History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 65

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 65

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" Resolved, That the Rev. B. Glover may take the title to 100 acres of land given to the church by John B. Wallace, Esq., for the price of $100."

The deed for the church was made to George A. Eliot, Charles M. Reed and John A. Tracy in trust. January 13, 1831, it was

" Resolved, That the vestry be a building committee, 'etc., etc.,' and that five constitute a quorum, and that the said vestry, or a majority of them, en- gage one person, whose business shall be to receive and measure boards, to receive brick, lime, and all other materials for building, and to keep an accu- rate account of the same and superintend the building."

It was resolved subsequently to advertise for proposals for the whole work in the Erie Gazette and Erie Observer for two weeks.

The plans adopted were prepared by Maj. T. W. Maurice. A joint note was executed to James Moore for the sum of $175, the balance due on the church lot; the proceeds of the land given by Mr. Wallace and sold to Mr. Glover to be appropriated in payment of said note, and the remainder to be raised by the sale of " slips."

Among those making proposals were C. G. Howell, for the whole building, $3,759; Mehaffey & Hoskinson, $3,399. B. Tomlinson, John Teel and John Dunlap also made bids for parts of the work. The contract for the building was finally made with Mehaffey & Hoskinson (tender $3,399), they being re- quired " to use brick from Dunn or Sawtel's yard," and also to " take an ac- count of subscriptions in brick, stone, masonry and lime." The church was

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duly completed and the slips sold " free of tax," and the debts were gradually paid off. An organ was bought and paid for, and a bell weighing four or five hundred pounds. No aid was received from abroad except from Mr. Wal- lace, and a subscription of $150 from the Rev. Mr. Hopkins.

The church was dedicated by Bishop Onderdonck in 1834. A burial ground west of Myrtle street, between Seventh and Eighth streets, had been previously purchased for $400 of William Arbuckle, and paid for by subscription. A small lecture room was built in the rear of the church (Smith Jackson and P. R. Rockwell being the building committee) in 1836, for use chiefly of the Sun- day school. A Sunday school had been organized in the court house before the church was built by Mrs. William A. Brown, Mrs. Hamot and others.

The Rev. B. Glover continued to serve the parish on a small salary, with the aid of the society for the advancement of christianity, till his death in 1838, when Rev. P. Teller Babbitt became rector, serving until 1840. He was succeeded by Rev. Henry Tullidge, who continued in the office until 1846. The next rector was William Flint, under whose ministry the church build- ing was enlarged at a cost of $2,245.16 in 1847. The pulpit placed in the church at this time was a curiosity. It was very high, and the preacher en- tered it from a flight of stairs opening from the vestry room in the rear, and when in it his head was in an arch in the wall, in shape like a brick oven, the altar and reading desk on the top of it remained till the Rev. Mr. Abercrom- bie had a new desk and altar made. The present rector induced the vestry to abolish the " three decker " arrangement on his first taking charge of the parish. A lecturer then took the place of the pulpit, and the altar was put in its proper place.

Rev. Charles Arey succeeded Dr. Flint in January, 1853, and served the parish two years, when the vestry not agreeing upon a successor, Bishop Pot- ter sent them the Rev. John A. Bowman as missionary, who remained as a temporary supply for a year or more. The Rev. D. C. Page, D. D., was rec- tor of the parish for a short time after Mr. Bowman's removal. The Rev. James Abercrombie became rector in the summer of 1857, and was succeeded by the Rev. John F. Spaulding April 1, 1862.

The present beautiful and imposing stone church edifice, located on the south side of West Sixth, between Peach and Sassafras streets, was completed in 1866, and dedicated in 1869 clear of debt. The cost of the building was something over $60,000. It is of Gothic style of architecture, and adds grace and beauty to the city.

While the Sunday services were held in Farrar Hall, and week-day services impossible, except in private houses, in the winter of 1865, a system of cottage lectures and mothers' meetings was projected and vigorously carried on, espe- cially in South Erie, and St. John's Parish was organized in the fall or winter following. The missionary work of the parish in the city was very successful from that time. St. John's and the Church of the Cross and Crown soon became self-supporting. Trinity Mission was building, in 1872-73, a hand some church, and Grace Mission was planning slowly and surely for the future.

The Rev. J. F. Spaulding was elected Missionary Bishop of Colorado and Wyoming in October, 1873, and was consecrated in St. Paul's Church Decem- ber 31 of that year. The succeeding rector of the church was the Rev. W. H. Mills, who remained in that position until March, 1880, when he resigned to accept a call to St. Paul's Church, Yonkers, N. Y. The Rev. Mr. Mills was succeeded by Rev. T. P. Franklin in April, 1880, who died two years later, and the next rector of this church is the present incumbent, Rev. G. A. Carstensen, who assumed the rectorship July, 1, 1882. The number of

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CITY OF ERIE.

communicants in the city in 1861-62 was nominally 140. There are now (1883) about 500. At St. Paul's there are now about 365 communicants: Re- verting to the missions, Trinity and Grace, it is only necessary to add that they are still under the care and control of St. Paul's Church, and that the work continues to be prosecuted in both fields. A Sunday school is maintained at each, and at Trinity Chapel a Sunday afternoon service as well as one on Friday evenings are also regularly maintained. The Sabbath school at Trinity Chapel is under the superintendency of David Burger, and that at Grace Mis- sion is in charge of G. P. Colt. The number of scholars in attendance is about 100 and 75 respectively. An industrial school and the mothers' meet- ings have always proved a prominent feature of the work at Trinity meetings.

August 11, 1881, St. Paul's Church narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire, the south end being damaged to the extent of $10,000. It has since been restored and greatly improved. A very fine organ was presented to the church by Hon. William L. Scott, of this city.

ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In the winter of 1866, Rev. J. F. Spaulding, rector of St. Paul's Church, Erie, held services once in two weeks on week day evenings at the houses of some of his parishioners and of friends of the church in the neighborhood of, and a little south of the depot. These services were churchly, but informal in character. He called them "cottage lectures." A gratifying result was to suggest the thought of efforts looking toward a new parish. And when in the providence of God another minister of this church (the Rev. J. N. Black) came to reside in Erie, his interest was sought and obtained in the new church movement, and services were resumed under his ministry in the following October.

The use of the German Baptist Church, on Seventeenth street, was secured for Thursday evening, as no suitable place for Sunday services could be held.

These services were continued during the winter, and so much interest was awakened that in March following a meeting was held, and a regular parish organization was formed, with William Nicholson. Samuel B. Barnum, R. A. Fancher, David T. Jones, William Bush and A. W. Van Tassel, as Ves- trymen.

The vestry then organized and elected the Rev. J. H. Black, Rector; George Burton and D. T. Jones, Wardens; S. H. Metcalf, Secretary; and W. G. Gard- ner, Treasurer.

On the 1st of April, 1867, Urban's Hall on Peach street was secured, and regular church services and a Sunday school commenced, which were both con- tinued with increasing interest and attendance during the year. On the 1st of April, 1868, the parish lost the valued services of their rector, he having re- moved from the city. Sunday services were, however, continued by the reading of morning service and a sermon by the wardens. Evening service was con- ducted by the Rev. Mr. Spaulding, of St. Paul's.

In May following, the Rev. Calvin C. Parker was elected rector, who ac- cepted the call and entered upon his duties the first Sunday in July.

The parish was duly incorporated in June by a charter granted by the court, and was admitted into union with the convention of the diocese June 2.

In July, plans and specifications were prepared for a church edifice, which was erected on a lot on Sixteenth street, between Peach and Sassafras streets. The corner stone was laid on Tuesday afternoon, July 28. 1868, at 6 o'clock, by J. B. Kerfoot, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, with the usual religious ceremonies peculiar to the Episcopal Church.

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

The building was consecrated to the service of Almighty God June 20, 1871, by Bishop Kerfoot, and Bishop Cox of Western New York, the latter preaching the sermon.

Rev. Mr. Parker remained as rector of the church until September, 1872, and in the following November was succeeded by Rev. S. D. McConnell, whose rectorship terminated in April, 1874. The next rector of St. John's was Rev. S. H. Hilliard, whose term of service began in September, 1874, and terminated in June, 1876. The following August he was succeeded by his brother, the Rev. F. W. Hilliard, who served the congregation until August, 1878. Rev. J. M. Benedict became the next rector, entering upon his duties in February, 1879, and severing his connection with the charge in November, 1881. Mr. Benedict was succeeded in April, 1882, by Rev. L. C Rogers, whose rectorship extended until July, 1883. The present rector of the church is Rev. William M. Cook. Number of communicants is fifty. The whole number of communicants since the organization of the church has been 196.

The Sabbath school is under the superintendence of D. T. Jones, and is composed of some fifty scholars.

THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS AND CROWN.

The origin of this church is mainly due to the wise foresight and unwearied energy of the Rev. J. F. Spaulding, former rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church of this city, who did so much to carry religious privileges to the out- lying portions of it. Under his direction, in May, 1868, a small Sunday school of six teachers and eight scholars was organized at the public school- house on East Tenth street, near Beech lane, and placed under the superin . tendence of Mr. Boyd Vincent. The neighborhood was thoroughly canvassed for scholars by visiting from house to house, and a men's Bible class soon started.

In October following, lay services on alternate Sundays, with the reading of a sermon, were begun, and attended by a dozen or fifteen persons. These services and the Sunday school were soon found to be mutually productive of benefit. At Christmas, there was an average attendance in the school of sixty scholars and eleven teachers. Soon after a Woman's Bible class was added, and mainly from the members of this and the men's Bible class the attendance at the weekly church services was increased to thirty or forty persons. About this time the whole work was given fresh character by assuming the unusual but beautiful name of "The Cross and Crown Mission." By May 24, the first anniversary of the school's organization, the average attendance of scholars was eighty. In June, the lay services were superseded by an afternoon cler- ical service by the Rev. Mr Spaulding. This of course was a great im- provement, again giving greater reality and promise of permanence to the work. The confidence of success which this new feature inspired, and the value of thus at once associating mission schools in people's minds with church authority, and that as integral parts of church life and work, was shown very soon. From the beginning the expenses of the mission had been partly met by the contributions of the members themselves, though they were mainly de- frayed by donations from St. Paul's Sunday School and from a few interested friends, as also by subscriptions in the mother parish. But in October of that year (1869), only eighteen months after the mission was started, the number of adult members in the congregation and Bible class was such that they spon- taneously proposed and proceeded to make the work actually self-supporting, although still formally connected with St. Paul's parish.

In November, the original superintendent being called away from the city,

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CITY OF ERIE.

Mr. William T. Smith was unanimously elected to fill the place. The average attendance of the school reported at Christmas was ninety, and in April follow- ing four persons from the men's Bible class were confirmed at St. Paul's Church, thus realizing the first fruits of the work of love in this mission. In January, $217 had been raised by subscription for the purchase of a cabinet organ and a small library, and soon after steps were taken for the erection of a chapel. Out of five lots generously offered for the purpose, that of Mr. Will- iam M. Watts, of Carlisle, and situated at the corner of Twelfth and Ash streets, was accepted. The corner-stone was laid in July, and in February, 1871, the whole edifice, ready for use and free from debt, was consecrated to the worship and service of Almighty God.

The building as it stood in 1872 cost $4,000, of which $800 were contrib- uted by the members of the mission, and the balance by members of St. Paul's parish. It is 60x20 feet, interior measure; has a chancel 16x14 feet, and a class room on either side, sixteen feet square. In April following, thirteen persons more, mainly from the classes of the Sunday school, were confirmed, the latter thus realizing its true character as a training school for the church. In July of that year, the Rev. Boyd Vincent, as assistant minister of St. Paul's Church, was placed in charge of the work here. In July, 1872, " The Church of the Cross and Crown," was admitted into union with the convention of the diocese as an entirely independent and self-supporting parish, Mr. Vincent becoming at the same time its full rector. Mr. Vincent's rectorship of the charge was dis-

solved in the spring of 1874. His successor was the Rev. Bernard Schulte, who remained with the church until June,1876, when he was succeeded by Rev. S. A. McNulty, whose stay with the church was less than one year, he having left June 1, 1877. In July of that year, the Rev. John Graham be- came rector of the church and served for a period of two years. The pulpit was then vacant for some months, and, in January, 1880, the next rector of the church, Rev. W. H. Rogers, entered upon his duties. The term of his rectorship lasted until August, 1881, from which time until April, 1882, the church was without a rector. At the date last named, the Rev. L. W. Rogers became the rector of the Church of the Cross and Crown and remained in such relation with it until July 1, 1883. On Sabbath, July 29, 1883, a call was ex- tended to the Rev. E. M. McGuffey, of Urbana, Ohio, to succeed Rev. Mr. Rogers. The number of communicants of the church is now about 150. The Sabbath school is superintended by Mr. James Bassett and numbers about 300 scholars. Under the rectorship of Rev. Mr. Schulte, the infant room was en- larged, and in July, 1883, a bell was added. The Parochial Society and Young Peoples' Guild, working societies, were organized under the rectorship of Rev. Mr. Rogers.

THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Meetings of the Methodist Episcopal denomination were held in Erie by circuit preachers at long intervals, commencing in 1801. Worship took place in the winter of 1810 and 1811 in a tavern on the west side of French street, be- tween Sixth and Seventh. A congregation seems to have been partially estab- lished soon after the beginning of the century, but no regular permanent or- ganization was effected until the year 1826. Rev. Samuel Gregg, in his " His- tory of Methodism Within the Bounds of Erie Conference," thus alludes to the church at Erie in 1826: " Erie, Penn., was a flourishing village in which, though Methodist preaching had frequently been enjoyed by the people, no permanent organization had been made until this year. Mr. James McConkey and wife, members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, moved to Erie to reside; and Mr. David Burton and wife attended the meeting at Harbor Creek,

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

and were there converted, and invited Mr. Knapp to establish an appointment in Erie, and the same winter a class was formed composed of the above-named persons and a few others. Mr. McConkey was appointed leader, and soon after secured to the church the lot on Seventh street, on which their first church was subsequently built; the cost was $300. "

The Mr. Knapp referred to was Rev. Henry Knapp, who at this time was in charge of North East Circuit. He died in Wesleyville, this county, May 20, 1827, and his final resting place may be found in the rear of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church in that village.

Thus was the embryo of the First Methodist Church of Erie. The min- isters who traveled the circuit, of which the First Church constituted an appoint- ment from 1826 until 1830, were Revs. Nathaniel Reeder and E. Stevenson, in 1826; Revs. Job Wilson and J. W. Davis, in 1827; Revs. J. W. Davis and J. Jones, in 1828; Revs. S. Ayers and W. C. Richey, in 1829. In 1830, the appointment was on Erie Circuit, which was formed that year. The preacher in charge was Rev. J. S. Barris, with Rev. A. C. Young as his colleague. Mr. Barris' salary this year was $167. December 26, 1830, at the close of a meet- ing in the court house, where the Methodists then worshiped, a subscription paper was circulated to raise money to pay the preacher. On the paper occur the names of George Moore, Capt. Wright, Albert Kelso, J. Lantz, Pressly Arbuckle, William Himrod and Thomas Moorhead, Jr. For the support of the preachers on Erie Circuit in 1833, First Church subscribed $55. From 1830 until 1834, the circuit riders to this appointment were, in the year 1831, Revs. J. P. Kent and A. Plimpton; 1832, Revs. J. Chandler and E. P. Stead- man; 1833, Revs. J. Chandler and S. Gregg.

In 1834, Erie charge was made a station, and the appointment given to Rev. E. P. Steadman, which he did not fill, and the church was supplied. During the following year, at which time the First Methodist Episcopal Church of this city may, perhaps, more properly speaking, date its establishment, the church officers were as follows: Trustees, James McConkey, E. N. Hulburt, John Richards, Daniel Burton; Stewards, James McConkey, E. N. Hulburt, Daniel B. Lorge, James Thompson; Class Leaders, James McConkey, David Burton and James Thompson.

Efforts were made in the years 1836 and 1837 to erect a house of worship, which failed, but the third effort proved a success, and in 1838-39 a frame church building was built on Seventh street, and at the close of the conference year, 1839, the first official meeting was held in " Wesley Chapel." In 1844, the annual conference was held in this house, and the church had so increased that it was found necessary to enlarge the building, which was done at an ex- pense of $1,300. In 1851, a parsonage was built, and, in the year following, a committee was appointed to select a place in the city for a second church. The committee reported a place, and organized a Sabbath school in South Erie, out of which grew Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church.

The second and present house of worship of the First Church is located on the southeast corner of Seventh and Sassafras streets, and is among the im- posing church edifices of the city. It is constructed of brick, and was erected in 1859-60, at a cost of $14,000. The architect was H. M. Wilcox, and the building committee, William Sanborn, James S. Sterrett, J. Hanson, John Burton, J. B. Johnson, William .C. Keeler and A. A. Craig. The building was completed and dedicated November 14, 1860; sermon by Bishop Simpson. The present membership of the church is 450. The pastors of the church since 1835 have been as follows: A. G. Sturges, 1835; R. A. Aylworth, 1836; J. W. Lowe, 1837; J. W. Lowe, 1838; B. K. Maltby, 1839; J. J. Steadman,

alfred Short

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CITY OF ERIE.

1840; A. Hall, 1841; A. M. Brown, 1842; D. Smith, 1843; C. Kingsley, 1844; C. Kingsley, 1845; Lester James, 1846; T. Stubbs, 1847; T. Stubbs, 1848; E. Jones, 1849; S. Gregg, 1850; S. Gregg, 1851; J. W. Lowe, 1852; H. Kins- ley, 1853; J. E. Chapin, 1854; J. E. Chapin, 1855; W. F. Wilson, 1856; W. F. Wilson, 1857; D. C. Wright, 1858; G. W. Clarke, 1859; J. D. Norton, 1859; J. Peate, 1860; J Peate, 1861; D. C. Osborne, 1862; D. C. Osborne, 1863; D. C. Osborne, 1864; E. A. Johnson, 1865; E. A. Johnson, 1866; E. A. Johnson, 1867; A. S. Dobbs, 1868; A. S. Dobbs, 1869; E. J. L. Baker, 1869; W. W. Wythe, 1870; W. W. Wythe, 1871; A. Wheeler, 1872; A. Wheeler, 1873; W. W. Ramsay, 1874; W. W. Ramsay, 1875; W. W. Ramsay, 1876; J. D. Adams, 1877; J. D. Adams, 1878; D. H. Muller, 1879; D. H. Muller, 1880; D. H. Muller, 1881; A. N. Craft, 1882; A. N. Craft, 1883.

The Sabbath school was organized in the conference year 1829-30, with E. N. Hulburt as Superintendent. The first corps of teachers was: Miss Mary Converse, Miss Mary Coover, Thomas Richards, Peter Burton, Thomas Stevens, Miss Amanda Bowers, Rebecca Watkinson, Francis Dighton and John Dillon. The place of holding it was in a small one story frame building, on East Fourth between French and Holland streets. The school is now superin- tended by H. A. Strong and the enrollment is 350.

SIMPSON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In the early part of the winter of 1858, a meeting of eight weeks was held by the pastor of the Seventh street Methodist Episcopal Church, W. F. Wil- son. It was wonderfully blessed of the Lord, many souls being converted and reclaimed. Nearly a hundred were added to the church and quite a number of them were in what is now South Erie. The brethern of the last named locali- ty, feeling that the class and prayer meetings could be held with profit there, in that part of the city, as many of the young converts were in that section, besought the pastor to organize a class, which he did, and appointed Heman Janes the leader. He remarked at the time, "I do it with a measure of sad- ness, for this is the germ of a new and distinct society." As if by special providence, Brother Heman Janes had secured a lot and erected a building for a select school on Sassafras street, near at hand, where the class could meet for prayer meetings or social worship. These gatherings were well attended and were seasons o: great spiritual refreshings. The number of members thus as- sociated was twenty-five. Soon after this, a Sunday school was organized, which commenced with sixty-three in number, and never has been less to this day. Capt. Thomas Wilkins, of precious memory, was its first Superintendent. The schoolhouse continued to be the main rallying place till the new church was built, when it was moved on to the church lot, and became part of the present parsonage. Before this, and during the pendency of a question of build- ing on Seventh street-when fear was predominating over hope-about the 1st of May the brethren and friends of the church began to consider the propriety of building a chapel in this part of the city. Brother Wilson being applied to, organized a Board of Trustees composed of Thomas Wilkins, Heman Janes, Emanuel Goodrich, Alvin Thayer, A. K. Miller, E. J. Ames and Adam Ache- son. Though these steps were taken and subscriptions were made, yet the subscribers proposed to turn their contributions into the funds for building down town if that enterprise was renewed and moved forward, but it was not re- newed. In the meantime the lot where the present church building and parsonage now stands was purchased by Capt. Thomas Wilkins and Heman Janes on their personal responsibility, for the sum of $500, and they held it in reserve to await the demands of the church. The church at Seventh street having given up build-

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

ing at that time, the pastor announced that he was in favor of building on the lot purchased by Wilkins and Janes. A subscription was circulated and sums were pledged, some of the largest, as follows: Thomas Wilkins, $300; E. Goodrich, $200; Dr. Dickinson, $100; A. Acheson, $100; A. Yale, $100; Jacob Hanson, $100; H. Janes, $500; in all about $1,600. This was the con- dition of things when the Annual Conference came in 1858. W. F. Wilson having filled the two years' pastorate, was succeeded by Rev. D. C. Wright. Soon after Bishop Simpson, whose health was impaired, visited Erie, spent some days in its healthful atmosphere, and learning the facts of church exten- sion history and conditions in the city, bade these brethren and friends in South Erie, God speed. Having secured a subscription to justify, on August 3, they let the contract, and the work began in earnest. At times, however, the circumstances were very unpropitious, and discouragements severe. Brother Wright stood aloof and had never a word of cheer, and some of the good brethren in the city looked upon the new church as the tomb of Method- ism, but it has proved to be the temple of God.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 65

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