USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania, from its first settlement > Part 36
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Hon. J. H. Forster, of Houghton, Michigan, having been called to Erie by the death of his sister, recalled some matters of interest concerning his grandfathers, Col. Thomas Forster, and Associate Judge William Bell. Mr. Forster is a cousin of W. B. and J. W. Hayes and William E. Bell, of this city. His father, Thomas Forster, resided on the northeast corner of State and Fourth streets; his grandfather, Col. Thomas For- ster, at southeast corner of French and Fifth ; his grandfather, Judge Bell, corner of French and Sixth. Col. Forster was appointed collector of the port by President Adams, and held the office thirty-six years, until his death. His grandfather Bell was a judge of the Erie courts. Leaving Erie when a boy, Mr. Forster has been much in the public service. He assisted in running the boundary line between the United States and Mexico under the treaty of peace of 1848-the famous Guadalupe-Hidalgo. He himself fixed the initial point for placing the monument at the north of the Gila on the Pacific Coast, under Commissioner Weller. His uncles, Gen. Sumner and Gen. Wright, of the army, are well known. The latter and his wife were drowned en route to California.
Many prominent Erie citizens have passed away since 1861, of which our limited space will allow mention only. Of these are C. M. Reed, Milton Courtright, J. H. Walker, M. B. Lowry, J. C. Spencer, G. A. Elliott, Drs. Stewart and Wallace, M. Sanford, E. Babbitt, A. Scott, P. Metcalf, J. A. Tracy, Rev. Dr. Lyon, B. B. Vincent, Messrs. Tibbals, Grant, Hearn, Follansbee, Gunnison, Cleveland, Selden, Wallace, Mans, Faulkner, Ryan, Neil, and many others.
SECTION V.
Churches-Revivals-Missionary Annual Meeting-Public Schools -Academy -- Villa Maria-Lake Shore Seminary-St. Benedict -Clark's Business College-W. C. T. U .- Y. M. C. A .- Hamot and St. Vincent Hospitals-Home of the Friendless-Three New Char- ities-Bequests of John Weis and R. Wilcox-Sisters of St. Joseph.
THE Central Presbyterian church was organized February 23, 1871. David Shirk and J. A. French were chosen elders by a membership of fifty-four persons. Rev. C. C. Kimball was the first pastor. Rev. Solon Cobb, the present incumbent, was ordained December 27, 1878, Mr. Kimball having accepted a call to Kansas City, Mo. The church has been unusually prosperous and fruitful. During the first twelve years of its existence its expenses and charities amounted to about $95,000. Mr. C. C. Shirk has been the superintendent of the Sunday school since its commencement. It has 565 names enrolled. The church built in 1872 was destroyed by fire, but it was replaced in 1890 by a beautiful and commodious structure, 1
The Chestnut Street Presbyterian church originated in 1870 from a Sunday school held in the dwelling of Mr. C. W. Brown, through the efforts of three lay members of the First and Park Presbyterian churches. It was under the Y. M. C. A. until December 1, when Park church had full charge. In order to put in some practical and useful form their quota of the $5,000,000 memorial fund which the Presbyterian church in the United States had resolved to raise as a thank offering to God for the cordial reunion of its dissevered branches, this new church, then Sunday school, was erected and dedi- cated August 2, 1871, Rev. J. R. Wilson was the first pastor, the church having been organized January 1873. In 1879 he resigned to accept of the chair of Greek Professor in Parsons College, Iowa. Revs. A. C. Wilson, J. D. Kerr, W. J. Haslett and Rev. R. S. VanCleve have succeeded as pastors. In 1890 a beautiful new brick church and chapel were erected.
The United Presbyterian church erected a handsome parson-
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age about 1875. Revs. Robert Reid, Joseph Pressley, and Rev. Dr. J. C. Wilson, for more than eighty years were the only ordained pastors. The First Presbyterian church, in 1891 added to its fine property the Selden Memorial chapel, being largely a donation from Mr. George Selden.
About 1878 Park Presbyterian church built a commodious and beautiful chapel. In 1892 the church was repaired and reseated. This church also organized a Sunday school, and erected a suitable building in East Eighteenth Street, in 1887, in which church services are now being held.
The several Lutheran churches are St. John's German Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed church on Twenty- third and Peach streets, Rev. A. L. Benze, pastor, dates from 1815. A new impulse was given about 1834, when Mr. Conrad Brown donated the whole square between Peach, Sassafras, Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth streets, and the church was erected on the same site now occupied. The German Evan- gelical church (Salem) was built in 1843 and rebuilt in 1873. It it is on the corner of Peach and Twelfth streets, Rev. Ernest Koehne is pastor. The Luther Memorial church, Eleventh Street and Peach, the Rev. J. O. Baker, pastor, was organized in 1862, and has a mission on the corner of Twen- tieth and Poplar streets. The German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity church, on Eleventh Street near Chestnut, was or- ganized in 1881, and has a parsonage and day-school. Rev. C. C. Morhart was for many years pastor, before his call to Washington City, where he now resides. The English Evan- gelical church is on Twenty-first Street and German, and there is an English Lutheran church on Nineteenth and Poplar streets. St. Paul's German Evangelical was organized in 1851 and is on Peach Street, between Tenth and Eleventh. It has a parsonage ; Rev. Val. Kern is pastor.
St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church erected its rich stone structure in 1860. In 1868 St. John's Protestant Episcopal church was built in South Erie, and about 1870 Cross and Crown and two other Protestant Episcopal churches or mis- sions, Trinity and Grace.
Tenth Street Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1873 ; Wayne Street Methodist Episcopal in 1891, and Simpson Metho-
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dist Episcopal, in South Erie, in 1893. Evangelical Mission is on Twenty-first and German streets.
A Methodist Episcopal church has lately been built on Brown Avenue, near Cascade Street.
The African Methodist Episcopal church on Seventh Street, between Holland and German, suffered from the flood, but has been thoroughly repaired.
Several Baptist churches have been erected within the last fifteen years. Rev. Cyrus Thoms, pastor of the First Baptist church was noted for his zeal and activity. The North Star Mission on East Sixth Street, was commenced as a union work thirty years ago. Wallace Chapel, on West Eighteenth Street was so called from the land having been donated by Irvin M. Wallace, Esq., and a Baptist church on Seventh and Cascade streets was organized about the same time. On Ash Lane and Twenty-third streets is also a Baptist church and Sunday school, and a German Baptist church on Seventeenth Street.' The First Baptist commenced April 1831, with a meeting of ten persons. To-day, sixty years later, they have a fine church and chapel, with five missions, and have admitted as members twenty-five hundred persons.
Christian Science service and Sunday school is held on the corner of Sixth and Holland streets ; also the Bethel on Front and French streets has preaching, and at 2:30 the Himrod Sunday school meets.
The United Brethren have a church on the corner of Cherry and Tenth streets.
A Swedish church (Protestant) was erected about 1886 on East Tenth Street. Rev. H. Hagstrom is pastor.
A Christian church on the corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets was erected about 1889.
The Church of Christ was organized in 1889, and meets in the Tabernacle on Peach Street, between Ninth and Tenth streets. Rev. B. Hayden pastor.
Hebrew-Anvchai Chesed Reform Congregation Synagogue on West Eighth Street, near Sassafras Street. Rabbi, Rev. Nathan Rosenan. Services every Friday evening at 7:30, and Saturday at 10 A. M. Sabbath school Sunday from 10 to 12; Wednesday from 3 to 6.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Many church improvements have been made in the county the last few years. St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal in Erie has added, through the liberality of Hon. C. M. Reed, a fine rec- tory ; the First Presbyterian church, largely by the gift of Mr. George Selden, a fine convenient chapel. Park Presbyterian church has been improved and remodelled, and has erected a mission chapel on Eighteenth Street. At Girard a beautiful new Presbyterian church has just been dedicated.
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic (German) is on Twenty-fourth Street, near Peach ; St. John's German Roman Catholic is on East Twenty-sixth ; St. Andrew's Roman Catholic is on West Sixth and Raspberry. St. Peter's Cathedral, on Tenth and Sassafras, was commenced in 1874, and consecrated August 2, 1893, with great ceremonies. This was also the fiftieth anni- versary of Bishop Mullen's ordination to the priesthood. It is 220x130 feet, and its cost is estimated at $250,000. Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ryan were present, and the largest religious procession ever seen in Erie promenaded the streets, with torches and fireworks during the evening. The churches and its appointments are scarcely equalled in Western Penn- sylvania.
St. Michael's Roman Catholic church, on Cherry and Seven- teenth streets ; St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic (Polish) Wallace and Thirteenth streets ; an Italian Roman Catholic church, Seventeenth and Walnut streets, with one on Twenty-sixth and the other on E. Avenue and Tenth streets, make a total of eleven Roman Catholic churches in Erie recently built. Reg- ular services are held in five languages, owing largely to our foreign population in the shops and factories.
Hoffman's Roman Catholic Church Directory for 1893 states that Erie diocese has as follows : Bishops, 1 ; clergy, secular 57 ; regular, 17 ; total 74 ; churches, 105 ; stations, 35 ; chapels, 11 ; secular students, 14 ; colleges, 1; academies, 5 ; parochial schools, 58 ; children attending parochial schools, 5,687; or- phan asylums, 1; orphans, 155 ; charitable institutions, 3 ; Catholic population, 60,000.
During the pastorate of Rev. George F. Cain in Park church, which terminated in 1870, there was great religious interest, The Rev. E. P. Hammond, Maj. Whittle, and Mr. Rine, the
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latter about 1876, held series of meetings that were greatly blessed. For many days one of our largest churches was filled, and many business men during business hours held open Bibles and studied under Maj. Whittle. We find in The Pres- byterian, Philadelphia, the following concerning the revival work of Rev. Dr. Wilbur Chapman in Erie.
" A blessed series of meetings, under the leadership of Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, D.D., have just been concluded in Erie, Pa. Several churches were united in the movement. Dr. Chapman came to take charge of the work on the 21st of Nov. 1892. He began his work with the Christians: Discouraging impressions had been abroad concerning the religious character of the Erie churches. Erie was pronounced a hard place to move. Early in the course of the meetings it became ap- parent that such judgment would not stand. The Christians showed interest and willingness to work. A very gratifying spirit of unity was manifest from the beginning to the end of the associated movement.
" As a result, Christians are warmed and stimulated. There is now a more general interest in the cause of the Master. Where there was an appearance of being ashamed of the Mas- ter, there is little of that appearance now.
"The Bible has become a book of greater interest. The Evangelist was blessed in making that Book of Books appear full of sweetness and preciousness. He called out the Chris- tians to witness for God's promises in that Book. It was glorifying to God to hear how many there were who could testify to the fact that promises had been tried and proved.
"To many there is a greater reality in prayer. Christians have united in prayer, which was made specific, and prayers have been answered, greatly to the strengthening of the faith of all in the presence of such evidence.
"So great did the interest become that the largest building in the city could not hold all the men who turned out to hear the gospel preached. At one service there were about twenty- five hundred men-possibly more-all that could be packed in the Opera House, and then many were turned away. Men of all creeds and no creed were there-Jews and Romanists, believers and unbelievers. On Tuesday, December 4, the busi-
1
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ness houses of the city closed at 3:30, and there was a crowded Opera House service at 4 P. M. No one building could ac- commodate the throngs of people that rushed for entrance.
"There were many inquirers. Nearly a thousand inquirers' cards were signed. Many have become greatly interested who did not sign a card. It is to be regretted that the meetings did not continue somewhat longer, for the power was reaching out beyond the general extent of church influence, and, doubtless, would have reached out more and more.
"The results of the work have exceeded the most sanguine expectation. There are reasons, which are plain, for the great success. The perfect union and sweet Christian fellowship be- tween the churches could not but result in great good.
" The Evangelist proved himself a very wise man, full of power and the Holy Ghost, and just suited to the work in this field. He was free from sensationalism, and preached the gospel in love and earnest simplicity. He drew the ministers to him and builded on their support.
" Dr. Chapman has not only gone away with the love of all the people, but with the approbation and esteem of all the ministers, without exception. He has left behind him a greater love for Christ, for Christ's ministers, for the Bible and the Church, and stronger faith in the word of promise, and in prayer. " Ex. COM."
A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT.
Morning Dispatch, Nov. 15, 1892.
" With the meetings of this day and evening the Evangel- list, Rev. Wilbur F. Chapman, closes his labors in Erie. If any one had predicted three weeks ago that prayer meetings at 8:30 o'clock in the morning would be held and be largely at- tended in all sections of this city ; that preaching in the morn- ing and afternoon would draw out audiences completely filling the largest Protestant churches ; that the Opera House would not hold the people who assembled at a given hour to hear the gospel story, and two overflow services had to be arranged ; that 200 business places in Erie would shut up their stores after 3 P. M. on a week day so near the holidays, in order that a religious service might have uninterrupted right of way ; that the Opera House would be filled with men only, interested
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
to hear the words of a preacher and the singing of hymns ; that in less than twenty days, more than 1,000 persons in the city of Erie would signify their desire and determination to lead a Christian life-that prophet might have been ridiculed.
"But that and more than that has been done in this city of Erie, and it has been a pleasure to the Dispatch to detail as completely as possible the progress of the great movement which has proved of so much interest to many people in this city and whose influence of good for the community cannot be questioned. Systematic method, thorough organization, and the co-operation of church forces under experienced leadership of exceptional ability have accomplished what doubtful means or sensation-dealing could never have done. It is to this superior, active organization, in our view, that is due much of the phenomenal success achieved."
Rev. B. Fay Mills says of Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, who re- signed the pastorate of Bethany church, Philadelphia (best known in the country as John Wanamaker's), with the press- ing demand for evangelists of the best sort. "Dr. Chapman's general methods are beyond criticism. His temperament is one of exceeding gentleness, and in his private life he is very attractive and winsome." He was persuaded to visit Erie in this capacity in the winter of '92 and '93 and by so doing brought blessings to hundreds of our citizens. He was the immediate successor of Dr. A. T. Pierson, and entered upon his duties in 1890. Was born in Indiana in 1859 ; studied at Oberlin and Lake Forest University, and his theological course at Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1882, and there manifested his zeal and earnestness with a large measure of God's blessing.
The Twenty-third annual Assembly of the Woman's For- eign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian church met in Erie at the First Presbyterian church, April 1893. Mrs. Charles P. Turner, of Philadelphia, the president, reviewed briefly the work of the society. Hundreds of ladies from the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee and the District of Columbia were present. Rev. Dr. John Gillespie, of New York, and at least eight returned missionaries from the foreign field,
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
made the meetings, which continued for three days, remark- ably interesting.
Erie School Statistics for 1892-93 .- The population of the city according to the census of 1893, by William P. Atkinson, Esq., is 47,500, The whole number enrolled in public and parochial schools, 9,335 ; this includes 416 in night school and 40 in mechanical drawing school ; the whole number of regu- lar teachers is 187, with salaries varying from $300 to $1,560 and assistants $250 ; library $1,000; total value of publie school property is $592,900 ; increase of attendance over previous year is 249. Speaking of the night schools of this year and the last, thirty per cent of the enrollment for both years were foreigners, who could neither read, nor speak English at all, or beyond a few words. These were Germans, Swedes, Italians, Poles, Danes, Finns, Norwegians, Russians, and French. Thirty per cent also were boys from the shops, who had but little or no knowledge of arithmetic beyond the fundamental rules. As usual with night school pupils the average attendance per night was about forty per cent of the whole enrollment. Many could not come every night, and to some, who came under compulsion, a minstrel show, a " dance," or the dime museum was oftentimes more attractive than the school. The ages ran from eleven to thirty-nine years ; and the occupa- tions of all represented every trade and calling in life.
The high school moved into its new quarters in the central school building in September, 1891.
The public schools were closed by the School Board as fol- lows : One in the fall of 1891 for two weeks, without sug- gestion from the health officer because of the presence of ten cases of diphtheria in that school district; one in April without suggestion of the health officer, for three weeks im- mediately after the spring vacation, because during the vacation fourteen cases of diphtheria appeared in that district; one for three weeks in May, because of the appearance in the district of twelve cases. All the schools of the city were closed by order of the Board on May 27, 1892, though at that time five schools had already been closed, leaving eleven districts free from diphtheria so far as public school children were concerned.
Columbus Day, Oct. 21, 1891, in honor of the four hundreth
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anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus, was celebrated as in other cities, and was a day never to be for- gotten, 7,944 children being in line. Erie never witnessed such a display. Oct. 1, D. J. Waller, Jr., State Superinten- dent of Public Instruction called upon all school principals to see that trees were planted on Columbus Day.
The officers of the School Board for 1893-94 are : H. W. De Witt, President ; R. G. Newbegin, Secretary ; George P. Colt, Treasurer ; John S. Rilling Solicitor ; H. C. Missimer, Superintendent ; W. G. Arbuckle, Superintendent of Build- ings.
The Teachers' Institute of November 1893, held in Erie, was largely attended, and many fine lecturers from a distance as- sisted. Among the number was Mrs. Mary Hunt, who has in- troduced temperance teachings in the public school course.
The magnificent central school building finished the last year is worthy of a full description did our space allow.
Report of Public Schools of Erie County .- See page 151 for State Superintendent of Schools' report for 1860. We submit the following statistics for 1892 :
Whole number of schools. 520
Average number of months taught.
834
Number of male teachers.
107
Number of female teachers.
532
Average attendance of scholars 10,492
Cost of teaching each scholar per month.
Taxes levied for school purposes. 197,817.33
1.34
State appropriation. 32,060.67
Total receipts for school purposes. 329,197.53
Cost of instruction. 143,408.58
Fuel and contingencies.
62,517.72
Cost of schoolhouses.
114,899.89
This table shows that while the attendance has increased 128 per cent over that of 1860, the combined outlay for instruc- tion, buildings, fuel and contingencies has been increased to 588 per cent.
The proportion of female teachers to the whole number in 1860 was 60 per cent ; in 1892 it was 89 per cent. The in- crease in the proportion of female teachers was first caused by the necessities of the case at the beginning of the late war, from the absence of so many of our best male teachers in the army. But what was begun from necessity has been con- tinued from choice, the ladies having proven quite as satisfac-
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
tory as teachers as the men, if not more so, and having in this matter secured to themselves the greatest advance in the scope of their influence, usefulness and their opportunities for wage- earning.
The Erie Academy is under the care of Prof. J. A. Wiley, M.A., with Miss S. King and Mrs. Pratt as assistants. It has a kindergarten and is in a prosperous condition.
St. Benedict's Academy has Sister M. Clara, Directress.
The Villa Maria Academy, being a large ladies' school oc- cupying a whole square on Plum and Eighth streets, was com- pleted and dedicated the 30th of May, 1892. It is in charge of the Sisters of St Joseph. Also there is a parochial school on Fourth between Holland and German streets.
Lake Shore Seminary, established in Northeast in 1870, though undenominational, was to a certain extent, under the control of the Methodists, having a fine four story brick build- ing in the best vicinity. It did not prosper financially, and was sold at public sale first to the People's Savings Institution, and afterwards, on February 1, 1881, to the Redemptorist Fath- ers of Annapolis, Md. The price paid was $10,000, and it is used as a preparatory school for young men about to enter the Roman Catholic priesthood, having been dedicated as St. Mary's College.
Clark's Business College .- This organization was established in 1883 and incorporated in 1890. Prof. H. C. Clark, President ; Prof. S. M. Sweet, Secretary and Treasurer. Board of man- agers : H. C. Clark, Hon. Joseph McCarter, Hon. J. F. Downing, J. Foster Hill, Hon. S. M. Brainard, D. C. Weller, S. M. Sweet. This is an exceedingly popular and well patron- ized institution. It has just presented to the public its tenth annual illustrated catalogue, and has removed to new quar- ters in the Downing Block, occupying the entire sixth flour of that elegant structure.
M. G. Benedict, A.M., Ph.D., is principal of the State Normal School at Edinboro. It has fine buildings, but has suffered much loss in consequence of dissensions with regard to Prof. Cooper, who was at the head of the institution for nearly thirty years. Many lawsuits and much bitter feeling prevailed which now happily is in the past.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Dr. N. C. Schaeffer, the State Superintendent of Public In- struction, writes editorially in the current number of the Pennsylvania School Journal (1893) :
"A visit to the State Normal School at Edinboro revealed an atteudance of over 160 students. Of these 110 are prepared to teach and the rest are in the model school. The students are earnest and exceedingly well behaved. The professors are enthusiastic and harmonious. Among them is Miss Anna Buckbee, whose fame as a teacher has reached all parts of the Commonwealth. The superintendent of the model school re- ports that pupils from the town schools are seeking admission into his department. Edinboro is a beautiful town, free from the temptations of large cities, and well adapted to be the seat of a flourishing school. The buildings and the discipline have been much improved in recent years."
AN APPEAL FROM NINETY-NINE LADIES OF THE BEST CLASS. Taken from Erie Gazette, September 8, 1853.
An appeal to the voters of Erie County :
We, the undersigued mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters, present this petition to those who hold in their hands the power to drive the demon of intemperance from among us, by procuring the passage of a prohibitory liquor law. We are not politicians, nor do we ask for the right to vote, but we appeal to you as our protectors and the protectors of our sons and brothers, who are not yet old enough to have a voice themselves, to nominate temperance candidates for the ensu- ing election. We want men without reference to party poli- tics, who are known to feel deeply and decidedly on this most important subject, who are not actuated by selfish interests to call themselves temperance men, as a last resort of getting the nomination. We want men nominated who have worked for the cause, and are themselves examples of sobriety. We, who are the greatest sufferers, because the weakest party, appeal to you whom both God and our country have appointed our pro- tectors. Shall we not be heard ?
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