USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania, from its first settlement > Part 15
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triumphs of the Gospel on July 22, 1845, in the eighty-third year of his age. Though the founder of the church at North- east, it does not appear that he labored either as its pastor or stated supply. The church at its organization consisted of twenty-five members, of whom none, so far as I am aware, are surviving, with the single exception of the aged Mrs. Moorhead,1 in Harbor Creek. The church did not enjoy the services of religion each Sabbath, but through many years of its existence divided with other churches the labors of such ministers as could be obtained.
" In 1802 Rev. Robert Patterson accepted a call to take the pastoral charge of the Presbyterian churches of Erie and Upper and Lower Greenfield. In 1803, he was ordained and installed pastor of Upper and Lower Greenfield. He continued their stated pastor four years and a half, when he applied to the Presbytery for a dismission, and was accordingly dismissed. The church here consisted then of about forty members. After this there was a long interval during which the church did not enjoy the stated ministrations of any minister. In 1812 a Rev. Mr. McPherrin was employed for six months, and then, after another long interval, bringing us down to 1815-16, we find that the Rev. Mr. Eaton was engaged to preach either one third or one fourth part of his time at Northeast.
"Rev. Mr. Tate often labored at Northeast about these years, during seasons of religious interest, and at four days' meetings, held, as usual in those times, in connection with communion seasons. Rev. Mr. Eaton's residence was at Fairview, and his parish was somewhat extensive, consisting as it did of the place of his residence, together with Erie and the township of Northeast. There are several of the church and congregation who distinctly remember Mr. Eaton as their minister. In his day, worship was held in a log church on Cemetery Hill. When this house (the log one) was built, I have not been able to ascertain, but probably not long after the organization of the church. Thither from all the country round the people resorted, coming, not as now, over the best of roads and in comfortable carriages, but through the mire of swamps, and over stumps, treading their way upon horseback 1 Died in December, 1861, aged 94.
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or slowly moving in a cart drawn by oxen. The elder female members of the church have told me of frequently taking a child in their arms, and, upon horseback, riding eight, ten, or a dozen miles over not the best of roads to attend preaching. Sometimes the log church would be too contracted to hold all who came; then they would adjourn to the open air, and under the shelter of the trees would worship God. Thus the grove which adorns our attractive cemetery has often been made to resound with praise, to hear the voice of prayer, and to ring with the message of peace-the glad tidings of a Saviour.
"In 1818 it appears that Rev. Mr. Camp, a missionary, was employed statedly, one month, in which time a revival com- menced which resulted in an addition to the church of about twenty members.
"The old log church now began to be too strait for its occu- pants, and perhaps it was argued by some of the younger members of the society that it was not 'up with the times.' This would seem, however, to have hardly been a valid argu- ment, judging from the picture which one of our older members gives me of the appearance of the present village and surrounding country in those days. "The few scattered houses along the main street were built substantially of logs ; and interposed between them were wide tracts of girdled trees, which gave to the place the aspect of a harbor filled with masts. The worthy people, however, with commend- able zeal for the cause of religion, determined that they would have for the house of God something better than their own. We are not in possession of any records stating precisely what steps were first taken, what debates were had upon the subject, what arguments were used in favor of the project, and what objections were urged against it; but I have heard it inti- mated that, with that tenacity of habit which generally characterizes elderly people, much was said by the more aged members against changing the location of the house. They had become accustomed to climb the hill where the sanctuary stood, the graveyard was there, their religious associations clustered around that spot, and they were unwilling that those associations should be disturbed. But the log village
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prevailed. Its inhabitants considered themselves centrally located, and succeeded in securing the new structure as an ornament for their street. The work undertaken was no slight enterprise. The record of the mode by which it was built proves under what difficulties it was prosecuted. Money was an article which played but a small part in the erection of the house which we desert to-day. The members of the con- gregation seemed to say in effect, by their contributions, what Peter said to the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple : 'Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee.' The list of items constituting payments is a perfect curiosity, very significant of the condition of the times, and indicative likewise of much zeal that an excellent house of worship should be built. As scarcely any could furnish money, there was given what was equally serviceable -lumber of all kinds, and such labor as was needed. But besides this, unlimited amounts of grain and flour, and every merchantable article, were furnished as equivalents for the amount of subscription or for the price of the pews and slips. Some items credited are calculated to excite a smile, such, for instance, as ' bread and apple pies,' which were appropriated to the object in a way not precisely explained. Our notions of propriety, too, are somewhat startled, unless we understand how the temperance question stood in those days, by finding a more peculiar item credited. In one instance a barrel of whisky, price eleven dollars, is set down as a part payment for the price of a pew ! Where it went to, and what was done with it does not appear. Our fathers unquestionably apprehended no difficulty in the way of such a barter. We may be thankful that the interval of years since then has created a more enlightened conscience in regard to the use of spirituous drinks.
"Through much labor and sacrifice the walls were at last inclosed and the house covered, and then, while the seats were yet not built, the people turned into the new house for worship. Doubtless it seemed, notwithstanding its then un- plastered walls, a luxurious place to those who had occupied the old log house. All who had a hand in building it, or who were interested in worshiping in it, considered themselves ex-
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ceedingly fortunate in possessing so imposing a structure. We who sit and shiver here these winter Sabbaths may do well to let our imaginations run back to those days when stoves for churches were not thought of, and when the congregation, within unplastered walls, managed as they could to keep com- fortable. Not that it would be desirable to bring back those times, when any method of warming a church was con- sidered a desecration of it, but it may be wholesome to remember what experiences have preceded ours. Some, even of the middle-aged members, have told me that they remem- ber to have seen the minister preaching, winter Sabbaths, with hands well fortified against the cold in thick, woolen mittens.
"The work continued on the church, to a greater or less ex- tent, for several years. The galleries were finally erected and the interior completed. At that day the building was con- sidered by the surrounding people an architectural wonder. People, I am told, came long distances in order to see it. Doubtless it excited more remark, and was regarded with higher interest than is the case with our beautiful new edifice. And indeed it was, for that time, a most creditable structure-in greater contrast with the dwellings of the people, and indicative, therefore, it is possible, of more zeal for the outward prosperity of Zion than the building which now so eminently graces our village. Owing to the gradual man- ner in which it was constructed, this house was never formally dedicated. The congregation were anxious to occupy it while, as yet, they were unable to finish it; and when finished, it had been already dedicated by their long-continued acts of worship, and, as we may hope, by the conversion therein of many a soul.
" After the erection of the church, the first minister who appears upon the records is a Mr. Ely, a licensed minister of the Buffalo Presbytery, who was employed one half his time for six months. This was in 1823. The church was com- menced about 1818, and finished in 1822. In 1824 Rev. Giles Doolittle was invited, by regular calls, to take the pastoral charge of the congregation in Northeast and Ripley, New York. On April 15, 1825, he was ordained by the Pres-
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bytery of Erie, and installed by them pastor of the united congregations above named.
" The number of church members, when he took charge, amounted to sixty-eight. The only elders, two in number, at the time were John McCord and Thomas Robinson. The oldest surviving members of the church are Edmund Orton, Dr. James Smedley, and Harmon Ensign, who united at about the same time, having come from the same town in Connecticut ; and among the females, Mrs. Robinson, who united about 1803, Mrs. Hall, and Mrs. Baldwin. Their con- nection with the church dates back to the times of the old log meetinghouse. Of those who joined during the same periods, some, however, are still surviving, but are connected now with the church at Harbor Creek.
"Mr. Doolittle continued his labors with this church from 1825 to September 14, 1832. He died at Hudson, Ohio, at which place he was laboring as pastor. In 1832 the church was divided. Fifty-eight members, living in Harbor Creek and vicinity, were constituted a church, leaving a member- ship here of one hundred and five.
"November 15, 1833, Rev. W. A. Adair was ordained and installed over the congregations of Northeast and Harbor Creek. It was during the years of prevailing religious interest-a period of revivals-that Mr. Adair was connected with this church, and during his ministry, in connection particularly with the labors of Rev. Samuel G. Orton, large accessions were made to the church. In 1836 the membership amounted to one hundred and eighty-three, and in April, 1838, to two hundred and fifteen-a larger number than are now in communion with us. In June, 1838, Rev. Nathaniel West commenced labors with this church. His pastoral relation with it ceased July 17, 1841. January, 1842, Rev. Miles Doolittle began to preach to the Presbyterian congrega- tion of Northeast, and continued their pastor until some time in 1844. November of that year, Rev. Samuel Mont- gomery became their stated minister, followed by Rev. Mr. Paine in 1848, who was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Cochrane in 1850. August, 1852, Mr. Cochrane gave place to Rev. D. D. Gregory. During the continuance of Mr. Gregory with this
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people, a lot was purchased and a parsonage built thereon. March, 1859, the present minister took charge of the con- gregation. February, 1859, a meeting was called, and a com- mittee appointed to take into consideration the purchase of a lot for a new church.
"The committee reported the twenty-eighth, were empow- ered to purchase March seventh, and March twelfth resolved to build. The result of that resolution is the beautiful struc- ture which adorns our village."
In 1811 the Rev. Robert Reid, a minister of the Associate Reformed denomination, organized a church in Erie, which was incorporated as the "First Church of Erie." The con- gregation met in the schoolhouse until 1816, when they erected a comfortable building near their present site-Eighth Street, east of French. The frame, re-covered, is now occu- pied as a store, it having been removed to State Street.
The first elders of the church were Archibald McSparren, Thomas Hughes, Alexander Robinson, and James Barr.
The Associate Reformed denomination in 1841 erected a large and substantial church, and in 1845 called as pastor Rev. Joseph Pressly.
In 1816 the Rev. Charles Colson, a Lutheran minister from Germany who had settled in Meadville, organized four churches in this vicinity, expecting to have the oversight of them. One was at Meadville, another ten miles above, on French Creek, a third at Conneaut, and a fourth at Erie. He took a severe cold returning to Meadville, from the effects of which he died the same year.
In 1824 the First Presbyterian church of Erie erected a large and substantial building on the site at present occupied by their new edifice. The trustees were Judah Colt, P. S. V. Hamot, G. Sanford, R. McClelland, B. Russell, J. Evans, R. Brown, S. Hays, T. Laird, G. Selden, J. Kellogg. At the ceremony of laying the cornerstone, Rev. Timothy Alden offered prayer, and Rev. Johnston Eaton made a few per- tinent remarks. Rev. David Mckinney was ordained and installed April 13, 1825. Rev. George A. Lyon was installed September 9, 1829.
In June, 1859, the cornerstone of their rich and elaborate
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structure was laid on the site of the former building. Rev. Dr. Chester, of Buffalo, Rev. C. J. Hutchins, and Rev. D. C. Wright took part in the exercises. Its cost, exclusive of the ground, is estimated at $25,000, and it is capable of seating nine hundred persons. The organ of this church cost $2,000.
March 17, 1827, a meeting was held at Mr. Hamot's for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal church. Col. Thomas Forster was called to the chair, and P. S. V. Hamot appointed Secretary. George Miles, G. A. Elliot, Taber Beebe, C. M. Reed, Thos. Forster, Jr., D. C. Barrett, Wm. Kelley, G. Knapp, and J. A. Tracy were elected vestrymen. Rev. Charles Smith accepted the office of rector, but resigned December 8. He was succeeded by Rev. B. Hutchins, and afterward by Rev. John W. James. Rev. Bennet Glover was next appointed, July 17, 1828, and held the office until his death in 1838. St. Paul's church was erected in 1831, on West Sixth Street.
The First Baptist church was organized in 1831. July 31, 1832, at a meeting held at the courthouse, Rev. Wm. H. New- man was called to the chair and O. N. Sage appointed secre- tary. The following gentlemen were nominated trustees : E. D. Gunnison, Abijah Frost, O. N. Sage, Wm. Kelly, James Lytle, Warren Foot (did not serve), Adonijah Fuller, George Moore, and D. J. Lloyd. The first pastor was Rev. Wm. Newman, and they erected their building in 1833, on the corner of Peach and Fifth streets.
In 1838 the Methodist Episcopal denomination erected a frame building on Seventh Street. In 1860 they dedicated their new house of worship on the corner of Sassafras and Seventh. This is one of the finest churches in the city. The house and ground cost $17,000. Trustees : J. Hanson, J. S. Sterrett, T. Willis, John Burton, Wm. Sanborn, A. A. Craig, J. W. Ayers, A. Yale, N. Murphy. In 1858 the same denomi- nation completed a house of worship a short distance south of the town, at a cost of $4,000, called the Simpson Church. Messrs. E. Goodrich, Heman Jaynes, and Capt. Thomas Wil- kins were liberal contributors.
In 1841 the Lutherans built a church. Rev. Mr. Hartman, pastor.
In 1844 the Universalists organized a church, and in 1845
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erected their building on Ninth Street. First pastor, Rev. Henry Gifford. Trustees, Henry Caldwell, R. Huston, and Porter Warren. S. H. Kelsey, collector.
The first Roman Catholic church erected in Erie was a small frame building on German Street, in 1839. The corner- stone of St. Patrick's, on Fourth Street, was laid in 1850, and about 1858 a dwelling for the bishop and a schoolhouse were erected on the premises. In 1854 the diocese of Erie was created, and the Rev. Joshua Young made bishop.
In 1854 St. Mary's, a German Catholic church, was com- menced, and completed in 1858. This is probably the largest, as it is the most expensive church in the city, its cost having amounted to $28,000. It has two spires 135 feet in height, and is furnished with three bells, one weighing 1991 pounds, another 1085 pounds, and the third 708 pounds. The bells cost $1,400, and are remarkable for their clearness of tone; they were consecrated by the Rt. Rev. J. Young, April 15, 1860. The church has an organ which cost $1,200, the Society of St. Cecilia engaging themselves in the choir. The Benedic- tine Fathers have had charge of the congregation since July, 1859, Rev. F. Celestine Engelbrecht, pastor.
Two societies for the propagation of the faith are connected with St. Mary's-St. Aloysia's for young men, and the Society of the Blessed Virgin for young ladies-each of which has a library.
The German Methodists about 1845 erected a comfortable house of worship near Fifteenth Street.
About 1850 the German Presbyterians erected a brick church on South Peach Street.
In 1855 an Old School Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. Wm. Willson, and immediately after the congregation erected Park Church at a cost of $17,000. First Trustees : G. Sanford, Joseph Arbuckle, J. C. Spencer, Wm. C. Curry, I. W. Hart, J. Moore, D. W. Fitch. Treasurer and Secretary, D. B. McCreary. In 1856 Rev. W. M. Blackburn was installed pastor. The first attempt of the General Assembly (O. S.) to establish a church in Erie was in 1842, when Rev. J. H. Townley was sent as a missionary. In 1853 the Presbytery of Erie made appointments for preaching for several months,
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having previously named a committee to establish a church when Providence should direct.
In 1847 the Wesleyan Methodist Society (colored) erected their building on Third Street, in Jerusalem, the western part of the town. The founders were H. E. Waters, John Clifford, Amos Burgess, Luman Harris, and Wm. Messick. The African Methodist Episcopals (also colored) formed a society and erected a building soon after.
The Protestant Episcopal church, Rev. Mr. Abercrombie, held services for a few months in 1858 in the Wesleyan church, when it was not otherwise occupied, and organized a Sunday school there. At the same time the Rev. Mr. Bow- man, of the same church, held services at the depot.
The first instance of Christian worship after the manner of the Protestant Episcopal church, at Girard, was in June, 1858, in the Methodist Episcopal church, a large audience being in attendance. Rev. John Bowman officiated.
Girard township has five churches : one Protestant Metho- dist, three Methodist Episcopal, and one Roman Catholic.
Springfield township has six churches: two Methodist Episcopal, one New School Presbyterian, one Universalist, one Christian, and one Calvinistic Baptist.
Franklin township has no church edifice.
Fairview township has seven church organizations : one Methodist Episcopal, one German Methodist, one Old School Presbyterian, two New School Presbyterian (though but one house of worship), and two German churches, the denomi- nations not known. In this statement are included the churches of Manchester and Fairview or Sturgeonville.
Summit township has two churches : one Methodist Episco- pal that will accommodate three hundred persons, valued at $850, and one United Presbyterian, seating four hundred, and valued at $800.
McKean township has one Methodist Episcopal church, seating five hundred, and valued at $1,500 ; and a Roman Catholic, seating five hundred, which cost $1,300.
LeBœuf township has one Methodist Episcopal church, seating three hundred, and valued at $1,000; and a second one, seating five hundred, and valued at $1,500.
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Washington township has one Christian Communion church, accommodating three hundred, valued at $1,200.
Concord township has one Methodist Episcopal church with two hundred sittings, valued at $1,000.
Harbor Creek township has four churches.
Greene township has two Methodist Episcopal, and one Presbyterian church.
Northeast township has three churches : one Presbyterian, valued at $1,000, seating three hundred ; one Methodist Epis- copal, valued at $3,000, seating three hundred and fifty ; and one Baptist, valued at $3,400, that will accommodate four hundred.
Greenfield township has one Methodist Episcopal church.
Waterford township has six churches : one Roman Catholic, seating three hundred persons, valued at $3,000 ; one Lutheran, seating one hundred and fifty, valued. at $300; one Presby- terian, seating two hundred, valued at $450; one Methodist Episcopal, seating two hundred and twenty, valued at $400 ;
1 another of the same denomination, seating three hundred, valued at $500; one Baptist, seating three hundred, valued at $450.
Amity township has one Methodist Episcopal church, valued at $800, which will accommodate two hundred persons. Venango township has one Methodist Episcopal church, besides the churches in Wattsburg.
Wayne township has two churches : a Methodist Episcopal, valued at $1,000, which will accommodate three hundred, and a Presbyterian one valued at $800, seating two hundred and fifty persons.
Union township has three churches : one Methodist Episco- pal, valued at $1,000, with three hundred sittings ; one Presby- terian, valued at $1,500, with three hundred sittings ; and a Roman Catholic, valued at $800, with two hundred sittings.
The census statistics (which include those of the churches) of Mill Creek, Elk Creek, Conneaut, and the West Ward of Erie have not yet been published or filed in the Prothono- tary's office, nor have they been aggregated, excepting in population.
Erie has been favored with revivals of religion at several
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periods. In 1831 Rev. Mr. Stone held a series of meetings, and more than thirty persons united with the Presbyterian church.
In 1834 Rev. Mr. Orton, a zealous evangelist, held a pro- tracted meeting, and about one hundred persons connected themselves with the different churches.
In 1842 the Rev. Mr. Clark preached for several days in the Presbyterian church-sixty-five persons united with the church at that time. Again, in 1858, more than two hundred persons united with the different evangelical churches in Erie.
Rev. O. Parker, an evangelist, labored successfully in the Presbyterian churches of Girard and Edinboro in 1860. At the latter place there were many converts in the Normal School.
CHAPTER XIII.
Waterford- Edinboro - Northeast -Wattsburg - Girard - Union Mills-Albion-Cherry Hill-Wellsburg-Cranesville-Lockport- Pageville-Lexington-Fairview-Manchester-McKean Corners- Wesleyville-West Springfield-Springfield-Beaverdam-Concord Station.
WATERFORD, beautifully situated at old Fort Le Bœuf,1 the history of which has been given in a former chapter, is distant fourteen miles southeast of Erie.
In the act for laying out the towns of Erie, Franklin, War- ren, and Waterford, is to be found the following : " Whereas, Andrew Ellicot lately surveyed and laid out a town, within
1 Old Fort Le Bœuf being inland, was not ranked or fortified as a first- class station ; yet, being situated on the "headwaters" of the Allegheny River, and at the nearest point of water communication between Lake Erie and the river, it was considered of much importance as a trading fort. It afforded protection to traders, hunters, and to many adventurers who passed between Canada and Fort Duquesne and the French possession farther south. The portage between Presqu'ile and Le Boeuf being only a little more than four leagues, the necessary goods, munitions of war, imple- ments of agriculture, etc., were conveyed overland from the lake, and at Fort Le Bœuf embarked upon radeaux or rafts, to be transported to forts to the south and west along the river.
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the tract heretofore reserved for the public use at Le Bœuf, near the head of the navigation of French Creek, and the draft and plan of the said town being communicated by the Gover- nor to the General Assembly, was by them approved : there- fore, be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said draft and plan of the town so surveyed and laid out by the said Andrew Ellicot, . . being first recorded in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the original thereof deposited in the office of the Surveyor General, shall be, and the same is hereby, in all respects accepted, ratified, confirmed, and established, as fully and effectually as if it had been made by virtue of a law previously authorizing a town to be surveyed and laid out at Le Boeuf; . . . and the com- missioners hereinbefore directed to be appointed shall also survey five hundred acres of land, adjoining the said last mentioned town, for out-lots : and the same shall be divided in such manner, and with such streets, lanes, and alleys as the said commissioners shall direct, but no out-lot shall con- tain more than five acres, nor shall the reservation for public uses exceed in the whole ten acres; and the said last mentioned town shall be called 'Waterford,' and all the streets, lanes, and alleys thereof, and of the out-lots thereto adjoining, shall be and forever remain common highways."
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