History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 51

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868-
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1323

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A union of these classes with the Oil City church was agitated, and in 1866 was effected under Reverend J. Whitely as pastor, who after a short time conducted services in the Smith & Allison hall. The union, however, proved very unsatisfactory to the mass of the church, and they were again united to the old circuit, which, at the Erie Annual Conference of July 10- 16, 1867, was first known as Venango City charge, and placed under the pastorate of Reverends R. F. Keeler and J. P. Hicks. In the autumn of 1867 Reverend Keeler organized a class at the Reno mission, which had been attended for a year or so, with S. A. Darnell as leader. The Venango City church was reorganized October 6th of that year with twenty-four members. A. B. Rice was leader, and S. J. Ervin and Benjamin Foust, stewards. The church grew so fast under Reverend Keeler's pastorate that at the confer- ence of July 15-21, 1868, Venango City and Reno were made a separate

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charge under Reverend Keeler. There were seventy-one attached to the church at this time, and September 6, 1868, two classes were formed, with Messrs. Rice and Myers as leaders.

Efforts were made during the year to build a more suitable home than Smith & Allison's hall, but in vain. It was not until after Reverend R. D. Waltz' appointment in 1869 that the building at 315 East Third street was gotten under way, during which time they were kindly allowed the use of the Evangelical church. After the appointment of Reverend T. P. Warner in September, 1870, the church was completed at a cost of about four thou- sand five hundred dollars, and dedicated December 11th following by Rev- erend J. C. Pershing, D. D., of Pittsburgh. It was nearly thirteen years, however, before the earnest struggling society became free from debt; that was during the pastorate of Reverend M. Miller.

September 5, 1871, the new pastor, Reverend R. B. Boyd, arrived; under his care the church prospered and the Sunday school grew so that new rooms had to be erected. He remained until September 3, 1873. The best information that could be obtained of the succeeding pastorates is as follows: Reverend R. M. Bear had charge in 1874; Washington Hollister, 1875-76; E. D. McCreary, 1877-78; J. H. Herron, D. D., from 1879 to 1881 inclusive; M. Miller, from 1882 to 1884 inclusive; R. M. Warren, 1885-86; and P. P. Pinney, 1887 -. Their neat frame parsonage adjoins the church site, and both of these were improved in 1888 to the value of eight hundred and fifty dollars.

The church is now a flourishing congregation of two hundred and eighty- five members, with its Woman's Home Missionary Society, Ladies' Aid Society, the young people's society-the Gleaners, a choir, and a Sunday school of about three hundred members.

For all this much is due to those early pioneers of the old school house, an incomplete list of whose names are given: Elijah Myers, Charles Lee, the proprietor of Lee's hall, James Whitehill, Mrs. A. P. Dale, J. W. Latshaw, and others whose names seem not obtainable.

The Hebrew Society, under its various names, has been the result of a desire of several Jewish families in Oil City to unite their people in relig- ious and benevolent life.

It was during the later days of the war in the year 1864 that a resident of the Third ward called, at his home near Center street bridge, a meeting of twenty-two persons who formed themselves into the Hebrew Benevolent Society. L. Bear, the resident above mentioned who is still living in Oil City, led the services, in rented rooms secured for a synagogue, until about 1868. About this time the Progress Association was organized by S. W. Seldner who was its leader until probably about 1875, after which its career became more or less uncertain and spasmodic. About 1875 Mr. Bear secured the organization of the present Hebrew School Association and

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rooms were secured in the third story of the Lamberton block. Very soon, too, a rabbi was engaged in the person of S. Ullman of Harrisburg. The successive rabbis with approximate dates of arrival have been as follows: S. Ullman, 1875; S. Weil, 1879; - Willner, 1882; and S. Goldstein, in June, 1888. Eleven families constitute the membership, and two auxiliary societies are in vigorous operation, namely, the Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Association, organized in 1873, and the young men's Hebrew Literary Soci- ety, which began its career in 1889.

Brown's Chapel of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at Oil City was organized about 1865, and named after Reverend Morris Brown, the second bishop of that denomination. Reverend R. M. Green, Mrs. Charity Green, Charlotte Green, R. H. and Hannah Mann, Hannah Graham, and J. N. Mann, five of whom withdrew from Trinity church, met in O'Harra's opera house and were organized into a society by Reverend A. R. Green of Canada. After meeting some time in that building they leased Linden hall, corner of Main and Center streets, and used it until the great fire, after which they at once erected their present frame church on Stout street at a cost of three thousand dollars, and dedicated it in 1868.

Their pastors have been as follows, as nearly as can be afforded by the memory of Reverend R. M. Green: John Gibbons of Meadville; W. M. Brown; J. M. Morris; Benjamin Wheeler; W. A. J. Phillips; Anderson Palmer; S. T. Jones; and the present pastor, I. N. Ross. One of their members, Reverend R. M. Green, who has occasionally preached for them, spent several years in the South as a missionary. They have a Sabbath school and choir and a membership of sixty-eight.

The Reformed Presbyterian Church is known in Scotland as the Cov- enanter church, but the American branch prefers the above name. Their congregation in South Oil City numbers about seventy persons, whose weekly privilege it is to wend their way to services in their picturesque little frame church on West First street, near State, either for the sermon by Reverend J. A. F. Bovard, or the Sunday school of about seventy mem- bers under Superintendent W. J. McGee, or possibly a meeting of the Ladies' Home Missionary Society of the church.

A religious society always represents more of effort and periods of strug- gle than is usually appreciated by the public, and the little congregation composed of W. B. and L. A. Magee, James and F. A. Magee, John and Jane Love, Charles J. and Margaret Love, H. F. and Agnes Kirk, James and Sa- rah Ellis, Joseph and M. A. Hill, John Quin, R. and George Porter, Ann Reed, James R. Hill, and Joseph G. Garrett, who were organized June 15, 1865, by a commission from Pittsburgh Presbytery, was no exception. The commission, composed of Reverends T. Sproull and J. W. Sproull, with Elders James Boggs, James McKee, and Marcus Stewart, met in the old public school house of Oil City, the first mentioned gentleman presiding,

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and on the following day Elders W. B. Magee and John Love were elected.

Laytonia, then a mere village, had no church structure up to this time, and this society was the first to erect one, which was built on their lots, cor- ner of Second and State streets, at a cost of seven thousand dollars. The old church did good service, until May 1, 1887, after it had been thought for various reasons best to purchase their present church from the Episcopal church society, they relegated the old building to tenant purposes, and occupied their new quarters, which cost probably about four thousand five hundred dollars.

The elders had been changed during these years, and for six years from the first the pulpit was occupied only by supplies. Elders John Quin and H. F. Kirk were elected November 8, 1866, and April 8, 1872. About a year after the first pastorate William Thompson was ordained elder and W. J. Magee and C. J. Love, deacons. The first pastor, Reverend D. McFall, was called by a meeting March 11, 1871, presided over by Reverend D. Reid, and on May 19th following, he was ordained by Reverends A. M. Milligan, D. B. Wilson, and J. J. Mcclurkin, and Elders James Boggs and James An- derson. Reverend McFall's excellencies led to his receiving a call from Boston, and from his departure, May 29, 1873, to June 11, 1884, when Reverend Bovard was installed, is another interval of dependence on stated supplies, which gave place to the numerous years of the present pastorate.

The Second Presbyterian Church of Oil City, located on the south side in the midst of elegant residences and blooming terraces, has two epochs in its career.

In the days of Venango City several of its citizens agitated the organiza- tion of a Presbyterian church, which, through their messenger to Clarion Presbytery, John B. Gibson, was organized January 13, 1866, by a committee composed of Reverend S. P. Kincaid and Elder L. Watson with an assistant, Reverend Shirley. Twenty-nine members began the organization: John C. and Melissa J. McIntire, Abijah M. Porterfield, John and Sarah McCon- nell, Richard and Catherine Hughes, Hugh C. and Charlotte A. Graham, Harriet F. Carnahan, Elizabeth McKee, M. and C. E. McCombs, John B. Peninah, Delia B. and L. C. Gibson, S. M. and Mary J. Boyd, Mariah B. Elliott, Sarah A. Campbell, Hugh and Mary A. Brady, John C. and Nar- cissa A. Timlin, David J. Heming, E. M. Potter, E. J. Lay, M. D., and wife. Messrs. Gibson, McIntire, and Boyd were chosen elders, and Messrs. Brady and Hughes became deacons, while the name of the church chosen was, "The First Presbyterian Church of Venango City."

A hall was secured on the corner of Front and Central avenue in the building now used as a hotel, and here for nearly two years services were held at intervals by the following supplies: Reverends S. P. Kincaid, Shirley, Gray, S. H Hallady, and Leason. A Sabbath school and prayer

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meeting were kept up also, the latter often aided by Reverend McFetridge, of the First church of Oil City. After a two-years' struggle it was thought best, on account of removals and other causes, to disband, and twenty members remaining merged their numbers into the First church of Oil City.

The second epoch begins in 1870, when Captain John Munhall and others wisely secured a lot on the southeast corner of First and Reed streets at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. In the spring of 1882 the increased population, convenience, and other causes united to make the building of a new south side church advisable, and, growing out of a suggestion of Doc- tor R. Colbert a meeting of the following gentlemen was held about May 1st at the office of William McNair: Captain John Munhall, T. H. Will- iams, Mr. McNair, John Spear, David Sterrett, Doctor Colbert, W. H. Kinter, W. W. White, Doctor J. R. Arter, George Porter, and H. C. Graham. The result was that at a meeting, June 14th, building plans of Mr. John Bennett were adopted and the building committee-Messrs. Williams, Porter, Munhall, Kinter, and J. M. McElroy-pushed their work; Messrs. Colbert and Graham secured ecclesiastic organization and Messrs. Graham and A. M. Turner secured legal incorporation under their present name. The brick structure, to be completed in November at a cost of five thousand five hundred dollars, was extended both in time and price, and reached, when furnished, a cost of eight thousand one hundred dollars, while on August 5, 1872, the presbyterial committee-Rever- ends J. J. Marks, D. D., T. J. Mulford, and Elder Patton-completed the organization with fifty-six members, fifty-one of whom had letters from the First church of Oil City. Of these R. M. James and W. H. Porter- field were chosen elders, and after various services in the Reformed Pres- byterian and Episcopal churches, the new church was dedicated January 19, 1873, the services of the day being conducted by Reverend David Hall, D. D., of Mansfield, Ohio, and Reverend David McFall of the Re- formed Presbyterian church of Oil City.

The church was now firmly founded and a Sabbath school begun under the superintendence of Doctor R. Colbert, which has grown from one hun- dred and eighteen pupils of that day to three hundred and fourteen in 1889.

The first pastor, Reverend David T. Carnahan, of Pittsburgh, was called July 25, 1873, and began his labors on the following September 3rd. At his installation on November 5th, Reverend Ross Stevenson preached the sermon, and Reverends Joseph Mateer, D. D., and J. McPherrin gave the charges respectively to the pastor and congregation. During the decade of Reverend Carnahan's pastorate there were two considerable revivals, early in 1875 and 1876, and a large debt was cleared. The membership at the close was one hundred and sixty-two against seventy at the beginning; the Sabbath school two hundred; benevolent contributions amounted to three thousand four hundred and fifty-eight dollars; expense funds reached a

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total of twenty-nine thousand dollars-making a grand financial total of thirty-two thousand dollars.

The present pastorate began with the installation of Reverend W. F. Wood of Peotone, Illinois, November 17, 1882. The sermon was preached by Reverend John McCoy of Franklin, the pastoral charge given by Rever- end L. M. Gilliland of Tidioute, while Reverend J. N. MacGonigle of the First church gave the charge to the people. The pastorate has been one of considerable activity and the personnel of the congregation characterized by youth. The needs of the young people at once led to arrangements for more room, so that by June 16, 1884, a practially new church was dedi- cated, which cost about twenty eight thousand dollars, including the value of the lot. The architect, Jacob Snyder of Akron, Ohio, and the building committee, J. B. Smithman, D. McIntosh, P. Schreiber, and J. H. Mc- Elroy succeeded in forming an edifice which with its lawns and trees makes one of the chief features of the south side. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the pastor, who was assisted by Reverend Carnahan, Reverend W. M. Covert of the Evangelical church, and Reverend J. F. Plummer of Pittsburgh, acting pastor of the First church. The church debt was cleared in March, 1888. In May, 1889, a fine pipe-organ was secured, valued at four thousand five hundred dollars.

The membership also, with the opening revival of 1883-84, has in- creased steadily from one hundred and sixty-two to three hundred and forty- seven; the total contribution for the first six years of the pastorate was thirty-eight thousand and forty-two dollars; the auxiliary society life flour- ished, so there are now the following: The Temperance Society, organized March 28, 1889; the Pansies, organized in 1888; the Gleaners, in 1888; the Sunbeams, in 1888; the King's Sons, in 1889; the King's Daughters; the Young People's Missionary Society; the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Societies; the Sabbath school, and a quartette choir.

The sessional succession is as follows: Elders R. M. James and W. H. Porterfield, from August 5, 1872, to 1877, when Mr. James died; Doctor R. Colbert from 1873; Adam Hosey from 1873 to 1878; A. M. Turner from 1873; G. R. Kemp from 1873 to his death in 1884; H. G. Tinker. from 1879; W. S. Motheral from 1883; and Elder N. H. Brown from 1883. The deacon and trusteeships have been in competent hands.

Christ Church, Protestant Episcopal, had its beginnings in the old Third ward school house probably as early as 1861. The members of this faith throughout the adjoining region gathered here whenever some foreign rector found it convenient to hold services. The rectors at Franklin, Reverends Henry Purdon and J. W. Tays, the first of whom information can be gained, held services during 1862-64, but the changeful character of the population made organization inadvisable until 1866. Reverend Marcus A. Tolman of Franklin had held services here, and it was at his suggestion that an

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organization was effected in August at Bascom's hall in the Third ward. In 1867 the diocesan convention admitted the society under the name Christ Church Parish, Oil City.

The successive pastorates began with the call of Reverend R. D. Nevius, of the Diocese of Alabama, extended by Christ church and St. John's at Rouseville, August 8, 1866. After a successful service of two and a half years he received a call to St. John's, Mobile, Alabama, and left for his new field in February, 1869. In the following September Reverend Morison Byllesby became rector and served until the spring of 1871, when, in May, he was succeeded by the Reverend J. T. Protheroe. This pastorate closed in May, 1875, and Reverend Charles G. Adams took charge, serving until Ascension Day, 1879. During October his successor, Reverend P. B. Light- ner, assumed the duties of the rectorship and continued until October 8, 1882. The present rector, the Reverend J. H. B. Brooks of Salisbury, Maryland, accepted the call to the parish January 1, 1883, and the church entered upon a prosperous career.

The places of worship after the organization were Bascom's hall for about six months, when Excelsior hall was used. On Christmas, 1868, they began in a newly fitted up hall in the Mercantile block. This was used until the first church was consecrated January 25, 1871, by Reverend John Scarborough of Pittsburgh. This had been suggested in December, 1869, and a frame structure was erected on First near the corner of State street, south side, at a total cost of about four thousand dollars, and built by G. N. Moore. In 1877 an infant school building was erected, and in 1881 a rectory was erected on First street, which with other property is valued at four thousand dollars. It was at this time that the church was reincorporated. In 1882 services were held on the north side in the Lamberton block, and a school and reading room had for about two years to accommodate members there. In 1884 a new church was suggested by Messrs. Ash and Lyddon, and the following year plans of E. A. Curtis of Fredonia, New York, were adopted. The beautiful structure at the corner of First street and Central avenue, with its four thousand dollar pipe-organ, was completed in 1886 at a total cost of about thirty thousand dollars, while the old church was sold to the Reformed Presbyterians. The predecessors of the present organ are the first, secured in 1867 through the efforts of Mrs. W. L. Lay, and the second, presented by H. L. Foster in 1882.

The first vestry included A. L. Bennett, J. C. Welch, J. B. McMullen, G. E. Shepard, John B. Candy, A. W. Myers, J. G. Shirts, Robert Christie, Charles Frink, M. McGarvey, E. Edgerton, and J. M. Braden, in 1866. The changes since have been with few exceptions as follows: 1868, W. H. Col- ling, Myers, Bennett, W. L. Lay, W. J. Brundred, Candy, W. R. Johns, T. B. McNair, and I. M. Sowers; 1869, J. W. Weller vice Brundred, E. B. Searls vice McNair, and D. McMullen vice Candy; 1870, Doctor Ansart,

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Messrs. Bennett, the Lays, Johns, Myers, Weller, Martindale, and McCutch- eon; 1872, Messrs. Weller, the Lays, Greenfield, Cornwall, Porteous, Brun- dred, Forman, and Grant; 1875, Forman, the Lays, Campbell, Brun- dred, Grant, Shreiber, Porteous, Cornwall, and Greenfield; 1876, Fraser vice Forman, Simpson vice W. L. Lay, Beveridge vice Grant, Grosh, and Beers; 1877, Foster vice Simpson, Winslow vice Grosh, and Corse vice Beers; 1878, Hepburn vice Campbell, Ash vice Schreiber; 1879, Church vice Lay, and Mr. Ogilby vice Corse; 1880, C. H. Lay vice Hepburn, McGarvey vice Winslow, and Cowell vice Church; 1881, Chickering vice Lay, Watson vice Beveridge, and Welch vice Porteous; 1882, Ross vice Watson, Beveridge vice Cowell, Robbins vice Cornwall, B. F. vice W. J. Brundred, Lyddon vice Welch; 1883, W. J. Brundred vice Greenfield, Lay vice McGarvey; 1884, Beers vice Lay, Hartwell vice Lyddon, Judd vice Beveridge, Green- field vice Robbins, Cornwall vice Ogilby, Cowell vice Fraser; 1885, Camp- bell vice Cornwall; 1886, Lay vice Judd; 1888, Hyde vice Ross.

The auxiliary societies of the church have been a Sabbath school from the first, a somewhat intermittent parish school, the Rector's Aid Society, the Altar Society, three circles of the King's Daughters, a choir of men and boys, and a mission at McClintockville with twenty-three members. The total membership of the church is three hundred and twenty-eight.

Calvary Church, Evangelical Association, had its origin in a company of adherents of what has been known as the Albright faith, who, in 1866, called the Reverend W. C. Davis, of Pittsburgh, to hold services. He did so and after a protracted meeting in Lee's hall during the winter following an organization embracing forty members was effected. Among these were Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Smoyer, Mr. and Mrs. William Snyder and daughter, Mr. A. Myers, Mr. and Mrs. John Morgan, and others, many of whom had worshiped with the Methodists. Their class leader was Mr. Myers, and Reverend Davis was placed officially in charge of the mission by the Pitts- burgh Conference at Warren, Pennsylvania, in 1867. Reverend P. W. Plotts had charge of the mission the second year and an attempt was made to erect a church; he was succeeded by Reverend G. W. Brown, under whom a church was erected on First near Short street. It was dedicated October 31, 1869, by Reverend T. G. Clewell, and has since been added to and much improved. Reverend Covert was pastor in 1885, and Reverend Hummell is the present pastor. It is a misfortune that no records of the church have been preserved. The society is prosperous and has a good membership.

The Christian Church, often known as Disciples, Campbellites, etc., held services for a time about 1867 under Reverend Newcomb. An organi- zation was attempted, but it came to naught.

Good Hope Church, Evangelican Lutheran, is a south side society in which both the German and the English languages are used. This is an interesting fact when it is known that the congregation was about seven-

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teen years old before the introduction of English, when the needs of the younger generation became imperative.

Among the arrivals in Oil City previous to 1870 were some German Lu- therans: The Roess brothers, George Walter, John M. Schmid, Jacob Bur- kle, E. Kaufmann, George Paul, G. C. Mohr, George Gutmiller, H. Suhr, G. Peters, M. Kirchartz, M. Wanner, and others. These, in 1870, secured Reverend L. Vogelsang, then of Brady's Bend, Pennsylvania, to hold serv- ices occasionally in the old Third ward school house. Reverend Lange, of Franklin, also held English services sometimes in the Evangelical church, on First street.

July 30, 1871, an organization was effected under the name German Good Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the following council: George Walter, president; E. Kaufmann, secretary; Louis Roess, treasurer; . and Messrs. Schmid, Burkle, Paul, and John Kistler. On October 19th following a constitution was signed by twenty-five members, after the in- stallation of the first pastor, Reverend Vogelsang, on the 8th instant. The first pastorate, a long one of sixteen and a half years, was marked by a slow but permanent growth. The membership was both foreign and American born and by the close of the pastorate numbered two hundred and twenty- five communicants with a Sabbath school enrolling fifty pupils and teachers. This successful pastorate closed April 1, 1888, by the resignation of Rev- erend Vogelsang, prompted by failing health. Rev. H. J. Reimann had been called in January and April 12th entered upon the present pastorate, which has been marked by the introduction of the English language- especially in Sunday evening services, and an increase in membership to about three hundred, while the Sabbath school enrolls one hundred and four pupils and seventeen teachers, and a parochial school, begun by Rev- erend Vogelsang, has an average attendance of fifty.

The building and parsonage have also been a steady growth. The site was purchased in 1871, and includes lots 43 and 44 on First street. The consideration was one thousand dollars. The sum of five thousand dollars was raised, and on August 20th of the same year the dedication occurred. Although the first annual congregational meeting was held October 7th fol- lowing, the society were not incorporated until October 21, 1872. The church is a two-story frame with the auditorium above, a school and lecture room below, and a parsonage in the rear. Early in the eighties a pipe - organ was put in and various changes and improvements have been made from time to time until the total value of the property is estimated at about eight thousand dollars.

The council was in 1871 composed of Elders Louis Roess, George Walter; Deacons George Peters, E. Kaufmann, J. Kistler, and Trustees J. M. Schmid, George Paul, and J. Burkle. With slight changes succes- sive councils have been as follows: 1872-73, elders: Roess and Walter;

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deacons: Peters, Kaufmann, and Iserloh; trustees: Schmid, Paul, and Burkle; 1874, elder, Kaufmann; deacons: Walter and Peters; trustees: Schmid and Roess; 1875, elder, Kirchartz; deacons: Alt and Schmid; trust- ees: Roess and Kaufmann; 1876, elders Kirchartz and Walter; deacons: Kaufmann and Schmid; trustee, Roess; 1877-82, elders: Kirchartz and Walter; deacons: Kaufmann and Suhr; trustees: Roess and Schmid; 1882-83, elders: Kirchartz and Walter; deacons: Kaufmann and Suhr; trustees: Roess, Schmid, Schormann, and Steglat; 1884-85, elders: Kir- chartz, Walter, and Schormann; deacons: Kaufmann, Suhr, and Gutmiller; trustees: Roess, Schmid, and Steglat; 1886, elders: Schmid and Suhr; deacons: Roess and Gutmiller; trustees: Bench, Schormann, Kaufmann, and Steglat; 1887, elders: Roess and Schmid; deacons: Walter, Suhr, Plack, and Dallas; trustees: Schormann, Kaufmann, and Steglat; 1888, elders: Roess and Schinid; deacons: Plack, Walter, Schwartzkopf, and Suhr; trustees: Schormann, Krathge, and Kaufmann.

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History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including, Part 51

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868- Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co. Number of Pages: 1323

Author: Bell, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1868-
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Brown, Runk & Co.
Number of Pages: 1323