History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 67

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 67

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The pastors of the church have been as follows: 1861-65, Rev. J. H. W. Stuckenberg, who, however, served a portion of that period as Chaplain of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, during which time the pulpit was supplied ;. 1866-71, Rev. J. L. Smith; 1872-74, Rev. J. R. Groff; 1874-80, Rev. H. H. Bruning; 1881 until the present, Rev. Isaac O. Baker. Mr. Baker preached for the congregation during the summer of 1880, but did not assume the pastorate until June 12, 1881, since which time there have been seventy-two accessions to the church, and the latter is in a prosperous condition. The membership is now 200.

In connection with the church a flourishing Sabbath school is conducted, numbering 200.

THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN TRINITY CHURCH.

In the fall of 1881, Erie was visited by the ministers of a conference of the Eastern District of the Missouri Synod, at the request of several resident Lutherans of this city, for the purpose of establishing a mission. They con- tinued their visits here for a period, preaching on each occasion of their com- ing, until in December of that year, a congregation composed of five members was formed, and a call sent to the Rev. H. Sieck, of South Bend, Ind. This call was made for the pastorate of the little flock here, and also embraced the missionary field of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York. This call was accepted and Mr. Sieck was installed April 23, 1882, and at once commenced his labors in this field. On his coming a house was rented on the corner of Sixth and Myrtle streets, and fitted up both for residence and house of worship. This was used as such until the fall of the same year, when a lot on Seventh street, between Myrtle and Sassafras streets was purchased and the modest little frame building now standing there was erected at a cost of about $1,000. It was dedicated December 3, 1882, with a sermon in the German language in the morning, by Rev. John Sieck, then of Eaton Valley, N. Y. (now of Buffalo), and in the afternoon the pastor preached a sermon in the English language. The consecration ceremonies were performed in the morning (Sabbath), by the Rev. E. Leemhuis, of North East. The congrega- tion comprises forty families, of which there are twenty voting members. The Sabbath school was organized in May, 1882, by the pastor with four scholars. It now comprises 100 scholars and 7 teachers. The pastor is the superintend- ent.

ANSCHAI CHESED REFORM CONGREGATION.

About the year 1858, some eight or ten persons of the Jewish faith of the city formed themselves into a Hebrew congregation, of what might be styled the Orthodox order, and met for religious services in what was known as the old Lyons property, on the corner of Fifth and French streets, occupying a room up-stairs. Their first Rabbi was Mr. Weil, who remained with the con- gregation about one year, and was succeeded by Rabbi M. Wurzel, whose term of service in all, (he having twice ministered to the congregation,) extend ed over a period of about fourteen years. The succeeding Rabbis in the order named have been Revs. Fuld, Dr. Flengel, Levi and Stemple.

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

Some twelve or fourteen years ago the congregation assumed the present title; and their several places of worship have been (other than the one above named), on French street, on Holland, between Eighth and Ninth streets, in Metcalf block on State street, and in Bocker's block on French street, thence to the neat and attractive synagogue of the congregation located on the north side of Eighth street, between Myrtle and Sassafras. It is a brick structure trimmed with stone and is an ornament to the city. It was erected in 1882, at a cost of $13,000, including the ground upon which it stands. The foundation stone was laid by Mr. B. Baker, the first President of the congregation and one of its oldest members.

Isaac Baker is the present President of the congregation, S. Loeb, Vice President, and Isaac N. Straus, Secretary. The membership is thirty-five.

THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

This church was organized April 2, 1878, at the house of John Reed. with a membership of twenty-two persons, by the Rev. John Hill, who was then preaching in the city, in the house of worship now owned by this denomina- tion, then in possession of one of the Presbyterian societies of the city. In August, 1879, the property was purchased by the newly organized church of the United Brethren in Christ.

Since the organization, the church has had the following pastors in the order given: Revs. John Hill, W. W. Pringle, and John A. Thomas, the pres- ent incumbent; the present membership is twenty.

A Sabbath school has been in progress since the church was organized, which had for its first Superintendent W. P. Kingsley; the school is now superintended by the pastor of the church, and numbers forty scholars. Their house of worship is a small frame building, located on the corner of Tenth and Cherry streets.

THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.

The first meetings of this society in Erie were held at the old court house in the year 1842, conducted by the Rev. John Gifford; the regular organization was effected about two years later, and the present church structure, situated on the north side of Ninth street, between Peach and Sassafras streets, was erected in 1844, upon ground given to the society by Judge John Galbraith, father of Judge William A. Galbraith, of this city.

Among the early members of the church were Henry Cadwell, William Beatty, John Dodge, Clark and Wenlock McSparren, Porter Warren and Judge John Galbraith. Mr. Gifford, as pastor of this church, was followed by the Rev. A. G. Laurie, of Edinburgh, Scotland, who entered upon his duties in November, 1846, and filled the pulpit until April, 1849. In the absence of rec- ords, we are prevented giving the exact period of each minister's pastorate who has served the congregation. Following the Rev. Mr. Laurie came Rev. John Campbell, who was succeeded by the Rev. G. B. Maxham. He was succeeded by Rev. J. E. Forrester, whose pastorate extended over a period of about one decade. In the year 1865, the Rev. Mr. Laurie again became pastor of this charge, and remained with it ten years (1875). In 1876, Rev. A. A. Thayer became pastor, and remained for about five years; his successor was the Rev. H. A. Westall, of Cambridge, Mass., whose pastorate began in April, 1882, and is yet continued.

The present membership consists of some eighty-five families. The church officers are: F. P. Bailey, Henry Young and A. B. McGuire, Board of Trustees; John Dumars, John Gunnison, Deacons. A Sabbath school, numbering about one hundred teachers and scholars, is conducted under the superintend- ence of Miss Rosana Hayt.

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CITY OF ERIE.

ST. PATRICK'S (CATHOLIO) PRO-CATHEDRAL.

Years before the building of St. Patrick's Church on Fourth street, services of the Catholic Church were performed by missionaries, who occasionally visited Erie in order to give the few Catholic families then residing here an opportunity to practice their religion. As far back as 1837, the Rev. Father McCabe officiated here as pastor, the house on German street now occupied as a dwelling by Mr. Sullivan being then owned and used as a church by the English speaking Catholics. As there are no authentic records to show the progress of this church, a space of time, at least of some years, will have to be passed over until 1844, at which time we find Rev. Father R. Brown undertaking a work which at that time, considering the circumstances and poverty of his then small congregation, was looked upon as no small task, viz., the building of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Many of our old citizens will remember the dif- ficulties against which Father Brown had to contend. His congregation being unable to support him, we occasionally find him ministering to the wants of the Catholics scattered throughout the counties of Crawford, Venango and Warren. None of the Catholics who then labored to help the cause of the rising church expected to see within the sanctuary rails an Episcopal throne, or to receive from the altar at which a priest only occasionally officiated the Episcopal benediction. Father Brown remained in charge five years-long enough to see the building of which he laid the foundation inclosed. Father Reynolds succeeded Father Brown, and completed the building, plaster- ing it and putting in pews sufficient to accommodate the congregation. Father Reynolds remained about one year, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph F. Deane, who remained in charge of the congregation until Erie became an Episcopal See.

In 1853, the thirteen counties now belonging to the Diocese of Erie were taken from the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and Rt. Rev. M. O'Connor, then Bishop of Pittsburgh, was transferred to the newly erected See of Erie, and became its first Bishop. He governed the Diocese of Erie about one year, and was again transferred to Pittsburgh, when the late Rt. Rev. J. M. Young was appointed to succeed him, and in May, 1854, took charge of the diocese. Rev. Father Deane was pastor of the church until Bishop Young's coming to Erie. Immediately after the new Bishop took charge of the diocese, Rev. William Pollard was appointed pastor, and after his time we find on the list of the cathedral Rev. Thomas Malone, Rev. Charles McCallion, Rev. William Lam- bert, Rev. John Berbequi (now pastor of Leconti's Mills, Clearfield Co., Penn.), Rev. J. O'Connor and Rev. Father Kenny.

In 1858, Rev. Thomas Tracy (now pastor of St. Michael's Church, Green- ville, Mercer County, Penn.), was appointed pastor, and succeeded Rev. Father Kenny. Father Tracy continued in charge of the congregation some five or six years, when he was appointed to take charge of the Clearfield congregation, and the Very Rev. John D. Coady, Vicar General of the Diocese, was called to Erie and placed in charge of the congregation. Father Coady remained in charge of the congregation about four years, until the oil regions of Venango County arose into importance, and calling there hundreds of all classes and de- nominations, who, in their eagerness to hoard up riches, would undoubtedly have forgotten the chief end for which all should labor, did not Father Coady, so well and favorably known to all our citizens, both by word and example, teach his flock in the oil region that money, like every other material substance, would pass away with time. The beautiful church now crowning the summit of Cottage Hill, Oil City, stands as a witness, bearing silent testimony to the self-sacrificing spirit and zeal of Father Coady.

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

Father Carroll succeeded Father Coady as pastor of St. Patrick's, and many of his people have reason to thank him for his great and successful efforts in the cause of temperance. He was founder of the Father Matthew Temperance Society; he taught that in order to be successful in life a man should be tem- perate in all things. The Father Matthew Temperance Society is still in existence, and successful beyond expectations, thus proving the oft-repeated assertion of Rev. Father Carroll, that moral suasion is more powerful in the cause of temperance than all the restrictions that can possibly be made by law.

It was during Father Carroll's time (1866) that the Catholics suffered a severe loss in the death of Bishop Young. Very Rev. John D. Coady, V. G., was then appointed administrator, and for nearly two years governed the dio- cese in a very successful and satisfactory manner.

An event of unusual importance, and worthy of commemoration in the history of Catholicity in Erie, was the death of Rt Rev. J. M. Young, Bishop of the Erie Diocese, which occurred at the Episcopal residence in this city, Septem- ber 18, 1866, of heart disease. His demise and subsequent funeral obse- quies brought a great concourse of people to Erie, among whom were many well-known Catholic prelates. The last rites over the distinguished dead took place at St. Patrick's Church, on the Friday morning succeeding his de- cease. Rev. Father Weinhardt was master of ceremonies, with Father Coady assistant, while the sermon was delivered by Bishop Domenec, of Pittsburgh. The church was beautifully draped with the insignia of mourning, and a feel- ing of deep sorrow pervaded throughout the large assemblage. The funeral cortege contained nearly 10,000 people, who sadly followed the remains of their beloved Bishop to the grave. Bishop Young was born at Sanford, Me., in August, 1808, ordained a priest in 1837, and consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Erie in 1854.

On the 2d of Angust, 1868, the present bishop, Rt. Rev. Tobias Mullen, was consecrated and took charge of the diocese, and the rapidity with which churches have been built and paid for is a sufficient proof of the growth of the Catholic faith. Five churches are now in the city, and some ten or fifteen years ago the whole Catholic population might have been collected in any one of them. Institutions of learning and charity, too, have sprung up of late, and during the past decade the magnificent buildinge known as St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum and St. Vincent's Hospital have been erected. The congrega- tion of St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral now numbers some 3,000 souls.

The old building on Fourth street has become too small, and there is now in process of erection and near completion St. Peter's Cathedral, which when finished will be one of the grandest-if not the grandest-and most imposing church edifices in the whole lake country. It is located on the northwest cor- ner of Tenth and Sassafras streets, fronting on the latter, and je constructed of Medina, N. Y., red sandstone, trimmed and ornamented with white sandstone, in part from Amherst, Ohio, and in part from Mercer County, Penn. In size, the cathedral is 220 feet in length, and its greatest width (across the transept, which is 66 feet in length) is 130 feet; while the nave of the build- ing is 98x83 feet; the chancel ie 40x383 feet, and that much of the nave and transept for pewe is 144x83 feet; the side walls to the clear story are 42 feet in height, and the clear story walls 18 feet, while the height from floor to ceiling is 66 feet. The building is of Gothic style of the thirteenth century, and was designed by C. C. Keeley, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The plan is cruciform, the front being formed by three massive towere, of which the main one is 34 feet square at the base, and in height is 129 feet, and the side towere are each

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CITY OF ERIE.

20 feet square at the base, and in height 89 feet. These are all surmounted by spires, the one on the main tower being 122 feet, while that on either of the side towers is 37 feet (measurement of towers from pavement). The transept forms the arms of the cross and the chancel the top. On the Tenth street side of the building is the altar of St. Mary, and on the other side correspondingly is that of St. Joseph. In either side of the transept is an immense Gothic window 39x24 feet. There are many windows in the side walls and towers, and within the towers is the vestibule into which from the exterior open the three main entrances to the building. There being but two other entrances, one to the transept from the south side, and the other to the vestry from the north side of the building. The interior of the cathedral will be finished in that elegance and grace corresponding to its exterior grandeur and beauty.

The corner stone of the building was laid on St. Peter's day (August 1, 1875)-the work having then been in progress for two seasons-amid the largest demonstration of a religious character the city of Erie ever witnessed. Mass was first celebrated at St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral, after which the pro- cession, composed of numerous societies of this city, Meadville, Corry, Union City and other places, and a large concourse of people, then proceeded to the site of the building where the corner stone was laid, the ceremonies being con- ducted by Rt. Rev. Tobias Mullen. An address was delivered in English by Bishop Mullen, and one in German by Rev. Father George Meyer, of Meadville.

The cathedral, when completed, will cost over a quarter of a million of dollars. The Protestants, alike with the Catholics of Erie, will look upon it with pride and admiration, and it will stand a living monument to the zeal and devotion of him who now sits at the head of the diocese of Erie, through whose untiring efforts the structure has been reared.

Father Thomas A. Casey became pastor of St. Patrick's congregation in 1869, and has since remained in that relation with the church. F'rom 1869 to 1875, he was assisted by Rev. Father McCabe; from 1875 to 1877, by Rev. Father E. J. Murphy; from 1879 to 1880, by Rev. Father J. J. Calligan, and from 1880 to the present by Rev. William Dwyer, who is still with the con- gregation. Father Casey is Vicar General of the Erie Diocese, and together with the other priests of Erie County has ever faithfully seconded the bishop in the grand work of building up the church in this portion of God's vine- yard. Connected with St. Patrick's is a Sunday school, with an average at. tendance of 200 children, who meet in the parish schoolhouse, every Sunday at 2 o'clock P. M., and there receive careful instruction in the faith and pre- cepts of the church.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH,

The first German Catholic family to settle in Erie was that of Mr. Wolf- gang Erhart in 1830. Others of this nationality and faith soon followed, and perhaps the first time that these families conceived the idea of uniting in the form of a congregation was in 1833, when mass was said by Father Mosque- lette, in a log house which stood on the northeast corner of State and Tenth streets, belonging to Mr. Erhart. The following year the same missionary father, accompanied by Rt. Rev. Francis Patrick Kenrick, Bishop of Philadel- phia (to which diocese Erie then belonged), again visited this people. Services this year were held in a frame house which was also the property of Mr. Erhart, located on the northeast corner of French and Fourth streets. The Bishop confirmed a number to whom this sacrament had not yet been adminis- tered. Neither the Irish nor the German Catholics were able vet to support a stationary pastor. Both flocke, however, steadily increased and became strong - enough to form separate communities.

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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.

In 1837, the Germans bought a lot on East Ninth street, and built a frame church 36x40 feet on the same site where now the imposing St. Mary's Church stands.

At the next visit of the Bishop of Philadelphia an agreement was made between him and the Trustees of the German congregation. Papers, etc., were handed over to the Bishop, who in return sent the first pastor for the German Catholics of Erie, Rev. Ivo Levitz, of the order of St. Francis. On his voyage to America, Father Levitz had, during a severe and threatening storm, promised that the first church he would have the happiness of blessing in America should be dedicated to the "Blessed Mary conceived without sin," and as his first field for missionary labor was Erie, and a church there already built but not yet blessed, Father Levitz on the 2d day of August, 1840, blessed and with the cheerful consent of the members of the young congrega- tion dedicated the church, naming it St. Mary's Church. He also blessed the adjoining cemetery.

Father Ivo Levitz was succeeded in 1841 by Rev. A. Steinbacher, who after a short term was followed by Rev. R. Kleineidam. Rev. P. Frederick Broenner, . of the Carmelite Order, was the fourth pastor, succeeded in 1847 by Rev. John Evang Mosetizh. The latter in 1848 was succeeded by Rev. Nicolas Haeres, who in the same year handed over the pastorate to Rev. N. Steinbacher, S. J., who built an addition to the church and bought grounds for a cemetery on West Twenty-fourth street.

His successor and the pastor whose name will ever remain in grateful ro- membrance in the congregation, was Rev. F. J. Hartmann, now of St Joseph's congregation of this city. The frame church, though enlarged, was insuffi- cient for the growing congregation. It was however difficult to decide what, action to take, as the members of the congregation were very poor. On the other hand, the clear-sighted pastor perceived that to build on a small scale would only be providing for a few years. In consequence, he undertook and successfully accomplished a task which at the beginning seemed too burden- some for the then small congregation; it was the building of the grand St. Mary's Church as it now stands on Ninth street, which is built of brick, in the cruciform Roman style; it has two massive towers, each 150 feet high; in size, the building is 146x78 feet. It was put under roof in 1854, and dedicated in 1855, and was then the finest church edifice in Erie. In 1873, some $7,000 was expended in improving both the interior and exterior of St. Mary's Church, the former being nicely frescoed in blue and gold, the columns marbled and their caps heavily gilded, elegant gas fixtures introduced, and a new altar, handsome in design, placed therein. One of the exterior attractions was the addition of an expensive piece of statuary over the main entrance. Father Hartmann, with the consent of the Bishop, transferred the charge in 1858 to the Benedictine Fathers of St. Vincent Abbey, Westmoreland Co., Penn., who have since retained it. So numerous have been the fathers of this order who have since administered to the spiritual wants of the congregation, that it is thought impracticable to here name them. Those in charge at the present writing are Father Amandus Kramer, O. S. B .; Revs. Boniface and Emerine, assistants. The congregation numbers some 3,000 souls. The Catholic citi- zens of Erie who are of German nationality, or German descent, to-day proudly look upon three German Catholic edifices in the city with the fourth about to be built.

ST. JOSEPH'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH.

The congregation at St. Joseph's may properly date its commencement to a period extending back about thirty years, when several Catholic families re-

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CITY OF ERIE.

eiding in South Erie met for religious worship in a little frame schoolhouse on Eighteenth street, between Peach and Sassafras, where they were visited by priests sent by the Bishop. The present church building, located on Twenty- fourth, between Peach and Sassafras streets, a neat frame, was erected in 1866 or 1867, and the congregation fully established the former year, with Rev. Father Joseph Stumpe in charge. His successor was the Rev. Father John B. Kuhn, who officiated for about one year, then relieved by the Bishop. The next pastor of the charge was the Rev. Father E. J. Reiter, S. J., whose pas- torate terminated with his death, May 5, 1873. Rev. Father Mink, who was an assistant under Father Reiter, assumed the pastorate at his death, and in July of the same year the present pastor, the Rev. Father J. A. Oberhofer, was placed in charge of the church, and has since worthily guided the flock. He has been assisted at different periods by Fathers Deckinbrook, Frank, Hasse, and since 1879 by the venerable Father F. J. Hartmann, whose active service and arduous labors since the year 1852 in this vicinity has not been without gratifying results. He built St. Mary's Church on Ninth street.

The priests of St. Joseph's have a neat and pretty parsonage home adjoin- ing the church. The congregation is at present composed of 500 families, and has so increased as to make a more commodious house of worship necessary, which they have already commenced, the corner-stone having been laid with appropriate ceremonies July 2, 1882. It adjoins the present building, fronting on Sassafras street, and is to be constructed of brick, in size 133x60 feet, and will cost in the neighborhood of $40,000. The architect is C. C. Keeley, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The style will be Gothic.

A new congregation will soon be formed from St. Joseph's, to be known as St. Michael's.

ST. JOHN'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH.

St. John's congregation was formed late in the year 1869. The first bap- tism recorded bears date of January 1, 1870. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Bernard Mauser, O. S. B. The church building is a neat frame, lo- cated on Twenty-sixth street, between Wallace and Ash, and was built in 1869- 70, and dedicated to the worship of God on the 28th of August, 1870, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Mullen. A nice parsonage adjoins the church; also a brick schoolhouse belonging to the congregation, all built at the same time; the former, however, was enlarged in 1877. The congregation is composed of about 100 families.

Father Mauser was succeeded March 19, 1873, by Rev. E. A. Reiter, S. J., whose pastorate terminated May 4, 1873. From March 19 to May 4, 1873, this charge and St. Joseph's were together. St. John's became independent after this and has since so remained. The present pastor, Rev. Father M. J. Decker, assumed the pastorate May 4, 1873, and has ever since sustained such relation to the church. On his coming, the congregation numbered some sev- enty families and were greatly in debt, which has since been canceled and a neat sum in the church's favor accumulated. A new schoolhouse will soon be built.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 67

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