History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 3

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1320

USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 3

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Sinee Mr. Darmstaetter's pastoral duties ceased the succession of pastors has been as follows : Revs. Heisehmann, Reidenbach, Schwartz, Czar Neddea, Baner, Charles Ernst, Burghardt, A. Eisenhauer, H. Rella, the present pastor.

The trustees are William Harm, John Ehrnan, Fran. Thumm; aud the elders, F. Abendschein, Jacob Nickalaus, Stephen Kneal, J. Wigand, Chris- tian Kunly, Lewis Messer, John Weber, John Kranz, Ludwig Schiler, Nicholas Wolf, Aug. Witt, John Hans. There is a flourishing Sunday-school con- nected with the church.

St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession .- The con- gregation and pastor belonging to this church with- drew from Salem Church, on Walnut Street, in the year 1862, on account of certain proceedings therein and against which this portion of the congregation in vain protested.

In the following year they were recognized by the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylva- nia as the regular congregation which worshiped in, and known as, the Salem Church. Not being strong enough to elect the proper number of officers as pro- vided for in their charter, they only elected provisory officers. For a short time the services were held in the parsonage on Fourth Street. Subsequently, for a period of about two years, services were held in the German Reformed Church, at the corner of Cherry and Third Streets, and for the following four years services were held in Washington Institute. On Sept. 13, 1868, the congregation reorganized under the title given at the head of this article. Up to this period and to the present time the Rev. J. A. Darmstaetter has presided over this congregation with great acceptability. The officers elected were Peter Rodenhauser, Sr., elder; Christian Kraft, George Gundel, deacons; Nicholas Beinhauer, Adam Brommer, John Neuer, trustees.

Street, about midway between Fifth and Sixth Streets. It was finished and dedicated June 21, 1869. The building is a one-story brick, thirty-two by sixty feet, which has a seating capacity of four hundred.

In the same year they commenced the erection of tion in Lancaster, Maytown, and Manheim. Thus : a new church building, on the north side of Locust the two congregations worshiped in the same church harmoniously. In 1819 they made a mutual agree- ment in writing to hold tlie property jointly and wor- ship on alternate Sundays. The Rev. J. Strein had

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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

At the time of the withdrawal of this congregation from Salem Church they numbered fifty communi- cants. They now number two hundred. The church is free from debt and has a surplus fund.

There is a Sunday-school connected with the con- gregation which is in a flourishing condition. There are sixteen teachers and eighty scholars in regular attendance.

Trinity Reformed Church .- A number of German families organized a congregation about the year 1805, but had no stated place to hold their religious meetings.

Samuel Wright, the founder of Old Columbia, gave them and the Lutherans a lot of ground on the south side of Walnut Street, between Third and Fourth Streets, on the 13th day of March, 1806, and these two denominations by their joint efforts col- lected enough funds to erect a brick church building about the year 1807-8. This was the second church building erected in the place, the Friends' being the first.

For some years neither congregation had a regular pastor, nor did they have preaching at stated inter- vals.

On the 2d day of December, 1821, the German Reformed congregation and the Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Columbia entered into an amicable agreement, wherein it was stated that they built a church jointly under the name of Salem Church. Each was to worship on alternate weeks, the Luther- ans to commence the first Sunday in January. If one congregation did not worship on the Sunday assigned to it, then the other one was not prohibited from doing so.

The Rev. Henry Shaffner, who resided at Marietta, but preached at Maytown, Marietta, and Columbia, was the pastor of the German Reformed Church. The names of the trustees were Isaac Hougendobler, Philip Mnmma, Peter Livergood, and Adam Otstot ; Joseph Hongendobler, George Peters, Peter Mumma, Jr., John Hougendobler, wardens.

This church was incorporated in 1820. Mr. Shaff- ner remained pastor of the charge to which Columbia then belonged, consisting also of Marietta, Elizabeth- town, Maytown, and Manheim, until the year 1840. He was succeeded by the Rev. Herman Bokum, whose ministry lasted only a few years. From 1845 to 1850 the congregation was served by Rev. D. Y. Heisler, who resigned in April, and was succeeded by the Rev. Alfred Helfenstein, who continued to preach during the remainder of the year 1850. In 1851, Rev. W. Goodrieb took charge of the congregation, and re- signed Dec. 12, 1852. He was succeeded by Rev. Joel T. Reber, in April. 1853, who resigned in the summer of 1854. About this time the Reformed and Lutheran congregations dissolved their agreement, the latter purchasing from. the former their interest in Salem Church. Services were then held by the Reformed congregation in the old town hall.

In the same year they erected a new Reformed Church at the corner of Cherry and Third Streets, of brick, two stories high, which is the building still oc. cypied by the Trinity congregation. The licentiate, Christian C. Russell, commenced preaching in this church on the 19th of October, 1856. He was or- dained and installed on the 7th of December, 1856, and resigned in the spring of 1858. About this time the church was sold by the sheriff and purchased by Nicholas Hongendobler. On the Ist of December, 1858, Rev. John Hoffmeier took charge of the con- gregation, which was at this time very small, and the few members who adhered to the congregation were very much discouraged. Mr. Hoffmeier's pastorate soon terminated, after which the congregation was supplied by different ministers of Lancaster Classis until Oct. 29, 1864, when the Rev. James A. Shultz became pastor, but after a few months' labor was obliged to retire on account of sickness. After his withdrawal Dr. Theodore Appel and Rev. John G. Wolf were appointed a committee of supply. Under their efficient management the congregation was in- creased, and funds amounting to three thousand two hundred dollars were collected to liquidate the church debt and redeem the church property.

In 1868 the Rev. F. Pilgram's pastorate commenced, which lasted until the fall of 1872. The audience- chamber was handsomely frescoed, and the entire building, both in the interior and exterior, painted. An organ was purchased for the congregation, and also a reed-organ for the Sunday-school, and a two- story brick parsonage was erected upon their property adjoining the church on Cherry Street.

In the summer of 1873, Rev. C. Clever became pastor, and under his energetic and efficient ministry the membership was largely increased. He resigned in February, 1879, and the present able pastor, Rev. C. S. Gerhard, entered upon his duties on July 1, 1879. The entire debt against the church and parsonage has been removed. This church up to Jannary 1, 1883, received missionary aid, but now is self-supporting. The present membership is one hundred and eighty- four, and the Sunday-school scholars number two hundred.

The German Lutheran Church was organized con- temporaneously with the German Reformed Church, and through their combined efforts a church building was erected upon a lot given them by Samuel Wright, which is located on the south side of Walnut Street, midway between Third and Fourth Streets. The congregation was supplied occasionally by the minis- ters located at Maytown and Lancaster for several years, these two congregations holding service on alternate Sundays.

St. Paul's Church. - Services of the Protestant Episcopal Church were held occasionally in this place by the Rev. Joseph Clarkson, of Lancaster, as early as 1820, in the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Fourth and Locust Streets. Services ceased alto-

BOROUGH OF COLUMBIA.

557

gether about the year 1835. About the year 1840 an effort was made to organize a church and erect a build- ing, and six hundred dollars was subscribed for that purpose. Nothing was done, however, until a regular organization was perfected, in 1848, when its first rector, Rev. Dwight E. Lyman, was called to preside over them oa the 13th day of August, 1848. To the efforts of Mr. Lyman the parish owes the erection of its very pretty church building. The corner-stone was laid Oct. 10, 1849, and completed in 1850, the consecration taking place on the 28th day of May of that year. Mr. Lyman remained in charge until July, 1853. He was a beautiful reader and an elegant performer on the organ or piano-forte, and was one of the finest singers of sacred music within the range of the Episcopal Church. He connected himself with the Roman Catholic Church in 1854, and is now a regular or- dained priest. The history of the church has been quiet, and its growth moderate.

The following is a list of the rectors succeeding Mr. Lyman : the Rev. Ilenry W. Woods, from December, 1853, to Oct. 1, 1854; Rev. Alexander McLeod, D.D., from May, 1855, to January, 1856; the Rev. Samuel E. Appleton, from July, 1857, to the early part of 1860; Rev. Theodore A. Hopkins, of Lancaster, pro- vided services temporarily in the spring and summer of 1860; Rev. John Cromlish, from Jannary, 1861, to September, 1867. He is now a minister in the Meth -. odist Episcopal Church. (In the summer of 1865 the members who had been accustomed to attend this church from Marietta concluded to build a church in that place, which they did, and this parish was de- prived of their presence and offerings.) Rev. Benja- min I. Douglass, from January, 1868, to Jnly, 1870. The Rev. George H. Kirkland, from Sept. 11, 1870, to Dec. 28, 1873. The Rev. Percival Becket, from Feb. 1, 1874, to July 11, 1875. He also conducted a parochial classical school. The Rev. George H. Kirk- land (second time), from Sept. 5, 1875, to Aug. 5, 1879. The Rev. Richard C. Searing, Dec. 5, 1879, and is the present pastor.

There is a Sunday-school attached to the church.

United Brethren in Christ .- In the year 1846 the first families belonging to this denomination moved to Columbia. Their names were Christian Hershey and Solomon Von Neida. The first preach- ing was held at their dwellings by itinerant preach- ers who happened to be passing through the place. From this small beginning their numbers gradually increased, wben preaching was held in the brick school-house on Third Street, near Perry Street, in the year 1858-59. A great many persons connected themselves with the church at that time. In the year 1860 they erected. a church building of brick at the corner of Third and Perry Streets. The trustees at that time were Christian llershey, Jonas Garber, and David Wayne.

A Sabbath-school was also organized, which now numbers two hundred and seventy-five scholars ;

Jacob Sneath, superintendent. There are now two hundred members of the congregation in good stand- ing. The ministers in regnlar succession were Rev. Joseph Young, - Gilbert, J. Scott, J. Young, T. Peters, G. W. M. Riger, J. Doughter, W. S. H. Keys, A. Kauffinan, G. Wagner, H. V. Mahn, J. C. Mumma, J. W. Geiger, J. D. Moner, C. S. Meily, S. G. Merrick, J. C. Smith, and J. B. Funk.

The present trustees are John C. Klingbill, A. Dyer, Thomas S. White, D. Welsh, and Uriah Sourbeer.

The congregation and Sunday-school are in a flour- ishing condition, and in the near future they contem- plate the erection of a larger church building in a more central part of the town.

Evangelical English Lutheran Church .- During the year 1849, Rev. J. H. Menjes, of Mount Joy, preached at stated times in the English language in the German Lutheran Church on Walnnt Street. About this time he took np his residence in Colnm- bia, and devoted his time to the work of preparing the way for the organization of an exclusively Eng- lish Lutheran Church. J. C. Pfahler, HI. Pfahler, Andrew Gohn, John Hiffer, and others were active in this work, and to their efforts is owing the fact that the church is in existence to-day.

The formal organization of the church did not take place at once, but the work of building a place of worship was first completed. The land for the site of the church was purchased April 2, 1850, and the building finished during the next two years, at an ex- pense of 86390.50, more than half of which remained as a debt against the new congregation.

The congregation was incorporated by special act of the Legislature, March 8, 1853, under the title of the English Lutheran Congregation of Columbia. During the subsequent years the congregation gradu- ally increased, and after discharging all debts and liabilities, and paying for numerons improvements, in 1875, under the ministry of Rev. J. C. Burke, the church was enlarged, remodeled, and furnished with all the modern church conveniences, at an expense of ten thousand dollars.

In the spring of 1881 certain tendencies culminated in the withdrawal of a number of members, who organized a new congregation which located farther up-town.

The church was withont a pastor at the time, but soon afterwards obtained one in the person of Rev. William P. Evans, who assumed charge July 1, 1881. Since that time there has been steady growth and a systematic and regular reduction of the church debt. The church has now nearly two hundred communi- cant members. A flourishing Sunday-school, with a well-selected library of twelve hundred volumes, and a most convenient, well-appointed, and valuable church property, situated on Second Street, between Loenst and Walnut.

The present board of officers consist of: Elders, John Steetin, L. C. Oberlin, J. II. Oberlin, and Samnel

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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

Filbert; Deacons, F. A. Bennett, J. G. Beemer, H. F. Yergey, L. W. May, J. G. Peirce, Ed. Newcomer, S. P. Graver, and Dr. C. F. Markel ; Sunday-school Superintendent, L. W. May.

The list of pastors from the beginning comprises the following : Rev. J. H. Menges, 1849-60; Rev. P. E. Dorsey, M.D., 1860-63; Rev. C. Reemensnyder, 1863-65; Rev. W. H. Steck, 1866-70; Rev. G. M. Rhodes, 1870-74; Rev. J. C. Burke, 1875-77; Rev. F. W. Staley, 1877-81; Rev. William P. Evans, 1881 to the present time.

St. Peter's Catholic Church and its Auxiliary Institutions .- By way of introduction to the history of this church the following preamble is taken from the subscription-book issued by the Rev. Bernard Keenan, in which he authorizes the gentlemen named therein to collect money for the erection of a church in the borough of Columbia:

"The Rumen Catholics of the borough of Columbia (by the grace of God), having unanimously resolved to build a Roman Catholic Church in said place, and in order to enable them to proceed in bo necessary and landable an undertaking, are induced to solicit subscriptions from a gen- erone and charitable public.

"Ae Roman Catholic pastor of Lancaster County, I sanction and highly approve of the resolution adopted by the congregation of the borough of Columbia, under my care, and likewise state that Messis. George Ziegler, John Arme, John McMullen, and Dominick Eagle, who compose the committee for collecting subscriptions, are persons worthy of the highest confidence and trust, and capable of performing the duties repused in them.

"LANCASTER CITY, 2d March, 1828."

" REV. BERNARD' KEENAN.

In pursuance of the resolution to erect a church, approved by the Rev. Father Keenan, measures were taken to secure a site. Two lots on Lancaster Ave- nue, lately used as a cemetery, were bought. It was afterwards, however, thought best to select a spot in a more central part of the town, and the ground upon which the church now stands was purchased. The funds necessary for commencing the building were not without a hard struggle raised, and in 1828 a contract for the erection of the church was given to Israel Cooper. The corner-stone was laid in 1828, and in 1830 the church was dedicated by the Right Rev. F. Patrick Kenrick. Before the erection of the church the few Catholics living in Columbia were obliged, in order to hear mass, to go either to Lancaster, York, or Elizabethtown. Sometimes, however, during this period mass was said in private houses, that a better opportunity might be afforded the people of Colum- bia and vicinity of fulfilling their religious duties. Prior to the building of the church missionary priests from Conewago and other places occasionally visited the town. From 1828, the date of the laying of the corner-stone, until 1842, Father Keenan came once a month from Lancaster to say mass and attend to the spiritual wants of the congregation. In February, 1842, came Rev. Daniel Kelly to reside in Columbia as the pastor of St. Peter's congregation. His suc- cessors in order of their appointment were Revs. John Mackin, B. A. Shorb, M. F. Martin, Dr. Balfe, Dr. Leitner, Rev. P. Toner, and Rev. A. McGinnis.

The church was enlarged by Dr. Balfe, and the parochial house built by the Rev. Father Short and the ground in front of the church was terraced and otherwise beautified by the Rev. Dr. Leitner, who also had a neat iron railing erected about the church premises.

This short history of the Roman Catholic Church in Columbia would not be complete without record- ing the fact "that the Right Rev. Francis Patrick Kenrick, Bishop of Philadelphia, trustee for the Catholic congregation of the borough of Columbia," procured an act of the Legislature, per McSherry, au- thorizing him to convey by deed unto Robert B. Wright, Esq., his heirs, etc., a part of the lot on which the church was built in exchange for all that part of his lot adjoining the Catholic Church lot aforesaid, lying and being southeast of a line drawn from the west corner of the Catholic parsonage at right angles to Second Street." For this kind and - generous act on the part of Mr. Wright in exchanging lots without any money consideration the members of St. Peter's congregation felt very grateful to him, and justly, for it enabled them to have an entrance to their church from Second Street instead of from Union Street, as formerly, and it also prevented tl - erection of objectionable buildings right in front o' the church door, and his memory is still held in grateful respect by the members of St. Peter's Church.

On the 30th of September, 1866, Rev. J. J. Russell was appointed pastor by the Right Rev. James F. Wood, Bishop of Philadelphia. The congregation at that time was not large, numbering about one hun- dred familics. It possessed what is now called the old church property, corner of Second and Union Streets, which extended on Second Street one hun- dred feet and on Union one hundred and forty-five feet, and on which were erected the church and paro- chial house. In the same year the church and house underwent a complete renovation. In 1872 two brick houses on Union above Second were purchased for the congregation, one of which was used as a dwell. ing-house by the Sisters who had charge of the paro chial schools, and the other as a school-house.

The parochial schools which the reverend pastor opened have been marked by exceptional success, es- pecially since the advent of the Sisters of Charity. A notable feature of these schools is the annual public examinations, which many of the educated citizens of the town are accustomed to attend. The searching questioning to which the pupils are sub- jected at these examinations shows most clearly the proficiency which children, with close application to study, may be able to attain under the careful train- ing of, efficient teachers.

For the better convenience of that part of the flock living in Wrightsville, a piece of land was purchased in that borough in the year 1874 by Rev. J. J. Rns- sell for a cemetery, which was consecrated by Right Rev. J. F. Shanahan, Bishop of Harrisburg, June 7t1.

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BOROUGH OF COLUMBIA.

of this year. Prior to the buying of the ground for the cemetery, a house for school purposes in that town was seenred, in which school has continued to be held. In March of the same year the St. Patrick's Temperance and Beneficial Society was established in the parish, as well as another society called St. Peter's Church Society. The following extract from the latter society's minute-book will explain the object of its organization :

" At a meeting of the parishioners of St. Peter's Church, Aug. 2, 1874, called by Rev. J. J. Russell, pastor of the above church, for the purpose of adopting some meane by which to raise money to pay for the new church property lately purchased by him for the congregation,

" Resolved, That the parishioners form themselves into an association under the title of St. Peter's Church Society, for the liquidation of the debt incurred by the above-mentioned purchase, and that each member pay monthly a certain eum of money into the treasury of said society."

This property adjoins the old church property on the northwest side, and extends on Second Street one hundred and sixteen feet, giving the entire church property a frontage of two hundred and sixteen feet. The building erected by the former owners of the property is now the pastoral residence.

A noteworthy occurrence in this church's history was the ordination to the priesthood of Rev. A. J. O'Brien, nephew of Rev. Father Russell, by the Right Rev. J. F. Shanahan, on the morning of the 21st of November, 1874. So solemn a ceremony as the con- ferring of the sacrament of Holy Orders naturally drew to the church almost the entire Catholic popu- lation of Columbia, Marietta, and Wrightsville. On May 30, 1878, the corner-stone of the convent build- ing was laid by the Right Rev. Bishop of Harris- burg, assisted by a large number of clergy of the diocese, in the presence of an immense concourse of people. The work upon the building was pushed vigorously, and in a very short time a substantial, magnificent, and commodious structure stood com- plete in every detail.

As an educational institution for young ladies it is meeting with merited popularity and success. The same Right Rev. prelate consecrated the convent and the convent chapel on the 8th day of the follow- ing December. The convent was built according to the plans and specifications of E. F. Durang, the re- nowned Philadelphia architect, and under the im- mediate supervision of the Rev. J. J. Russell. The building, including the Mansard roof, is four stories high, surmounted by a cupola, from which a com- manding view is had of the picturesque scenery along the Susquehanna River, and of the undulating coun- try on either side, and it has eight bow-windows of semicircular form in front.

On the same day after the consecration of the con- vent the Right Rev. Bishop blessed St. Peter's new cemetery, which is situated in West Hempfield town- ship, on the farm purchased by the Rev. Pastor for the people of the parish with the express purpose, principally, of, securing for them a suitable spot wherein the sacred remains of their departed friends

might decently lie until the day of final resurrection. In the convent are a high school and an academy, under the control of the Sisters of Charity of Mount St. Vincent's, on the Hudson, N. Y. The former is de- signed for the more advanced children of the parish, the latter as a boarding-school solely for young ladies who are not of the congregation or who live without its boundaries. Besides the societies already men- tioned there are in connection with the church three sodalities, whose end is solely a religious one. Writ- ing on the subject of societies it will not be out of place here to speak of the "St. Peter's Building and Loan Association," instituted in June, 1876, which holds its meetings in a school-room in the convent. The present officers are: President, C. F. Young; Vice-President, J. C. Atwood; Treasurer, Rev. J. J. Russell ; Secretary, John B. Wisler ; Directors, James Mack, Daniel McCarty, William Foley, Martin Ford, Cormick MeCall, Bryan Cavanaugh, Bart Foley, P. Moriarity, John McCall, F. McCarty, L. Hendrick, James Gegan.

This association has thus far prospered, as the value of the shares (one hundred and forty-seven dollars) at the end of its seventh year shows. The Columbia Workingmen's Saving Fund and Building Associa- tion, when in existence, held its meetings in the base- ment of the church, and was, in a sense, a parochial society, since so many parishioners have obtained homes through it. At the end of nine years it termi- nated a successful career, the value of two hundred dollars per share having been attained.

St. Peter's Sunday-school of Columbia has an aver- age attendance of one hundred and thirty children. The superintendent of this Sunday-school was for a number of years Mr. Francis Ziegler. Since October, 1872, the Sisters of Charity have the conduct of it. The number of pupils who attend Sunday-school in Wrightsville is about twenty, and at present Mr. Charles Dougherty superintends it, and of late years the day school has been under the charge of lay teachers.

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History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 3

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1320

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1320