USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > History of Clarion County, Pennsylvania > Part 46
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Ecclesiastical Meetings .- Of the eight original classes of the Reformed Church the first regular meetings held in 1820, Western Pennsylvania was one. In 1836 this classis was given permission to unite with the synod of Ohio and adjacent States. The name of the classis was then changed to that of the First or Eastern District of Ohio Synod. At a meeting of the Ohio Synod in Canton, O., in 1842, in was ordered that the first district be divided into two classes, known as the Westmoreland and Erie classes; Clarion was made a part of the former. The first meeting of this division, by appointment of synod, was held at St. Johns, near Mount Pleasant, Pa., May 28 to 31,
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1843. At a meeting held in Armstrong county in 1845, Rev. Koch was present and earnestly requested that classes should meet in his charge, which was finally agreed to, and St. John's Church was fixed as the place of meet- ing in 1846; but before the meeting he was taken from the church militant to the church triumphant. In 1850 the synod of Ohio granted the pastors and charges north of the Kiskiminetas River, and belonging to the Westmore- land classis, permission to organize a new division to be called the Clarion Classis.
A Few Crises .- When St. John's Church was about to be rebuilt a sort of a union was formed by the Reformed and Lutherans. At the laying of the corner-stone of the new church a constitution, formed by the unionists, pro- hibiting any one to be stated as pastor in this house who is unable to preach in German and English, created some excitement when it was read. Rev. Koch, the faithful servant, who had stood by his flock so long, and endured so many hardships in the service there, had to leave with tears in his eyes. He did not consider himself competent to officiate in the English language. As the congregation was unable to support a minister alone, for a short time the members were as sheep without a shepherd. This led in the beginning of 1848 to the organization of Jerusalem Congregation, Rimersburg, and also a few years later led to the organization of the Salem Congregation in Limestone township. Thus the wrath of man was made to praise God in the establishing of new con- gregations. During the pastorates of Hoffman, Leberman, and Wolff, the transition from the German to the English language set in with great force in this section. And as is generally the case in every new movement, there were extremists on the side of progress, as also on the side of conservation ; and the extremists on either side do not generally sympathize with the other side. Only those who have passed through such a crisis can fully appreciate what is here so briefly referred to. Some of the old German-speaking people honestly believed that the perpetuation of true religion depended on the use of the mother-tongue, while many of the progressives went to the extreme in insist- ing that all would be lost to the cause of Christianity if the English alone was not used. In some instances on both sides there were bitter prejudices, false pride, and narrowness of judgment and other things, that for these pages shall be left nameless.
Another matter in the Reformed Church was also bitterly contested. It was whether the catechetical or emotional systems should prevail in the church. Rev. Leberman, who was an earnest advocate of the former system, was espe- cially the subject of much bitter criticism and gross misrepresentation. It is necessary to remind the reader that forty years have very much softened the sharp points between the two systems, and that to form a proper judgment the times in which these things occurred must be considered.
Hoffman, Leberman, and Wolff .- Rev. Henry Hoffman, who came to be an assistant of Rev. Koch, after the death of the latter became regular pastor
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
of the charge. He served the organized congregations about two years, during which time he organized the Salem congregation in Salem township (1846). In the year 1847 he reported in his charge 450 members, seventy-five bap- tisms, eighty-eight persons confirmed, and fifteen deaths. Toward the close of the year 1847 Rev. L. D. Leberman came to this county and became pas- tor of the portion lying south of the Clarion River, and Rev. Hoffman remained pastor of the portion north of the river, then known as the Petersburg charge, serving until 1855. Rev. Leberman organized a number of congregations in the southern part of the county. Among them were Mt. Zion, Squirrel Hill, and Shannondale, and also some in Jefferson and Armstrong counties. The field becoming too large for him to cultivate properly, Rev. George Wolff came in the spring of 1848 and took charge of Licking, Salem (in Limestone town- ship), and others, which he served until 1853. The increase in the population, on account of the many furnaces in the county during these years, added greatly to the labors of the ministers.
Summary .- Four ministers reside in the county, two charges are vacant, twelve organized congregations, nine have church buildings-one in process of erection, and two are owned jointly by the Reformed and Lutherans. The esti- mated value of the church property is $45,000; there are 1,450 confirmed mem- bers, and 1,050 baptized unconfirmed members.
The amount given for benevolent and congregational purposes, exclusive of building and repairing churches and parsonages, has, for a few years past, averaged about $5,000 in this county.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 1
" The Memorial Church of Our Father," Foxburg .- This beautiful little church was erected by the surviving members of the Fox family, "To the Glory of God and In Memory of Samuel Mickle Fox, deceased December 23, 1869; William Logan Fox, deceased April 29, 1880; Sarah Lindley Fox, de- ceased June 20, 1882." The names of the founders are Mrs. Samuel M. Fox, Mrs. William L. Fox, Miss Hannah Fox, and Mr. Joseph M. Fox. The cor- ner-stone was laid July 4, 1881, and the church opened for divine service No- vember 26, 1882, by Right Rev. Cortlandt Whitehead, D. D., bishop of the diocese of Pittsburgh, assisted by the Rev. Henry Purdon, D. D., of Titusville, Rev. Harry L. Yewens, of Franklin, and the Rev. Thomas A. Stevenson, rec- tor of the parish.
The rectory was completed and occupied two years later. The archi- tecture of the church is Gothic; it is very beautifully finished, and is complete in all its appointments. The rectory is a Queen Anne cottage, and is equally beautiful it its way.
The parish is within the jurisdiction of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of
1 By Rev. E. A. Angell.
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Pittsburgh, which embraces twenty-four counties in Pennsylvania, being all that portion of the State lying west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Within this territory are fifty-nine parishes and thirty-four missions, one bishop and sixty-two other clergy, 7,298 communicants and 7,200 children in the Sunday-schools. The legislative body of the diocese is the convention which meets annually, and is composed of all the clergy and three lay deputies from each parish.
The value of church property in this parish is, in round numbers, $40,000 ; number of communicants, 47 ; children in Sunday-school, 80; total number of people attending services, about 250. The parish has had three rectors, as follows : Rev. Thomas A. Stevenson, 1880-83 ; Rev. Samuel Edson, 1883-85 ; Rev. Edmund A. Angell, now (1886) in charge.
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.1
This church extended her borders into Clarion county about the year 1849, and now comprises a membership of nearly five hundred communicants, who worship in three separate parishes, and eleven church edifices. These are situ- ated in the southwestern, central, northern, and northeastern sections of the county.
This association has camp-meeting grounds at West Millville and Licking- ville, where the members from adjacent localities assemble annually, and spend one week in public worship.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.2
The early history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Clarion county is obscure. From the most reliable information to be obtained, it appears that the first preaching place and organization of a society of Methodists was at Mr. Young's, on the turnpike, two miles east of Clarion. This was thirty years be- fore the town of Clarion was thought of. About the same time a preaching point was established at the house of Mr. Henry Myers, in what is called the Loop, near the present site of Martin's mill on the Clarion River. The Balti- more Conference at that time embraced this territory. We first find recogni- tion in the conference appointments as Mahoning Circuit, in 1812. The other places of preaching at this early date are given as Leiser's, John Lawson's, Sto- ner's, and Harold's. With the organization of the Pittsburgh conference in 1825, we have the beginning of a tolerably full history. At this time the ter- ritory was a part of the Erie District, William Swazie, presiding elder. In 1826 it was transferred to the Pittsburgh District, Thornton Fleming, presiding elder. In 1827 it was transferred to the Erie District, William Swazie, presid- ing elder. It so remained with Wilder B. Mack, presiding elder, from 1828 to 1831. In 1832 the Meadville District was formed, embracing as part of its ter- ritory what is now Clarion county, Zerah H. Coston, presiding elder. In 1833
1 By Rev. I. A. Smith.
2 By Rev. B. F. Delo.
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
it was embraced in Allegheny District, Zerah H. Coston, presiding elder. He was succeeded in the presiding eldership by Joshua Monroe, in 1835. In 1836 the Erie Annual Conference was organized; in districting the conference this territory became part of Meadville District, J. S. Barris, presiding elder ; re- appointed in 1837. In order to brevity we give the year, and name of district and presiding elder: 1838-9, Brookville Mission District, William Carroll, P. E .; 1840-2, Meadville District, John Bain, P. E .; 1843-4, Franklin District, John Robinson, P. E .; 1845-6, Franklin District, H. N. Stearns, P. E .; 1847, Frank- lin District, W. H. Hunter, P. E. ; 1848-9, Franklin District, E. J. L. Baker, P. E. ; 1850-1, Franklin District, W. F. Wilson, P. E .; 1852-4, Franklin Dis- trict, Moses Hill, P. E .; 1855-7, Franklin District was divided and Clarion District formed, Josiah Flower, P. E .; 1858-9, Clarion District, J. E. Chapin, P. E. ; 1860-3, Clarion District, R. A. Caruthers, P. E. ; 1864-7, Clarion Dis- trict, R. H. Hurlburt, P. E .; 1868-71, Clarion District, O. L. Mead, P. E. ; 1872, Clarion District, J. R. Lyon, P. E .; 1873-5, Brookville District, J. R. Lyon, P. E. ; 1876, Brookville District, B. F. Delo, P. E. ; 1877-9, Clarion District, B. F. Delo, P. E .; 1880-3, Clarion District, P. P. Pinney, P. E .; 1884-6, Clar- ion District, D. Latshaw, who is the present presiding elder. He is a native of Clarion county, a son of John Latshaw, late of Perry township. Rev. L. taught considerably in the public schools of the county, and was at one time acting superintendent of the public schools of the county. Another of this list, B. F. Delo, was born in Beaver township, and reared to manhood from his twelfth year in the county seat. He learned the "art preservative " with Col- onel W. T. Alexander, of Clarion. He is a son of ex-sheriff Daniel Delo. Of this list, H. N. Stearns, J. R. Lyon, W. F. Wilson, and B. F. Delo occupied the pastorate of the church of Clarion. From the first organization of Meth- odism within this territory it has enjoyed a continued growth and prosperity. Many of its early accessions were the result of camp-meeting conversions, and not a few from interest excited by the doctrinal controversies of forty and fifty years ago. A camp-meeting was held about 1826 at a spring now within the corporation limits of Clarion, near South Fifth Avenue.
From the statistics of 1886, reported to the annual conference, we gather the following as the strength of Methodism in the county at the present time. These figures may be relied on, having been taken from the records immedi- ately preceding conference :
Number of traveling preachers 18
Number of local preacher's I2
Number of church members 2,500
Number of church buildings. 39
Number of parsonages. 12
Number of Sunday-schools 40
Number of officers and teachers.
452
Number of Sunday-school scholars
3,109
Value of church buildings
$ 63,700
Value of parsonages.
11,000
Total value of church property. $ 74,700
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CHURCHES.
Of the ministers having pastoral supervision in Clarion county, four, includ- ing the presiding elder, do not reside in the county.
The church has been blessed with many laymen whose influence and wealth have helped largely in developing the resources of the county and in building up its interests. During the Civil War no company went out to the front with- out her representatives. Her members have taken an active part in the edu- cational interests of the people. Although not accomplishing all she projected, yet in educational interests she laid the foundation of enduring monuments, from which the people of the county will reap lasting benefit.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Little could be learned of the early organization of the Catholic Church in this county. As far back as 1820, the head mission of St. Michael's at Fry- burg, then known as Copp's Settlement, is known to have existed. The early settlers were John Deitz and Jacob Eisenmann. A fine church edifice took the place of the old house of worship one year ago, and the congregation now wor- ships in the most stately building in Clarion county.
St. Nicholas Church comes second in order in date of organization. The precise date of the erection of this church is not known, but 1833 or '34 is the time generally assigned. The building was a little log house, as were the other church structures at this early date of our county's history. The Aarons- Joseph, Thomas, Daniel, George and Conrad, Peter Ruffner, Henry Cyphert, Philip and Charles Crate, were the pioneer Catholics in this section.
A small congregation was formed at Clarion about 1841, and a church building was erected in 1854, which was dedicated in 1856.
Congregations now exist at East Brady, Edenburg, North Pine Grove, New Bethlehem, St. Petersburg, Sligo, and Vogelbacher, in addition to those at Fryburg, Clarion and St. Nicholas.
These churches are in the diocese of Erie, comprising the counties of Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Forest, Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield, Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter, and Warren. Present bishop, Rt. Rev. Thomas Mullen.
LUTHERAN CHURCH.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation (Best's, in Beaver township) is one of the oldest in the county. As early as 1816, a log building had been erected by the pioneer settlers. In that year a man by the name of Hammer, claiming to be a Lutheran minister, desired to preach there. But at that early day congregations had to be especially on their guard against irresponsible characters-wolves in sheep's clothing-and as he had neither ordination nor synodical papers, the church was locked against him, and as an additional pre- caution, a log chain was put around the stove. About the same time Rev. Rupert preached occasionally in Beaver and adjoining settlements. About the 45
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
year 1818, the Pennsylvania synod sent the Rev. G. A. Richart on an explor- ing mission tour through Western and Northwestern Pennsylvania. He com- menced his journey in Indiana county, and traveled on horseback over territory now embraced in the counties of Armstrong, Clarion, Venango, Crawford and Erie, then turning his faithful steed eastward through the northern tier of coun- ties, he reached Germantown, Pa., the following year. In 1820, we find him again making regular trips on horseback through the northwestern counties preaching about once a month at St. Paul's, and also at the State road, Lick- ing, Redbank, and from house to house. This arduous labor he continued for a number of years, and by paying special attention to the instruction of the young, he succeeded in building up flourishing congregations at all these places, and besides laid the foundation for many others. On the eighty-first anniversary of his birth, this venerable father preached his last sermon in Kit- tanning, Pa.
He was succeeded in a portion of his field by Rev. David Henry Keyl, about 1827, coming from the State of North Carolina. He traveled through the counties of Armstrong, Clarion, and Crawford, preaching at various sta- tions. He made one of his stopping places an I preaching points at the house of John Adam Scheffer, in Salem township, making his missionary tours every four or six weeks. The place of holding religious services in this locality, for greater convenience, was changed to the house of William Herrington. This house, a log building with the chimney on the outside, the place in which was organized the first congregation in Salem township, is still standing near the town of Salem, a relic of pioneer house-building, and a memorial of primi- tive piety and devotion to the truth of the Gospel. A few years after the organization of the congregation here, steps were taken toward the erection of a house of worship. A fine location was secured for this purpose, and deeded to the church by James Guthrie. The building was completed and dedicated in 1838. The Reformed Congregation united with the Lutherans in the erec- tion of the church, and occupied it conjointly with the latter for twenty-five years. Rev. Keyl continued to preach for the Lutherans until 1840, when, after a temporary absence, he returned to Clarion county, and made his home with a former friend near Fryburg, where in a few years he departed this life. His remains rest in the grave-yard at the site of the old log Lutheran Church, on . the State road west of Fryburg.
After this more laborers entered the field, new congregations were organ- ized, and each one, or at least each charge, had an individual history of its own.
At a meeting of the Western Pennsylvania Synod, in December, 1840, Rev. George F. Ehrenfelt was sent to visit Clarion county. He formed a charge composed of the following congregations: St. Paul's, St. Peters, Salem, and State roads. This is the first pastoral charge in Clarion county, and at pres- ent embraces six separate charges. Mr. Ehrenfelt was the first regularly lo-
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CHURCHES.
cated pastor in the county. At present there are nineteen congregations, eight charges, and 1,55 I members in the Lutheran Church of Clarion county.
SOCIETIES.1
Patrons of Husbandry .-- The first grange in Clarion county was organized in 1874. In less than four years there were twelve subordinate granges and a Pomona, or county grange, within this county; the number of members was about six hundred. In 1879 the patrons organized a mutual fire insurance company, insuring only farm property.
This order has taught the farmers to reduce expenses, both individual and corporate, to buy less and produce more, to sell less in bushels and more on hoof, to discountenance the credit and mortgage systems, to avoid litigation, and politically, to let the office seek the man, and not the man the office.
Masonic Lodges .- Clarion Lodge, instituted in 1853; Canby Lodge, St. Petersburg ; Edenburg Lodge, New Bethlehem Lodge. The district deputies were R. L. Brown, Robert Thorn, C. L. Lamberton, W. W. Barr, M. M. Mere- dith, and William B. Meredith.
I. O. O. F .- Clarion Lodge, instituted in 1847; Sligo Lodge first organ- ized at Curllsville as Hobah Lodge ; Iron County Lodge, at Rimersburg ; Ming Lodge, at Strattanville; West Freedom Lodge, New Bethlehem Lodge, East Brady Lodge, Fox Lodge, at Foxburg; Yokohama Lodge, at Lickingville ; Callensburgh Lodge, Blair's Corners Lodge, Allegheny Valley Lodge, at West Monterey ; Elk City Lodge, Knox Lodge, at Edenburg; and West Millville Lodge ; there is one encampment - Clarion, No. 9 ; Oil Dorado Lodge, at Perryville, and Shippenville Lodge are defunct. The district deputy grand masters were Enoch Alberson, John L. Sample, R. Ruloffson (fifteen years), Charles Kaufman, J. E. Wood (seven years).
Grand Army of the Republic .- There are thirteen posts in the county, viz .: " Colonel George Covode," No. 112, Edenburg ; "Captain J. B. Loomis," No. 205, Clarion , "Captain Thompson Core," No. 239, Porter township ; "Fox- burg," No. 249, Foxburg ; " Colonel William Lemon," No. 260, New Bethle- hem ; "E. D. Sharp," No. 267, Rimersburg; "Thomas M. Sedwick," No. 294, East Brady ; "Adjutant John E. Myers," No. 386, Sligo; " Major Henry Wetter," No. 391, Strattanville ; "Lookout," No. 425, St. Petersburg ; "Amos Kiser," No. 475, Shippenville ; " Captain Charles E. Patton," No. 532, Green- ville ; "John C. Pollock," No. 278, West Freedom. The last named post takes' the number of "Lucas " Post, Snow Shoe, Centre county, which is defunct. There are about four hundred members of the G. A. R. in Clarion county.
1 By James Elgin.
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HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLIII.
HISTORY OF ASHLAND TOWNSHIP.1
A
SHLAND township was formed from parts of Elk and Richland townships in 1856.
Ashland township is bounded on the north by Venango county ; on the east by Elk township; on the south by Beaver and Salem townships; and on the west by Salem township and Venango county.
The greatest length of the township is from north to south, five and one-half miles ; average length five miles. The greatest breadth is four and seven- eighth miles ; average, four and one-half miles.
The surface of the township is greatly diversified, as the flow of the streams will show. No mountains rear their lofty heads within her limits, but the water course of every stream is lined with hills. The southern part is comparatively level, but the main part of the township is very hilly, abounding in small, beautiful valleys. The one peculiar characteristic of its hills is, none are precipitous, but all gently sloping, well rounded knobs. The most elevated and beautiful are the Howe and Rhodes hills, which seem like twins.
In this small scope of land the drainage is effected by two definitely marked systems of streams, which seem to be divided by the public road running from Mount Pleasant, north and east to the John Martin farm. The northern or greater system, draining the north and west, is carried by four streams west into the Allegheny River. The principal and most northern is East Sandy Creek, which rises in Washington township, and in its southwestern course cuts both corners of that arm on the northeast corner of the township, known as Shippen land. It then flows across the corner of Venango county, and just a short distance up the stream from where it again enters the township, it re- ceives the drainage of the northwest through McCogley's Run-since the oil excitement known as Cogley Run; this rises in Elk township, but is formed in Ashland, and is carried west into the Allegheny. Little Sandy is the sec- ond stream in size, but first in importance, because it drains over half of the township. In its western course it receives the water of at least a score of smaller streams. Pine and Kolp's Run take their rise in this township. Date Run drains the western arm.
The most productive portion of the township is drained into the Clarion River by the headwaters of Beaver and Canoe Creeks. As a whole the town- ship is well watered and well drained.
The pursuits of the people of the township have varied with changing times and new industries, but in every case they have returned to the " old
1 By C. E. Rugh.
433
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP.
reliable " occupation of farming and stock raising. The iron industry once stirred her citizens. Twice have the citizens neglected their farms in search of wealth through petroleum, but the natural features of the central, southern, and western parts make farming profitable. There are some very fine farms in this part of the township. No pains are spared in limeing and fertilizing. A few of the farms that deserve mention are the Armstrong, Howe, Phipps, Rhodes, Hockman, Mongs, Millers, and Kribbs farms.
Bituminous coal underlies most of the hills. The Shively bank was exten- sively worked during both oil excitements. This bank is situated near the Stone House. In the few last years a considerable amount of coal has been found north of the pike in " Germany."
The Phipps and Howe limestone banks are worked, but these do not sup- ply the demands of the township.
At one time the iron industry was extensively carried on in Ashland. A bank on the Phipps farm was extensively worked. The ore was hauled to the Black and Hasson furnaces near Shippenville.
The most extensive bank was opened on the Kutcher farm in 1840. The winter of 1841 was one of the most stirring in the history of the township. Over sixty teams were employed at one time in hauling the ore to Dempsie's furnace.
The ore on Mr. Kutcher's farm made him one of the wealthiest citizens in the township, or in the county, for some time. Four culprits determined on relieving him of part of his money. They entered his house, and after beating him and his wife till they were almost dead, ransacked the house from cellar to loft, emptying every thing. They secured only thirty-five dollars and a gun. The gun was afterward found.
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