USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, Volume One > Part 30
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In October, 1805, Rev. Johnston Eaton, a young minister, who had been licensed by the Ohio Presbytery on Aug. 22, 1805, to preach the gospel, came to Erie County. His early education had been completed in the theological seminary of Dr. John McMillan conducted in a log house at Canonsburg, Pa. He remained here but a short time, and left to put in the following year in southern Ohio, traveling for his health. In 1806 he returned to Erie County, preaching mostly in the bar room of a small log tavern near the mouth of Walnut Creek which was then kept by Captain Richard Swan. No doubt some sort of congregational organ- ization was formed during this season, although we have no sure record of it, excepting from the fragment of his old journal which states "Preached three months in the congregations of Fairview, Springfield, and Millcreek, beginning July, 1806, at ninety dollars per quarter."
In 1807 he was married to Miss Eliza Canon, of Fayette County, Penn., a niece of Colonel John Canon, the founder of Canonsburg, Pa., returning with her, on horseback, they settled on a tract on the west banks of Walnut Creek, their little log cabin being built a few rods north of the top of Walnut Creek hill on the Ridge Road. Here it was that the bear climbed the bank of the creek one morning and took away one of the minister's pigs before the startled eyes of his wife.
Rev. Johnson Eaton was the first minister of any denomination to be ordained in this county, the ceremony taking place in the barn of William Sturgeon which then stood in the southeast corner of Church
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and South streets, Fairview borough now, on June 30, 1808. Prior to this time he had organized a congregation called the Fairview Congrega- tion, having for its first elders Andrew Caughey, George Reed and Wil- liam Arbuckle, and with but twenty-five members. In 1810 this congre- gation built a log church structure on the high bank opposite, and across the road from the place where was later built the Mayside Hotel, near the mouth of Walnut Creek. In 1806, Rev. Eaton also organized a con- gregation of the Presbyterian faith at Springfield out of the attendants upon the meetings held there in 1804 by Rev. Robert Patterson. The first elders of this congregation were Isaac Miller, James Blair and James Bruce, the congregation having thirty members.
Rev. Eaton seems to have, for a time at least, served the religious needs of nearly the whole county, preaching sometimes at Erietown, North East, Middlebrook, Waterford, and other places. During the War of 1812, he acted as chaplain to the troops at Erie, and on Feb. 14, 1815, the Erie Presbytery granted to Erie one-third of the services of Rev. Eaton for one year; and on Feb. 24, 1815, Judah Colt, Joseph Arbuckle and Samuel Hays were elected trustees. On May 13, 1815, at the home of Robert Brown, Samuel Hays was appointed Treasurer, Thomas Stew- art was directed to make collections for the borough of Erie, and William Saltsman for the county. At this time arrangements were also made to use the house of Colonel Miller, on Peach Street, north of Fifth, known as "The Barracks." It was during the month of February, 1815, that this congregation was regularly organized by Rev. Eaton, who continued as its stated supply until 1823. For two years his time was equally divided between Fairview, North East and Erie; later between Fairview and Erie, and a little later practically confined to Fairview. Afterwards, the old barracks becoming unsuitable to hold services in them, services were held for a time in the court house in West Perry Square, until the authorities withdrew their consent, when Judah Colt built a building for them on the west side of Sassafras Street between Sixth and Seventh streets, becoming known as "The Old Yellow Meeting House." Around this building the bodies of its members were buried, and in it the Rev. David Mckinney preached his first sermon on Oct. 24, 1824, and was ordained in it on April 13, 1825, being the first regular pastor of this con- gregation, which was later to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of Erie. So it seems that Erie had a Presbyterian congregational organ- ization with official heads in 1815; but as early as 1808, Erie Presbytery
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granted supplies to "Upper Greenfield, Middlebrook, Waterford and Erie- town," and in 1809 received a report that none of these posts could sup- port a pastor. By inference then, we must conclude that, although the congregational record does not enlighten us, a congregation existed at Erietown prior to 1808 which developed into the First Presbyterian Church of Erie.
It is well also for us to correct an earlier error as to another organi- zation. The historical narrative of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Erie, claims a congregation from 1808 to the present time, and at the laying of the cornerstone of the present edifice, Ascension Day, 1861, a history of the congregation from 1808 to 1861 was placed with- in it. The first baptisms are said to have taken place Aug. 18, 19, 1808. The congregational life of this organization seems to have been contin- uous from that time to the present, when the congregation worships in a most handsome brick temple on upper Sassafras Street, the Rev. Gus- tave A. Benze being the present capable pastor, with some 1,200 communicants.
In 1809, a Presbyterian congregation was organized at Waterford; in 1811, another at Union; in 1820, there were congregations at Spring- field, North East, Middlebrook, Waterford, Union, Fairview and Erie, according to the minutes of Erie Presbytery.
The Church of Union was organized in April, 1811, with eight members and one elder, Matthew Gray, its church building being erected in 1831.
The Sturgeonville (Fairview borough) Presbyterian Church was a colony from the original Fairview Church, organized in 1845 with seven original members.
The Springfield Presbyterian Church was organized as a preaching station in 1804, by Rev. Robert Patterson, as a church in 1806, by Rev. Johnston Eaton, with 30 members, and three elders, Isaac Miller, James Blair and James Bruce.
The Girard Presbyterian Church was a colony from Springfield, or- ganized May 16, 1835, with Robert Porter and Philip Bristol as first elders.
The Lower Greenfield (North East) Presbyterian Church was or- ganized in 1801, in the woods where the borough now is, and worshipped for a time in the forest, with Rev. Robert Patterson as its first pastor.
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Upper Greenfield (Middlebrook, and later Wattsburg) Presbyterian Church was organized in August, 1801.
Fairview (later Westminster) Presbyterian Church was organized as a preaching point by Rev. Johnston Eaton in 1806, with preaching in 1805, and as a regular congregation sometime in 1806: with 13 members received on certificates from other churches, and 12 persons on examina- tion; three elders were elected and ordained, Andrew Caughey, William Arbuckle, and George Reed. The names of those first members are: Andrew Caughey, Elizabeth Caughey, Jane Caughey, John Pherrin, Mary McCreary, Agnes McCreary, another Mary McCreary, Jennie Nicholson, Ann Sterrett, Elizabeth Eaton, Ann McCreary, Robert Sterrett, and Cath- erine Swan, on certificates; and William Arbuckle, Charity Arbuckle, Jeremiah Sturgeon, Jane Sturgeon, William Sturgeon, Jennie Sturgeon, George Nicholson, Jane Nicholson, Patrick Vance, Margaret Vance, John McCreary and Elizabeth McCreary, on examination.
Its first services were in the tavern of Colonel Richard Swan at the mouth of Walnut Creek, there being thereabouts a little settlement, which gave promise of a thriving neighborhood. In 1809. it was resolved to build a meeting house. Captain Richard Swan and Colonel Thomas Fors- ter each gave an acre of his land, and the congregation bought three other acres on the high bank back from the lake and near the mouth of Walnut Creek, west of the road leading down to the creek. It was built of hewn logs, many of them drawn by an ox team driven by John J. Swan, the eldest son of Captain Richard Swan, then a lad of 15 years of age. Everybody helped. It had slabs laid on blocks of wood for seats; Johnny Pherrin built its pulpit, a box-like affair in front, with five or six steps leading up to it, which made convenient seats for the minister's children, whose mother sat in the pew alongside. A brick hearth in the middle of the floor made a place where charcoal was sometimes burned in extreme weather to obtain a little warmth, but its fumes sometimes overcame the worshippers, and a big ten-plate stove was later secured , for heating. In 1810, 12 persons were added to its membership; in 1811- 12, seven persons; 1813 to 1816, the period of the war, three persons; 1817-1819, 14 persons; and an average of four each year for the next ten years; 1831, 25 were added on examination. In 1834, with a reported membership of 100, a large frame edifice was built on the lot at Swan- ville where the public school now stands, and back of it were buried many
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of the pioneers of those early days, whose bodies were later removed to other places of rest.
The old log church became a school house in 1834, and later was rented to a family named Coller who used it as a residence. Becoming vacant, fire originated in an unknown manner, and it was consumed. In 1851, the frame building was removed to Westminster, where it re- mained the place of worship until 1895, when their present new brick structure was dedicated.
In 1809 or 1810, a Presbyterian Church was organized at Water- ford, Rev. John Matthews, its first pastor being ordained and installed in connection with Gravel Run, Oct. 17, 1810, released April 2, 1817. Its church edifice was built in 1835.
Presbyterian churches were organized as follows:
The Washington Presbyterian Church (Edinboro) was organized in 1829; Belle Valley Presbyterian, 1841; Beaver Dam (Wayne Township), about 1820; Corry, 1864; Fairview Borough (Sturgeonville), 1845; First Church, Erie, 1815; Girard Borough, 1835; Central of Erie, 1871; Chest- nut Street, Erie, 1873; East Springfield, 1804; Harborcreek, 1832; Mill Village, 1870; North East Borough, 1801; Park Presbyterian, Erie, 1855; Union City, 1811; Waterford Borough, 1809; Wattsburg, 1833; West- minster, Millcreek Township, 1806; Wales, Greene Township, 1849; East- minister, 1894; Mckean, 1837; First U. P. Church, Erie, 1811; Brown Avenue U. P., 1900; First U. P. of Waterford, 1812; Springfield, 1806.
Methodist churches were organized as follows:
Lexington, in Conneaut Township, 1801; first Methodist church building in the county erected one mile south of West Springfield in 1804; first class organized near Lexington, 1801; first quarterly meeting held south of West Springfield in July, 1810; revival meetings first held in Erie by Methodists, 1810-11, in a log tavern where the Erie Public Library now stands; first class organized in Erie, 1826; a class held meet- ings in a log school house in Erie on the east side of French Street be- tween Second and Third Streets, in 1826; meetings were held in the Court House in West Perry Square in 1833; meetings were held in a small one-story frame building on East Fourth Street in Erie, between French and Holland Streets, 1833 and later; Erie made a Station by Conference in 1834; Erie Conference organized in July, 1836; "Wesley Chapel" dedicated Jan. 1, 1839, situated midway between Peach and Sassafras Streets, on the north side of Seventh Street, in Erie; three new
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classes formed in 1840; two more classes in 1842; ninth annual session of Erie Conference held in Erie in July, 1844; in 1852 a committee of First Church of Erie located the site of Simpson M. E. at the southeast corner of Twenty-first and Sassafras Streets, as now called; Nov. 14, 1860, the new $14,000 brick building of the First M. E. of Erie was dedicated; Simpson's new brick structure was dedicated by Bishop Simp- son, June 19, 1859. Organization dates of the Methodist churches in this county are: Albion, before 1850; Ash's Corners, Washington Town- ship, 1867; Asbury, in Millcreek, 1846; Asbury, Union Township, 1840; Beaver Dam, 1838; Carter Hill, 1835; Cascade Street, Erie, 1902; Cherry Hill, 1858; Concord, 1879; Corry, 1862; Cranesville, 1830; Crane Road, Franklin Township, 1867; East Springfield, 1825; Edenville, LeBoeuf Township, 1839; Edinboro, 1829; Elgin, 1854; Eureka, 1867; Fair Haven, 1815; Fairplane, 1840; Fairview, 1817; First of Erie, 1826; Franklin, 1866; Girard, 1815; Gospel Hill, 1816; Hamlin, Summit Township, 1837; Harborcreek, 1834; Hatch Hollow, 1835; Keepville, 1867; Kingsley, Erie, 1907; Lockport, 1843; Lowville, 1875; McLane, 1863; Miles Grove, 1867; · Mill Village, 1810; Middleboro, 1819; North Corry, 1870; North East, 1812; Northville, 1820; Phillipsville, 1840; South Harborcreek, 1830; Simpson, Erie, 1858; Sterrettania, 1842; South Hill, Mckean Township, 1860; Sharp's Corners, Waterford Township, 1838; Sherrod Hill and Tower School House, in Venango Township, not ascertained; Tenth Street, Erie, 1867; Union City, 1817; Waterford Borough, 1814; Wattsburg, 1827; Wales, Greene Township, 1850; Wellsburg, 1833; Wayne Street, Erie, 1889; Wesleyville, 1825; West Greene, 1827; West Springfield, 1801.
The Pennsylvania German pioneers into this county were of the Protestant faith, and comprised the Riblets, Wagners, Ebersoles, Browns, Stoughs, Langs, Zimmermans, and Kreiders, from 1801 to 1805; later were the Warfels, Mohrs, Weigels, Metzlers, Bergers, Brennemans, Geists, Zucks, and others. Most of these clung to the Evangelical Lutheran faith, and brought their German Bibles with them. Soon after they set- tled, they besought the Lutheran Synod of Eastern Pennsylvania for aid in establishing the gospel in their neighborhoods, deploring their situa- tion "to do without sermon, baptism, catechetical instruction and the Lord's Supper", and desiring a minister to be sent to them occasionally, at least.
The first record book of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Erie was begun Sept. 1, 1811, showing there was even then some sort
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of congregational organization of that church in existence in this county, and evidencing that services had been held prior to that time. At the laying of the corner stone of that church, on Ascension Day, 1861, it is stated that a history of the congregation from 1808 to 1861 was placed in the corner stone. It is believed that Rev. Mr. Muckenhaupt was one of the first traveling missionaries of the sect who labored in this county, inquiries concerning him being instituted in 1811, he being understood to be preaching in Crawford (embraced Erie) County at the time. They may be said to have comprised Rev. Muckenhaupt, 1808; Rev. Mr. Scriba, 1811; Rev. Mr. Sackman, 1813; Rev. Mr. Rupert, 1814; Rev. Carl W. Col- sen, 1815, who resided at Meadville, and served Erie, too. Father C. F. Heyer came in 1817, where he labored for a year. Rev. Rupert returned in 1819, and Rev. Mr. Heilig was here about 1832, and is believed to have been the first resident Lutheran minister in the county.
St. John's, of Erie, probably lays claim justly to being the first Lutheran congregation in the county. Its first building was erected and dedicated Aug. 8, 1842; the second, a brick structure, on Sept. 14, 1862, where they now worship. St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized about 1850; Luther Memorial, the first English Lutheran church in Erie, in 1861; others, some of whose dates we are not able to ascertain, were Zion's, 1890; Bethany, Trinity, Grace, 1893; St. Stephen's, 1898; St. Matthew's, 1905; St. Luke's, St. Paul's at Drake's Mills, the Evangelical Lutheran St. John's at Girard, the East Greene, St. Peter's in Millcreek, Trinity at McKean, and St. Peter's at North East.
Lutheranism at Erie is vitally identified with a most benevolent undertaking in the establishment and operation of the Lutheran Home for the Aged, which was opened on March 1, 1906, at 2201 Sassafras Street. The building contains 50 rooms, and houses many aged persons whose circumstances require home, care and maintenance.
Other Protestant organizations and the times of their various or- ganizations as we have been able to secure them are: The Baptist con- gregation at Lowry's Corners, in Harborcreek Township, believed to have been the first one in the county, in 1822; it originated in the Hoag school house until their building could be provided, but it has not survived. Another Baptist congregation was organized in Springfield Township in 1826, building its church edifice in 1833 on the Ridge Road, about two and a half miles west of East Springfield; at Erie in 1831; in the eastern part of North East Township at an early date, succeeded by another built
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on the Buffalo Road a little way east of North East village in 1832; at McLane, in 1838; West Greene, in 1848; at Wattsburg in 1850; the Elk Creek Baptist in Franklin Township, in 1867; Wesleyville, ___. ; a Free- Will Baptist Church in Waterford Township in 1832; the Emanuel Bap- tist of Erie, ; Wayne Park Baptist, Erie, _. .; First German Bap- tist, of Erie, ; Second Baptist, Erie, _. ; Swedish Baptist, Erie,
The Christian denomination organized a congregation at Springfield in 1826, with Rev. Asa C. Morrison as its organizer, and Rev. Josiah Marsh as its settled pastor. Another was organized in Fairview in 1835, and one at Erie in 1888.
The United Brethren entered the county more recently than some of the others, the first church being, as we believe, organized in Elk Creek, a mile north of Cranesville, in 1853. Another at Fairview in 1857; at Branchville, 1865; at Beaverdam, 1870; on the State Road in Girard Township near the Elk Creek line, in 1870; and at New Ireland in LeBoeuf Township, in 1876.
The Universalists established churches in Springfield, Girard, Elk . Creek, and Erie, the earlier being in the early forties. They now use the name of Unitarian.
The Disciples became established at Albion in 1880, and at Lockport in 1877.
The Congregational Church had a congregation in Corry in 1874.
The Evangelical Association founded congregations at Emanuel in Summit Township in 1838; Salem, in Fairview Township, 1833; Salem, in Erie, 1833; Mt. Nabo, Fairview Borough, 1833; North East Borough, 1870, and a congregation at Sterrettania in
The first Sunday School in the county is believed to have been established in the Moorheadville School House by Rev. Mr. Morton and Colonel James Moorhead in 1817. Mrs. Judah Colt, assisted by Mrs. Rufus S. Reed and a Mrs. Carr, organized a girls' class in 1818, at Erie, which met in the homes of the organizers. On March 25, 1821, a public meeting was held in the Court House to consider organizing "a Sunday School and Moral Society". This school opened in May with 64 in at- tendance, having in 1830-31 as one of its members Horace Greeley, who was then an employee on the Erie Gazette. The ladies of St. Paul's Epis- copal congregation opened a second school in September, 1830, which met in the Court House until they had a building of their own.
The Roman Catholics had their first organization in this county in (24)
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1833, when they established a church in the northern part of Mckean Township, using the building then erected until one was built in Middle- boro. St. Mary's, of Erie, was established in 1837; St. Patrick's in 1837; the corner stone of their St. Peter's Cathedral on the northwest corner of Tenth and Sassafras Streets was laid Aug. 1, 1875, and the edifice was dedicated Aug. 2, 1893, taking 18 years to build. Other Catholic congre- gations in the county embrace, Albion; St. Thomas' at Corry; Concord; St. Elizabeth's at Corry; Elgin; St. John's at Girard; St. Boniface at Hamot; St. Matthew's at Jackson Station; St. Francis Xavier's at Mid- dleboro; Mill Village; St. Gregory's at North East; St. Teresa's at Union City; St. Cyprian's at Waterford; St. Joseph's in Erie, 1855; St. John's, Erie, 1869; St. Andrew's, Erie, 1871; St. Stanislaus', Erie, 1883; St. Michael's at Erie, 1883; St. Paul's, Erie, is an Italian congregation, 1891; St. Joachim's, Erie, 1894; St. Ann's, Erie, 1894; Sacred Heart, Erie, Polish Catholic, Erie; St. Peter and St. Paul Greek Catholic, Erie; St. Steven's Hungarian Catholic, Erie; Church of the Holy Family, Erie, 1908.
The Hebrew people formed themselves into a congregation on Aug. 12, 1853, with some eight or ten persons attending. They met for serv- ices for a time at Fifth and French, in Erie, their first Rabbi being Mr. Weil, who came to them in 1861. Their places of worship have included one on Holland Street, between Eighth and Ninth Streets; another in the Metcalf Block on State Street, and one in Becker's Block at Sixth and French Streets. They secured a lot on West Eighth Street in 1882, where a handsome synagogue was erected for $13,000. Rabbi Max E. Currick is the present Rabbi. It is called the Anshe Chesed synagogue.
The Brith Sholom synagogue was organized in 1896, and holds its services at 721 French Street, and is termed the orthodox congregation, as distinguished from the Anshe Chesed which is denominated the re- form church.
The First Christian Church was organized Nov. 19, 1888, building its house of worship on a lot which it secured at the southwest corner of Seventh and Chestnut Streets in Erie.
A "Christian Science" Church was organized in Erie in 1889, which has erected a fine temple on Sassafras Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets.
The Young Men's Christian Association was organized at a meeting held Aug. 20, 1860, in Park Hall, presided over by E. L. Pelton. A. Mc- Dowell Lyon was its first president, who was succeeded by A. H. Caughey.
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The basements and lecture rooms of various churches furnished places for its earlier meetings, till rooms were procured for its meetings in the Beatty Block on North Park Row. A reading room with small library was provided, and later the Irving Library was secured, and then the Barr homestead, at Tenth and Peach Streets, was purchased in Septem- ber, 1878, which was improved from time to time, adding lecture room, gymnasium, and other facilities, until popular subscriptions in a cam- paign for the purpose provided funds for the erection of a magnificent modern block on the site of its former home, equipped in the most modern manner for the objects of the organization, costing more than $200,000, in 1912.
Its activities have included co-operating with the government com- mission during the Civil War in welfare work for the soldiers and sailors; welfare work in the county jail, conducted by Mr. N. C. Outwait, and later by Mr. W. Mallery; promoting mission Sunday Schools; museum work; starting an industrial school in 1868; open air services about the city beginning in 1870; relief work during panics and hard times; or- · ganized temperance work; promotion of cottage prayer meetings; boys' work; educational work in night classes for men; welfare work in the Spanish-American War; evangelistic work; and welfare work during the World War of 1917-18.
OLD "TEN-PLATE" STOVE
CHAPTER XXIV
MISCELLANEOUS.
MARINE HOSPITAL-OLD GRAVE YARDS-PRESIDENTIAL VISITORS-SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME-EDINBORO STATE NORMAL SCHOOL-ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT-FIRST SHOWS AND CIRCUSES-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES- STORMS.
Old Cemeteries .- Undoubtedly the first burial in this county of a white man, was that of Jean Baptiste Texier, who died July 11, 1753, in the French Fort at Presque Isle, and was buried just west of the fort, in the edge of the woods. Other burials were made in that first graveyard for some time during the French stay in the county.
Another old graveyard was of somewhat indefinite boundaries and extent, when hundreds of the French soldiers and laborers were over- come by fatigue and disease in the woods along the portage road from Presque Isle to LeBoeuf, and were buried by the portage road, in shallow graves amongst the trees, literally by the hundreds.
The first recorded burial ground in American times was that at Colt's Station, where, on July 6, 1801, a party of 15 men met and cleared off a space of an acre for the burial of the dead.
The next was at Middlebrook, where the following month a burial plot was selected and prepared for use, both of which exist to this day.
A graveyard was established near the mouth of Millcreek, in Erie- town, at very nearly the same time; but was later abandoned, about 1805. At Waterford, Fairview, North East, Springfield, and other church sites, provision was made about the pioneer churches for the burial of their dead.
At Erie, in 1805, three lots were set aside for a graveyard at the southeast corner of Eighth and French Streets, which everybody used until 1827, when the graveyard and lot became the property of the United
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