part of this time Rev. Frederick Illiger was called, but after serving a few months, he died March 23, 184s.

On the 8th of April. 1849, Rev. William A. Fetter became the first resident pastor. He remained till the summer of 1863, when he removed to Millerstown.

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and died July 10, 1865. During the interval which ensued the congregation was temporarily supplied by Rev. J. N. Wolf, and others, till January, 1864, when Rev. G. F. II. Meiser was secured as pastor. During the time of his service a comfortable parsonage on Wayne street was secured, and a large pipe organ for the church purchased. Having received a call from another church Rev. Meiser resigned and was succeeded in January. 1869, by Rev. C. Il. W. Luebkert. Ile retired in 1-76. when the congregation extended a call to Rev. E. Cronenwett, which was accepted in January, 1877, and he has remained as pastor to the pres- ent time, a period of over seventeen years.

The prosperity of the congregation as to its future development called for the introduction of the English language in the public services ; this was accord- ingly done on Sunday evenings with gratifying results. The movement was timely and marked the dawn of a new era in the congregation.

The debt of the church had gradually been increasing, while the building erected in 1841 was becoming too small, as well as time worn. An effort was made to cancel the debt, which proved successful, when the members made bold to express their preference for a new building in a more desirable locality. Accordingly, in the spring of 1875. a spacious lot was secured on the corner of Wash- ington and Jefferson streets for $3.000. Preparations to build were at once set on foot and the work progressed so rapidly that the corner stone was laid August 15. 1876, and the dedication of the new building took place September 7, 1879. Rev. Meiser delivered the farewell address at the old church, and Revs. Cronen- wett, Feldman, and Tranger, spoke in the new. The pastor led the dedicatory exercises.

The style of architecture is mediaval-Gothic, with corner tower and strong buttresses. The material is brick with stone trimmings. The exterior dimen- sions are fifty-eight feet across the front : extreme length, 100 feet. The basement story, used for lectures and school room, is twelve feet high ; the auditorium above has a height of eighteen feet at the sides and thirty-four feet in the middle angle, exposing to view the ceiling timbers. The interior dimensions, including the gallery, and arched recess, are forty-even by eighty-eight feet. Although becoming time worn, the building presents a stately appearence and attracts attention. The inscription stone of the old church has been preserved as a relic, and is inserted in the inner front of the new. The cost of the entire property, site, structure, sheds, fencing, pavements, etc., amounting to about $18,000, has all been successfully met.

During the past sixty years St. Mark's Congregation, in addition to the usual loss of members by death and removal, has suffered several more extensive drains through branch organization of its membership. Out of it grew, in some measure, the English Lutheran church, of Butler ; then, largely, the so-called " White Church," some four miles west ; next an effort at an Evangelical church in town, which turned out German Reformed, and then became extinct ; and lastly, at the close of 1876, the German Lutheran church of Summit township, some four miles east. The territory of the congregation still extends in its extreme limits from five to seven miles in all directions from Butler. At this writing (Septem- ber 1, 1894) it numbers 550 communicants. The German Sabbath school, which

& D. Bell. M. D.

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BUTLER BOROUGH (CONTINUED).

meets in the morning, has a membership of seventy-five, with George Schenck as superintendent ; the English Sabbath school, which convenes in the afternoon. has 175 members, with J. H. Troutman as superintendent, assisted by the requisite number of officers and teachers. During the eighty years of its existence the pastors of St. Mark's have baptized 1,875 persons ; confirmed 1,162 members ; married, 405 couples, and buried, 552 persons. In addition to his pastoral duties in Butler, Mr. Cronenwett has charge of two chapels in the country-one east, the other west-where he fills appointments, alternately, Sunday evenings.

First English Evangelical Lutheran Church .- The first meeting of those favorable to the organization of an English Lutheran church was held in the Ger- man church of the same denomination on the 16th of January, 1543. At this meet- ing Jacob Mechling served as secretary and Rev. Gottlieb Bassler as treasurer, and the proposition was very fully discussed pro and con. It was finally decided to enter into the movement, a church constitution was adopted for the guidance of the organization, and at a subsequent meeting the first church council was elected, consisting of Jacob Walter, Sr., and John Negley, Sr., elders, and John Dull, Jr., and Daniel Kreidler, deacons. Mr. Negley subsequently resigned and John McCollough was chosen in his place. The officers were installed February 11, 1843, and Rev. Bassler, who served as pastor, conducted the first sacramental service- June 18, following.

From a sermon preached by Rev. Enoch Smith, January 15, 1893. on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the church, it is learned that the constitution was signed by forty-five individuals, twenty-two males and twenty-three females.

In 1848 the question of building a church was revived. Two offers of a location were made-one by John Negley and one by Michael Emerick. After a full and fraternal exchange of views relative to the advantages of the respective sites, it was resolved to accept the offer of Mr. Emerick. He gave the lot in fee simple upon which the church still stands ( though now owned by the Reformed congregation ) and assisted largely in its construction. The building was begun in 1549 and completed and dedicated in September, 1850. For twenty-seven years it served the congregation as a place of worship. In 1>52 a charter was obtained for the association and the future outlook was flattering. The labors of Rev. Bassler covered a period of about eleven years, from 1843 to 1>54, with a brief interregnum.

Early in 1876 negotiations were entered into for the purchase of the property of the Witherspoon Institute building, which is still owned and used by the church. The change- and improvements made cost about $1,700, and the total cost of remodeling and purchase was about $7,700.

During the period of the Rev. Bassler's ministry the ordinance of baptism was administered to fifty children and upwards of seventy adults. Among the adult baptisms was that of an Indian who had been convicted of murdering a woman and several of her children. lle was known as Samuel Mohawk, and was confined in the jail awaiting execution. During this time he was converted by Mr. Bassler, his spiritual adviser, and the baptism was solemnized at the prison February 28, 1844.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

It was while Rev. Bassler wa- pastor, about a year after the organization of the church, that the Pittsburg Synod was organized, and it was in Butler that the preliminary conference was held for the purpose of making arrangements for the organization of the Synod. The place of meeting was in a little building on Washington street, which had originally been the jail, but which was at that time a private dwelling.

Those who followed the Rev. Bassler as pastors of the church are sketched by Mr. Smith in his sermon as follows : Rev. A. II. Waters labored here from sometime in the year 1855 until 1861, when he resigned and was succeeded by Rev. J. H1. Fritz, who remained a little over eight years. He resigned in 1869, when the congregation was without a pastor for about ten months. On the 14th of August. 1870, the Rev. L. II. Geshwind, who had been called, entered upon his work.

Steps were taken during this pastorate to secure a better church. and some subscriptions were made, but upon Rev. Geshwind's resignation in 1974, the work was temporarily dropped. Again the congregation was without a minister for almost a year, when the Rev. J. Q. Water- was called. He began his work in July, 1875, and continued it till August, 1851. Soon after taking charge the question of securing a better and more desirably located church was again agi- tated, and the result was the purchase of the plat of ground and buildings now owned by the church.

In November, 1884, Rev. Waters was succeeded by the Rev. D. L. Roth, and he continued his work until October, ISSS. Under his ministrations the church became quite prosperous, but in the height of his usefulness he resigned to accept a call to Albany, New York. Ile was at once succeeded by the Rev. G. E. Titzel, who came the same month Rev. Roth departed, October, 1885. Rev. Tit- zel served until November, 1891, and his labors were blessed with adding to the congregation 110 members. When the latter retired he was succeeded by the Rev. Enoch Smith, who served as pastor until his death May 22, IS94. On November 15, 1894. Rev. D. L. Roth was again chosen pastor, and is the present incumbent.

Grace Lutheran Church is a branch sanctioned by the General Synod, and was established here in 1892. The Rev. Eli Miller is the pastor in charge. Serv- vice- are regularly held in a hall on West Jefferson street. Recently the congre- gation purchased a lot on Mifflin street For $1, 400, on which they propose erect- ing a house of worship soon.

Methodist Episcopal Church -As nearly as can be ascertained the first soci- ety or class of the Methodist church in Butler was organized about 1>25. Among the first members were Andrew Sproul and wife, Bennett Dobbs and wife, David Albright and wife, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. John Negley. Elijah Burkhart, and Caleb Brown, the first class leader.

In 1826, Rev. John Chandler was appointed as preacher in charge, at which time Rev. William Swarzie appears to have been presiding elder of the district. In J\27. Caleb Brown, the class leader of the preceding year, by the vote and recommendation of the society, was licensed as an exhorter, and in the fall of

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the same year was placed in charge of Meadville circuit as a supply, in place of Rev. J. Leach, whose health had failed.

From 1825 to 1830 the records are missing. But from the organization it was one of the regular appointments of the Butler circuit up to August 9, 1851, when, by a vote of the quarterly conference, it was set off as a station, having sixty-two members. George C. Roessing, John Millinger, Daniel Moser and William Derrimore were elected stewards. It remained a station for only one year, when it was again united with Butler circuit.

The first church building was a plain, but substantial, brick edifice of one story, erected, as nearly as can be ascertained, about 1527, in the southwest part of the town, on lot Number 67, purchased from John Negley, Sr. The consid- eration was $125, and the deed was executed July 12, 1-37. to William Stewart, Andrew Sproul, Henry Carsner, James McNair, John Wagley, Joshua J. Sed- wick, Andrew Carns, John Howe, and James Miller, trustees.

January 26, 1833, James McNair and William Stewart were class leaders. April 24, 1841, the membership was reported at seventy-nine. The Sunday school in 1842 consisted of seven teachers and fifty scholars, and there were 306 volumes in the library. In 1813 the circuit was composed of eighteen appoint- ments. with a total membership of 522.

The society had its misfortunes as well as its drawbacks. During the pre- valence of a terrible storm April 19, 1856, a considerable portion of the brick walls of the church were blown down, and about $1,000 was required to repair the damage.

On the 15th of December, 1860, the Methodist Episcopal church of Butler was incorporated, George C. Roessing, Joshua J. Sedwick, Isaiah E. Thompson, C. E. Anderson, and Lewis Z. Mitchell, being the trustees named in the articles of association. From this time there has been a gradual increase in membership,

In 1865 Butler circuit was composed of four appointments, viz : Butler. Brownsdale. Petersville and the Temple, which imposed much hard work on the pastor in charge. To reduce the labor Butler appointment was set off as a circuit in the spring of 1867, with Rev. J. D. Legget as preacher in charge : James McNair, local deacon ; Thomas Hluselton, S. R. Dieffenbacher, C. E. Anderson, S. E. W. Thompson, and Jesse M. Jones as stewards, and S. R. Dieffenbacher and C. E. Anderson as class leaders.

On the 5th of November, 1865, the church decided to erect a new house of worship, as the congregation had become too large for the old building, and Rev. Legget. Theodore Huselton, and C. E. Anderson were appointed a committee to seleet a suitable site. After looking around for some time the present location, on the corner of Mckean and North streets, was purchased April 1, 1573, for $3.500, and the old church property was sold for $2,500. Preparations were at once made to erect the present brick church building, which was completed in the spring of 1874, at a cost of $16,000. The furnishings cost $2.000 In 1852 the church had a membership of 250 and a flourishing Sunday school of 300 scholars.

Owing to the loss of some of the early records it is impossible to make up a complete list of the ministers from the beginning, but from 1831 to 1594, the appended statement is believed to be as nearly complete as it is possible to make

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

it. The conference period does not date from the beginning of the years, but takes in or includes parts of two years. The list of ministers is as follows :

From 1531 to 1832. James Gilmore : 1832-34, William Carroll and Harry Bradshaw ; 1834-35, Abner Jackson : 1>35-86. Abner Jackson, E. J. Remey, and D. K. Hawkins : 1836-37, William C. Henderson and L. Whipple ; 1837-38, J. MeClean ; 1839-40, Peter M. McGowan: 1840-41, Peter M. McGowan and William Cooper : 1841, Joseph Ray and James Patterson ; 1842, Joseph Ray and Jacob S. Patterson : 1812-13. Peter M. McGowan and Jeremiah Phillips ; 1843-44. C. C. Best and G. M. Maurice (from 1544 to 1847 the records are missing) ; 1815, J. K. Miller and R. Hamilton : 1:50-51, Alfred G. Williams and Samuel Baird: 1851-52, A. G. Williams and John Gil- liland ; 1852, A. G. Williams, stationed as pastor : 1552-53, A. Huston and W. A. Locke: 1853-54, A. Hluston and J. D. Knox ; 1851-55, James Bor- bridge and R. Morrow : 1855-56, the same : 1856-57, J. Ansley, and Henry Neff : 1857, the same, with D. Baker as assistant : 1858-59, Samuel Crouse and Levi J. Keagle : 1859, 11. Mansell : 1860, Thomas Storer and HI. Mansell, with R. G. Heaton as supply : 1861. Thomas Storer and E. H. Baird ; 1962. A. J. Rich and A. Baker; 1863, A. B. Leonard ; 1864-65, W. H. Tibbles ; 1865-67, J. D. Leggett ; 1>68-69, W. D. Stevens: 1870. I. F. Core; 1871. A. P. Leon- ard : 1872-78, D. M. Hollister : 1874. James M. Swan ; . 1575-77, J. J. Mellyar; 1878-79. M. J. Montgomery : 1879-8I, W. P. Turner ; 1882-83, Homer J. Smith. He was succeeded by Rev. S. II. Nesbit. who served until 1889; then came Rev. S. M. Bell, who remained until 1893, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Jones, who died December 27, 1894. November Is, 1594, Rev. E. M. Wood became pastor and is the present incumbent.

The congregation embraces about 650 members, and the Sunday school 350 scholars, with William Walker as superintendent.

The First Baptist Church was organized April 29. 1876, at Boyd's Hall, Springdale, with about six members. A number of persons who afterward joined the church participated in the exercises of organization, but as they did not have their letters could not unite at that time. Meetings were held every Sunday, and led by B. 11. Osborn until a council was called to recognize the church, November 8, 1876, and by it- act the association was recognized as a regular Baptist church. From that time the Rev. T. H. Jones preached for the society about half the time, and Mr. Osborn conducted the alternate meetings.

Application was made, and a charter granted, March 18, 1-77. on petition of B. Il. Osborn, W. M. Farnsworth. William Watson. C. Morse and Adolphus Haberlin, as directors and trustees. The object of the association, as expressed in its constitution. is " the spread of scriptural holiness throughout the world."

On the 16th of June, 1877, the society purchased the German Reformed meeting house for $1,500, which they immediately occupied, and had services and preaching every Sunday. After a thorough renovation and material improve- ment the church was dedicated November I, of that year, the Rev. J. P. Jones officiating. Ilis pastoral charge continued until April or May, ISTS, when he retired and the church was without a pastor until April, 1882, when Rev. W. II. McKinney took charge. He remained until ISSI when he retired, and the church

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was without a regular pastor for about four years, having to depend on supplies. In ISAS Rev. Rowe became the pastor, but he only remained one year. Again the little congregation had to depend on supplies until 1892. This year Rev. Miller took charge as pastor, but he only remained one year. In 1894 Rev. Henry Collins was assigned to the charge as pastor. The church has a member- ship of fifty-eight, and the Sunday school numbers seventy-five pupils.

St. Paul's Reformed Church .- In 1877 the Rev. T. F. Stauffer commenced preaching to a few members of the Reformed church residing in the borough of Butler, and meeting with success a church was organized on the evening of August 22, 1876, the following male members being present : Abraham Moyer, Henry W. Nicholas, Henry Biehl, Conrad Biehl, Oscar L. Schultz, G. L. Dufford, C. M Rodgers and Henry Blough. An election for officers resulted in the choice of the following : Elders, Abraham Moyer and Henry W. Nicholas ; deacons, Henry Biehl and G. L. Dufford. The old Evangelical Lutheran church was pur- chased, refitted and dedicated to the service of God on the 25th of August, 1978. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Thomas. J. Barkley, of Grace Re- formed church, Pittsburg : the pastor performed the dedicatory service, and was assisted in the other attending services by Rev. W. F. Lichliter, of Woodstock, Virginia ; Rev. J. W. Alspach, of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania ; Rev. Joseph Ilannabery and W. B. Landoe. of Butler county. The organization was effected in connection with and by the permission of Allegheny Classis of the Pittsburg Synod of the Reformed Church of the United States. The congregation remain- ed under the pastoral care of Rev. Stauffer until September 1, 18 2, when he was succeeded by the Rev. D. N. Ilarnish. In the meantime a movement was . inaugurated to build a new church in Springdale and remove thither. This cul- minated in the erection of a fine brick edifice on Walker avenue, which was ded- icated in June, 1890. The Rev. Harnish still officiates as pastor. The member- ship numbers 175, and the Sunday school has 300 pupils. Prof. E. Mackey is superintendent of the Sunday school.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 43

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1658

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658