USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 61
USA > Pennsylvania > Carbon County > History of the counties of Lehigh and Carbon, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pt. 1 > Part 61
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BOROUGH OF CATASAUQUA.
plug in his yard. The elevation of Mr. Thomas' house is above the average of houses on Second Street, and it demonstrates the effectiveness of the new works. The water furnished is taken from the canal, but only enters that conduit at the edge of town, at Swartz's ! dam, and may be considered as pure Lehigh water as is obtainable. For household purposes, it is superior to that furnished Allentown, which is of so hard a
Mr. Thomas was an ardent friend of Sabbath- schools, and speedily organized one in Catasauqua. nature as to be unfit for washing and general uses. To accommodate this school, and also provide a place And as to the supply, it is so abundant that a popula- of worship nearer home, a church edifice was deemed necessary. Accordingly a small triangular plot of ground in the rear of the old reservoir, on what is now Church Street, was set apart by the company. By the liberality of Mr. Thomas this plot was enlarged to a square, running from Church Street north to Bridge Street, and measuring about two hundred feet in width by three hundred and fifty feet in depth. On the south end of this plot, near the reservoir and fronting on Church Street, which thus derived its name, the first church in Catasauqua was built. tion of eleven thousand could be accommodated with- out overtaxing the present works. Therefore we can boast that we have one of the best, if not the best, water arrangements of any town in Pennsylvania. Our borough has not been involved in debt to secure this great blessing. The expenditures made the last season exceed thirty thousand dollars, and yet the company added to our obligations as citizens by the purchase of a first-class steamer for use in case of fire, and have erected a hall to house it which is a credit to any town. Catasauqua is largely indebted to Mr. Hunt for the new works, as he urged the matter upon the attention of the company, and supervised their construction. The master mechanic of the company, Thomas E. Evans, planned and constructed the pump- ing machinery."
Religious Matters .- There are several elements of population in Catasauqua, and as a consequence the number of religious denominations is larger than might be ex- pected in a town of the size. The Welsh are either Presbyterians, Congregationalists, or Baptists.1 The Germans are Entherans and Catholics, the former denomination claiming a majority of them. The older native population forms largely the strength of the Lutheran and German Reformed con- gregations, while the Evangelical Church is principally composed of the descendants of those Germans whose predilections were for the former churches. The Scotch are as a rule Old-School Presbyterians, and the Irish people are divided between the Presby- terian and Catholic Churches. There are many Swedes in the town, and they are, with few exceptions, adherents of the Luth- eran faith.
Historical Sketch of the First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, Pa .- The First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua dates its beginning from about the time when the Crane Iron Company's works were started in this place. In 1839, by invitation of that company, Mr. David Thomas, a native of Wales, came here to begin the enterprise, out of the successful prosecution of which the town of Catasauqua itself has grown.
1 The Welsh Baptists do not at present maintain an active organiza- tion.
For the first few months after his arrival, and until a suitable dwelling-house could be erected in Cat- asauqua, Mr. Thomas resided in Allentown, and with his family worshiped in the Presbyterian Church of that place, then under the care of the Rev. Robert W. Landis.
The corner-stone was laid by the Rev. Mr. Landis on the last Sabbath of December, 1839. The cere- mony took place during a snow-storm, and the con- eluding services, owing to the inclemency of the weather, were held in Mr. Thomas' new house on Front Street (opposite No. I Furnace), to which the
THE OLD CHURCH, CATASAUQUA.
little assembly adjourned. This is the date of the first sermon in the English language ever preached in this town, at least so far as is known.
A little over two months sufficed in which to finish the building, and on the 22d day of March, 1840, it was dedicated to the worship of God. It was a very unpretending whitewashed structure of unplaned boards, set perpendicularly and battened. Its size at first was about twenty-five by thirty-five feet, but it was afterwards lengthened by the addition of ten or twelve feet. The adjacent ground was occupied as a I graveyard, and continued to be so used until Fairview
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Cemetery was laid out on the opposite side of the Lehigh River. The bell to call the people together (a present from Mr. Thomas) was hung in the fork of an oak-tree, which stood at the south right-hand corner of the building.
At or about this time Rev. Mr. Landis organized the church, an English Presbyterian, and ordained Mr. Thomas as the first elder. It numbered only three members, viz. : Mr. David Thomas, his wife Elizabeth, and his oldest daughter, Jane. All these . stated supply for about one year and a half. While survived until June 20, 1882, a period of forty-two . here he was elected pastor, but for some reason the years. Then Mr. Thomas was called to his rest, greatly beloved and honored.
As Mr. Thomas was a Welshman, and his wife and children were only slightly acquainted with the Eng- lish language (although they very speedily acquired a knowledge of it), and as he was soon to be followed by many of his nationality, surprise has been ex- pressed that he did not have the church organized as a Welsh church. To this his reply always was: "English is the language of this country, and I saw that the future of my children and of my fellow- countrymen was identified with that language; and therefore sound wisdom dictated a policy which would MImericanize them as soon as possible."
This far-sighted policy he always adhered to; and while proud of his Welsh origin, he never to any great extent gave pecuniary aid or encouragement to the support of separate Welsh organizations. He even opposed them as detrimental to the best interests of his countrymen. He judged it wiser and better to have them at once mingle as much as possible with Americans, that they might the sooner become one with them.
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The congregation continued to occupy the old build- ing erceted in 1839-40 until increase in minbers and wealth called for a new and better one. Accordingly By an arrangement with Mr. Thomas, the Rev. Mr. Landis ministered to the little church for some time after its organization ; but in 1841 he discontinued his labors in Catasauqua, and the church was for a building committee was appointed, consisting of the pastor, Rev. C. Earle, and Messrs. D. Thomas, Joshua Hunt, Morgan Emannel, and William MeClelland. By an arrangement with Mr. Thomas, the original a while without regular preaching. During the time , donor, the plot of ground running from Church Street that Rev. Mr. Landis served the people, but at what : to Bridge Street was exchanged for another deemed exact date is not known, Mr. David Williams, Sr., was ordained elder, and filled the office with great acceptance until his death, Ang. 14, 1516.
In 1812, Rev. Richard Walker succeeded Mr. Landis as pastor of the Allentown Church, and preached to the Catasauqua people as stated supply, occupying the pulpit in the afternoon of every alternate Sabbath. This arrangement continued for some years, during which Messrs. Joshua Hunt and William J. Romig, : M.D., were chosen elders and ordained Sept. 13, 18446.
In 1850 the church, numbering about twenty-five | ing. members, obtained from the court of Lehigh County an act of incorporation, dated December 3d of that year, under the style and title of " New School Pres- byterian Church of Catasauqua." This was afterwards, Feb. 25, 1853, changed to "First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua," it being the first church organized and incorporated in the town.
The church at this time was under the care of the
Third Presbytery of Philadelphia, and so continued until a change of boundary lines brought it within the Fourth Presbytery. About the time of its incor- poration permission was obtained from the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia to have the services of a resident minister. Accordingly, Rev. Charles Evans, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Wilmington, Del., was engaged for six months. At the end of that time the Rev. Hugh Carlisle was employed and served as
call was never prosecuted, and he was not installed. During his term of service Messrs. William McClel- land and David Williams were chosen elders and set apart as such Dec. 8, 1851. Rev. Andrew Culver of Manayunk, Pa., and Rev. Cornelius Earle, of Union- ville, Pa., were present, assisting in a protracted meet- ing, and took part in the services of ordination, the latter giving the charge to the people.
In October, 1852, Rev. Cornelius Earle resigned his charge in Unionville, Centre Co., Pa., and on the 14th of the same month removed to Catasauqua, and as pastor-elect began his labors in this place. In May, 1853, he was formally installed as pastor, being the first one so installed. On this oceasion Rev. Richard Walker presided as moderator and put the constitu- tional questions; Rev. Ellis I. Richards, D.D., of Reading, Pa., preached the sermon ; Rev. John Pat- ton, D.D., of Philadelphia, gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Duncan K. Turner, of Neshaminy, Pa., gave the charge to the people.
more eligible, situated on the north corner of Second and Pine Streets, in size one hundred and eighty by one hundred and eighty feet. On this the corner- stone of the new church was laid at half-past tive o'clock Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23, 1854, by the pastor, Rev. C. Earle ; an address was delivered by the Rev. Richard Walker, of Allentown, and Rev. Leslie Irwin, of Bath, took part in the services. At this time the church numbered sixty communicant mem- bers, and the Sabbath-school was large and flourish-
The new edifice, still occupied by the First Church, is of brick, semi-Gothic in style, the main building forty, by sixty-three, exclusive of tower and pulpit- recess, and has a transept on the south side twenty by thirty feet, which forms part of the andienee-room, and an organ transept on the north side ten by twenty fect. In this is a fine organ, the gift of Mr. David Thomas, valned at two thousand five hundred dollars.
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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CATASAUQUA, PA.
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BOROUGH OF CATASAUQUA.
The spire is about one hundred and fifty feet high in- cluding the finial. In the tower is a fine-toued bell of Meneeley's make.
The building, although completed some time before, was not opened for worship until it could be dedicated free from debt. Delay also took place that arrange- ments might be made to light it with gas. This led to the incorporation of the Catasauqua Gas Company, a fact not known to many. So that in a double sense the church has given light to the town.
At length the church was solemnly dedicated to the worship of God on Sabbath, the 11th day of May, 1856. Rev. George Duffield, D.D., preached the dedi- catory sermon, Rev. C. Earle offered the dedicatory prayer, and Rev. R. Walker took part in the services. In the afternoon Rev. Jacob Becker, of the German Reformed Church, preached in the German language.
The old building was sold for thirty-five dollars, subject to removal. The pulpit and pews were placed at the disposal of Rev. C. Earle, and by him used at Hokendauqua, where about this time he organized a Presbyterian Church, and to which he ministered for thirteen years, and until the church at that place was built and the lecture-room had been dedicated, and the congregation was large enough and strong enough to have a pastor of its own.
The pews in the new church at Catasauqua were distributed by lot among all who desired regular sit- tings. The result was very satisfactory to the holders, many of whom, surprising as it may seem, drew the very pews they had particularly desired.
1
Provision was made for the support of the gospel by voluntary contributions. This plan was adhered to until 1868, when the rent system was adopted.
As commemorative of the reunion of the Old and New School Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church, a memorial chapel was built. The corner-stone of this was laid by the pastor May 13, 1871, and dedicated by him December 10th of the same year. The build- ing is of brick, semi-Gothic, and in size is about thirty- five by eighty-two. It contains rooms for all church purposes, and is used for mid-week services and by the Sabbath school. The Sabbath school numbers about three hundred members, teachers and scholars. Mr. Joshua Hunt served as superintendent for nearly thirty-six years. Ile resigned in 1882, and was suc- eeeded by Mr. John Williams, the present incumbent.
On the north of the church building, with a space of forty feet between the two buildings and fronting on Seeond Street, is one of the most beautiful and con- veniently arranged manses in the State. It is of brick, and in style corresponds with the other buildings. The congregation has always been remarkable for its punctuality and promptitude in all things. It is claimed for it that during thirty years no regular church service has ever heen begun two minutes after the appointed time,-a fact which deserves mention in its history.
At a meeting of the church Nov. 26, 1874, Messrs.
John Hudders, John Williams, and William G. Lewis were elected elders, and they were duly set apart on the following Sabbath, Nov. 29, 1874.
Since its organization, in 1839, about six hundred and ten persons have been connected with it as com- municant members. Of this number five hundred and thirty united under its present pastor, viz. : three hundred and twelve on profession of faith, and two hundred and eighteen by letters from other churches.
Through the labors of its pastor it has been particu- larly and directly identified with the organization of the churches of Hokendauqua, Lockridge, Ferndale, and Bethlehem. It has contributed, liberally to every Protestant church in town, and its own property is free from debt.
Present pastor, Rev. Cornelius Earle. Former and present elders, David Thomas, David Williams, Sr., Joshua Hunt, William J. Romig, M.D., William Me- Clelland, David Williams, Jr., John Hudders, John Williams, and William G. Lewis; Clerk of Session, William G. Lewis; Superintendent of Sunday-school, Jolin Williams; Organist, Professor James Prescott.
REV. CORNELIUS EARLE,-As a sketch of the First Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, and an engraving of the first and second houses of worship used by that congregation appear in this work, it is deemed fitting to also present a portrait of their first, and up to this time their only settled pastor, together with a brief biographieal notice.
The clergyman referred to, Rev. Cornelius Earle, son of Cornelius and Maria Lent Earle, was born in New York City, July 11, 1823. He was the fifth of seven children, viz., four sons and three daughters. Hisgreat-great-great-grandfather, Edward Earle, came from England about 1672, and first appears in the official records of the Province of New Jersey as the purchaser of the Island of Secaucus (in the Indian tongue "('ika-kus") for the sum of two thousand Dutch dollars, together with the stock and " S or 10 negro and Christian servants." The island contained about three thousand acres, and in the history of those days is described as "the bravest Plantation in the Province." Built into the wall of the oldest house upon the island at the present time is a stone in- seribed " Edward Earle, 1678." It appears to have been taken from a house built before the present one. The family still preserve the ancestral crest handed down from John de Erlegh, 1132, viz., a wounded lion, with the motto, " Vulvenitus non vietns." His mother, Maria Lent, was the great-great-granddangh- ter of Baron Resolved Waldron, who came to New Amsterdam (now New York) in 1647, in the suite of Governor Peter Stuyvesant. He was the Governor's private secretary, and served in that capacity for six- teen years conseentively. The family records show that the title and letters patent were granted by the Dutch government to Rudolph Waldron, the head of the family, in 1120, and to his son, Baron Richard Waldron, by the English government in 1156. The
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IHISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
crest is a tiger rampant, and the motto, "Nee bene- ficii immemor, nec injuria." The old family mansion, built by Baron Resolved Waldron, in 1660, on the shore of the East River, near the foot of the present Eighty eighth Street, was taken down so recently as 1870, being two hundred and ten years old. These points are referred to here as matters of antiquarian interest.
Coming down to the subject of the present sketch, Rev. Cornelius Earle was born, as aforesaid, in New York City. He pursued his preparatory studies in' the University Grammar School, of which Rev. Cyrus Mason, D.D., was at that time rector, and Rev. C'or- nelius II. Edgar, D.D., now of Easton, Pa., and John Leekie, of Edinburgh, Scotland, were principal in- structors. Rev. George H. Houghton, D.D., now rector of the Church of the Transfiguration in New York City, was also one of his tutors.
He entered the Freshman Class of the University of the City of New York in 1841, and was graduated as an " Honor Man" in 1845, having as his part " The Philosophical Oration."
Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, LL.D., was at that time chancellor, and Tayler Lewis, LL. D., E. A. Jolm- son, LL.D., Rev. C. S. Henry, D.D., John Draper, M.D., LL. D., and B. F. Joslin, LL.D., were distin- guished professors in that institution.
In the autumn of the same year he began his theo- logieal course in the Union Theologieal Seminary, New York City, in which "school of the prophets" Rev. Edward Robinson, D.D., Rev. Henry White, D. D., Rey. Thomas H. Skinner, D.D., LL. D., and Rev. Samuel II. Cox, D. D., LL. D., then taught,
Mr. Earle was licensed to preach the gospel by the Third Presbytery of New York City in 1848. Ile soon after transferred his relation to the Presbytery of Wilmington, Del., in order that he might take charge of the church of Unionville, Chester Co., Pa., and Kennett Square, then a mission station annexed to it. Ile was installed pastor Dec. 7, 1848. Ile resigned his charge there Oct. 1, 1852, and removed to Cata- sauqua, l'a., October 14th, and began his labors there as " pastor elect." He was installed pastor over the First Church of Catasauqua in May, 1853.
The congregation at that time worshiped in the little frame edifice of which an engraving appears in this work.
The church grew under his ministration, and on the 23d of September, 1864, the corner-stone of the new house of worship was laid on the corner of Second and Pine Streets. This building was dedicated May 11, 1856.
To commemorate the reunion of the so-called " Old and New School" branches of the Presbyterian Church (to the latter of which this church be- longed), the corner-stone of a " memorial chapel" was laid May 13, 1871, and the edifice duly dedicated on Sunday, Dec. 10, 1871.
In addition to his charge at Catasauqua, Mr. Earle
originated several church enterprises in neighboring towns, Soon after the Thomas Iron-Works were started at Hokendauqua, as seven members of his church at Catasauqua had removed thither, he or- ganized the " Presbyterian Church of Hokendanqna." For a time religious services were held in a barn owned by the company ; afterwards, for a little while, in the room over the company's office. Having served the little band for full twelve years under great dis- advantages, and wishing to lighten his labors, he se- cured the erection of the building now owned and used by the Presbyterian Church there. He at the same time obtained from the board of directors the grant of an additional lot adjoining the church lot, " as the site of a parsonage, whenever circumstances should call for the erection of one." Having carried forward the enterprise until the new church was about. completed, and the leeture-room part of it had been dedicated, he announced to the people his intention to withdraw, and requested them to sceure the ser- vices of a pastor to reside among them. This was done, and Mr. Earle's connection with them ceased.
An opportunity soon after this presenting itself to start a church at Lockridge (or Alburtis), where a furnace was about this time built, and the nucleus of a little town formed, the temptation was too great to be resisted, and he commenced religious services there on Wednesday evenings, using an old school- house which was fitted up for the purpose by Mr. V. W. Weaver, superintendent of the works. Having invited Rev. Mr. Little to co-operate with him, they preached there on alternate Sabbaths, using for their transit a small locomotive which the Thomas Iron Company generously placed at their disposal, and which, as the only available means of reaching the place (seventeen miles distant from Catasauqua), jnietly bore them to and fro. Their Sabbath seruples in the case were overeome by the consideration that it was the only way to cover thirty-four miles of travel in the time they had to spare from other duties, and involved less real work than the use of horses would have done. This arrangement continued for a year or more, at the end of which time Rev. Mr. Walker, of Allentown, being without a charge, was engaged, and both the other clergymen withdrew, uot, however, until Mr. Earle had obtained from the Thomas Iron Company a grant of land for church and cemetery purposes, and a liberal contribution of money for the infant enterprise.
Very soon after withdrawing from the Lockridge mission, at the suggestion of Mr. David Thomas, Rev. Mr. Earle began to hold religious services at Fern- dale ( Fullerton), one mile below Catasauqua, wor- shiping at first in a small barn which Mr. Thomas had fitted np for the purpose. At that place Mr. Earle organized the " Ferndale Presbyterian Church," Oet. 14, 1871, it being the nineteenth anniversary of his coming to Catasauqua. He continued to minister to it until stricken down with a long and severe illness.
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BOROUGH OF CATASAUQUA.
After his recovery, feeling that it was too heavy an addition to his other pastoral work, he was, at his own request, relieved by the Presbytery of Lehigh, and on his recommendation Rev: Mr. Little, who had officiated during Mr. Earle's illness, was given the charge of it.
Several years now passed, when, two or three of Mr. Earle's members having removed to Bethlehem, he was led to look up the Presbyterians residing there. Finding the number sufficient to warrant the organi- zation of a Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem proper, in which there was no church of that order at the time (although one had been organized in South Bethlehem), and having by personal visitation kindled their enthusiasm, " The First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem" was duly organized November, 1875, by a committee appointed for the purpose by the Pres- bytery of Lehigh. To consolidate and watch over them until a pastor could be secured, Mr. Earle acted as a volunteer pastor, and preached for them gratu- itously every Wednesday evening during the winter, and withdrew only when the present pastor, Rev. A. D. Moore, was ready to take charge of the flock, which he did in 1876.
The several enterprises above named begun by him and carried to a point where they could stand alone, were not undertaken to "eke out his salary." The liberality of his own church in Catasauqua rendered that unnecessary. They were undertaken through his zeal for a cause dear to his heart, and to which he had devoted his life.
Rev. Mr. Earle was twice married. The first time, Nov. 12, 1849, by Rev. Joseph C. Stiles, D.D., pastor of Mercer Street Church, New York City, to Miss Maria Louisa Lent, daughter of John A. and Catha- rine Van Beuren Lent, all of New York City. This most estimable lady died in Catasauqua, Dec. 18, 1856. Two children were born of this marriage, viz. : : Alletta M. Earle, in Unionville, Pa., Aug. 22, 1851; died in Catasauqua, Dec. 28, 1872; and Edward M. Earle, now of Cleveland, Ohio, born in Catasauqua, Pa., April 13, 1855.
After an interval of over three years, Mr. Earle was married a second time, April 26, 1860, by Rev. Wil- liam Payne, D D., rector of St. George's Church, Schenectady, N. Y., to Miss Elizabeth Zullagar, daughter of John and Mary Langley Zullagar, all of the above-named place.
In secular matters Mr. Earle has been closely iden- tified with several enterprises of local interest. That the new church on Pine Street might be lighted with gas, he brought about the organization of the "Cata- sauqua Gas Company," before unthought of, and which owes its origin at the time it was formed to Mr. Earle's persistence in the purpose not to use the church until it could be thus lighted.
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