USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 28
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This high moral and intellectual standing as a community has con- tributed largely towards the growth and development of the city, and will undoubtedly in the future, as in the past, attract as residents a most desirable class of citizens. There is no department of society more worthy of serious consideration, and hence it deserves a prominent space in historical com- positions.
First Presbyterian Church .- The first public religious services in Mead- ville were held in the old Gill House, situated on Water Street, and subse- quently in the court-room over the old jail, that stood on the ground now oc- cupied by the law office of Haskins & McClintock, on the Diamond. Elisha McCurdy, a member of the Presbytery of Ohio, and Joseph Stockton, a licen- tiate of the same Presbytery, were the first ordained ministers who preached within the bounds of what is now Crawford County. They were sent out on a missionary tour in 1799, and, among other places, preached in Meadville. The next year Mr. Stockton received an invitation to preach statedly at this place,
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and in the fall of 1800 left his home in Washington County, and, with his young wife and some household goods, came on horseback to establish himself in Meadville. Over this church, in connection with that of Little Sugar Creek, now Cochranton, he was ordained as pastor on June 24, 1801. His duties as pastor of these charges continued until June 27, 1810, when the Erie Presbytery dissolved the relation. While still officiating in Meadville he traveled through and preached at different points in Erie and Mercer Counties, and was the first principal of the Meadville Academy, opened in 1805. John Cotton, Robert Stockton and Hugh Cotton were the first elders of the Meadville Church.
Robert Johnston, the second pastor of the church, was installed over the churches at Meadville, Little Sugar Creek and Conneaut Lake on Oc- tober 15, 1811, and divided his time equally between Meadville and the other two churches. During his pastorate Mr. Johnston organized a Sunday- school, which was opened in December, 1814. Thomas Atkinson, of the Messenger, assisted in the undertaking. It had no official board, but was a spontaneous effort to bring the youth of the village under the influence of moral teaching. Mr. Johnston served as pastor until April, 1817.
At their meeting in January, 1815, the Board of Trustees fixed the pastor's salary for the Meadville Church at $200 per annum, from which one can infer that the position was not a bonanza. Soon afterwards it was de- cided to build a church, and a building committee was appointed, consist- ing of the following well-remembered pioneers: William Clark, William Foster, Samuel Torbett, Daniel Bemus and John Reynolds. It was to be a brick building, 60x70 feet in dimensions, finished within two years, and at a total cost of $6,500. On the 5th of February, 1818, a contract for the erection of the church was let to George Davis. It occupied the site of the present church, and the building was completed and the pews sold on Au- gust 14, 1820. This building was the only place for public worship in the village until 1825, when the Methodists fitted up a room on South Main Street.
John Van Liew began his pastorate in Meadville in August, 1821, and continued three years, when, owing to impaired health, the relation was dis- solved. He was succeeded by Wells Bushnell, who remained seven years, when he went as a missionary to the Indians, his congregation reluctantly consenting to his withdrawal. Nathaniel West, the next pastor, remained
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two years. He was succeeded by John V. Reynolds, D. D., who for thirty years filled the pulpit of the First Presbyterian Church, the Presbytery dis- solving the relation, at his request, in April, 1869. James G. Carnachan, LL. D., succeeded him, and continued his pastorate twelve years. It was during his pastorate, in 1874-75, that the present handsome edifice was erected, at a cost of about $43,000, and it was dedicated on August 22, 1875. It stands on the southwest corner of Liberty and Center Streets, has a seat- ing capacity of 750, and is regarded as one of the finest church properties in Meadville. The pastor's residence is on the opposite corner from the church, and is a comfortable two-story frame.
In the spring of 1881 the membership was greatly reduced by the withdrawal of a large number of the members and congregation in the organi- zation of the Park Avenue Congregational Church. In November of the same year Edward P. Sprague became pastor. He was succeeded six years later by Ken. C. Hayes, D. D., who is still in charge. Dr. Hayes is a native of Butler County, and was educated at Waynesburg College. He served as pastor at Middlesex five years before locating at Meadville. He is chaplain of the Fifteenth Regiment, N. G. P., and as such served in the United States service during the war with Spain.
The present membership of the church is about one hundred and fifty; and the Sunday School, which was first opened in 1814. and regularly or- ganized in 1819, contains about one hundred and thirty-five scholars. The church disposes of a substantial fund for the use of the poor, donated by the late Alanson Lindley, and named the "Alanson Lindley Fund for the Poor," of which only the interest can be used.
Central Presbyterian Church .- A difference of opinion respecting doc- trines and church government culminated in the year 1838 in the division of the Presbyterian sect into two branches, commonly known as the Old School and New School. The division continued until 1869, when the two bodies were happily reunited. This difference of opinion affected the Mead- ville Church, the adherents of the New School going out to form a new or- ganization under the title of the Second Presbyterian Church. It was tem- porarily ministered to by Revs. Lyon. Anderson, West and Kellogg, until, in June, 1841, Robinson S. Lockwood was called to the pastorate. In 1842 there was an extended revival, during which over fifty were added to the membership. Mr. Lockwood was dismissed from the pastoral charge of the
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church in 1843. The first meetings were held in the lecture room of the First Church, and subsequently the brick building on Center Street, now used as the barn of the Central Hotel, was fitted up for a place of wor- ship. Afterwards the building of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, op- posite the jail, was used for worship. Their own church on Center Street was completed in 1844, at a cost of about $15,000. In 1869 the building was considerably enlarged, and a tower built on each front corner, at a total cost of about nine thousand dollars.
In November, 1843, Richard Craighead, D. D., became pastor of the church, a relation which was continued with mutual satisfaction to both pastor and congregation during thirty-one years. During his pastorate the present church was built and enlarged, and it is to his earnest labors that the Second Presbyterian Church is indebted for its present flourishing con- dition. He was succeeded in 1874 by Thomas D. Logan, a graduate of the Western Theological Seminary, who remained until 1888, when Jonathan Edwards, D. D., LL. D., became pastor. Dr. Edwards was a man possessed of broad charity, his sermons appealing to reason rather than prejudice. He was broad and liberal minded, and a theologian with few superiors. Not only with the members of his own church, but with the community in general, he was respected and loved. He was greatly interested in educational work, and had, prior to his ministerial work in this city, been president of Wash- ington and Jefferson College. He died at Peoria, Ill., on July 13, 1891. Joseph S. Malone was called in 1891, and six years later was succeeded by Donald C. McLeod, the present pastor. The church has a membership of about three hundred, and is in a flourishing condition. Early in 1892 the name was changed from the Second Presbyterian to the Central Presbyterian Church.
The Cumberland Presbyterian and United Presbyterian Churches had each a society here for a few years. The former erected a brick building on Center Street in the summer of 1834, but after an existence of about two years the society disbanded, and the building was sold to the Unitarians, who, in October, 1844, dedicated it as Divinity Hall. The United Presbyterians never had a building in Meadville, but worshipped in a frame structure owned by the Old School Presbyterians, which stood on what is now the corner of Park Avenue and Center Street. The society was occasionally attended by John Findley, of Waterford; H. H. Thompson, of Cochranton; and Joseph B. Waddle, of Evansburg. The church was organized about 1840, but it grad-
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ually went down, and finally ceased to exist after a struggle of eight or ten years.
First Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Methodists held a camp meeting near Meadville as early as 1812, in which Bishop McKendree took part. This was while the soldiers were encamped at Meadville, and was probably held to give them a place to worship. Robert C. Hatton preached in Meadville in 1824, and early in the following year a class was organized, consisting of John Lupher, leader, and wife, Wesley Bowman and wife, Griffith Bennett and wife, Hannah Lowry, Sarah and Margaret Johnson. Other members were soon added to the class. The society was small and poor and unable to erect a place of worship, but soon after its organization Mr. Lupher fitted up a room over his blacksmith shop, at the corner of Arch and South Main Streets, and for nine years this was their place of meeting, the little church in the meantime increasing in numbers and wealth. In 1830 they began the erection of a brick building on Arch Street, which cost $3,000, and was fin- ished in 1834. Although never formally dedicated, this building was used by the Methodists of Meadville for thirty-two years. Early in 1866 it was sold to St. Bridget's congregation. On June 5 of the same year the cornerstone of the large, massive stone structure on the southwest corner of South Main Street and the Diamond was laid by Bishop Calvin Kingsley, and it was dedi- cated July 29, 1868. Bishop Simpson preached in the morning, and Rev. Punchon, of Ontario, Canada, at the evening service. During the latter ser- vice the building was presented by Hon. H. L. Richmond, in behalf of the congregation, to Bishop Kingsley, who thereupon performed the ceremony of dedication. Its total cost when completed, including the lot. was over $84,- 000. It has a seating capacity of 1,200.
The church, organized by Robert C. Hatton in 1825, has been attended by the following ministers: 1826, J. W. Hill and I. H. Hacket; 1827, C. Brown, J. Leach and I. H. Hacket; 1828, Job Wilson and W. R. Babcock; 1829, N. Callender and A. Callender; 1830, A. Callender and A. Plimpton ; 1831, J. S. Barrie; 1832, D. Preston; 1833, H. J. Clark; 1834, J. Robin- son; 1835, R. Clapp; 1836-37, E. Birkett; 1838, J. J. Steadman; 1839, Solomon Gregg; 1840, J. H. Whallon; 1841-42, B. S. Hill; 1842, C. Kings- ley; 1843, J. R. Locke: 1844, Alfred G. Sturgiss; 1845, M. Hill and A. Callender ; 1846, M. Hill; 1847, T. Graham; 1848, H. M. Bettes; 1849-50, John Bain; 1851-52, E. J. Kenney; 1853-54, N. Norton; 1855, G. B. Haw-
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kins: 1856-57, G. W. Maltby; 1858-59, E. A. Johnson; 1860-61. T. Stubbs ; 1862, J. E. Chapin; 1863-65, W. F. Day; 1866-67, Joseph Excell; 1867, L. D. Williams : 1868, J. Peate and L. D. Williams ; 1869-71, Alfred Wheeler ; 1871, L. D. Williams; 1872. W. W. Wythe and L. D. Williams; 1873, W. W. Wythe: 1874-76, W. F. Day: 1877-79. T. L. Flood; 1880-82, J. G. Townsend; 1883-84, E. D. McCreary; 1884, G. W. Clark; 1885-86, A. C. Ellis : 1888-90, E. C. Hall; 1891-93, T. C. Beach; 1893-96. J. Bell Neff ; 1896-98, A. M. Courtenay. The present membership of the church is about six hundred.
The State Street Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in June, 1869, and soon afterwards a substantial frame edifice was completed at a cost of about $9,000. It stands on State Street above its intersection with North. and will seat about four hundred persons. T. P. Warner was the first pastor of this church, serving through 1869, and has been succeeded as follows : 1870-71, WV. Sampson; 1872, J. S. Albertson and N. Norton; 1873. J. S. Albertson; 1874, W. H. Wilson; 1875. R. M. Bear; 1876-77, O. Babcock ; I878, A. S. Dobbs; 1879, J. B. Espy; 1880-81, A. J. Lindsey; 1882, Q. W. Decker; 1883, O. L. Mead and G. W. Clark; 1884, O. L. Mead; 1885, W. O. Allen and W. P. Arbuckle; 1886-87, Manassas Miller; 1888, J. H. Heron ; 1889, James Clyde; 1890-92, J. H. Laverty; 1893-96, Wm. Branfield; 1897- 98, J. H. Bates.
Frec Methodist Church .- The Meadville branch of this denomination was organized by Jeremialı Barnhart, with sixteen members, Sept. 2, 1883. The meetings were at first held in a hall on Market Street called Temperance Hall. R. H. Bentley was the first pastor, preaching once every two weeks for two years, and was followed by R. H. Bentley and Wm. Harvey, who served one year each. O. J. Berlin, the next pastor, remained two years. He was succeeded by A. Falkner, who officiated four years. During his pastorate a small frame church, 24x36, was erected on North Street, at the foot of State, and was dedicated free from debt in July, 1892, at a cost of $900. In 1893 I. Hodgkins became pastor of the Meadville circuit, including Blooming Val- ley, Pine Grove, Cochranton and Meadville, serving for one year. In 1894 M. L. Schooley became pastor. The membership is small, numbering about twenty-five at the present time.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1850 with five members, by Jacob Palmer, who became the first pastor. Their first
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services were held in a small brick building in the rear of the Lutheran Church, on Arch Street, until in 1853 they purchased from the Baptists, for $500, their present property on the northeast corner of Liberty and Areh. The building was repaired in 1867, partially destroyed by fire in 1876, and rebuilt the same year. The church records extend only from 1861, since which time the following ministers have had charge: John Franklin, - Hanfield, John Gibbons, W. H. Brown, Benj. Wheeler, W. J. Phillips, W. V. Ross, E. C. Herbert, J. M. Griffen, John Russell, J. M. Palmer, R. H. Jackson, I. B. Till, R. Brown, S. C. Honesty, S. C. Goosley, J. W. Lavatt, J. W. Jef- fries, and P. A. Scott.
Christ Protestant Episcopal Church was organized Jan. 25, 1825, by J. H. Hopkins, of Pittsburg. He came to Meadville at the solicitation of Hon. John B. Wallace, a leading attorney of the town; and the first services were held in the old Presbyterian Church. He remained about two weeks, during which time he preached frequently, receiving into the church thirty-two adults and forty-three children. The next year Charles Smith was appointed to take charge of the newly organized congregation, and at once entered upon his labors. In August of the same year it was decided to erect a house of wor- ship, and on the 11th of April, 1827, the cornerstone was laid. The building committee in charge of its erection consisted of IIenry Shippen, Jared Shat- tuck, William Magaw, David Diek, and Robert L. Potter, and Aug. 16, 1828, the church, which stood on the site of the present one, was dedicated by Bishop W. H. Underdonk, who. in his remarks, said that in point of archi- tectural beauty the building was the finest in the diocese. It was the first Protestant Episcopal church erected in the State, west of the Allegheny River; would seat 500 .persons and cost about eight thousand dollars. The growth of the congregation led to its enlargement in 1832 and again in 1863; but in April, 1883, it was torn down to give place to the new and more elegant struc- ture occupying its site.
Mr. Smith served until April 27, 1829, and the following rectors have since had charge: J. W. James, 1829-32; Edward Y. Buchanan, 1833-34; Thomas Crumpton, 1834-40; John P. Hosmer, 1840-41 ; Orrin Miller, 1842- 44; Alexander Varien, 1844-46; Wm. Carmichael, D. D., 1846-50; Alex- ander Varien, 1851-58; R. W. Lewis, 1858-59; Marison Byllesby, 1859-69; Geo. C. Rafter. 1869-70; W. G. W. Lewis, 1871-75; Daniel I. Edwards,
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1876-78; G. A. Carstensen, 1878-82; W. H. Lewis, 1882-85; Rogers Israel, 1885-92; F. M. Kirkus, 1892-96; George S. Richards, 1896.
The cornerstone of the new and elegant stone edifice at the northwest corner of the Diamond was laid July 14, 1883, by the rector, W. H. Lewis, assisted by Marison Byllesby and G. A. Carstensen. On Sunday, March 23, 1884, the church was formally opened for services by Bishop Whitehead, assisted by Dr. Herron, of New Castle, and Mr. Lewis. The building and furnishings cost about thirty thousand dollars, of which about two thousand five hundred dollars consisted of memorial and family gifts, which decorate the interior. The bell, which cost $225, was presented by the teachers and scholars of the Sunday School. On the same lot is a comfortable rectory built in 1878 at a cost of $2,700, and a handsome parish building has since been added to the property of the church. The church building is a beautiful piece of architecture ; has a seating capacity of 425, and reflects great credit on the architect, builder and congregation.
The Unitarian, or Independent Congregational Church, of Meadville, is one of the few of that denomination in western Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1825, chiefly through the efforts and influence of H. J. Huide- koper, who had settled in Meadville early in the century. His religious beliefs agreed substantially with those Christians in England and America who were beginning to be called Unitarians. Through the influence of Dr. Priestly, who had been driven from his home in England for his devotion to political and religious freedom, several Unitarian churches had been founded in Amer- ica, and their doctrines had obtained a firm foothold in New England. In selecting instructors for his children, Mr. Huidekoper naturally selected young men who were graduates of Harvard University, which was then, as now, largely under the control of Unitarians. They were frequently candidates for the ministry, and were at length engaged with reference to their willingness to hold services in this place.
The first meetings were held in the old Presbyterian Church, and subse- quently in the courthouse, John M. Merrick, the first pastor, who entered upon his duties in 1825, holding services on alternate Sundays for two years. After him Washington Gilbert officiated, and during his ministry, in 1829, the church was more fully organized, with the name of the Independent Con- gregational Church of Meadville. Mr. Gilbert remained until 1830, and the following were his successors : Ephraim Peabody, 1830-31 ; George Nichols,
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1831-32; Alanson Brigham, 1832-33: A. D. Wheeler and W. H. Channing, 1834: John Q. Day, 1834-37; Henry Emmons, 1837-43; E. G. Holland, 1843-44; Rufus P. Stebbins, D. D., 1844-49; Nathaniel S. Folsom, 1849-53; C. A. Staples, 1854-57; Oliver Stearns, D. D., 1858; R. R. Shippen, 1859; Richard H. Metcalf, 1860-65: John C. Zachos, 1866-68; Henry P. Cutting, 1870-73: Robert S. Morrison, 1874-78: James T. Bixby, 1879-83; William P. Tilden, 1884; H. H. Barber, 1885-90; T. J. Volentine, 1891-93; James M. Whittier, D. D., 1893 ; and William I. Lawrance from 1894 to the present time.
The present church edifice on the southeast corner of the Diamond was commenced in 1835, and was dedicated on August 20, 1836. The building cost $3.500, exclusive of the lot, which was donated by Miss Margaret Shippen and H. J. Huidekoper. Miss Shippen subsequently gave her house adjoining the church to the society for a parsonage. The building committee of the church consisted of General (then Captain) George W. Cullum, Horace Cullum, and Edgar Huidekoper, and it is interesting to note that the plans for the church were made by Captain Cullum. Substantial gifts toward the building came from the Unitarian Church in Philadelphia and other friends. The organ was presented by the Unitarian Church in Buffalo. Substantial repairs and changes were made in the church in 1874 and again in 1897. In 1876 the Unitarian Chapel, a substantial two-story brick building, was erected immediately east of the church, at an expense of about six thousand dollars. It is used for Sunday school purposes and social gatherings, and the interior arrangements are complete for the end contemplated.
First Baptist Church .- In the summer of 1831 Adrian Foote, of Ripley, N. Y., came to Meadville for the purpose of organizing into a congregation the few Baptists then living in this vicinity. He obtained the use of the First Presbyterian building, where he preached on four successive afternoons, as- sisted in the work by William Gildersleeve, of Allegheny. In August, 1831, a number of those who had taken part in the meetings assembled and formed the "Baptist Conference of Meadville." On August 27 Rev. Gildersleeve baptized seven persons in a small lake east of town, and on the same date it was voted to call a council from eight of the nearest Baptist churches to as- semble a month later to consider the subject of organizing an independent church in Meadville. Revs. Foote and Gildersleeve returned in four weeks and held a series of meetings in the Academy, on Market Street. On Septem-
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ber 27, 1831, representatives of four churches met and formed the First Bap- tist Church of Meadville. There were fourteen original members, and the first meeting of the church after its organization was held at the house of Samuel Kirkpatrick, on Arch Street, as the use of the Academy building could not be obtained.
On May 12, 1832, Adrian Foote became the settled pastor of the church, and in Angust of the same year steps were taken to procure a lot and erect a house of worship. A lot was purchased at the northeast corner of Arch and Liberty Streets and a small frame building was erected, which was first opened for service in June, 1833. It was used for about twenty years, when it was sold to the A. M. E. Church. Elder Foote served until 1834. when he was suc- ceeded by E. Hicks, who officiated as a supply. In 1838 Edward M. Miles was engaged to preach, dividing his services between the churches at Mead- ville and Georgetown, Mercer County. After he left the church was without a pastor for some time, and dwindled down to four active members, but these kept up the organization, and in 1841 William Look was secured as pastor, remaining two years. Another vacancy in the pastorate then occurred, regi- lar services were abandoned and a state of great depression existed, almost leading to disorganization. In June Franklin Kidder took charge of the church, remaining one year. Since then the following ministers have served the church : John Nicholson, 1847; G. L. Stevens, 1848-51; I. M. Chapinan, 1851-52; William M. Caldwell, 1852; J. H. Hazen, 1853-55; Geo. W. Fuller, 1855-58; I. M. Chapman, 1858-60: William Look, 1860-62; B. C. Willough- by, 1862-64; R. B. Kelsey, 1864-66; R. H. Austin, 1866-71; J. H. Langille, 1871-72: W. B. Grow, 1873; Wm. M. Young, D. D., 1874-79; George Whitman, 1879-82; E. M. Haynes, 1882-89; Wm. H. Marshall, 1889-92; and Will C. King from May, 1892, to the present time. Mr. King is a native of Trumbull County, Ohio; was educated at Colgate University, New York; ordained in 1886, and for four years prior to coming here was pastor of the Baptist Church at Warren, Pa.
In April, 1852, the lot on which the present building stands, on Center Street, was purchased for the sun of $1,050, and the erection of a brick edi- fice commenced that year. The work was pushed forward through 1853, and though the building was enclosed only the basement was carried to comple- tion, being occupied and dedicated in the summer of 1854. The next year the main audience room was completed, and was dedicated on February 19,
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1865. In the summer of 1875 an addition of thirty feet was made to the build- ing, heating furnaces put in, and other improvements carried out at an expense of $5,500. The building has a seating capacity of about 400, and the mem- bership of the church is 350, while the average Sunday-school attendance is about 250. A brick parsonage has been erected on the rear end of the church lot. on Walnut Street. at an expense of $3.500. The entire property, which is valued at $14,000, is free from all debt.
Lutheran Evangelical Trinity Church .-- The first German congregations in this county were usually composed of the adherents of both the Lutheran and German Reformed denominations, neither being able to maintain public worship as separate bodies. In 1815 Charles W. Colson preached to the few Germans then living in this vicinity, and the next year came permanently to re- side among them. He formed churches at Meadville, Erie. Conneaut Lake and Saegertown, of which little is now known, as upon the death of Mr. Coleson in 1816 they gradually disbanded. Occasionally a German Reformed or a Lutheran minister would visit this county and preach to the Germans, among them being Philip Zeiser, David Mock and John Kugler. For some time before 1847 occasional union services were held in the courthouse, and in that year the Lutherans and Reformers united in purchasing a lot on Pine Street, between South Main and Liberty, where they erected a frame building at a cost of about $1,800. The church was dedicated December 19, 1847, by Jacob Zeigler, a Lutheran minister, and Benjamin Boyer of the Reformed faitlı.
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