History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 55

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell
Number of Pages: 604

USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 55

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Rev. Charles A. McFadden took charge of St. Canicus Church January 11th, 1871. A few months after his ar- rival here he decided to remodel and strengthen the church edifice. Luke Farrell was the architect engaged in the improvement. He soon remedied all the evils by raising the roof, inserting eight pillars, and then running bolts across the church, thus drawing the walls, which were sprung, into their original position. Father Mc- Fadden then had a tower and spire erected in front of the church, and three entrances made instead of one. A bell was hung, weighing twenty-six hundred pounds, and bearing the following inscription: " Gloria in Excelsis- Church of St. Canicus-Pius IX., Pope -- Rt. Rev. J. F. Wood, D. D., Bishop-Rev. C. A. McFadden, pastor- 1874." Internally the church was made by all odds the finest in Schuylkill county. The frescoing was done with exquisite taste by Mr. Seiling, of Reading. Statues are painted upon the wall representing Saints Peter, Paul, John, Andrew, Matthew, Philip, Thomas, Luke, James the Greater, James the Less, Thaddeus, Bartholomew, Cecelia and Patrick. Within the sanctuary are three al- tary, the main altar and the two side altars of the blessed Virgin and St. Joseph. Above the main altar is a paint- ing representing the Trinity, and to the right and left of it are four relief paintings of the evangelists-Matthew,

Mark, Luke and John; together with their characteristic emblems. Besides the above great work, Father Mc- Fadden cleared off many claims against the church. Enough has been said to show the go-ahead spirit of Father McFadden, and it is but necessary to add that he is a genial, kind-hearted pastor, popular with people of every denomination. He was removed in March, 1875, to Schuylkill Haven, where he now resides.

His successor was the Rev. Michael A. Ryan, the pres- ent pastor, who took charge of the parish in March, 1875. During the time Father Ryan has been here he has made several improvements on the church property, and also paid off several claims against the church. He. was born in Schuylkill county, educated at St. Charles Seminary, and invested with holy orders May 19th, 1867, when he was assigned to the pastorate of St. Patrick's Church in Philadelphia, where he remained for eight years, or until sent by Bishop Wood to this important field.

St. Fidelius German Catholic Church .- A number of German Catholics in 1864 determined to have religious service, and Fathers Deppman, of St. Clair, and Grunth- er, of Philadelphia, made this a missionary station, holding services once in four weeks. Father Deppman may be said to be the father of St. Fidelius. The cor- ner stone of the church building was laid by Father Grunther in September, 1866, and the work was pushed on rapidly, so that within its walls on Christmas day, 1866, the first solemn high mass was celebrated. At the first meeting, in 1864, the membership was 59; in 1865 it had increased to 504. Bishop Wood sent the late Father Buening to take charge in April, 1868. At this time the parish extended down Mahanoy valley and to the north- west, including Shenandoah. During Father Buening's pastorate a confirmation took place, when 150 were con- firmed by Bishop Wood. The handsome brick parson- age adjoining the church was erected by Father Buening. He died June 13th, 1872. Father Maus, just from Ger- many, took the place of the deceased pastor. By his labors the interior of the church was metamorphosed by the erection of a new and beautiful altar and the procur- ing of a fine collection of paintings, and on Easter day, 1878, the large pipe organ pealed forth its first notes, in the solemn service of the day.

In 1874 the parish school was organized, and a school- house erected in the rear of the church. There are now 170 scholars, with three sisters in charge, who reside in a house adjoining the parsonage, also the property of the church. In 1876 Father Herman Dietrich, a native of Prussia, educated at Munster, Westphalia, who came to America in 1871, and has officiated at Breesport and Al- lentown, was sent to the parish. Since his arrival the church has been frescoed and otherwise improved. The parish contains about one hundred and fifty families, or eight hundred souls. The cost of the church property has been about $21,000. The buildings are on Mahanoy avenue, east of Main street.

American Primitive Methodist .- The first sermon in behalf of the Primitive Methodist denomination of this

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CHURCHES OF MAHANOY CITY.

city was preached by Rev. Charles Spurr in the Presby- terian church, March 3d, 1864. Rev. George Parker afterward held services in the place. Rev. E. Cromp- ton was afterward stationed here a year, holding services in the old Spruce street school-house. He secured from Dundas, Troutman & Biddles the gift of some lots for church purposes. John and Charles Beach, John Greener, James Howard, James Abberly, James Trickey, Thomas Lewis, John Pritchard and Edward Crompton were elected trustees. Mr. Crompton was succeeded by Rev. R. N. Stephenson. The laying of the corner stone of the new church took place on the 5th of August, 1866. After a year Mr. Stephenson was succeeded here by Rev. George Parker, who continued in charge for two years. During this time the church was built. For four years after Mr. Parker's removal Rev. Charles Spurr was the pastor. Rev. R. C. H. Catterall was ap- pointed pastor in 1868 and served a year; then Rev. R. Fothergill two years. Rev. E. Humphries succeeded Mr. Fothergill, and during his term the church edifice was enlarged and improved, and a memorial stone laid August 4th, 1876, when an appropriate discourse was preached by Rev. George Lamb, of London, England. holding meetings in the Welsh Baptist church on Sunday Rev. M. Harvey succeeded Mr. Humphries and labored here one year, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. Spurr, the present pastor.

The Sabbath-school was established about 1868, and numbered at the last return about 100 scholars.

Welsh Baptist Church .- This church originated with Thomas Richards, Lewis Richards, Thomas Gittens, and John Davis, from Summit Hill. The first service, a prayer meeting, was held in February, 1865, in the Spruce street school-house, and a Sunday-school was organized about the same time. At first services were held at inter- vals by clergymen from other places. In March, 1865, a lot was donated by the Delano Land Company. Dur- ing the summer the corner stone of a church was laid by the Rev. Mr. Morgan, of Pottsville, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Morton, of Summit Hill. At this time the minister was Rev. Benjamin Nicholas. In 1868 Rev. Theophilus Jones took charge of the pulpit, and during his ministry the membership was materially increased.

After the close of Mr. Jones's pastorate the pulpit re- mained vacant for a long time, and the church declined in membership and strength. Occasional services were held by Rev. Thomas Thomas, of Ashland, Rev. David Evans, of Shenandoah, and the local preachers Willard and Capper. In August, 1871, Rev. W. D. Thomas took charge of the parish, and found the church in a deplor- able condition. He has increased its membership, and built up a fine Sunday-school. One of the pastors of this church, Rev. T. Jones, was an adjudicator at the Eisteddfod held in this borough, and he is now the oldest member, in point of continuance in the body, in the East Pennsylvania Association. He resides in Wilkes-Barre.

Rev. W. D. Thomas, the present pastor, was born in Merthyr Tydvil, Wales, June 17th, 1842; when fourteen years old became a member of the church, and at the age of twenty-two was licensed to preach. A few months

later he came to America, and settled at St. Clair, where friends had preceded him, and commenced laboring in the mines. He declined the pastorate at Shenandoah, and studied three years at Lewisburg University. He then accepted a call to this church, and has since filled its pulpit acceptably, having been ordained to the full work of the ministry at a meeting of the association held here in September, 1871.

English Baptist Church .- March 17th, 1867, a meeting was held at the residence of David Phillips to discuss the subject of organizing a Baptist church. This meeting was called through the efforts of Rev. J. Hastings, at that time missionary to the Minersville Baptist church; and at it were convened David Phillips, Sallie E. Phillips, Abner E. Phillips, Adaline Phillips and Abel Davis. An election for church officers resulted in the choice of David Phillips for deacon, Abner E. Phillips clerk, and Abel Davis treasurer. After holding missionary services for a year, Rev. Mr. Hastings retired from the field, and for the next two years few public services were held, though prayer and church business meetings were maintained. Students from Lewisburg occasionally visited the place, afternoons. In September, 1870, having received a pledge of assistance from the Centre Association, the church extended a call to Rev. B. B. Henshey, of Wil- liamsport, and during his pastorate a small edifice was erected on Pine street. Mr. Henshey resigned July Ist, 1873, and during the following year the church was with- out a pastor. On Sunday, December 17th, 1873, the church was dedicated. In 1874 Rev. R. C. H. Catterall became pastor, and the church made large accessions to its membership. In 1875 he was succeeded by Rev. Al- fred Wells, who served until 1876.

The church edifice was sold for debt in 1878 to the National Greenback Labor party, who converted it into a club room, and the members of the old church have formed new associations.

Christ's Church .- This German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on the 20th of March, 1867, by Rev. D. Sanner, of Tremont. Only about twenty families were included. These were a remnant of the once strong congregation organized in 1863 by Rev. Mr. Geiss, who served them under the old regime for several years, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Burkhalter. Dissensions arising between the American and German members, the society was broken up, and one large portion formed the St. John's Lutheran Church. Some went to the Re- formed Church, while others connected themselves with other organizations. A church building erected in 1864 was sold by the sheriff in 1867, and after a number of disa- greeable circumstances was purchased of John C. Knapp by the present corporation.

In the spring of 1868 Rev. M. Schimpf, of Pottsville, was called to the pastorate. The circumstances were depressing, including a small congregation, a heavy debt, and a church building never fully completed, now in a badly dilapidated condition. In the summer of 1865 the church was completely renovated, and it was rededicated

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.

September 23d of that year. Within one year the mem- bership had increased to sixty families, and the church had begun to assume a more hopeful condition.

On the last Sunday of November, 1878, Rev. E. H. Pohle succeeded Mr. Schimpf.

The Sunday-school superintendent is G. F. Reifseg. The school numbers 160 members.

The total value of church property is about $10,000. The membership in 1880 was 94 families, with 342 com - municants.

Evangelical Church .- To Pennsylvanians this denom- ination has a special interest, for it was conceived in the State, and has here the strongholds of its power and in- fluence. The first effort made toward forming an Evan- gelical society in this city was in the years 1859 and 1860, when Rev. Joseph Gross visited the place and held oc- casional meetings, which were continued by Rev. Isaiah Knerr and Rev. Joshua Frey during the next two years. In March, 1863, Revs. C. Ginerich and D. Lentz were stationed on the Ashland circuit, which included Mahan- oy City as a regular appointment, and they held services here once in four weeks. They organized a class of about a dozen members, with David Faust as leader and Mr. Kestler as exhorter. The influx of population brought with it other members and the class "was also increased by conversions. During the time spoken of the meetings were held in the old Spruce street school-house, or, as it was derisively styled, the " goat stable."

In the spring of 1864 a church lot on the corner of Catawissa and Spruce streets, was deeded to the society gratuitously. In February, 1865,although the building was yet unfinished, Rev. D. Lentz preached in it for the first time. The class was constituted a mission under the charge of Rev. R. Deisher, and under his ministry the church was finished, its debt canceled, and the member- ship largely increased. At the end of his second year Mr. Deisher retired, and Rev. D. C. Kemble took his place. During his residence here Pastor Kemble fell sick with small pox and his place in the pulpit was sup- plied by Messrs. Werner and Hock, local preachers. In 1868 the aid of the Missionary Society was withdrawn, and within three years the church became a liberal con- tributor to the support of its foster parent. Rev. J. C. Hornberger was the successor of Mr. Kemble, and was followed by Rev. B. J. Smoyer. In 1871, under Mr. Smoyer's pastorate, the church was enlarged and re- modeled, and a parsonage built, at a cost of about $4,400. In the winter of 1872 W. K. Wieand was ap- pointed pastor, and in 1874 Rev. A. M. Stirk. The latter preached two years, then Rev. S. L. Wiest three years, and Rev. S. Theodore Leopold was next sent to the charge. Since his arrival the Sunday-school has been furnished with a new library and book case, the church repaired and painted, and spirituality in the church given a decided impetus. The membership is 195. The church property is valued at $7,000.

Rev. S. T. Leopold was born in Allentown, Pa., in 1851; educated at Kutztown Normal School; ordained as deacon by the East Penn Conference at Schuylkill

Haven in 1876, and an elder at Reading in 1878. . He married at Weissport, Pa., in 1872, Miss Emma Horne. He preached at Hellertown, Triverton and Mahantongo before coming here.

The Sunday-school was organized May 20th, 1865. Godfrey Laury was superintendent eight years. The school was union in name and character, and instruction was given in English and German. The school had 175 teachers and scholars in 1880, and a library of 755 vol- umes.

St. John's English Lutheran Church .- The English and German Lutheran churches of this city formed one society up to 1867. In that year this church was formed, taking with it the pastor of the old organization and fifty- two members. The neat church edifice on East Ma- hanoy avenue, seating four hundred persons, and costing some $7,000, was the result of the movement.

Rev. I. C. Burkhalter was pastor until March, 1869. Rev. R. Weiser took charge of the parish September 10th of that year, and resigned after a year's service. Rev. D. Beckner was pastor from February, 1871, until May, 1875; and Rev. J. M. Steck four years and a half. In March, 1880, Rev. J. W. Lake assumed the pastorate.

The value of the church, which was remodeled and en- larged by the addition of a handsome brick front during the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Steck, is $8,000, including the parsonage in the rear. The trustees are Adam K. Smith, Charles Bensinger and G. W. Stetzer. The church council consists of Elders Daniel Holdeman and David Bowman and Deacons David Klein and Charles Shoener.

The Sunday-school was organized in 1867. Its first superintendent was H. K. Smith. Its officers for 1880 were: Superintendent, A. K. Smith; assistant superin- tendent, W. H. Behny; secretary, A. B. Wagner; treas- urer, G. W. Stitzer. The number of its members is two hundred and forty-six, and its library contains four hun- dred volumes. The membership of the church in 1880 was one hundred and forty.

MOLLIE MAGUIRISM IN MAHANOY CITY.

The period comprising twelve years following the or- ganization of the borough was one of turmoil and law- lessness among the miners and laborers, many of whom had been driven from other localities by the fear of pun- ishment for misdeeds. With an imperfect police force, the law-abiding people found themselves obliged to be on their guard, and in many cases to foster a part of the turbulent element as a means with which to control the other portion.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, which under the control of the Mollie Maguires played so bloody a drama in the coal regions, found a foothold here at an early date, and its members were believed to have participated in some of the earlier acts of that terrible period; but it was not until after 1872 that it became well-known and aggressive as a local institution. To a former member of the organization, who withdrew in disgust and horror before its overthrow, the historian is indebted for that part

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MOLLIE MAGUIRE TIMES AT MAHANOY CITY.

of the following outline of its history here which has not been published before. Actuated by a love for riot and bloodshed, the order was perhaps as prominently known by its quarrels between its members as by its attacks on others; and it was owing to a fight between two members, named Dugan and Burke, that a rival society, known as the Ironclads, or "Sheet iron boys," was formed by the latter, and for years maintained a kind of clan organiza- tion which led to many an encounter between the oppos- ing forces. Dreading the mysterious order whose bloody hand alone could be seen, many of the law-abiding citi- zens, and, at times, the local authorities, sympathized with the "Ironclads," whose motive at least was known and appreciated; and as a result many a personal grudge was paid off, and an occasional act of sheer malice or wanton cruelty perpetrated on persons who were in no way con- nected with the Mollies. Later, a body of Welsh and English roughs known as "The Modocs," led by a man named John Hurd, took an occasional part in these melees, but they were so far prejudiced against the nationality of the Ironclads that they preferred to stand aloof from them and fight them as well as their opponents. Possessing as strong an influence at "court" as the Ancient Order did at one time, its members were generally prompt to obtain the arrest of any one con- cerned in or suspected of any attack on their persons or property; while so accustomed had their opponents be- come to the notorious alibis with which the Mollies had defeated justice for years, that they preferred to trust their own arms to defend themselves, and in that way laid the foundation for a series of vendettas, the account of which reads more like a chapter from the history of the Dark Ages than a recital of events occurring in a civilized community, within the last quarter of a century.

A series of atrocious murders led to the terrible tragedy at Wiggan's Patch, when, taking the law into their own hands, a body of men sunk all the instincts of humanity in their thirst for vengeance, and spared neither age nor sex. The final arrest of the Mollie Maguire lead- ers, and the firm attitude that was taken, after the Wig- gan's Patch affair, in favor of law and order by the au- thorities, backed by the coal and iron police, caused the gradual weeding out of the bad element by immigration; and within the four years prior to 1880 the borough has settled down to a state of quiet obedience to the laws that renders the recital of the events of the preceding decade almost incredible to one whose personal knowl- edge of the place and people has been gained since 1876.

and decided upon the death of Bully Bill Thomas and the Major brothers. It was at this meeting that McPar- lan, the detective, took a quiet, unsuspected part, and to his timely warning is probably due the fact that the Ma- jors escaped the fate of their brother. These attempted outrages, foiled as they were by the warning of McParlan and the recovery of Thomas from his wounds, were the last with which the Mollies of this city were directly identified. During the year mentioned they became ag- gressive enough to insist on joining the Irish parade on St. Patrick's day; and, being refused the countenance of the other civic societies, turned out in a separate body, reinforced by delegations from various points.

Among the most prominent members here were the two Jack McDonalds, one of whom was afterward killed by an accident in the mines; Mike O'Brian, one Duffie, and a part of the time Jack Kehoe, who then resided here. The arrest of O'Brian and McHugh, on May 6th, 1876, on a charge of conspiracy in the Thomas and Major cases, was the death blow to the organization; and, while a few of the noisy leaders took an early opportunity to remove where they would be beyond the risk of an inves- tigation, the rank and file of the members quietly shunned the old haunts, including the saloons of Clark and Mrs. Costello, which had been their rallying points, and set- tled down into peaceable, law-abiding citizens. The practical effect of their work here was to discourage in- dividual operators, and force them to sell their collieries to one of the two carrying companies, whose possession of these important mines gave them the very supremacy which the miners and laborers most feared.

The long suspension in 1875 found in and about this place a body of men with minds prejudiced by the ex- aggerated statements of labor advocates, as they were termed, whose attitude was threatening to the collieries and to the general interest of the place. At the com- mencement of the strike some of the private operators obtained other men and continued to mine. On learning this, a body of strikers from Hazleton visited the place, marched to the collieries and demanded that they be closed. During their march one of the leaders was ar- rested by the burgess, and imprisoned in the lock-up. On learning the fact a party gathered from Shenandoah and the adjacent colliery settlements and demanded of the burgess that the prisoner be released, which demand the burgess complied with. They then visited the col- liery of King, Tyler & Co., and ordered the men to quit work. The sheriff of the county, who was in town, hastened to the place and ordered the strikers to retire, and, as they refused to do so, commenced reading the riot act, when he was knocked down by one of the party. A warm encounter ensued, in which shots were freely exchanged and one of the policemen wounded. The sheriff and police were roughly handled, and retired. This and similar acts decided the authorities to quarter troops here until the close of the strike, which was done. effect in putting a stop to the threats of violence by which operators and miners had been deterred from work,

The Mollie Maguires attained their greatest strength at this point in 1875, during the long stril.e, when there were two bodies in the city and one at Trenton Patch, the membership of which, including members of the or- der not regularly members of these bodies but accredited from others, was about one hundred. The general ren- dezvous at that time was on East Center street, at the house of Michael Clark, whose son Thomas was one of the secretaries of the body. O'Brian, the most feared |The display of an imposing military force had a prompt as well as the most influential of the body masters, con- vened here one evening the body of which he was chief,

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.

NEW CASTLE TOWNSHIP.

HIS township was organized in 1847. The surface is little cultivated and mostly cov- ered with underbrush.

The first settlers were Jacob Yoh, John Boyer and Nicho Allen. Yoh settled on the turn- pike at the end of the road leading west from Wadesville. Boyer located nearly north from Yoh, on the road leading from Wadesville, across the turnpike, to Mount Laffee. His dwelling is still standing. Allen settled at the Big spring, on the summit of Broad mount- ain. His residence was known as " Black cabin." Later there was a tavern erected here. These settlers came about the year 1800. William Yoh, son of Jacob Yoh and son-in-law of John Boyer, built the first tavern in the township, about 1810. It was burned in 1830. B. Gallagher's tavern, near Yoh's, mentioned by the Potts- ville Advocate in 1831, is yet standing. Rapid settling began about 1830. The population in 1850 was 2,140; 1860, 2,814; 1870, 2,229; 1880, 1,540.

Flowery Field school-house, the first in the township, was built on the turnpike in 1828, by John Burger. Jona- than Shaffer, of St. Clair, then a boy of sixteen, with his father, helped to hew the lumber for this house. It was 20 by 25 feet, and was furnished with slab seats. Mr. White is the first teacher mentioned. Lewis Rees taught in 1830.

A short distance, on the turnpike, a cemetery had been commenced previous to building the school-house. Among the early burials there were those of Messrs. Wil- liam Yoh and John Boyer, and their wives. There is no other public cemetery in the township. The Irish and German Catholics each have a cemetery near the east line of the township. The first was established in 1857.

There are six school-houses in the township. The | menced June 30th, 1864. When a depth of 666 feet was upper New Castle school-house was built of stone, with a tin roof and a belfry, in 1873. The lower New Castle building, which is of wood, was built in 1879. The house at Mount Laffee was built in 1878. It is a wooden building, with two departments, and is surrounded by a grove of trees. The one at Wadesville, built in 1879, is of wood and has a belfry. The house at Greenberry was refitted in 1879. All are furnished with modern desks and fold- ing seats. All these schools are well conducted.

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History of Schuylkill County, Pa. with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 55

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell Number of Pages: 604

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell
Number of Pages: 604