History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 64

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 64

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CITY OF ERIE.

On the third Sabbath of July, 1855, a Sabbath school was organized with twenty-five or thirty scholars. Rev. William Wilson and others supplied the church till May, 1856, when, by permission of the Presbytery, Rev. William M. Blackburn, then of the Presbytery of Lake, was invited to become "stated supply " of the church for one year. Mr. Blackburn accepted the invitation, and began his labors May 25, 1856. At that time the church numbered twenty-four members. During the following year, under Mr. Blackburn's efficient care, the church and Sabbath school grew rapidly; a large Bible class was organized; the congregation increased; the benevolent operations of the church were carried on with regularity and energy. May 27, 1857, Mr. Blackburn was installed pastor of the church. At that time there were thirty- five communicants. During the summer and autumn of 1857, the present house of worship was erected. It was dedicated December 22, with thanks- giving and gladness; sermon by Rev. Frederick T. Brown, then of Cleveland, Ohio. Iu 1858, forty-six persons were added to the church upon a profession of their faith-the largest, with one exception, which Park Church has yet enjoyed. After seven years of faithful and fruitful labor, Mr. Blackburn ac- cepted a call, on account of his health, to the pastoral care of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Trenton, N. J., to the great regret of his loving flock in Erie.

On the 22d of February, 1864, Rev. George F. Cain, then of Stroudsburg, Penn., was unanimously chosen to be pastor of Park Church. The call was accepted, and Mr. Cain was installed shortly afterward. At that time there were 127 communicants. There had been many added to the church, but there had also been frequent removals, and some had "fallen asleep" in Jesus.

In April, of same year, the parsonage on the corner of Sassafras and Seventh streets, was purchased, the congregation joining with great zeal and unanimity in thus providing a beautiful and comfortable home for their pastor.

During year ending April, 1866, was marked by a gracious effusion of the Holy Spirit. Ninety-two communicants were added to the church, of whom sixty-eight professed for the first time their faith in Christ.

In April, 1870, the pastoral relation between Mr. Cain and the church was dissolved, in order that Mr. Cain might accept a call to the Alexander Church in Philadelphia. The resolutions in which this congregation assented to Mr. Cain's request for a dissolution of his pastorate, expressed deep and heartfelt regret. When Mr. Cain left the church, it was composed of 242 communicants.

December 7, 1870, Rev. James Otis Denniston, of Matawan, N. J., was called to the pastoral charge, which office he fulfilled with earnestness and fidelity till April, 1872.

September 9, 1872, Rev. Thomas Fullertou was elected pastor, and entered upon his work in October. There were in December of that year 196 members in Park Church.

The Ruling Elders of the church have been S. S. Spencer, elected June 28, 1855; David Agnew, elected June 28, 1856; D. W. Fitch, elected June 4, 1859; Thomas Taber, elected June 4, 1859; Edward J. Cowell, elected Decem- ber 9, 1865; Andrew H. Cahey, elected December 9, 1865; William Himrod, elected January 4, 1868; N. J. Clark, elected January 4, 1868; Charles C. Converse, Riley Burdett, William Spencer and William T. Birch, all ordained October 31, 1875.

In 1877, the beautiful chapel and Sabbath school rooms frouting on Seventh street and connected with the main church edifice by a corridor, was erected at a cost of $6, 500.

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

The interior of the main building was tastefully frescoed in 1882, and a fine organ put in, the entire cost being $9,000. The present membership is 265. A Sabbath school has been maintained continually from the beginning. Pres- ent enrollment, 200.

THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church was formally organized by a committee appointed by the Pres- bytery of Erie, consisting of Rev. William Grassie and Rev. S. G. Hopkins, February 23, 1871; the services were held in Walther's Hall. The original membership consisted of fifty-four persons. At the time of the organization, David Shirk and Joseph A. French were chosen Elders. Shortly afterward, the church extended a unanimous call to Rev. Charles C. Kimball, which he accepted, and May 11, 1871, was installed by a committee from the Presbytery, Rev. George W. Cleveland, presiding, Rev. A. Sinclair preaching the sermon, Rev. John E. Wright charging the pastor, and Rev. J. T. Oxtoby the church. After the installation, the Sabbath services of the church were held for two years in Temperance Hall (Dreisigaker's Block, east side of State, between Seventh and Eighth streets), and there continued to be held for about two years. During the first year of the church's existence, the valuable and desira- ble lot on the northeast corner of Tenth and Sassafras streets was purchased, and on the 2d of August, 1872, ground was broken for the eraction of the stone church edifice which now graces that site, and serves the congregation as a place for worship. This edifice was completed and opened for worship Sabbath morning, June 8, 1873, with impressive ceremonies. Brief addresses were made to the Sabbath school by the pastor, Rev. C. C. Kimball, the Su- perintendent and others, and at 11 o'clock a sermon was delivered by the pastor. On the following evening, the church was dedicated to the service of God. The ceremonies commenced with an anthem, followed by prayer and the reading of the 24th Psalm by Rev. Dr. Stever. The pastor then gave a brief sketch of the history and cost of the building, after which brief remarks were made by Rev. Mr. Stone, Rev. Dr. Wheeler, Rev. M. Grassie, Rev. Capt. Kitwood, Rev. Dr. John H. Vincent and Rev. Dr. Fullerton. The building, as then completed and now stands, was designed for Sabbath school purposes, the membership intending to build thereto the main church structure. The edifice is constructed of Ogdensburg blue limestone trimmed with Amherst, Ohio, sandstone, and is, in size, 67x45 feet; below is the audience room seated with chairs, and four parlors and other rooms above tastefully finished and furnished throughout. It is of Gothic style of architecture and cost, in the neighborhood of $25,000, it and the lot upon which it stands costing about $33,000. Within the first eleven months, the number of communicants was doubled, and in December, 1872, the number of communicants was 157. The Sabbath school had a similar rapid growth; it was organized in Walther's Hall February 11, 1871, with a total attendance of thirty-five scholars. On May 14 of the same year, they removed to Temperance Hall, which quarters they occupied until the completion of their chapel June 8, 1873. In less than one year, it reached an average attendance of 227, and contributed for its own purposes and benevolence the handsome sum of $1,069.47.

Early in the year 1874, W. R. Davenport, G. W. F. Sherwin and George Reed were elected Elders, and Joseph A. French was re-appointed to active service in the eldership (David Shirk died while serving as Elder, November 21, 1873). In January, 1877, Elders Joseph A. French and George Reed were re-elected to active service for the term of six years, and Charles Metcalf, George E. Barger, C. C. Shirk and William Smith were added to the elder-

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ship, and at the expiration of that time all were re-elected and are now serving the church as Elders.

October 12, 1878, Rev. Mr. Kimball was dismissed from the pastorate at his own request, to accept a call to a church in Kansas City, Mo. He preached for the congregation at Erie until the first Sabbath in November of that year. His successor to the pastorate of this church was Rev. Solon Cobb, of New Bedford, Mass., who was installed by the Presbytery of Erie on the evening of December 26, 1878, and now occupies that relation with the Central Church.

The twelve years of the church's existence have all been years of growth and fruitfulness. Unity, harmony and cordial fellowship, have marked all of their meetings and activities. For twelve years, constant increase of member- ship at each and every communion season has been as unvarying as the seed time and harvest of the natural world. During the past year of the church's history, forty-four persons have entered into fellowship with the church, thirty- five on confession of faith and nine by letter; fourteen have been dismissed to form a connection with other churches, and five have passed on to the heavenly land. Since the organization of the church to the original member- ship of fifty-four, 446 have been added on confession of faith, and 191 by let- ter-in all 637-an average of about fifty-three a year. The roll has included 691 names. Of these, thirty-four have died, 124 have been dismissed, twenty- eight retired, and twelve dropped, leaving the present membership in April, 1883, 493. The church has received and paid out for building, current expenses, general benevolence, etc., during the twelve years, about $95,000.

The Sabbath school has been under the care of the same Superintendent, Mr. C. C. Shirk, ever since its organization. Commencing with a member- ship of forty-five, it has increased until there are now enrolled 565 names; and 295 of the scholars have joined the church, an average of about twenty- four a year.

CHESTNUT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Early in July, 1870, a Sabbath school was opened in the house of Mr. C. W. Brown on Eighteenth, between Chestnut and Walnut streets, through the efforts of three lay members of the First Presbyterian and Park Presbyterian Churches. The first Sabbath but one scholar accepted the invitation previously extended, and was present. Two Sabbaths later, the attendance in- creased to seventy-five, and as a result a school was organized in a room fitted up for the occasion near the present house of worship. From this time to the let of December following, the school was nominally under the care of the Y. M. C. A., when it was taken under the charge of Park Presbyterian Church. At the end of the first year, the school numbered over 200 members. In order to put in some practical and useful form their quota of the $5,000,000 memo- rial fund, which the Presbyterian Church in the United States had resolved to raise as a thank-offering to God for the cordial re-union of its dissevered branches, the people of Park Church resolved to build a house for this new Sunday school. This was accomplished. The church as it now stands, on the corner of Seventeenth and Chestnut streets, was completed in July, 1871, and dedicated on the 2d of August following-members of the Presbytery of Erie, then in session in this city, bearing a part in the services of the occasion. Rev. J. R. Wilson began to preach in the church in the spring of 1872, a man of great fidelity, sincerity and earnestness. A church was organized in January 1873, and Mr. Wilson was installed over it as pastor, in the next September. He was very successful in his ministry-the church increasing within the first three years from nine to fifty six members, and the Sabbath school to

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

225. Mr. Wilson remained with the church till the summer of 1879, when he resigned his place to accept the chair of Greek Professor in Parson College, Iowa. He was succeeded in the pastorate of the church by the Rev. A. C. Wilson, who was installed as pastor December 30, of that year, and remained until July, 1880, when he resigned on account of ill-health. From February, 1881, until June, 1883. the pulpit was filled by the Rev. J. D. Kerr, as stated supply. Since July, 1883, the Rev. W. J. Hazlett has sustained the same relation with this charge. The present membership is seventy-six.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION.

Previous to 1811, about thrity families, members and adherente of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, had settled in Erie and the immediate neighborhood. They were chiefly Scotch- Irish and the descendants of Scotch- Irish, and had removed here from the counties in Pennsylvania bordering on the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. In 1811, the Monongahela Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Church embraced in its bounds the entire territory now included in three Synods, viz., Pittsburgh, Ohio and First Synod of the West. At a meeting of the Presbytery held at Steubenville, Ohio, June 19, 1811, " Rev. George Buchanan (pastor of a congregation at Steubenville) was appointed to preach two Sabbaths in the borough of Erie before the next meeting of Presbytery." Mr. Buchanan filled his appointment probably in July or Au- gust, 1811, and at the next meeting of Presbytery, held September 4, 1811, at Puckety Church, a petition "for a supply of sermons" was received from persons residing in and near Erie and Waterford. He arrived here and preached in these places in the fall of 1811. He was accompanied to Erie by the Rev. Samuel Weir, a licentiate of the same Presbytery. His labors were so acceptable here that proper steps were taken to secure his services as pastor. At the next meeting of the Presbytery, held at " St. Clair Church, a petition for the moderation of a call in the borough of Erie and at Waterford was presented. Mr. Galloway was appointed to preach in Erie on the third Sab- bath of January, 1812, and preside on the following Monday on that business." Mr. Galloway filled this appointment and a unanimous call was made out for Mr. Robert Reid, which was carried up by Mr. Robinson as unanimous, and presented at the next meeting of Presbytery, held in Robinson Run Church March 11, 1812. It was declared regular, presented to the candidate, by him accepted, and "the Presbytery proceeded to assign him trials for ordination. Jeremiah, xxxi, 19, was assigned as the subject of a sermon and Romans, iii, 24. 31 inclusive, as the subject of a lecture, which he was directed to deliver at the next meeting of Presbytery." Mr. Reid having delivered his trials for ordination at the meeting at St. Clair Church June 24, 1812, they were ap- proved, and Messrs. McConnell, Kerr and Galloway, ministere, with Messrs. John Findley, Robert Porter and James McWilliams, Elders, were appointed a committee of Presbytery to ordain and install Mr. Reid over these congrega- tions at Erie, on the second Tuesday of September next, Mr. McConnell to preach the ordination sermon, Mr. Kerr to deliver the charge to the minister, and Mr. Galloway to the people. Mr. Archibald McSparren wae directed to serve the edict. "This committee failed to meet at the time appointed; Mr. Galloway was prevented from meeting with them at all, and the members of the committee selected Mr. Dick to accompany them to Erie. Mr. Dick con- sented. The committee met October 21, 1812, and the preparatory steps hav- ing been taken, Mr. Reid was set apart to the office of the holy ministry and installed as pastor of the united congregations of Erie and Waterford." The number of members in connection with the congregation when it wae first

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CITY OF ERIE.

organized cannot be given with certainty; it is believed to be about seventy. Mrs. Polly R. Barr is the only one now living of the members at the time of the first organization. Mr. Reid continued to preach three-fourths of his time in Erie and one-fourth in Waterford, until June 30, 1841, when he resigned the pastoral charge of Waterford, and all his time was given to Erie. April 12, 1813, Archibald McSparren, Thomas Hughes and David Robinson were ordained, and Alexander Robinson installed Ruling Elders, and James Du- mare was ordained a Deacon of the congregation, the Rev. Mr. Galloway, of Mercer, and Mr. Junkin, a Ruling Elder, assisting. The first communion was held October 29, 1813, and forty-nine members communed.

At first the congregation met for worship wherever it could find accommoda- tions, sometimes in the old court house, sometimes in a log house on the north side of Fifth street, between French and Holland, and oftener in a log school house on the corner of Seventh and Holland streets, upon the ground now oc- cupied by School No. 2. The first church building was erected in 1816, on Eighth street, a little west of the present building. It was a frame structure 33x45 feet and was removed in 1837 to State street, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets The present church building is a substantial brick, 50x80 feet. The audience room was completed and ready for occupancy in 1837.

An incident which occurred at the distribution of pews in the new church, in 1837, is worthy of record. Rufus S. Reed, whose wife was a member of the church and himself a liberal contributor to its funds and an attendant pretty regularly upon its services, came in after considerable progress had been made in the selection of pews. He inquired if there was a pew for him, and he was informed that they supposed that one of the two square pews on each side of the pulpit would be his choice, and that one had been assigned to the pastor and the other reserved for him. He inquired the price, which, when named, was satisfactory, and he took the pew. The building committee then said: " Mr. Reed, we owe you about $300 more than your pew amounts to, and we would like to turn the old house over to you for as much of the debt as you can afford to allow for it." He replied: "I will take the house and give you a re- ceipt in full." He sold it, to be removed, for $100, and gave the money he received for it to the Rev. Robert Reid, the pastor, as a present. The basement of the new building, containing lecture room, session room, infant class room, etc., was finished in 1862.

The pastors of the church have been as follows: Rev. Robert Reid, installed October 21, 1812-died May 15, 1844; Rev. Joseph H. Pressly, installed Au- gust 20, 1845-died November 3, 1874; Rev. J. C. Wilson, the present in- cumbent, installed May 1, 1876.

September 12, 1814, 74 members communed, and June 9, 1822, 107 mem- bers communed, the greatest number stated up to that time of any one year. The greatest number of new members given in any one year, up to 1876, was thirty-seven, which occurred in 1874. In 1866 and in 1872, thirty-one new names were added to the membership. These years of unusual accessions to the church resulted, in 1866, from general interest in religious matters awakened by the efforts of some revival preachers who visited Erie that year; in 1872 and 1874, they resulted from earnest work by the pastor and members in prayer-meeting held every evening for two weeks before the communion, in July, 1872, and in January, 1874. The membership is at present 220. Shortly after Mr. Reid's installation in Erie, a Union Sabbath school was opened. It was held sometimes in the old court house, and sometimes in a house on French street, near the corner of Fifth street. Mr. Reid was the Superintendent at first, but some of those interested in the school, from other

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

churches, insisted upon introducing into the school, hymns and other things which Mr. Reid could not approve, and he withdrew and subsequently organ- ized a school in his own church, which was discontinued after a few years, and there was no successfull attempt to revive it until after the installation of Rev. Joseph H. Pressly. The school opened on the first Sabbath of January, 1846, and the teachers were John Hughes, James E. McNair, James L. Gray, Miss Mary Warren, Miss Mary A. Lamberton and Miss Elizabeth Reid. Fifty-one scholars were present. During the month, George W. Barr, Edward A. Me- haffey, James C. Reid, George Hughes, Miss Margaret McSparren, Miss Maria Kennedy, Miss Margaret A. Pollock, Miss Celia Miles, Miss Mary Jane Mehaffey and Miss Eliza McSparren were added to the list of teachers. Dr. Pressly acted as Superintendent until 1872. In May, 1874, a mission school on Eighteenth street was established, of which T. J. McKalip was appointed Superintendent.

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first services of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Erie were held in the old court house, A. D. 1826, by Rev. J. H. Hopkins, afterward Bishop of Vermont and at that time rector of Trinity Church, Pittsburgh. The records show that seven persons were baptized by him before the year 1827, but the dates are not given. The organization of the parish was effected at a meet- ing held at the house of P. S. V. Hamot March 17, 1827. The charter rec- ommended by the convention of the diocese was adopted, the name of St. Paul's Church was chosen, the Rev. Charles Smith was appointed rector, and Messrs. Thomas Forster, P. S. V. Hamot, George Miles, George A. Eliot, Tabar Beebe, Charles M. Reed, Thomas Forster, Jr., D. C. Barrett, William Kelley, Gilbert Knopp and John A. Tracy were elected vestrymen for the ensuing year. Col. Thomas Forster was chosen Church Warden, and Tabor Beebe, Rector's Warden. P. S. V. Hamot was appointed Secretary of the Vestry.

At a meeting held at the house of Col. Forster, July 22, George A. Eliot, Thomas Forster and John A. Tracy were appointed a committee to make ar- rangements for public worship. William Kelley was chosen to "attend to the subscription paper," and it was resolved that the hours of divine worship be 11 A. M. and 2 P. M., service to be expected every other Sunday. George A. Eliot was appointed Treasurer, and the following resolution was passed:

Resolved, That the church committee he Mr. Dobbins, to make arrangements for the accommodation of the reverend gentlemen when they come to officiate, and to make the arrangement for paying for it, and if that cannot be made, each head of families of the congregation to receive them alternately.

The male members of the original vestry and congregation who were Epis- copalians, were Col. Forster and Capt. George Miles, Mrs. Hamot, and perhaps two or three other ladies were members of the church. Several of the men were previously Presbyterians. Others came in from family relationships and associations, or the respectability of the families, and some, probably, with the idea that the church was a dignified and respectable body, with a fine ritual and an educated ministry.

At the aforesaid meeting, the Rev. C. Smith's resignation was tendered, and was accepted at a subsequent meeting, December 8, 1827. Rev. Benjamin Hutchins ministered to the congregation for a few months, for we find that on the 18th of December, 1827, a resolution of thanks was passed for the " faith- ful discharge of his duties while among us." It appears from the records of a meeting, December 24, 1827, that Mr. Hutchins had been acting as assistant for Mr. Smith at Erie and Waterford, and that he desired an independent charge of St. Paul's, but without success. At the meeting, April 21, 1828, Charles

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CITY OF ERIE.

M. Reed was chosen delegate to the Diocesan Convention at Philadelphia, and subsequently J. B. Wallace, Esq., was chosen as another delegate. About 1828, an effort was made, on the recommendation of the Rev. Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Wallace (lay delegate), to secure Rev. John W. James for this church and St. Peter's, Waterford, and it was determined to raise $300 for his support, and requiring Waterford to raise $100. This effort failed. An application was made to the society for the promotion of christianity in Pennsylvania for help, which was granted. Messrs. Reed and Wallace must have found or heard of the Rev. Bennett Glover, at Philadelphia, for we find that a correspondence was opened with Rev. Bennett Glover, of Philadelphia, July 17, 1828, with a view to his coming as pastor, and the wardens were instructed "to ascertain from Mr. McConkey his terms for boarding, and, if Mr. Glover will still re- main here some time, to make the lowest and and best boarding terms, and that Messrs. Kelly and Knopp make a bargain with some person to keep the house clean and ring the bell for our church." The old court house was still used for the services. A letter of the vestry, July 30, to the Rev. Mr. James indi- cates that he was disposed to come, but that the arrangement with the Rev. Mr. Glover wae now deemed more satisfactory, as he was to derive part of his sup- port from the missionary society.

A new election of wardens and vestrymen was held at the rooms of the Rev. Mr. Glover November 22, 1830, resulted as follows: Thomas Forster, George Nicholson, Tabor Beebe, John A. Tracy, William Kelly, George A. Eliot, Thomas Forster, Jr., Elijah Babbitt, George Miles and Alexander McKee, Vestrymen; Thomas Forster and George Nicholson, Wardens; George A. Eliot, Treasurer; P. S. V. Hamot, Secretary. Thomas Forster, Tabor Beebe, P. S. V. Hamot and Elijah Babbitt were appointed a committee to procure a plan for a church, and at the next meeting (December 1, 1830), it was

" Resolved, That we accept of the purchase made by John B. Wallace, Esq., of James Moore, for Lot No. 1729, at $250, the said Moore subscribing $25, and that the Treasurer be directed to pay $50 and receive the deed and give the bond and mortgage," etc.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 64

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280