USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania, from its first settlement > Part 14
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Early in the spring a contract was made with Rufus S. Reed for the building of a stone Academy, as per dimensions pre- viously stated, for the sum of $2,500, $2,000 of amount to be collected from money due the State on lands sold, and the other $500 to be paid after the building was fully completed and accepted by the trustees.
In 1799, at the sale of reserved tracts adjoining Erie, Frank- lin, Waterford, and Warren, five hundred acres were set apart for the use of schools and academies. To this fund fifteen town lots and two thousand dollars were afterward added- the latter to be collected by the trustees from debts due the State for lands in this vicinity. In 1821 other lots in town were added.
From 1819 to 1827 Erie Academy was conducted as an Eng- lish high school by the following principals : Rev. Robert Reid, John Kelley, A. W. Brewster, George Stone, E. D. Gun- nison, A. S. Patterson, and John Wood. In November, 1827, it became a classical school, conducted by the following as principals :
A. E. Foster. A.M. November, 1827.
Richard Gailey, A.B. April, 1836.
James Park, A.M July, 1836.
G. R. Huntington, A.M April, 1838.
James Park, A.M ...
August, 1830.
Lewis Bradley, A.M
March, 1841.
John Limber, A.M.
February, 1842.
Reid T. Stewart, A. B.
September, 1843.
James C. Reid, A.B
October, 1845.
R. S. Lockwood.
December, 1847.
J. H. Black, A.B. September, 1818.
J. A. Hastings, A.B.
October, 1851.
Fayette Durlin, A.B
December, 1851.
C. L. Porter, A.B
October, 1853.
W. B. Carpenter
December, 1854.
W. C. Bissel.
August, 1855.
G. W. Gunnison, A.M. April, 1856.
L. G. Olmstead, A.M
September, 1858.
E. W. Gale, A.M.
.September, 1860.
This academy purchased a fine library, and chemical and philosophical apparatus, and a telescope seven feet in length, magnifying six hundred times.
The number of pupils in attendance during the sessions of 1859-60 was two hundred and thirty-nine, of whom one hun- dred and fifteen were males and one hundred and twenty-four females. A teachers' department has been connected with it, in which preparation for the profession can be obtained.
157
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
In 1838 the Erie Female Seminary was incorporated; Robert Reid, G. A. Lyon, T. H. Sill, G. Selden, C. M. Reed, George Kellogg, A. W. Brewster, Wni. Kelley, and James Williams, Trustees. For a few years the State appropriated three hun- dred dollars annually to the support of the institution. Miss E. D. Field, Rev. William Fuller and lady, and Madame Sosnowski successively were teachers.
Springfield Academy, at Springfield Cross Roads or East Springfield, is reputed to be one of the best institutions in Northwestern Pennsylvania. B. J. Hawkins was the first principal. The officers in 1858 were L. W. Savage, Principal ; William Holliday, Thomas Webster, Dr. G. Ellis, J. Day, J. Teller, William Warner.
West Springfield Academy was founded in 1853. The Trus- tees were Z. Thomas, S. Devereux, N. Gould, D. Mershom, S. Rea, Sr., G. Ferguson, J. Eagley, P. Brindle, G. Hurd. W. H. Heller was principal in 1857. In 1855 eighty-four males and eighty-one females were in attendance. The second year of the institution John A. Austin, with three assistants, had charge. James H. Colt, of Waterford, held the office in 1858, and C. C. Sheffield in 1859. In this institution pupils had the privileges of a full college course at a moderate expense. In December, 1859, the building was destroyed by fire, with the furniture, books, etc.
Girard Academy was erected by a few enterprising citizens acquainted with the wants of the community. The building is of brick, finely arranged, and surrounded by spacious grounds. A students' boarding-house, with rooms partially furnished, has been provided. The school opened with 150 scholars. Mr. Pillsbury was the first principal, and N. J. Mc- Connel succeeded, and in 1857 John A. Austin. In 1858 A. C. Walshe had charge, who was succeeded by Mr. Couse in 1859. There were in 1862 three teachers and about one hundred scholars. The same year the Trustees were James Miles, Homer Hart, Henry McConnel, L. S. Jones, George Porter, L. Hart, G. H. Cutler, P. Osborn, and James Webster.
The Northeast High School, under the management of P. H. Stewart as principal, two female assistants, and Professor Heimburger, teacher of languages and music, at present offers
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
rare inducements for those desirous of securing a thorough and finished education.
Edinboro has the most expensive school buildings in the county. Ten acres of land eligibly situated were purchased, and commodious buildings erected at the cost of $25,000, contributed by citizens of the county. There are four build- ings, assembly hall, academy hall, and two boarding-houses. The assembly hall is sixty-six feet by forty-four, and two stories in height, and is occupied by the model or public school, now numbering one hundred and twenty pupils. The upper story is devoted to the purposes of a lecture hall, and will accommodate a large audience. Academy hall is forty by fifty feet, and two stories in height. The upper story of academy hall has seven recitation rooms, and a library valued at one hundred dollars. The two boarding halls are three stories in height, and have accommodations for three hundred students, the dormitories being partially furnished.
The trustees of the academy, in 1857, when the first frame was erected, were P. Burlinghame, E. W. Gerrish, F. C. Vunk, Lewis Vorse, C. Reeder, J. W. Campbell, and N. Clute.
The Board of Trustees of the Edinboro Normal School ap- plied, on December 3, 1860, to the Superintendent of Common Schools, for inspection and recognition, under the "act to provide for the training of teachers for the common schools of the State." Hon. Joseph Ritner, of Cumberland County ; J. R. Mcclintock, Allegheny ; H. L. Diffenbach, Clinton ; J. Turney, Westmoreland, were appointed Inspectors, and the several county superintendents composing the Twelfth Normal School District were duly notified to attend for the inspection and examination of the school, on January 23, 1861. After a careful inspection of its arrangements and facilities for instruction, the school was found to have fully complied with the provisions of the act, and was officially recognized as the State Normal School of the Twelfth Dis- trict, composed of the counties of Erie, Venango, Mercer, and Lawrence, by the name of the Northwestern Normal School ; is to enjoy all the privileges and immunities, and be subject to all the liabilities and restrictions contained in the act and its supplements. The institution is under the guidance and con-
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
trol of Prof. Thompson. The trustees had reasons to expect an appropriation of $10,000 from the State-the Legislature, however, appropriated to the institution but $5,000.
The first Sabbath school in the county was established in 1817, at Moorheadville, in a log schoolhouse, which was re- moved in 1857. Rev. Mr. Morton, now of Corning, New York, and Col. James Moorhead were the founders.
As Erie has now a dozen Sunday schools and more than one thousand scholars, it is interesting to note the small begin- nings of this excellent institution. Mrs. J. Colt, who had re- turned from a visit in New England where these schools were being introduced, suggested the subject in Erie. Mrs. R. S. Reed and Mrs. Carr were the first teachers, and the few girls constituting the school met alternately at the houses of Mrs. Colt and Mrs. Reed. The brothers of the girls soon asked to be admitted. Fears were entertained that boys would be difficult to manage, but these vanished and the school rapidly increased in numbers. Col. Forster tendered for its use a vacant room on his premises, which was accepted. In order to systematize the matter and place it on a more permanent basis, a call was made on the citizens to assemble at the court- house, March 25, 1821, for the purpose of forming a Sunday school and moral society. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to draft a constitution, to be submitted at an adjourned meeting, viz .: R. S. Reed, T. H. Sill, and G. A. Elliot. The committee reported as follows :
"Whereas, the united testimony of all Christians confirms the importance of instructing the rising generation in the principles of religion, as they are contained in the Holy Scriptures ; and as the most happy consequences have re- sulted from the Sunday schools established, in Great Britain and America, and wishing to see one of these excellent establishments brought into operation among ourselves, there- fore, we whose names are annexed to this paper do cheerfully unite and promise to adopt, as the basis of our union, the following articles," etc. The substance of the articles was as follows :
That a committee of three persons be appointed to provide proper teachers and suitable books ; that the school be opened
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
and closed with prayer or reading a portion of Scriptures, and singing, if convenient. Though the teachers and managers are expected to render their services gratuitously, yet a small fund for the purchase of books to be awarded by the com- mittee to meritorious scholars, will be required. Children and adults are to be freely admitted without regard to denomi- nation, sect, or party, and parents and guardians requested to visit the school, and to exert themselves for its prosperity. Then follow the names of thirty citizens, with their contribu- tions for the purchase of books, amounting to twenty-eight dollars and fifty cents.
From the first report it appears that the school commenced in May, with sixty-four scholars; that during the term of six months the average attendance was eighty-one, and the number of teachers eighteen.
The scholars had committed to memory and recited 16,525 verses of Scripture, 9,453 answers in the catechism, 1,625 verses of hymns, and the Lord's Prayer and Ten Command- ments. They reported also that among the scholars were twenty-one persons of color, whose attendance and recitations had been good.
The utmost harmony and good will had prevailed, and the efforts of all had been to promote the welfare of the school. The next six months (for the school for many years had an intermission through the winter) the number of scholars diminished, and the managers urged its importance with re- newed vigor-and it would seem successfully, for the institu- tion has continued and prospered to this time. One of the most interested and useful citizens in the cause, for thirty years, was Mr. George Selden. Horace Greeley, who was in the printing office of the Erie Gazette, attended this school near its commencement, and was in the class of Mr. Joseph Chase.
Asa E. Foster, long principal of Erie Academy, and after- ward of a high school, each Sabbath, for twenty-five years, engaged in the Christian and self-denying work of giving in- struction and distributing tracts to the criminals in the county jail.
To show what a wilderness was New York, and not less
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Pennsylvania, as well as to speak of the first Protestant missionaries in this region, we make the following extract :
" The Rev. Gideon Hawley, with Deacon Woodbridge, in 1753 (the year Fort Presqu'ile was built by the French) made a journey to Oquago, upon the Susquehanna, fourteen miles from the village of Binghampton ; it is a beautiful valley, from three to four miles in length, and was the ancient dwelling-place of a tribe of Indians for a long series of years.
"Mr. Hawley had been solemnly set apart as an evangelist among the Western Indians; at Stockbridge he had a school attended by many Indians who wintered there. May 22, he set out with Mr. and Mrs. Ashley (the latter being an Indian interpreter), and Deacon Woodbridge, upon the errand of planting Christianity one hundred miles beyond any settle- ment of Christian people. Col. Johnson, Indian agent, who resided near Utica, favored their mission, and kindly met them in person. But they were not always so favored. A drunken Indian, named Pallas, who was acting as guide, fired at Mr. Hawley when the party were in a boat, on pretense of aiming at a duck. Mr. Hawley providentially moved his head just at the moment and was saved. The missionaries showed the Indians their credentials, and, among other things, preached temperance to them, at which they appeared to be religiously moved, and even converted, and disclaimed the ill-behaved Pallas as a foreigner."
In 1767 we hear of the Moravian missionary Rev. David Zeisberger, an unarmed man, of short stature, remarkably plain in his dress, and humble and peaceful in his demeanor, preaching to the Senecas at the mouth of the Tionesta, in Venango County. He built a block-house, planted corn, and gathered around him several huts of believing Indians. The surrounding tribes were said not to be equaled for wickedness and thirst for blood. Soon he retired from this hamlet called Goshgoshunk, fifteen miles farther up the river, to the present site of Hickorytown. Here he built a dwelling and chapel, and suspended the first church-going bell in Northwestern Pennsylvania. In consequence of broils with the Cherokees, the station was removed to Butler County. In 1770 the Christian colony again removed, setting out in sixteen canoes
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
for the mouth of Beaver Creek, and establishing a station in the center of Beaver County, called Friedenstadt, or Town of Peace.
Sunday, July 2, 1797, we have an account of probably the first religious service held in what is now Erie County. Mr. Judah Colt, in his manuscript "Life," says, "About thirty persons assembled at Colt's station, who gave decent and be- coming attendance while a sermon was read from Dr. Blair's collection, 'on the importance of order in conduct': 1st Corinthians, chapter xiv, verse iv. 'Let all things be done decently and in order.' " The selection of the subject, "Order," was suggested by circumstances. Immediately preceding, we find : "This season was one of much business, and, owing to the opposition of adverse settlers, one of much trouble and perplexity. We were compelled to keep from forty to eighty or one hundred men in the service of the company to defend the settlers and property. More than once, mobs of men, from twenty to thirty, would assemble for the purpose of destroy- ing houses, and other mischief, some of whom I had indicted, and bills were found against them by the grand jury of the then Allegheny County, the courts being held in the borough of Pittsburg."
Some of the earliest settlers in the county, who were located at Northeast, were Presbyterians from Ireland, and brought their Bibles with them. Among these was a ruling elder, named William Dundass, and others of the names of Lowry and Campbell. They held their meetings in private dwellings, and in fine weather in the open air. An occasional mission- ary was sent out by the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries, but this was of rare occurrence until after 1800. The first church edifice erected in Erie County was at Middlebrook, near Low- ville, two miles from Wattsburg, in 1801. It was built of logs and is still standing, though not occupied as a church.1
To show the customs of the times with regard to religious services, as well as to give an interesting event in the life of one of the most enterprising as well as excellent citizens of Erie County, we make the following extract :
1 Mr Colt's journal, 1801: " Rev. Mr. Wood, from Washington County, intended preaching at the Middlebrook church, but getting lost by taking the wrong path, could not find the meetinghouse, and returned to Colt's station after a fatiguing day's ride."
1
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
"In 1801, in the course of the summer and fall, we were visited by a number of clergymen who were sent out by the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries, who preached in a number of places, and took much pains to collect and establish churches, and to convene the scattering inhabitants for religious service. Among those who came among us was the Rev. McCurdy, who appeared a very zealous man and well calculated to be useful as a traveling minister. On the Sabbath of the 27th of September (the first time the Sacrament was administered in the county) it was appointed and agreed upon to have the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper administered in the township of Greenfield, on a plantation then occupied by William
MIDDLEBROOK CHURCH, ERECTED, IN 1801. Sketched by Miss F. L. Spencer, in 1860.
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Dundass, and a congregation of three hundred assembled. The day was pleasant, I accompanied Mrs. Colt to the place of meeting ; on our way the conversation turned upon religious subjects, and my consort had come to the determination to offer herself as a communicant, and to become a member of the church-her mind appeared much occupied meditating upon the subject. While conversing with her I became more
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
thoughtful than usual, and shortly after arriving at the place of meeting, I became more and more impressed with the evil nature of sin, and of the importance of leading a sober, orderly, and religious life, and it was not long after service that I found myself much distressed in mind, and my body considerably agitated. Although I felt a load of guilt upon me, I resolved to come forward and make a request to become a member of the church, provided I could be admitted at that late period. Accordingly, at the interval between those who sat down at the first table and those who were preparing to come to the second, I came forward and kneeled at the feet of the minister and elders, and explained to them as well as I could the situation I was in, and what I had a desire to do. After asking me a few questions, and after having a short conference among themselves, I was invited to rise, being overwhelmed with grief. A token of admittance was given to me by one of the elders-I arose and took my seat at the table. So it was that I and my beloved consort were both permitted to partake of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper on the same day, and I hope and trust it will be a day of grateful remembrance while we live, and of unceasing praise beyond the grave.
"The ministers present were Revs. McCurdy, Satterfield, Wick, and Boyd, from the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries. After service we were invited to go home with Mr. McCord, and on Monday, being the last day of the feast, people were again assembled and a sermon preached-it appeared a good day to me. Toward evening, service being ended, they re- turned to their respective homes, this being a new epoch to my life as it was a beginning of years."
From another source we find that this service was held at Northeast, and that about forty persons sat down at the tables.
The Presbytery of Erie was organized April 13, 1802. The enabling act was passed by the Synod of Virginia (under whose jurisdiction the territory then was) at their meeting at Winchester, Virginia, October 2, 1801. The first meeting was held at Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, on the day above mentioned. Erie Presbytery then embraced that portion of Pennsylvania west and northwest of
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, with a portion of the Western Reserve. It now embraces Erie, Crawford, and parts of Mercer, Venango, and Warren Counties. From it, have been constituted Beaver, Allegheny, Allegheny City, and part of New Lisbon Presbyteries. The New School Presby- tery of Erie held its first meeting at Meadville, Pennsylvania, in June, 1838. It is proper to state, that at the time of the division of the General Assembly in 1838, the New School had the majority in the Erie Presbytery. At the meeting in June following, the Old School members withdrew, taking all the old records, as directed by the General Assembly. The New School Presbytery now embraces Erie County, with a part of Crawford.
September 1, 1803, Rev. Robert Patterson, of Ohio Presby- tery, was ordained pastor of the church of Upper and Lower Greenfield for two thirds of his time, and immediately after arrangements were made by which he was to preach occasion- ally in Erie. The names of those who signed the call from Upper Greenfield were Thomas Robertson, Judah Colt, Timothy Tuttle, and Seth Loomis ; the salary for two thirds of his time was two hundred dollars. The ordination took place at Mr. John McCord's bark house, Rev. Mr. Badger preaching the sermon, and Rev. Mr. Tate giving the right hand of fellowship. The Rev. Mr. Stockton was also present, and the people, as was the custom, were favored with preach- ing for several days.
In 1806 Mr. Patterson petitioned the Presbytery of Erie and desired leave to resign his charge. The reasons offered were that his salary was insufficient, and "impediments in the way of realizing any land as his own by purchase, embarrassed and disturbed his mind so that he had neither leisure nor due composure to engage in that reading, meditation, and study which were necessary to a faithful and profitable discharge of ministerial duties." With regard to the citizens, he says, "In their intercourse I have found them respectful, obliging, and friendly ; and though the dispensation of the Gospel and its ordinances have not been attended by any remarkable success, yet we are not without some encouragement and dawnings of hope." Writing from Pittsburg, where he
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
established himself in 1807, in reference to his successor in the county, Rev. J. Eaton, he says : "I would be rejoiced to be informed that the prospect of their religious horizon is becom- ing brighter than it has ever yet been, for to me it appears very nearly a land 'sitting in the region and shadow of death.'" Rev. Mr. Patterson died in 1832, near Pittsburg, where he had resided many years.
The Rev. Johnston Eaton preached a few Sabbaths at the mouth of Walnut Creek (Manchester) in 1805. In 1807 he returned, and was ordained in 1808 as pastor of the churches of Fairview and Springfield. The services were held in the barn of William Sturgeon, in what is now the village of Fair- view.
The first preaching by Mr. Eaton was at Swan's tavern, on the east side of the mouth of Walnut Creek. This building was removed but a few years ago, when it was said to be the first house erected in the county.
In a year or two the congregation erected a log meeting- house opposite the dwelling of R. L. Perkins, where still are the remains of the burying-ground by which it was sur- rounded. Directly in front of the church was an Indian mound about six feet in height and fifteen in diameter, covered with grass, on which the hardy pioneers reclined at the noon recess. The house of worship soon became too strait, and it was enlarged,-even then, on fine days the ser- vices were conducted in the open air.
The first elders were Andrew Caughey, George Reed, and Wm. Arbuckle. Of the twenty-five original members at Fair- view, but five survive (1861) ; their names are Jane Caughey, Agnes McCreary, Elizabeth Eaton, Jane Sturgeon, and Wm. Arbuckle.1
The Rev. Mr. Eaton was appointed chaplain of the army at Erie during the war of 1812-13, the most of his people being called to the defense of their country. After this he preached a part of his time in the Dunn settlement and in Northeast. From the organization of the Presbyterian church in Erie, in 1815, he labored there a portion of the time until 1822. Mr.
1 Mr. Arbuckle died in Mill Creek, February 25, 1862, aged 91 years, being one of the earliest and most respected citizens of the county.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Eaton sustained the pastoral relation at Fairview until his death in 1847, a period of nearly forty years. He was a student of Rev. John McMillan, and a faithful servant, en- during hardships and encountering difficulties with indomi- table resolution, and with ardent devotion to the Master.
ยท At Erie there was no preaching for several years excepting by an itinerant or missionary occasionally. The inhabitants attended church at Northeast or Fairview, particularly on sacramental occasions. In 1807 the Rev. John Lindsay was employed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church for two or (if he preferred it) three months to preach in the new settlements in the Holland purchase, and to go as far as the town of Erie.
We need offer no apology for quoting largely from a histor- ical sermon of Rev. A. H. Carrier, preached at Northeast, February, 1861, on the occasion of the occupancy of their old meetinghouse for the last time.
" The church at Northeast was organized, under the name of the church of Lower Greenfield, in the year 1801. The spot upon which those who formed it assembled was a place in the woods nearly in the rear of Amos Gould's residence. The services of the occasion were held in the open air, and they continued to be thus held until the log church was built. The minister who organized the church was the Rev. Elisha McCurdy. In Dr. Sprague's ' Annals of the American Pulpit,' an interesting and detailed account is given of the labors of this servant of Christ in Western Pennsylvania. He was a native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. At twenty-nine he began preparation for the ministry, and pursued his studies seven years, mostly at Cannonsburgh. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ohio, in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1799. For some time after his licensure he was engaged in missionary labor in the region bordering on Lake Erie. He had an important agency in connection with the great revival in Western Pennsylvania, which commenced about 1801-2. It must have been while laboring in connection with that revival that he organized the church of Lower Greenfield, as it was called. Mr. Mc- Curdy's last days were spent at Allegheny. He died in the
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