History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 87

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150

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345

THE CITY OF CHESTER.

J. Tally ; 1843, D. Daily, H. G. King, J. Tally ; 1844, H. G. King, J. B. Ayres, J. Tally ; 1845, J. B. Ayres, J. W. Arthur; 1846, J. Humphries, J. Henries, I. R. Merrill ; 1847, S. Townsend, J. Henry, L. Storks, J. Tally ; 1848, S. Townsend, W. K. Goentner, J. Shields, J. Tally.

During Mr. Merrill's pastorate, at May term of court, 1846, the church was incorporated, and thereupon the congregation immediately began the erection of the second stone meeting-house on Fifth Street below Market Street, the corner-stone being laid Ang. 11, 1846. Rev. Dr. Hodgson, of Philadelphia, and Rev. Dr. Kennedy, of Wilmington, were present and as- sisted the pastor, Rev. Isaac R. Merrill, in the ser- vices on that occasion. In 1850, the church edifice being insufficient, an addition of twenty feet was made to the building, a gallery erected, and the out- side of the structure rough-casted.

In 1847, Mr. Merrill was succeeded by Rev. Levi Storks,*1 who, in 1848, was followed by Rev. John Shields. In 1849, Rev. Newton Heston* was ap- pointed, and continued until 1851. In 1850, the year when Chester began to develop rapidly, the church had three hundred and two members. Rev. Samuel G. Hare* was appointed in 1851, and was fol- lowed the succeeding year by Rev. John B. Maddux,* who continued pastor until 1854, when Rev. William Mullin was appointed in his stead, and in 1856 was followed by Rev. John W. Arthur .* Rev. Allen Johns* was appointed pastor in 1858, and the follow- ing year was succeeded by Rev. John Ruth .* Dur- ing the latter's pastorate, in 1860, the membership had grown to three hundred and twenty-two. Rev. William Urie* was assigned to the charge of the church in 1861, and was succeeded in 1863 by Rev. James E. Meredith,* who, after he ceased to be its pastor, became a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, and at the time of his death was in Texas as rector of a parish of that denomination. Mr. Meredith was followed, in 1866, by Rev. Henry E. Gilroy, and in 1869, Rev. James Cunningham was appointed to suc- ceed him. The old meeting-house on Fifth Street was now unable to accommodate the number of wor- shipers, and it was determined to erect a new edifice. To that end a lot on the northeast corner of Seventh and Madison Streets was purchased, and the corner- stone of the new church building laid Wednesday, July 17, 1872, Rev. Henry Brown, rector of St. Paul's, and Rev. A. W. Sproull, pastor of the First Presbyte- rian Church, assisting Rev. James Cunningham in the ceremonial and religious services on that occa- sion. The new church, which is built of green ser- pentine stone, with granite trimmings and corner blocks, and finished very tastefully and at much ex- pense, was dedicated May 3, 1874. The old church building on Fifth Street, in 1878, was sold to Tus- carora Tribe of Red Men, No. 29, who changed it into

a hall for public amusements. The enterprise, how- ever, failed of success, and the property was sold to Robert H. Crozer, who, in March, 1879, in considera- tion of six thousand dollars, conveyed it to the Ger- man Lutheran congregation of St. Paul's Church, and is at the present time devoted to the purposes for which it was originally built,-a house of worship. During the greater part of the time the building of the edifice was being carried on Rev. John B. Mad- dux* was the minister, having succeeded Mr. Cun- ningham in the fall of 1872. In 1875, Rev. Joseph Welsh was appointed pastor, and was succeeded in 1878 by Rev. William C. Robinson. In 1881, Rev. Dr. William J. Paxson was appointed, and was suc- ceeded in 1884 by the present pastor, Rev. Theodore Stevens. The church is in a most flourishing con- dition, its membership in 1880 being six hundred and twenty-six, and it has largely increased in that respect since that time.

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church .- In 1865 the membership and congregation of the Fifth Street Methodist Church had so increased that it was deemed proper by the Quarterly Conference to effect a church organization in South Ward, and to that end thirty members held regular religious worship in the Crozer Academy, on Second Street, west of Franklin.

On June 26, 1865, Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church of Chester was incorporated by the court of Delaware County, and on August 25th of the same year an amended charter was granted by the same authority. In the summer of the same year the con- gregation began the building at the corner of Third and Parker Streets, known as Trinity Church, Rev. Mr. Twiggs, now of Wilmington Conference, being then pastor in charge. The edifice had been roofed in, when, in October, 1865, a terrific northeast storm utterly demolished the building, heaping it into the cellar a mass of ruins. There the débris remained until 1866, when the congregation, under the direction of Rev. William McCombs as pastor, erected a frame chapel on the ground to the west, now used by D. H. Burns as a marble-yard, and the same year built what is now the Sunday-school. The main structure during the same year was recommenced and pushed forward until it was roofed in. The debt of the congregation amounted to twenty thousand dollars. In the fall of the year the chapel was completed and dedicated, on which occasion a sum of five thousand dollars was raised, and to that amount the debt was extinguished. In the spring of 1867, Rev. Isaac Mast was appointed, and continued in charge for two years, during which period five thousand dollars additional of the debt was paid off, the floors of the main church laid, and the membership largely increased. In 1869, Rev. George W. F. Graff became the pastor, and continued in that relationship three years. During his ministry the church proper was completed, and dedicated by Bishop Simpson. It had cost six thousand dollars additional, but of that sum five thousand dollars was

] Those marked with an asterisk (*) are deceased.

346

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

subscribed on dedication day. The congregation during that period built what is now known as the South Chester Methodist Episcopal Church, then styled the mission chapel. Independent of the sums mentioned, the congregation raised ten thousand dol- lars and applied it towards liquidating the indebted- ness of the church. In the spring of 1872, Rev. Samuel Pancoast was assigned to the pastorate, and during his term of three years the entire debt was discharged. In 1875, Rev. Samuel W. Kurts was ap- pointed, and was followed, in 1878, by Rev. John F. Crouch, during whose pastorate many important im- provements were made to the church. In 1880, Rev. Noble Frame was assigned to the church, and in the spring of 1882, Rev. Thomas Kelley, the present pastor, was appointed.

Union African Methodist Episcopal Church .- Early in the century Robert Morris, who was then a slave in the lower part of the State of Delaware and a favorite with his master, was told by the latter that a judgment had been obtained against him, and the sheriff was about to make a levy on his property. He was anxious that Morris should not be seized to satisfy the debt, and told him to make his way to Chester, and, if possible, to get some one there to buy him. The slave acted as his master suggested, made his way safely to Delaware County, and finally suc- ceeded in inducing Charles Lloyd, the then landlord of the "Blue Bell" Tavern on Cobb's Creek, in King- sessing, to purchase him from his master for three hundred dollars,-a stipulation in the bill of sale that the slave should be free when he attained the age of thirty years. Morris faithfully served his new master, who ever regarded the money he had paid as simply a loan which the colored man could discharge by his labor. After Morris was free he came to Chester, and, being ardently religious, he organized a church of his race in that borough. At first only four persons could be induced to attend the meetings, which were held in a house then occupied by a colored man named Williams, on Third Street, west of Concord Avenue; by degrees the movement spread until, about 1831, sufficient means had been collected to purchase a lot on West Street, south of Third Street, from Matthew J. Bevan, on which a frame church was erected, which is still standing (now altered into a dwelling). In 1832, Rev. Samuel Smith was appointed local preacher, and continued in charge of the church until 1837; but his pastorate was financially unsuccessful, the expenses of the organization finally resulting in creating a burdensome debt, and Robert Morris again came to Chester to the assistance of the congregation. Rev. Benjamin Jefferson was assigned to the pastorate of the church, in which capacity he continued until 1874, nearly forty years' continuous service. The latter strove energetically to liquidate the encum- brance, and succeeded in clearing the church of debt. In 1860 the frame building had been removed and a stone structure erected, the fund being collected

and applied to the building so as not to again plunge the congregation into financial troubles. In 1875, Rev. Lorenzo D. Blackston became the pastor, and the following year he was succeeded by Rev. Henry Modo. Again, in 1877, Rev. Benjamin Jefferson was assigned to the charge of the church. It was during his second pastorate, which continued until 1880, that the sanctuary was rebuilt as it is at the present time. In 1880, Rev. Lewis J. Jones was in charge of the church ; in 1881, Rev. Francis H. Nor- ton ; and in 1883, Rev. Lewis J. Jones.

Union Church has established a mission church in Media, which is now a flourishing body, while the membership of the parent church has largely in- creased.

Asbury African Methodist Episcopal Church. -This religious body was organized by Rev. Stephen Smith, of Philadelphia, Oct. 26, 1845. The same year the congregation purchased the church property on Second Street, east of Market, for seven hundred dol- lars, at which location they have continued to worship for nearly forty years. At first, as with all Methodist churches in this city, the body was supplied at times by circuit preachers, but generally the services were conducted by local clergymen. In 1849, Rev. Henry Davis was appointed the first regular pastor, and was succeeded, in 1850, by Rev. H. G. Young, who, in turn, was followed, in 1853, by Rev. J. G. Bulah. In May, 1854, Rev. James Holland was assigned to the church, and was succeeded, in 1856, by Rev. Adam Driver, who was followed, in 1858, by Rev. J. G. Bulah. In 1860, Rev. J. G. Garrish was appointed, and in 1861, Rev. G. W. Johnson became pastor. The next year Rev. W. D. N. Schureman was assigned to the church, and in 1863, Rev. Jeremiah Young was appointed pastor, and during his ministry the church was re- built. On Nov. 25, 1867, the Asbury African Meth- odist Episcopal Church was incorporated by the court of Delaware County. He was followed, in 1869, by Rev. G. Boyer, and in 1871, Rev. G. T. Waters be- came pastor. He was followed, in 1874, by Rev. L. C. Chambers, and in 1877, Rev. T. Gould succeeded him. In 1879, Rev. J. S. Thompson was assigned to the church, and in 1881 the present pastor, Rev. C. C. Felts, was appointed, and during his ministry the con- gregation purchased a parsonage on Madison Street, above Sixth. The church has also sent out its mis- sion body in the William Murphy Church, on Eagle Street, below Second, in South Chester. In 1883, Rev. M. F. Slubey was pastor, and in 1884, Rev. Leonard Patterson was assigned to the charge of the church.

First Presbyterian Church .- The Presbyterian residents of Chester, previous to 1850, often attended divine services at Leiper's Church, in Ridley, but more frequently the Episcopal or Methodist Churches, both of which denominations had " a local habitation and a name" in the ancient borough. In the fall of the year stated the late Rev. James W. Dale, every Sunday afternoon, conducted religious exercises in the court-

347

THE CITY OF CHESTER.

house according to the Presbyterian formula, and continued to preach therein for more than a year. In 1851, I. E. Cochran, Sr., gave the lot, part of the land taken by him in partition of his father's (John Coch- ran, the elder) estate, at the southeast corner of Fourth and Welsh Streets, on which they built a Pres- byterian Church, and he, together with the late Joseph H. Hinkson, contributed largely of their means to- wards the erection of the present edifice. On Sun- day, July 18, 1851, the dedicatory service was preached by Rev. Joseph H. Jones, of Philadelphia. Nearly a thousand dollars were collected during the day in aid of the church. The congregation was organized with seventeen communicants. Mrs. Henrietta Mifflin Clyde, who died Sept. 28, 1874, aged eighty-two years, was the last survivor of that number. Robert Bene- dict was ordained as the first ruling elder. In the sanc- tnary, since it was renovated, enlarged, and adorned about eight years ago, the handsome stained-glass me- morial windows then placed in the church in most cases bear the names of persons who were among its original founders. After it was organized, for two years Rev. James O. Stedman supplied the pulpit every Sunday, conducting services for the first time on Oct. 31, 1852. He was followed, in 1854, by Rev. George Van Wyck until 1856, when Rev. Alexander W. Sproull was called, and installed as the first regular pastor there. On Dec. 11, 1873, the present pastor, Rev. Philip H. Mowry, was called, and installed De- cember 11th of that year.

Chester City Presbyterian Church .- The influx of population west of the Third Street bridge was particularly noticeable after the establishment of Reaney's ship-yard just previous to the breaking out of the rebellion, and efforts were made by several gen- tlemen to organize a Sunday-school for religious in- struction of the many children in that neighborhood. To that end a school was begun Dec. 14, 1862, in the Academy building, now the Second Street Grammar- School, with John L. Entwisle, superintendent ; Joseph Hinkson, assistant; and Abram R. Perkins, treasurer. The school thus founded grew speedily, and those instrumental in its beginning soon deter- mined to establish the Chester City Presbyterian Church, to be located in the South Ward. The great difficulty was in obtaining a suitable building, which impediment was overcome by the gift of a lot at the southeast corner of Third and Ulrich Streets, by Reaney, Son & Archbold, upon which Thomas Reaney, who was warmly interested in the undertaking, built the present edifice at his personal cost. The church was begun in the summer of 1865, and completed the following year. The furnishing and upholstering of the sanctuary was principally done at the joint expense of Mr. Perkins and Mr. Reaney. While the congre- gation was worshiping in the lecture-room, the church proper being unfinished, an application was made to the Presbytery of Philadelphia for organization, and on Feb. 15, 1866, the congregation elected John X. and was installed the 10th of the same month,

Miller and Peter G. Rambo elders, who were there- upon ordained in those offices by a committee ap- pointed by Presbytery. Feb. 25, 1866, the congrega- tion called Rev. Martin P. Jones as pastor, at a salary of one thousand dollars, and the committee was em- powered, at their discretion, to advance the sum to twelve hundred dollars a year. He accepted the call, and was ordained April 12, 1866. He remained in charge of the church until Jan. 1, 1869, he having tendered his resignation several months before. The church was without a minister from that date until June 22d of the same year, when Rev. Augustus T. Dobson, who had been called the 25th of the previous March, at a salary of fifteen hundred dollars, was in- stalled. The subsequent failure of the firm of Reaney, Son & Archbold crippled the church greatly, but the earnest efforts of the congregation, in conjunction with the pastor, relieved it from its embarrassment. John Henry Askin contributed five hundred dollars, and Abraham R. Perkins one hundred and fifty dol- lars. The congregation notified the pastor that, under the circumstances, his salary must be reduced to one thousand dollars a year, and at that sum it continued until he resigned, in October, 1881. Rev. Thomas J. Aikin, the present pastor, was called Dec. 6, 1881, and installed April 12, 1882.

Third Presbyterian Church .- This memorial church-it was built to commemorate the reunion of the Old and New School Churches-is located at the southwest corner of Twelfth and Upland Streets. The lot was purchased in 1871, and the building, which is of brick, with pilasters, Gothic windows, and high, pitched roof, was erected as a mission Sunday-school by the First Presbyterian Church, but when the di- vision in that congregation took place, those who withdrew accepted the Sunday school building in un- finished condition, determining to constitute therein a Third Presbyterian Church, which was fully con- summated Oct. 16, 1872, with forty-two persons en- rolled as members. The congregation, after it was organized, worshiped in the chapel until July of the following year, when the western end of the building was removed, twenty-five feet added to its length, and a recess pulpit constructed. The lot and building cost nearly fifteen thousand dollars. The church was reopened and dedicated Oct. 5, 1873. After the or- ganization of the church, Rev. Dr. Edwin W. Bower, of Lincoln University, officiated as temporary min- ister until Feb. 13, 1873, when Rev. Charles F. Thomas was unanimously elected to the pastorate. He was installed April 16, 1873, at a salary of sixteen hundred dollars, which was subsequently increased to eighteen hundred dollars, but his health failing, he . resigned Feb. 20, 1878. Rev. Dr. Bower was called April 3, 1878, but he declined, and the congregation, May 31st of the same year, called Rev. Thomas Mc- Cauley, the present pastor, at the same salary received by Mr. Thomas. Mr. McCauley accepted Oct. 1, 1878,

348

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

St. Paul's German Lutheran Church .- In August, 1878, a church organization was effected with twelve members, under the charge of Rev. J. T. Boyer, and on Feb. 3, 1879, the society was chartered. In May, 1879, the meeting-house formerly used by the Meth- odists, on Fifth Street, was purchased for six thousand dollars from George H. Crozer. On Sunday, May 18, 1879, the church was consecrated, Revs. Dr. C. Shæf- fer, president of the Lutheran Ministerium of Penn- sylvania, A. T. Geissenheiner, of Philadelphia, and J. Lewberger, of New Jersey, conducting the services. The building internally was remodeled, and on July 10, 1879, was dedicated by the pastor, Rev. J. T. Boyer. The latter remained in charge of the church until the last of September, 1880, when he was succeeded, Oc- tober 3d of the same year, by Rev. E. H. Gerhart, who served as the pastor until September, 1882, when he resigned, since which time the pulpit was supplied by students from the Lutheran Seminary in Philadel- phia, until June, 1884, when the Rev. E. H. Pohle, pastor of a church in Philadelphia, assumed charge of St. Paul's at Chester. The church has a member- ship of twelve, and a Sunday-school connected with it of forty pupils. The services are wholly conducted in the German language.

Public Schools .- The information which has de- scended to the present time respecting the primitive schools in colonial days is more inferential than posi- tive. From the constant reference to the schooling of children in the early records, the conclusion is reached that considerable attention was given to the education of the young among the English settlers after Penn had obtained possession of the colony. The instruction of youths in reading and writing was part of the duties enjoined on the clergymen in charge of the Church of England parishes maintained under the auspices of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and I seriously ques- tion whether, until the school-house of 1770 was built, any other teachers were employed in Chester to instruct children. I am aware it is asserted that in 1741 a petition was presented to the Bishop of Lon- don, emanating from St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Chester, complaining of Friends who, as is stated, when asked to contribute to the support of the parish schoolmaster, " did what none but Quakers dare do in a country under the government of a Protestant king ; that is, they engaged a rigid, virulent Papist to set up school in the Town of Chester." Of this school under the auspices of St. Paul's Church Charles Fortescue is said to have been the master.1

1 " History of Colonial American Catholic Church," p. 220. No reference cao he found in the recorde of St. Paul's Church respecting this statement; but it should be added that those recorde were abom-' inably kept at that dete; nor yet can anything be found on the minutes of Chester Friende' Meeting, which, ou the other hand, are exhaustive recorde, the most trivial matters being noted. In fact, Friends' records negative, by the absence of any reference to the mat- ter, the idea that at any time a school was maintained by the society in Chester.

On Aug. 6, 1731, Aubry Bevan, John Salkeld, Jacob Howell, Thomas Cummings, and Thomas Morgan made a declaration of trust respecting a lot at the southeast corner of Fourth and Edgmont Streets, which had been conveyed to them " with the intent that a school-house should be erected and built upon the said lott ... with all convenient speed, at the public charge of the people called Quakers, who shall cause a fair well-built school-house to be erected upon the said lott . .. which shall be for the use and ser- vice of the people called Quakers in Chester, and others in the said township forever. . . . The nom- ination of a schoolmaster, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, is to be in the Members of the Preparative Meeting at Chester, and that no other person presume to teach in said school-house without such nomination and appointment." We know be- yond question that no school building was ever erected on that lot, and that no person other than the Episcopal clergyman taught in Chester, seems inci- dentally established from the fact that John Baldwin, who did not die until after Nov. 11, 1731, by his will directs that his two grandsons, John and Joshua Baldwin, "shall be kept to school till they be fitt to go to trades, and then to be put to good trades." In the account filed by Peter Dick, one of the executors, he is allowed credit for the schooling of Joshua for "2 quarters," and that " Richard Backhouse was paid 19 shillings" for his tuition. Backhouse was the clergyman in charge of St. Paul's Church, and con- tinued as the rector until his death, in November, 1749. Indeed, we know that the first movement among Friends looking to the establishment of schools was at the Yearly Meeting in 1746, when that body advised the several Monthly Meetings " to encourage and to assist one another in the settlement and support of schools."

It may be assumed, at least so far as we have evi- dence, that no school other than that connected with St. Paul's parish was maintained in the borough of Chester previous to 1770. Joseph Hoskins, in his will bearing date the 31st day of the Twelfth month, 1769, made this important public devise :

" Item, I give end device unto my friends Henry Hale Graham and William Swaffer, a certain lot of ground situate in the Borough of Ches- ter, beginning at the intersection of Welsh or Back street and the King's road, and to extend along the said King's road one hundred feet, and from thence parallel with the said Welsh or Back street one hundred feet, and from thence parallel with the said King's road one hundred feet to the said Welsh or Back Street, and thence hy the same street one hundred feet to the place of beginning. To hold to them the said Heary Hale Graham and William Swaffer and their heirs forever upon special trust and confidence nevertheless and to and for the uses, in- tents and purposes hereinafter mentioned, expressed and declared, and none other; that is to say, for the use, benefit and hehoof of all and every the inhabitants of the said Borough and township of Chester for the building and erecting a school house or school houses or other edi- fices for the teaching and instructing and educating of youthe therein, and my will is that the Trusteee aforesaid enter into and be in quiet and peaceable possession of the said lot of ground immediately after some part of the materials are got ready for erecting a school house thereon."

349

THE CITY OF CHESTER.

Joseph Hoskins did not die until 1773, and his will was not probated until the 21st of July of that year, but so unbounded was the confidence of his neighbors in his integrity, that in 1770 they built a school-house on the lot thus by will subsequent vested in the trustees, although their then title was simply the statement of Hoskins, that he had made such testamentary dispo- sition of his real estate. We have every assurance to believe that he gave liberally of his income towards the building itself. Not only did he give this land, but in his will he also directed thirty pounds (a large sum in those days) to be paid by his executors to John Eyre and James Barton, to be applied "for the schooling and educating of such poor children belong- ing to the inhabitants of the Borough and township of Chester as the said Preparative Meeting for the time being shall think fit to order and direct."

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 87

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150