History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 50

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288

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The old log meeting-house being too small, it was decided to erect a frame one. The result was the old structure, till recently standing on the hill, 40x 50. While it was in process of erection the congregation worshiped in the house of the Protestant Methodists. This privilege was cut short, however, by the fact that the practice of the Baptists on the subject of baptism and close communion gave offense to the owners of the church, who closed their doors upon them. In 1844 Dr. Winter resigned, and devoted his whole time to Warren. . Rev. W. B. Barris was pastor from 1844 to 1847. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas W. Greer in October, 1847, who continued until June, 1851, when he resigned. During his pastorate a Ladies Missionary Society, the first of its kind, was organized. During the same time an academy was established, and a two-story brick building was erected. Its history is given under the head of Schools. In 1849 William Budd, who had given the site of the church, and liberal contributions for the church and the bell, was called away. His memory has always been revered by the congregation. Changes now were quite frequent. Rev. William Storrs was pastor, under trying difficulties, during 1851-52. A vacancy occurred until May, 1853, when

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Rev. S. H. Ruple became pastor, and continued until 1855. During his stay the church divided, one portion conducting a Sunday-school in a rented room, and church services in their own houses, while the congregation proper wor- shiped in the church. In 1856 Rev. A. G. Kirk, the next pastor, drew up an agreement and secured a partial reconciliation between the two factions, thirty- six returning to their allegiance. Rev. M. C. Hendron. preached from Sep- tember, 1856, to September, 1857. Rev. J. Moses was a supply until Febru- ary, 1859, when Rev. John Parker began his labors, which continued until 1863. During this period the membership increased from eighty-four to 122. The intense feeling resulting from the War of the Rebellion divided the con- gregation. Rev. Dinsmore ministered to one faction in the church, and Revs. Winter and Parker to another in a rented church. Reorganization fol- lowed with the close of the war, and Dr. Winter again became pastor in March, 1866. He began to collect funds for refitting the church, and secured $1,066, with which the house renewed its primitive attractiveness, and was dedicated a second time at the June meeting, 1866. He resigned in March, 1867. At the close of his pastorate the membership was eighty-seven. Rev. J. V. Stratton was pastor from April, 1867, to April, 1869. Rev. David Williams was pastor the succeeding year. He was followed by Rev. Jesse Williams, who continued from April, 1870, to the day of his death, in the ensuing August. Rev. J. T. Griffith was here a few months; Rev. C. H. Harvey from April, 1871, to 1873; Rev. A. Wilson for about two years; Rev. J. B. Solo- mon from October, 1875, to 1879. During his period the dead were removed from the old grave-yard to Oakwood Cemetery. In April, 1880, Rev. E. Wells began his work, and remained two years.

On the 2nd of July, 1882, the present pastor, Rev. H. C. Hall, began his pastoral labors, and was regularly ordained the 3d of August following. At the beginning of his pastorate a site was selected and steps were taken to erect a new church edifice. The building committee was Rev. H. C. Hall, J. Hunter, Malin Ewing and Robert Luse. In April, 1883, J. L. Weaver took the contract for erecting the new brick edifice, at a cost of $11,600. Com- pleted and furnished the expense amounted to about $15,000. The structure was dedicated June 28, 1884, Rev. H. I. King, of Cleveland, preaching the morning and Rev. J. W. Gordon, of Buffalo, the evening discourse. The sum of $2,700 was raised to liquidate the indebtedness on the house. In 1886 a neat parsonage, just west of the church, was erected at a cost of about $2,000.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The origin of this congregation is veiled in some obscurity, and can be reached only inferentially. It is known that the whole Shenango Valley was, from 1800 to 1816, embraced in the Shenango Circuit, and that preaching was done in the pioneer settlements by the itiner- ant preachers of those days. Among these preachers were the following pre- siding elders of the district: P. B. Davis, Joseph Shane, Asa Shinn, George Askins, Joseph Hall, R. R. Roberts, James Reed, James Watts, Thomas Church, James Charles, Jacob McDowell, Eli Towne, Abel Robinson, Will- iam Knox, Jacob Gurwell, John Elliott, J. Summerville and R. C. Hatton. It is not at all improbable that some of these pioneer preachers were in this region at the opening of the century, and proclaimed their doctrine to the people. Isaac Patterson, one of the organizers of the church, came to this region from the eastern part of the State in 1802 or 1803, and was an early convert to Methodism. In an address made in the church on the present site, in 1855, he announced that he was converted on those grounds among the hazel bushes fifty years ago. From this statement it is inferred that Meth-

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

odism had some advocates in the vicinity of Sharon as early as 1805 or 1806. The venerable James Bentley informed the writer that the earliest opening in the dense forest of hazel bushes, which covered the present borough of Sharon, was on the site of the Methodist Church. It was a small Indian bean patch, about 30x40, the cultivating being done by the dusky savages with sharpened sticks. As a mere boy he joined with them in their crude agricultural employ - ment. As early as 1820 meetings were held in a log school-house which stood on the site of the present Exchange Hotel. Afterward they were conducted in Reno's barn. The first class was organized, it is said, in 1810, though individual members had lived here prior to that date, but had membership else- where. Among the original members of the congregation were Isaac Patter- son and his wife Margaret, Hezekiah Reader, James Reader and his wife Nancy, Matthias Mounts, John Dunlap and his wife Elizabeth, James Patter- son, Joseph McDowell and his wife Esther, William Moore, Septimus Dun- lap and his wife Esther, William Ulp, Sarah Newcomb and others. At a later date the membership embraced such people as Margaret Patterson, Samuel Clark and his wife Susan (nee Patterson), David Clark, William Budd and wife, Jones Blackstone and wife, David Strawbridge and wife, Abram De Forest, William Clark and Mary Clark, who subsequently married Rev. Will- iam Bear.

The first church structure was erected on State Street, above the present Baptist house, in 1831. Isaac Patterson and Matthew Mounts were trustees. It was a frame building, and is now used by George Burnett as a livery stable on Dock Street, in the rear of the American House. The next was likewise a frame structure, about 36x50, erected in 1842. It stood on the site of the present building. In 1866 it was repaired and enlarged at a cost of $3, 300, a basement being put under it for Sunday-school purposes. It was burned down on New Year's eve, 1877, during the pastorate of Rev. O. L. Mead. The present comfortable and commodious frame structure was erected in 1878 at a cost of some $14,000. A parsonage was bought in 1880 for $2,200, and repaired at an expense of about $400. In 1887 the building of the Lake Shore Railroad branch in front of the church occurred, resulting in a damage of $3,000 to the property. This sum was invested by the trustees in several lots, together with the accompanying buildings, near the Central school building. The rents afford quite a handsome dividend on the investment. Some day the church hopes to build upon the newly acquired site.

The names of the early preachers have not been secured. It is claimed that Rev. J. J. Steadman was the first regular preacher. Sharon has belonged to several districts. From 1836 to 1840, and again from 1847 to 1852, it belonged to Meadville; from 1840 to 1843, from 1852 to 1856, and from 1860 to 1862, to Warren; from 1843 to 1847, to Franklin; from 1856 to 1860, and from 1862 to the present time, to New Castle. The following is its list of pas- tors from the day of certainty in its records, 1836: Revs. William Carroll, H. S. Hitchcock, 1836; C. Brown, 1837; Ahab Keller, John Crum, 1838-39; J. Vanhorn, J. E. Bassett, 1840; B. O. Plimpton, R. J. Sibbey, 1841; Thomas Ingraham, Thomas Stubbs, 1842; Joseph Uncles, 1843; J. R. Lock, H. Win- ans, 1844; John McLean, J. W. Klock, J. W. Ingraham, 1845; J. McLean, H. Luse, 1846; Bryan S. Hill, William Bear, 1847-48; D. H. Jack, S. Hub- bard, 1849; J. H. Vance, D. H. Jack, 1850; Josiah Flower, M. Wood, 1851; D. C. Wright, 1852; William C. Henderson, 1853; C. W. Reeves, 1854; E. A. Johnson, 1855; N. G. Luke, 1856; J. Uncles, 1857; R. M. Bear, 1858; W. D. Archibald, 1859-60; T. P. Warner, 1861; P. P. Pinney, 1862-63; A. Hall, 1864; J. O'Neal, 1865-66; J. S. Albertson, 1867-68; W. H. Mossman,

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

1869-70; J. R. Lyon, 1871; L. W. Day, 1872-73; D. Latshaw, 1874-75; O. L. Mead, 1876-77; J. W. Blaisdell, 1878-79; D. Latshaw, 1880; W. P. Bignell, 1881-83; J. A. Kummer, 1884-86; R. S. Borland, 1887, present incumbent. The membership is 534, and the church is in a flourishing condi- tion.

Disciples or Christian Church .- This organization in Sharon owes its origin to the visit of Adamson Bentley and Walter Scott, in the spring of 1828. These gentlemen were advocates of the doctrines then being promul- gated by Alexander Campbell, and came to Sharon by invitation of the Bap- tists of the village, for whom they held a series of meetings. Thirteen candidates were baptized, but a difficulty arising as to the manner of their reception into the church they, with twenty from the Baptist organization, thirty-three mem- bers all told, formed themselves into a new organization on the last Monday of June, 1828.

Of these charter members the following names have been recovered by Joseph McCleery, to whom we are indebted for the collection of most of the facts herein contained. The following is the list: Bashara Hull and wife Rhoda, Obadiah Hull and wife Mary Ann, Anna Hoagland (still living), John McCleery and wife Margaret, George McCleery, George Bentley and wife, Mary Bentley, Sr., Samuel Hull and wife Drusilla, Hugh McCleery and wife Margaret, James McCleery and wife Polly, Robert McCleery and wife Eleanor, Elizabeth Morford, Harriet Morford, Lucretia Hull, Thomas Chew, John Briggs, Temperance Bentley wife of James Bentley, Rebecca Laird, Benjamin Reno and wife, James Morford and wife, Mary Briggs,. Catherine Higby, Bet- sey Truesdale.

Within three years from the date of the organization the following, with others whose names cannot be recalled, were added: Jesse Hoagland and wife Elizabeth, Joseph Hoagland and wife Anna, Richard Hoagland, John McCleery and wife Sarah, Samuel McCleery, John Dunlap, Daniel Upson Budd, Mar- tin Dunham and wife Polly, Hannah Morford, Phoebe Morford, Almira Hull, Lemual Clark and wife, Sarah DeWolf, Rachel Hover, Leah Hover, Mary McCleery, Sr.

The first preaching was done in the barn of Daniel Budd, who prepared the building specially for such use. This building answered the purpose well enough for summer and autumn services. It was occupied because the feeling engendered by the organization of a new congregation prevented their using the Baptist house. The second regular place of worship was the cabinet-shop of Jesse Hoagland, which was so occupied for several years. When he sold it preaching was done in private houses and school buildings until 1840. At that time a frame structure, about 30x40, was erected outside of the town limits, near the present furnace of Spearman, Collord & Co. It was occupied until 1852, when, owing to its ineligibility as a place of worship, it was sold to the furnace for a store-house. In 1852 a brick edifice, 40x54, was erected on Rail Road Street at a cost of about $2,000. It was dedicated in December of that year, Elder Isaac Errett, then of Warren, Ohio, but now editor of the Christian Standard, of Cincinnati, delivering the address. In October, 1881, the congregation purchased its present house on the corner of Vine and Pitt Streets for $3,500. It was erected in 1874 by the Second Presbyterian Church, and dedicated by them February 14, 1875, the entire expense being $10, 500. It was re-dedicated by the Christian Church, Prof. Burke A. Hinsdale, of Cleveland, Ohio, delivering the address.

This congregation has had quite an array of preaching talent. At the organization were present Walter Scott, Adamson Bentley and Thomas Camp-

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bell. As an assistant in this preliminary work was George McCleery, father of Joseph McCleery, who is still a resident of Sharon, and an active worker in the congregation which his father assisted in establishing. George McCleery was for many years after the organization of the congregation its cherished pastor and spiritual adviser. Following George McCleery came, in regular succession, John T. Smith, John T. Phillips, Harvey Brockett, Calvin Smith, Thomas Munnell, C. C. Foot and Edwin Wakefield. These men, employed usually about a year each, nurtured the congregation from the time the pas- toral labors of George McCleery ceased to the year 1857, when the records begin to be more definite and authentic. Matthias Christy, H. D. Carlton and Dr. Goodrich were then employed a portion of their time for a year or so each. Their labors preserved the flock up to 1862. From this date to 1870 meetings were suspended on account of the agitations of the war, sick- ness, removals, apathy, etc. From July to October, 1870, John T. Phillips preached every two weeks. In October of that year William Baxter, of New Lisbon, Ohio, reorganized the congregation with seventy-two members. Its sustenance from the close of this meeting until April, 1871, was obtained from supplies received from various quarters. In April, 1871, Orange Higgins was employed, and remained as pastor four years. He was succeeded by Peter Vogel, who continued one year. In September, 1876, T. B. Knowles was secured, and remained as pastor two years. For a year following the congregation again depended upon supplies, John T. Phillips and William Baxter being the chief reliance. In February, 1880, W. F. Parker was employed, and continued to labor one year. In April, 1881, E. A. Bosworth was secured. He staid three years. C. G. Brelos was in charge of the work from February, 1885, to September, 1886. Resort was again had to supplies until the summer of 1887. From that time to February, 1888, L. Osborn, of Youngstown, preached every two weeks. During the month of January, 1888, a protracted meeting was held by H. B. Sherman, of Lock Haven, Penn. A. A. McCorkle has been employed to take pastoral charge of the church, commenc- ing February 1, 1888. There have been many irregular preachers at Sharon, preachers who have aided in protracted meetings and on special occasions. Among these may be mentioned Isaac Errett, William Hayden, A. S. Hayden, John Henry, Jonas Hartzell, B. A. Hinsdale, Dr. W. A. Belding, Wesley Lanphear, J. Harrison Jones and H. B. Sherman. The membership at pres- ent is about ninety.

Protestant Methodist Church. - About 1836 or 1837 a number of families of English descent came to Sharon. They were disposed to join a Protestant Methodist rather than a Methodist Episcopal congregation. The result was an organization of a church of that faith about the time just referred to. Among the original members of the congregation were Moses Troutman and wife, Benjamin Troutman and wife, John Urmson and wife, Fred Urmson and wife, and others whose names cannot be recalled. In the ranks of its primitive preachers were Revs. Inskip and Clark. The house of worship, the second one erected in the place, was a frame building of spacious dimensions, and was, for a time, owned jointly by the Protestant Methodists and the Pres- byterians. The latter finally sold their interest to Judge David T. Porter. It is still standing, and is owned and used as a dwelling. The congregation was disorganized many years ago.

First Presbyterian Church .- This congregation was organized by a com- mittee of the Presbytery of Beaver, consisting of Revs. Samuel A. McLain, B. C. Critchlow and Elder Marcus Best, on the 16th of August, 1844. The original membership included twenty-four persons, viz .: Andrew McBride,

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Samuel McBride and wife, Benjamin Love and wife, Jane Haywood, John Dennison, Nancy Campbell, Mary Annie Love, Esther Stewart, Margaret Satterfield, Hannah Budd, Rachel McRay, Elizabeth Riggs, H. Jacobs and wife, Nancy Jane Rankin, James S. Moore and wife, John Rankin and wife, Susannah Bell, Sarah Gray and Adelaide Moore. The first eldership con- sisted of James S. Moore, H. Jacobs and John Rankin, The following persons have likewise served in that capacity: Alexander Porter, Smith Agnew, Sam- uel Shilling, John Phillips, David Agnew, N. McGowan, James M. Willson, James K. Bell, S. C. Yoder, Joseph King, John A. Robinson, John Paisley and C. M. Rice. The brick church edifice, standing on Main Street, north of State, was built in 1857, at a cost of about $2,500. The original members came largely from the old Moorefield Church, and worshiped with the congre- gation in the old Protestant Methodist house, then known as "the barn." The congregation had a half interest in this house, which it finally sold to Judge David T. Porter. The following pastors have served the congregation: Revs. H. Webber, W. T. McAdam, Dr. Riggs, J. B. Dickey, W. S. Falconer, R. J. Graves, J. C. Truesdale, Perry S. Allen, James H. Snowden and W. G. Nevin, the present incumbent. The congregation has a membership of 250, and is one of the most substantial religious societies in the borough.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church. - During the building of the Pittsburgh & Erie Canal a large number of Catholics were employed on that public work, and missionary priests made periodical trips along the line of the canal to hold services and minister to the spiritual wants of the members of that faith. Sharon being one of the principal points on the route, was also one of the places where mass was occasionally celebrated. It was, however, some years after this period before the town possessed any Catholic settlers, though several German families of that faith located east of Sharon, around Hickory Corners, in the decade between 1845 and 1855, while other Catholic families, both Irish and German, settled in the vicinity of the blast furnaces erected in the Shenango Valley during the same decade. For a few years those settlers were compelled to attend services at the pioneer Catholic mission north of Mercer, then known as the "Irish Settlement," or go without the consolations of their religion. But prior to 1850 Rev. Andrew Skopez, who died in the fall of 1887, began his visits to the German settlement at Hickory Corners, and held services in the houses of the members, usually at Martin Scholl's. He was followed in succession by Revs. J. Reiser, J. J. Gallagher, Andrew Schweiger and Joseph Gobbels.

The first Catholic residents of Sharon were Henry and William Cros- thwaite, natives of Ireland, who came to the village from the vicinity of Pitts- burgh in 1851; Charles O'Hare and family, who arrived in Sharon in 1854; Gerhard Wengler, a native of Germany, who emigrated from that country to New Castle, Penn., in May, 1854, and in the following December took up his residence in Sharon, where he yet lives; Peter Froelig and John Muck, two Germans, who arrived in the borough about 1854-55, having come for the purpose of securing employment from the old Sharon Iron Company; Patrick Kane and his two sons, John and Patrick, who began working in the steel mill in 1856, having arrived but a short time previous; Terrence O'Hare, a brother of Charles, who, with his family, emigrated from Ireland to the Big Bend in 1851, and eight years later removed to Sharon, where he yet resides; John Thornton, a leading dry goods merchant of the borough, who, in Novem- ber, 1848, arrived in Mercer County, having emigrated a few months before from Ireland, and began working in the Clay furnace, in Jefferson Township, removing to the vicinity of Sharon, where he now resides, in the fall of 1860;

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Jacob Huether, a German, who located a short distance east of Sharon about 1858, and opened a shoe-shop, which he subsequently removed to the borough, and conducted it until his death in 1876; Nicholas Wiesen, a German, whose residence in Sharon dates back to the fall of 1860; Hon. Norman Hall, the present member of Congress from this district, who located near the borough in 1862; Edward M. McGillin, who arrived in Sharon from Philadelphia in 1863, and his brother William, accompanied by their mother and sister, one year later; and John Sullivan, Patrick Fettigan and wife, Bernard Brennan and Law- rence Clifford, the latter of whom, as also Mrs. Fettigan, yet resides in the town.

The first Catholic settlers in Sharon attended services at Mercer, and sub- sequently at Hickory Corners, and the priests who had charge of the latter mission held an occasional service in Sharon. Father Gobbels came more frequent than any of his predecessors, and is therefore best remembered. He celebrated mass at the houses of Peter Froelig, John Muck, Charles O'Hare, Bernard Brennan and other early Catholic families. In 1859 he was succeeded by Rev. F. J. Hartmann, now pastor of St. Rose Church at Hickory Corners. Father Hartmann had charge of the Sharon Mission until the coming of Rev. John J. O'Keeffe, the first resident pastor of Sharon. The latter held services in the houses of members until he erected the present pastoral residence south of the church, and a room in that building was then utilized. In 1864 the corner stone of Sacret Heart Church was laid with appropriate ceremonies, on a lot donated by Dr. J. M. Irvine, on the corner of State Street and Irvine Avenue, and as soon as the basement was ready for occupancy it was used for religious services until the main structure was completed. The building was afterward considerably enlarged, and is a substantial brick edifice with a seat- ing capacity of about 800. The basement has been used for a school-room ever since the parochial schools were established. Both the residence and church were commenced and finished under Father O' Keeffe's pastorate, though a very large debt was hanging over the property when, in 1872, Rev. Kearn O'Branigan succeeded him as pastor. This debt has been paid off, and a fund commenced by the late Father O' Branigan toward securing a larger parochial school property in the near future.

The growth and progress of Sacred Heart congregation is a fair illustration of the parable of the mustard seed. Forty years ago there was not a single Catholic family in Sharon, and when the war broke out less than a dozen families comprised the full strength of that faith inside the borough limits. Within the last quarter of a century Sacred Heart Church has had a remark- able growth, and embraces a membership of about 200 families. It supports a flourishing parochial school, established by Father O'Keeffe, which is under the efficient charge of the Sisters of Mary. The usual branches taught in the public schools comprises the curriculum of the Sacred Heart school, but there is also imparted daily religious instruction in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. The old Sacred Heart Cemetery was located on the east hill, but the growth of the borough necessitated its abandonment. The present grave-yard lies immediately northwest of Sharon, and is a very suitable resting- place for those who have "fallen asleep in the Lord." The ground was pur- chased by Father O'Keeffe, but paid for by the late pastor. While giving to Father O'Keeffe full credit for the work he accomplished during his pastorate, it is nevertheless true that to the earnest labors of Father O'Branigan is largely due the present prosperity of Sacred Heart Parish, and his death, which occurred August 7, 1888, was a severe loss to the congregation.

United Presbyterian Church .- The inception of the movement toward establishing an Associate Reformed Presbyterian congregation at Sharon was

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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.

brought about through a passing visit of Rev. M. M. Brown, now of New Wilmington, Penn., who at the next meeting of the Lawrence Presbytery recommended that a committee be sent to look over the field. This was accord- ingly done, and in June, 1858, Rev. William Findley, D. D., acting under the direction of that presbytery, organized a congregation in Sharon. The following comprised the first members: David T. Porter, Mrs. Ann Porter, John Titus, Mrs. Mary Titus, Miss Ann Eliza Titus, Miss Rosanna Titus, Mrs. Mordock, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Duncan, Miss Mary McHenry, James Raney, Mrs. Mary Raney, Miss Margaret Raney, John Raney, Mrs. Tirza Love and Miss Mary McClelland. The building at present occupied was erected in 1865 at a cost of $11,000. It is a brick, and is commodious and convenient for the purposes to which it is devoted. The pastors of the congregation have been Rev. B. K. Ormond, its first minister, who began preaching in Sharon in April, 1858, before the organ- ization of the flock into a regular congregation, and who was installed regular pastor shortly afterward, at first dividing his time between the Sharon and Clarks- ville charges, and afterward serving the former church exclusively until Decem- ber 31, 1880; and the present pastor, Rev. John A. Bailey, who entered upon his ministry in January, 1883. In the opening part of the year 1881 the con- gregation, through unfortunate occurrences, became disorganized. April 19, the same year, a reorganization was, however, effected through the instrumentality of Rev. Robert McWatty, D. D., acting under the direction of the United Pres- byterian Presbytery of Mercer. The membership at that time was fifty; now it is 140. Following is a list of ruling elders: John Titus, David T. Porter, Robert Strain, William L. Thompson, William J. Hamilton, Robert Temple- ton, J. H. McElheny, M. D., J. E. McGeehan, E. M. Stapleton, Jesse Huff, G. A. Hawk, J. W. Paisley, M. K. Hamilton, A. G. McNabb, William A. Kelley and Thomas Ray.

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History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, Part 50

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1288

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1288