USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Our country and its people. A historical and memorial record of Crawford County, Pennsylvania. > Part 33
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Elm Street School .- Miss F. A. Herlehy, principal, sixth grade; Mrs. Nancy McCrea, fifth grade; Miss Pearl Taft, fourth grade; Miss Carrie Robinson, third grade; Miss Isabella Shepherd, second grade: Miss Susie E. Willard, first grade.
Fourth Ward School .- Mrs. A. L. Bettes, principal. first grade; Miss Lenora M. Brown, sixth grade; Miss Edyth Palmer, fourth and fifth grades; Miss Myrtle Bishop, third grade; Miss Mabel M. Crane, second grade.
COURSES OF STUDY.
The following prescribed courses of study to be entered upon during the present year are elective. The pupil.on entering the high school, may select. under the advice and consent of the parents or guardian, any one of the four courses.
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I. College Preparatory Course .- First year, first term, Latin, algebra, English composition ; second term, Latin, algebra, English composition; third term, Latin, algebra, English composition. Second year, first term, Latin, algebra, rhetoric; second term, Latin, algebra, Greek history; third term, Latin, United States history, Roman history. Third year, first term, Latin, Greek or German, plane geometry: second term, Latin, Greek or German, plane geometry; third term, Latin, Greek or German, plane geometry. Fourth year, first term, Latin, Greek or German, literature; second term, Latin, Greek or German; third term, Latin, Greek or German. Another study is required throughout this year. Each pupil is to select that which may be required at the college which he intends to enter. If a pupil wishes to enter college with two modern languages, four years of German may be taken instead of the four years of Latin; and two years of French may be taken instead of two years of Greek or German. Music and drawing for three years, optional the fourth year. Rhetoricals throughout the course. Literature once a week during the first three years.
II. Latin Course .- First and second years the same as the College Preparatory course. Third year, first term, Latin, geometry, chemistry ; second term, Latin, geometry, chemistry ; third term, Latin, geometry, chem- istry. Fourth year, first term, Latin, physics, literature; second term, Latin, physics, literature or English history. Third term, Latin, physics, literature or English history. Music, drawing or rhetoricals throughout the course. Literature once a week during the first three years.
III. Modern Language Course .- First year, first term, German, al- gebra, English composition ; second term, German, algebra, English compo- sition ; third term, German, algebra, English composition. Second year, first term, German, algebra, rhetoric; second term, German, algebra, Greek his- tory; third term, German, United States history, Greek history. Third year, first term, German or French, geometry, chemistry ; second term, Ger- man or French, geometry, chemistry; third term, German or French, geom- etry, chemistry. Fourth year, first term, German or French, physics, litera- ture; second term, German or French, physics, literature or English history ; third term, German or French, physics, literature or English history. Music, drawing and rhetoricals throughout the course. Literature once a week during the first three years.
IV. English Course .- First year. first term, English composition, al-
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gebra, physical geography; second term, English composition, algebra, phys- ical geography ; third term, English composition, algebra, physical geography. Second year, first term, rhetoric, algebra, geology one-half year. botany one- half year; second term, Greek history, algebra; third term. Roman history, United States history. Third year, first term, plane geometry, chemistry, Mediæval history ; second term, plane geometry, chemistry, English history ; third term, plane geometry, chemistry, English history. Fourth year, first term, literature, physics. book-keeping and commercial arithmetic, or eco- nomics ; second term, literature, physics, book-keeping, and commercial arith- metic or comparative constitutional law; third term, literature, physics, book- keeping and commercial arithmetic or comparative constitutional law. Music. drawing and rhetoricals throughout the course. Literature once a week during the first three years. Book-keeping may be taken out of this course, as hereafter it will be given in the eighth grade.
It ought to be stated that Miss Mabel Jones has been granted by the School Controllers, because of ill health, a leave of absence for the entire present year. Her position as teacher of natural sciences is filled in her absence by Mr. R. B. Brownlee, a graduate of Rochester University, New York.
St. Joseph's Convent, Sisters of Mercy .- The order of the "Sisters of Mercy" was founded in Ireland. in the early part of the century, by the venerable Catherine McAuley, whose aim was to succor the poor and afflicted by spiritual and physical works of mercy.
Right Rev. Michael O'Connor, when Bishop of Pittsburg, saw the need of such a noble band of women in his vast diocese, and to secure such an agency he visited Ireland, and earnestly entreated the sisters to establish in his diocese a community such as existed under the Archbishop of Dublin. His appeal prevailed. When in 1843 the sisters, under the Right Rev. Bishop O'Connor, as their spiritual head, sailed for America, the present Bishop of Erie, Dr. Mullen, then a young man, came in the same ship. "Ocean Queen," as a student with the Bishop, and the brave little band of Sisters of Mercy that has since spread itself in many dioceses throughout this country, performing the beneficent work intended by its founder of blessed memory.
In September, 1870, Right Rev. Tobias Mullen, Bishop of Erie. applied at the Pittsburg convent for Sisters of Mercy to come into his diocese, seven
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sisters were sent by the Pittsburg Superior, Mother Evangelist Kinsella, who, with the venerable Sister Isadora Fisher, acompanied the seven pioneers to their field of labor. They came to Titusville, where they were warmly received by Bishop Mullen and the priests of the city where they were to found an institution of their order. The convent of the Sisters of Mercy in Titusville had for its first superior Mother M. Nolasco Kratzer, who con- tinued from September 24, 1870, to preside over the institution until her death, September 8, 1872. She is described as the embodiment of many virtues, and in her death the sisters sustained a sad loss. She was succeeded by Mother M. Celestine Rafferty, who developed remarkable executive abil- ity, and under whose administration for many years was erected that great brick pile on West Main Street, as well as the establishment of an institution of learning. She was Mother Superior from September 9, 1872, to May 25, 1882. Mother M. Evangelist Milligen was Mother Superior for the next three years. Mother M. Celestine was again Superior from May 21, 1885, to July 30, 1891. From that date until her death, November 7, 1892, Mother M. Evangelist was Superior. From November 12, 1892, to July 26, 1894, Mother Celestine was Superior. For the next three years, Mother M. Basil O'Brien was Superior. The present Superior entered upon the duties of her office July 29, 1897. Mother Celestine died August 3, 1897. The present Superior is Mother M. Austin Kratzer. She has long served in the St. Joseph's Convent. She is a younger sister of Mother M. Nolasco, the first Superior in this diocese, who gave her life to works of mercy. Al- most thirty years apart, the two Kratzer sisters were at the head of the same community of Sisters of Mercy.
It ought to be understood that the headquarters of the Sisters of Mercy of the entire Erie diocese are at Titusville, the mother home being at St. Joseph's Convent, so that all the institutions of the order in the diocese are now under the authority and administration of Mother M. Austin. The community over which she presides at present numbers sixty sisters.
The strongest and most conspicuous figure of the community, since its establishment in the diocese twenty-eight years ago, was Mother M. Celestine. Her executive ability was extraordinary. A good deal of her work in the diocese was outside of Titusville. As before said, the great brick edifices of St. Joseph's Convent are very largely the work of her administration. At.
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her death she had filled the office of Mother Superior almost two-thirds of the time since the beginning of the community in the diocese, in 1870.
The schools of St. Joseph's Convent are in part parochial and in part general; but the instruction imparted in the schools is strictly non-sectarian. The large edifices are amply provided with accommodations for boarding pupils, and the institution has always had a large number of pupil boarders. The instruction embraces both primary and higher branches, the latter in- cluding English literature, languages, natural sciences and higher mathe- matics. By the system followed it is expected that pupils will be under the care of the sisters as boarders at the convent, or under the eye of their parents at home. But pupils from abroad, if under the custody of proper authority, may be admitted to the tuition of the schools, though not boarding at the institution. Great care, however, is exercised in this respect.
CHURCHES.
The earliest religious association in the Titus settlement was begun by the Presbyterians. It ought to be understood that the Titus settlement was the central point, from the first, of all Oil Creek Township. The place was sometimes called "Oil Creek," and sometimes "Titus's." No church records of the early doings of the faithful ones, who came together in the name of their Master, now exist. Upon tradition alone is the first information respecting the first religious work in the settlement founded. By tradition we learn that the Rev. Richard Stockton, of Meadville, and Rev. Samuel Tait. of Cool Spring, Mercer County, held communions among the Presby- terians of Oil Creek in the early years of the century. Religious services were held in a log barn belonging to Jonathan Titus, on the east side of Franklin Street, between Pine Street and Spring. The Kerrs and the Currys were Presbyterians, as, in fact, were perhaps most of the settlers in Oil Creek in the first two decades of this century. Finally came Rev. Amos Chase, the progenitor of the many Chases of the present generation in eastern Crawford, from Connecticut. He came as a missionary under the auspices of the Presbyterian denomination, and in 1815 he organized the first Pres- byterian church, as a regular ecclesiastical body, in the Titus settlement. He continued the pastor of this church for about fifteen years, but at the same time performed missionary labor in the surrounding country. The first church at the start had forty members. Rev. Chase divided his time, giving
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to the Oil Creek church one-half, to a congregation at Centreville one-fourth, and to missionary work the remaining time. In 1830, when at the age of seventy, he resigned at Oil Creek and settled at Centreville. He was suc- ceeded at Oil Creek by Rev. George W. Hampson, who began to minister in September, 1830, but was not regularly installed as pastor until nearly two years afterward. He continued pastor, for about twenty-two years. His ministry ended March 1, 1853. For the next five years and three months the church was without a pastor. It may be noted that the Presbyterian church of Titusville, which has had an actual existence for almost a century, has many times during the last fifty years gone for a considerable period without a pastor. During the last forty years the church has been especially strong. Its contributions for both home and foreign missions have been exceptionally large. But during this period its pastoral vacancies have been numerous. It has two church edifices, and a highly comfortable and pleasant parsonage. It pays its ministers much larger salaries than any other religious society in the community. It supports an excellent choir at a good deal of expense. Its principal house of worship is almost palatial in external beauty and interior elegance and comfort. But its pastors often resign and accept calls to other fields of usefulness. It is true that the pastors who go else- where have usually improved their own interests by making the change. And it is also true that the ministers of other denominations in Titusville resign their pastorships. But no other denomination is able to pay its pastors as large salaries as the Presbyterians can do. The Methodists, by their system, are obliged to change pastors.
The Presbyterian church, by the interregnum from March 1. 1853. to July 1, 1858, suffered much from apathy. The fold in the long absence of a shepherd became sadly scattered. Finally two elders, William Kelly and C. M. Allen, called a church meeting in the fall of 1858, and something like a reorganization was effected. Rev. George H. Hammer had begun to minister to the church July 1, 1858. But his work was not easy, and in 1861 he resigned to take the command of a cavalry company, enlisted in Crawford County. He was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Wykoff, who officiated until 1863. Rev. W. C. Curtis served from 1863 to May, 1865. Rev. W. H. Taylor ministered from November, 1865, to 1869. Rev. Alexander Sinclair was pastor from November, 1869, to May, 1874. Rev. Robert Sloss from January, 1875, to 1877. Rev. W. J. Chichester, from November, 1877. to
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March, 1881. Rev. J. L. Maxwell, D. D., from May, 1881, to April, 1887. Rev. M. D. Kneeland, D. D., from December. 1887. to October. 1890. Rev. IV. P. Stevenson, from May, 1891. to June, 1898. When the division of the Presbyterian church occurred in 1837, into the old and new schools, the Titusville church joined the new school, and continued with that branch until a reunion of the parts in 1870.
Soon after the beginning of the century the little congregation held its meetings in private houses, in barns, in school houses, and sometimes in groves. At about the year 1812 a log church was built upon the east side of the old burying ground, near the head of Franklin Street. In 1837 there was finished a frame church building immediately west of the old log church, and directly at the head of Franklin Street, where now is the German Re- formed church. The site of the church was the gift of Jonathan Titus. The cost of its construction was $1,500. As the prices of lumber and labor at that time were low, it may be inferred that the edifice was a very respectable one. In 1863 the building and part of the lot were sold for $1,000, and a lot on the southeast corner of Franklin and Walnut streets was purchased for $1,100, and upon this site a handsome wooden edifice was finished in the summer of 1865. The organ was donated the same summer by Dr. William M. Jennings, who died suddenly in Titusville in the winter of 1868-9. The same organ is now in use in the beautiful new church. The wooden church building which had been occupied as a house of worship since 1865 was moved southeastward in 1887, to make room for a more commodious struc- ture, as required by an increasing congregation. After the old edifice had been moved it was thoroughly repaired, and it has since been used as an annex of the new building, for the many purposes of common meetings, connected with the church, for lectures, concerts, etc. The new edifice was dedicated in May, 1889. Its walls are constructed of Medina red sandstone. It is a beautiful structure. The parsonage, on the west side of Franklin Street, directly opposite the rectory of St. James church, is a large two-story residence, both attractive and comfortable. It was purchased in 1870. Mrs. Charles Hyde made the generous contribution of $1,000 toward the pur- chase. Since the resignation of Mr. Stevenson, to accept a higher charge at Syracuse, New York, the church has been without a pastor. It might seem that the Titusville church has a system of graduating its ministers for more important posts elsewhere.
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Methodist Church .- Among the early settlers of what is now Oil Creek Township, there were several Methodist families, but not many of the persua- sion at the central point, or "Titus's." It seems that the first class at Titus- ville was organized in October, 1860. This class was composed principally of women, and its leader was James H. Davis. The Titusville Circuit had been formed in 1857. In 1860 it became a four weeks circuit, including in its points Titusville, Hydetown, Riceville, Centreville, Spartansburg, Bethel and Chapman's. In 1861 it was reduced to two points, Titusville and Bethel, the latter in the northern part of Oil Creek Township. In 1864 the branch at Titusville became a distinct established church. After the forming of the class in 1860, meetings were held in the school house, in the Presbyterian church and in the Universalist church on Pine Street. The ministers who rode the circuit from 1857 to 1863 inclusive were Revs. N. W. Jones, W. Hayes, J. C. Schofield, D. M. Stever and T. Stubbs. The latter was pastor of the Titusville church in 1864-5, two years. His successors have been Rev. N. G. Luke, 1866-7, two years; Rev. W. P. Bignell, 1868-9-70, three years; Rev. D. C. Osborne, 1781-2, two years; Rev. A. N. Craft, 1873-4-5, three years; Rev. J. N. Fradenberg, 1876-7, two years; Rev. W. W. Painter, 1878-9, two years; Rev. W. F. Day, 1880-1-2, three years ; Rev. J. N. Fraden- berg, 1883-4, two years; Rev. C. H. Hall, 1885-6, two years; Rev. J. W. Blaisdell, 1887-8, two years; Rev. John Lusher, 1889 to 1893 inclusive, five years; Rev. C. W. Miner, 1894-5, two years; Rev. W. W. Dale, 1896-7-8. Rev. Dale is therefore the present pastor.
In 1863 two lots were purchased by the Methodist Society on the north- west corner of Perry and Pine streets, on which to erect a church and a parsonage. The church edifice, as first built, was 40x93 feet, in width and length. Its length was subsequently increased many feet. It was sur- mounted by a beautiful tower. It was first occupied in February, 1864, but it was not dedicated until November following. The distinguished Bishop Simpson preached the dedicatory sermon. The interior of the church was beautifully furnished. The cost of both church and parsonage was $16,000. The first church bell to send out its inspiring tones to the people of Titusville was purchased by private contribution, and hung in the tower of the Metho- dist church.
Among the more active members of the Methodist congregation at this time were James H. Davis, A. B. Funk, Charles Burtis, James Burtis, John
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Brown and J. W. Wilcox. The death of Mr. Funk soon afterward was a loss to the church and to the community. He was a man of sterling char- acter. He was especially devoted to church matters. He not only con- tributed liberally of his means, but he participated actively in all parts of church work. James H. Davis for a quarter of a century was a pillar of the Methodist denomination in Titusville. Mr. Z. Waid for a generation has been an active member. H. C. Bosley, the first superintendent of the Titus- ville schools, was especially useful in church work. The present school superintendent, Henry Pease, belongs also to the Methodist denomination. Jesse Smith, W. B. Benedict, C. S. Barrett, Norris Crossman, and others might be mentioned as prominent representatives of the Titusville church at the present time. The distinguishing quality of the Methodist denom- ination, throughout the world, warmth, has always characterized the Metho- dist church in Titusville. Heat is life, and the remarkable success of Meth- odist work everywhere is largely due to this principle prevailing almost universally in the Methodist system.
Universalist Church .- The Universalists were not numerous in the early history of Titusville, but they displayed a zeal born of conviction. This fact is evident from their erection of a house of worship as early as 1844, when Titusville was a small village. This church was a frame building, on the north side of Pine Street, between Franklin and Martin. Rev. C. L. Shipman and others had previously preached the faith of Universalism in the community. It is probable that the congregations which assembled in the new meeting house were composed largely of people who had come some distance from the surrounding country. This and the Presbyterian edifice at the head of Franklin Street were the only two meeting houses in Titusville, until the completion of the St. James Memorial church in 1864. This little chapel was long a useful building to the community. It was occupied fre- quently by other denominations. It was sold about the year 1862 to the German Reformed Society.
In 1865 the Universalists erected on the southeast corner of Perry and Main streets a very solid brick edifice, and hung in its tower a deep-toned bell.
The first pastor who ministered in the new church was Rev. F. Stanley Bacon, who entered upon his duties in the winter of 1865-6, and continued as pastor for about a year. Afterward for several years the pulpit was ir-
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regularly supplied by various preachers. Rev. J. Murray Bailey was elected pastor June 1, 1871. He held the office until March 1, 1874. Rev. Charles E. Tucker was pastor from September, 1875, to January 1, 1879. Regular services were resumed in November, 1884, by Rev. H. W. Hand, state super- intendent of the Universalist convention, who preached until May following. After this Rev. C. L. Shipman supplied the church the same year until August 2d. Rev. S. A. Whitcomb preached from August 2d, 1885, to June 1, 1886. Rev. A. U. Hutchins ministered from August, 1886, to July, 1887. Rev. E. F. Pember was pastor from October 1, 1887, to April 1, 1890. Rev. M. H. Houghton was pastor immediately afterward until October. 1892. He was succeeded by Rev. J. C. McInarney, who was pastor from October 1892, to July, 1893. Rev. I. K. Richardson, the present pastor, has min- istered since November, 1895.
The St. James Memorial Church, Protestant Episcopal, had its begin- ning in 1862, when Rev. Henry Purdon came to the oil country as a mission- ary. Soon after his arrival he established a mission in Titusville, and at once entered upon what has resulted in a life work. In 1863 he founded a church, of which he has ever since been the rector. The massive church edifice, within whose walls of solid cut stone the St. James congregation has worshipped more than one-third of a century, symbolizes the character of the religious work and life of Rev. Dr. Purdon in Titusville. During this period of more than thirty-six years the many upheavals, the vicissitudes and the shiftings in the oil country have been sudden and often terribly destructive in their results. A few of the poor, it is true, have become rich. But many who were wealthy thirty-six years ago, have long since become poor. In the numerous disasters which, from time to time, have swept over the oil region, St. James Memorial Church has often suffered. But during all its trials Dr. Purdon has stood constantly at his post, and unflinchingly grappled with misfortunes, which, if met with less heroic courage, patience and calm judg- ment, would have overwhelmed his charge.
Among Dr. Purdon's active supporters in the early days was Edwin L. Drake, whose discovery in Titusville in 1859 had opened to the world a won- derful industry. William H. Abbott, George M. Mowbray and F. W. Ames gave him assistance and valuable co-operation. Jonathan Watson was also a generous friend. St. James Memorial Church was chartered in 1863. The cornerstone of the church edifice, on the northeast corner of Main and
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Franklin streets, was laid in September, 1863, by Bishop William Bacon Stevens, and it was dedicated by Bishop Alonzo Potter in October, 1864. It is gothic in architecture, with walls of cut blocks of sandstone, laid in solid masonry, presenting a very substantial, as well as beautiful, structure. The interior of the church was decorated and furnished in a style corresponding to the external beauty of the building, and with special regard to the comfort of worshippers. It has now a very fine slate roof. In 1893 a campanile, one hundred feet high, from the summit of which are heard the tones of the St. James bell, was erected. The church was decorated by the Lambs of New York in 1896 and all the present handsome furniture placed in position. the memorial gifts of many friends. In the same year a new stone porch on the west side of the church was built, as a gift by Mr. J. C. Mckinney. The chancel window is a gift of the Roberts family, in memory of the late Dr. W. B. Roberts. Also a beautiful window on the south side of the church is the gift of Edward Griswold Hollister in 1896 to his wife, Elizabeth Boyer. On the east side of the church is a very substantial, commodious brick building, a chapel, or annex of the church, erected in 1864. North of the church, on Franklin Street, is the rectory, spacious and comfortable, the main part of which was erected in 1868. The L part next to the church was built by Dr. Purdon at his own expense. The beautiful grounds on which all the above described structures stand, embrace four full sized city lots, almost an acre in area-one hundred and eighty feet on Main Street and two hundred and forty on Franklin. This property was purchased of Jonathan Watson in 1863 for $1,200-$300 a lot. When it is remembered that Franklin and Spring had always, since the opening of the Titus settlement, been two most important streets of the place, and that the oil development had made Titus- ville, in 1863, an active and growing town, it would seem that Mr. Watson generously parted with his lands at a low price. But this was only the be- ginning of his generosity toward Dr. Purdon's church enterprise. He con- tributed $1.000 toward the construction of the church. In view of the inter- esting auspices under which the founding of St. James Church began, it seems fitting to mention some of the events and some of the men connected with the undertaking. Dr. Purdon was sent to the oil country by the Bishop of Pennsylvania, the illustrious Alonzo Potter, the father of several illustrious sons, among whom may be named the present Bishop Potter of New York.
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