Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 51

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 51

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Stech, J. F. Shearer, Joseph F. Hartman and Alpheus E. Wagner.

St. James' German Evangelical Lutheran church was in part an offshoot from the first church, and was organized in response to the needs of the many German residents of the city. The church, located at the corner of Eighth avenue and Fourteenth street, was dedi- cated in 1862, and rebuilt in 1889. The pres- ent beautiful parsonage adjoining the church was erected in 1905. Rev. C. L. Boecele has been the pastor during the past ten years.

Other Lutheran churches in the city are the Fourth Lutheran, corner Howard avenue and Third street, Bethany Lutheran, corner Third avenue and Second street, Grace Lutheran, . corner Twelfth aveneue and Eleventh street, St. Paul's Lutheran, West Chestnut avenue and .. Thirtieth street, Temple Lutheran, Seventh avenue and Twenty-fourth street, and Trinity Lutheran, Juniata. With the exception of the Temple church, which was but recently or- ganized, all have large and commodious houses of worship. The Temple congregation wor- ships in the Odd Fellows' hall. The present pastors are as follows: Fourth, Rev. D. P. Drawbaugh; Grace, Rev. Ernest Roedel Mc- Cauley; St. Paul's, Rev. George F. Snyder ; Temple, Rev. C. M. Aurand.

BAPTIST.

The First Baptist church was organized in May, 1842, under the name of the Pleas- ant Valley Baptist church, in the Union church or school house. Its seventeen con- stituent members were mostly dismissed from the churches of Hollidaysburg and Lo- gan Valley, now Bellwood. The council officiating on the occasion were Revs. J. P. Rockefeller of Hollidaysburg; W. M. Jones of Mill Creek; W. B. Bingham of Logan Valley, and fifteen lay delegates from neigh- boring churches. Four persons presented themselves for baptism at the first meeting and were added to the church, making a to- tal of twenty-one members. Up to the year 1853 it had no house of worship of its own, and held its meetings in the Union church.

365

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

In 1853 a small brick building near the present church edifice was built principally through the efforts of the late Martin Bell. It was used by the congregation until 1871, when the present edifice was erected at the corner of Fifteenth street and Eleventh avenue. In 1881 a parsonage was erected at a cost of $3,500, including which the church has a property worth $30,000, and is entirely free from debt. During the first five years of the existence of this church it enjoyed partial ministrations from Revs. William B. Bingham, Fisher and J. B. Mor- ris. It then united with the Centre Baptist association, and came under the pastoral care of Rev. J. B. Williams. He continued to serve until 1850. His successors have been Revs. A. J. Hay, W. B. Harris, A. H. Sembower, A. L. Shanefelt, William Shad- rach, D. D., William Codville, Adie K. Bell, D. D., J. Green Miles, T. P. O'Connor, N. C. Naylor, Luther B. Plumer, John S. James, D. D., H. B. Garner, D. D. Dr. Bell, who served this church for about ten years, beginning in 1876, was the father of the late Judge Martin Bell of the Blair county courts.

The Mount Zion (colored) Baptist church, originally known as the Second Baptist church, was organized in the spring of 1873, under the auspices of the First church, by Rev. G. W. Jackson of Alle- gheny. The original. members constituting this church were Henry Johnson, Sarah Johnson, Samuel Grant, Betsy Hollinger and Jacob Roberson. The latter was soon after ordained and served as the first pastor of the church. He was succeeded by Revs. Anderson, Richardson and Samuel Rheu, who each remained but a short time. After being without a pastor for a while, the Rev. G. W. Jackson of Allegheny was called, and served a number of years. His successors have been Rev. E. D. Tyler and Daniel Cave, the latter having served the church during the past five years. The congrega- tion first worshipped in a building on Eighth avenue, between Twenty-first and Twenty-

second streets. In 1876 a building was erected on Seventeenth street, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues at a cost of $1,200, which was the home of the congregation for about ten years, when the property was sold and another purchased at Fifth avenue and Twenty-second street. In 1906 a substantial brick building was erected.

The Memorial Baptist church, Fifth ave- nue and Sixth street, Rev. William C. Little pastor, and the Calvary church, Fifth ave- nue and Sixth street, Rev. William C. Little, Metzger, pastor, are off-shoots from the First church. The Memorial church had its inception in a Sunday school organized in the eastern part of the city about 1890 by the late George B. Bowers, Esq. Both con- gregations have commodious houses of wor- ship, are free of debt, and have a steadily increasing membership.

PRESBYTERIAN.

The First Presbyterian church of Al- toona was the outgrowth of the Presby- terian church of Hollidaysburg, originating in an afternoon service held in the old Un- ion schoolhouse and church on Sixteenth street once a month. These meetings were first held in 1841 by Rev. David Mckinney, D. D., of Hollidaysburg. The Presbyterians of Altoona, in 1850, resolved to erect a suit- able church edifice; they secured two lots, on one of which, located in Eleventh av- enue, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, they erected a house of worship at a cost of $3,000. After the completion of the church, an arrangement was made, No- vember 3, 1841, with the Hollidaysburg pas- tor to preach in Altoona on alternate Sab- baths in the forenoon, which he did for nearly a year, when he resigned his charges and · moved to Philadelphia. At this time there were fifty Presbyterian families and seventy communicants, with their ecclesias- tical connection in Hollidaysburg. In Oc- tober, 1852, a petition to the Presbytery of Huntingdon, asking for a separate organi- zation, was granted, and on November 8

366

HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

following the First Presbyterian church was organized. Jonathan Hamilton and John McCartney, elders in the parent church, were continued in the same relation in the new organization, and John Hutchison, G. D. Thomas and James L. Gwin were elected and ordained to the eldership. In 1853 Will- iam C. McCormich settled in Altoona and was elected as elder in the new church. The church thus organized was served by sup- plies until November 14, 1854, when Rev. A. B. Clarke was called to the pastorate. Nine years after, in May, 1863, on account of ill health, he resigned, and died on July 4 following. January 26, 1864, Rev. R. M. Wallace was called to the vacant pulpit. The original church edifice was disposed of by sale in the year 1854, and the building now occupied by the Mechanics library was erected in 1855. It was dedicated on the last Sabbath of the year, the pastor and the Rev. Drs. Jacobus and Paxton officiating on the occa- sion.

In 1865 the communicants numbered about 230. Rev. Wallace severed his con- nection with the church in 1874, and as- sumed the care of a congregation at Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Col. Thomas A. Scott was among the worshippers of the First church during his residence here. Rev. M. N. Cornelius was called to be the successor of Mr. Wallace, and began his pastoral labors January 1, 1876. He re- mained with the church until May, 1885, and in 1886 he was succeeded by Rev. John W. Bain, D. D., who served until 1905 when advancing years and failing health neces- sitated his retirement and he was made pastor emeritus, continuing to sustain this relation to the church until his death in 1910. He was succeeded by the Rev. Harry L. Bowlby, the present pastor. In 1904 the congregation sold its church property on Eleventh avenue to the Pennsylvania rail- road company, which converted it into a home for the Mechanics library, and built the present beautiful stone church edifice at

the corner of Fourteenth avenue and Twelfth street as a cost of $75,000.

The rapid growth of the First church soon made another building necessary, and early in 1869 the question of branching out into a new organization was agitated. Among the movers in this enterprise were James Hutchison, Thomas McCauley, Will- iam M. Lloyd, Joseph Dysart, Dr. J. M. Gemmill, Daniel Laughman, S. C. Baker, Charles J. Mann, John H. Converse, James H. Dysart and John M. Campbell, who aided both by counsel and efforts. A peti- tion to Huntingdon presbytery for a new organization was presented, and in answer thereto presbytery appointed a committee to organize the Second church, which they did on the evening of June 21, 1869. Forty- seven persons were enrolled as members, all of whom except one were from the First church. The congregation rented Bell's hall, corner Seventh avenue and Twelfth street, and on Sabbath morning, July II, 1869, the first public service was held, con- ducted by Rev. C. L. Kitchell, after which meetings were held regularly. The Sab- bath school was organized July 18, 1869. James H. Dysart, superintendent, and Max Kinkead, treasurer, were its first officers. Thirty-nine names were on the school roll. A year afterwards the roll contained 472. At a congregational meeting held August 21, . 1869, Rev. David Hall, of Mansfield, Ohio, was elected pastor, but he declined to accept. April 5, 1870, a call was extended to W. J. Chichester, a licentiate of the Bal- timore presbytery, then pursuing his stud- ies at the Western theological seminary. It was accepted on condition that he be al- lowed to spend a year at Princeton semin- ary. Meanwhile Rev. Stuart Mitchell officiated for the congregation, and in June, 1871, the pastor-elect was ordained a min- ister and installed as pastor of the church. Extremely youthful in appearance, Rev. Chichester became known as the "boy preacher," and he continued in charge of the congregation until 1878. He died in Chi-

367

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

cago, where he held a charge in 1902. His successor was Rev. Samuel W. Duffield, who entered upon his work on July I, and was installed on October 7. His successors have been Rev. J. L. Russell, Arthur W. Spooner and Henry Howard Stiles. Dr. Stiles has been the pastor of the church for the past fifteen years. Early in 1870 the present site on Eighth avenue between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets was se- lected and purchased of Clement Jaggard for $4,500. The chapel was begun in 1870, and finished in the spring of 1871 at a cost of $20,000. It was occupied in April, Rev. David Hall preaching the dedicatory ser- mon. The church building was commenced in August, 1875, and finished and opened for worship on Sunday, December 17, 1876, when Rev. George P. Hayes, D. D., preached the opening sermon. The church, includ- ing lot, furnishings, etc., cost $62,965.66. It contains a fine organ, which cost $2,500. The church did not become free from debt until 1902, when it was dedicated, when the former pastors, with the exception of Rev. Duffield who had passed away, were present, Rev. Chichester preaching the ded- icatory sermon. It has at present more than 1,000 communicants.

The germ from which the Third Presbyte- rian church has grown was a small Sabbath school of four officers, nine teachers and fifty- four scholars, which was organized May 6, 1888, in the chapel of the Church of the Breth- ren at Sixth avenue and Fifth street. Prior to the organization of the congregation a new building was erected at Fifth avenue and Second street, and the growth of the school was so promising that it was deemed advisable to proceed with the organization of a church. Accordingly, on January 14, 1889, Rev. J. H. Mathers, Rev. J. W. Bain and George L. Myers, a committee of the presbytery of Huntingdon, appointed for the purpose, met with others interested, and organized a church with fifty-three members; twenty-nine were received by certificate from the other churches and four upon confession of faith. Robert

Stewart, J. D. Irvin, J. M. Hennaman and Dr. A. L. Feltwell were elected elders, and Wesley Reed, John H. Keefer and Harry S. McFar- lin, deacons. At a congregational meeting held September 11, 1889, a call was extended to Rev. James E. Irvine, Ph. D., of Fredonia, Pa., to become the pastor of the church. He entered upon the work November 3, and this pastorate has continued ever since. The build- ing in which the church was organized was erected at a cost of $2,100 and the lot involv- ing an additional expense of $1,000. During the autumn of 1890, to meet the growing de- mands of the congregation, the church build- ing was enlarged; to about double its capacity and the building dedicated February 22, 1891. Early in 1893 the lot adjacent to the church building was purchased by the trustees for $1,250 and a few years later a commodious manse was erected. Under the leadership of Dr. Irvine this congregation has grown rap- idly, with the result that it has outgrown the enlarged church building, and at the time this is written, the congregation is engaged in the work of erecting a fine new edifice on the site of the old one at a cost of $25,000.

The Broad Avenue Church .- At a meeting of the presbytery of Huntingdon, held at Bell- wood, a committee, consisting of Revs. Mathers, Freeman, Hamil, Russell and Bain with laymen G. L. Myers, Daniel Laughman and John A. Canan of the First church and , George F. Jackson, G. F. Armstrong and S. M. Ross of the Second church, was appointed to take charge of the mission work in Altoona. This committee purchased from T. H. Wigton, the Baker heirs and Mrs. James H. Dysart a lot on Broad avenue between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth streets. At this time the work which resulted in the organization of the Third church was more pressing and nothing more was done until the spring of 1892, when a sub-committee consisting of John A. Canan, John Lloyd and Samuel T. Knox was ap- pointed by the committee in charge for the purpose of determining a location, collecting funds and arranging for the organization of a church. This committee recommended the

368

HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

purchase of a lot at the corner of Broad and Twenty-fourth streets from J. D. Bowman for $2,500 and the erection of a chapel. This pol- icy was adopted and a chapel was erected at a cost of $600. The first sermon was preached in the chapel by the Rev. J. R. Sampson, June 5, 1892. The church was formally organized September 15, 1892, and in January, 1893, a call was extended to Rev. Joseph Brown Turner, of Glensha, who came February 9 and remained until September 23, 1894. On Jan- uary 2, 1895, a call was extended to Rev. Howard N. Campbell, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, who remained for four years and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Robert Bruce Beattie. In 1902 Rev. Beattie accepted a call at Franklin, Pennsylvania, and was succeeded by the Rev. Walter L. Whallon, who has since held the pastorate. In 1896 the little chapel was torn down and the present beautiful white stone church erected at a cost of $20,000.

The Juniata Presbyterian church was organ- ized by a committee appointed by the Presby- tery of Huntingdon on July 22, 1892, with a membership of twenty-six. Holding their services in a hall belonging to J. M. Hutchin- son, one of the members, the people were sup- plied with preaching by members of the pres- bytery until Rev. Emil Lewy, the first pastor, assumed his pastorate on January 8, 1893. Rev. Lewy was a Jew, who had embraced the Christian religion. Under his pastorate the congregation flourished and a lot for the pur- pose of erecting a building was donated by William Loudon and a church was erected at a cost of $3,000. The corner stone was laid August 20, 1893, and the church dedicated February 25, 1894, Rev. Harvey G. Furbay, of Tyrone, preaching the dedicatory sermon, and Rev. J. H. Mathers and others assisting in His immediate successor was the Rev. J. Wellesley Jones, who came in 1864, and of- the services. After a few years Rev. Lewy resigned and was succeeded by Rev. H. G. - ficiated until his death, April 15, 1865. His Moody, who is now in the foreign mission field. The present pastor is Rev. Albert Allen Bird. pastorate, a very successful one, although short, was full of promise, and he died uni- versally beloved and regretted. Rev. John Newton Spear served from 1865 to 1867, and was succeeded by his father, Rev. W. W. Spear, D. D., formerly rector of St.

The Presbyterians of South Altoona and Llyswen also have built a church within the past few years. It is located at the corner of

Ward and Logan avenues, Llyswen. Rev. E. P. Benedict was the first pastor, and at his death, in 1909, he was succeeded by Rev. R. L. Hallett. First established as a mission, the church has now become self-supporting, and a comodious church edifice has been erected. The membership is more than 100.

St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church. -The Rev. Robert W. Oliver was sent into this region prior to the erection of St. Luke's church, and before it became an or- ganized parish, as a district missionary, sub- ject to the Bishop of Pennsylvania, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Potter. The first church building was erected in 1858, from plans furnished by Architect Hall of Harrisburg, at the cor- ner of Eighth avenue and Thirteenth street. It was a nave, with transepts and chancel, built of Baker sandstone, covered by a slate roof, and surmounted by a bell-cote. It was of semi-Gothic architecture, and very pic- turesque. In the rear of the church and facing Thirteenth street, was erected about the same time a parish school building and rectory, as a memorial to Maria L., daugh- ter of General J. Watts de Peyster and Es- telle, his wife, of New York city. The sub- stantial iron fence which surrounded the whole church property was also the gift of the little patroness, who was a great fa- vorite of the first pastor, Rev. Mr. Oliver, to whose energetic efforts the erection of these buildings is due. Although a man of polite learning, great energy, and very de- cided ability, in every way fitted to fill high station in the church, this pioneer minister spent over five years, 1858 to 1863, of labori- ous effort in missionary work in these mountains.

369

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Luke's church, Philadelphia. He was fol- lowed in 1869, by the Rev. O. W. Landreth. Rev. J. J. Morgan was the next rector, com- ing in 1871. During his short rectorate the temporalities of the church were visibly in- creased. He was called to Cleveland, Ohio, and his place here supplied by the Rev. S. H. S. Gallaudet. He was a fine scholar and acceptable pastor; he served about a year, 1873-74. Rev. T. William Davidson offi- ciated the next two years, and was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Dr. Allan Sheldon Woodle, who officiated as the rector of St. Luke's parish for almost thirty years, and is at the present time the pastor emeritus of the congregation, being a resident of Philadelphia, since his retirement from ac- tive pastoral work a few years ago. Since his retirement the parish has been served by the Rev. R. L. Gibson, Robert Bell, W. J. Hughes, Herbert J. Glover and George R. Bishop, the present rector. In the early summer of 1881 the old church was re- moved, to the very general regret of all classes of people, for it had long been a landmark in Altoona. It was distinguished as perhaps the one spot of beauty in the town. Its dislodgment was necessitated by the needs of the congregation for a larger edifice. After considerable agitation of the question as to where the new church should be located, and after consultation with the bishop of the diocese, the first rector, then dean of the Nebraska Divinity school and General DePeyster, the building committee determined to reoccupy the old site. The committee was composed of the pastor and Messrs. T. N. Ely, Joseph Wood and A. F. Heess. On Saturday, September 3, 1881, the corner stone of the new church was laid by the Masonic fraternity with grand and im- posing ceremonies. The church was com- pleted and ready for occupancy January 15, 1882. The building, the most beautiful in Altoona up to that time, is erected of Clough stone. The style is Old English, and the dimensions 100 by 60 feet. The peal of bells, three in number, was presented

by W. G. Hamilton and family of New York city. St. Luke's membership has in- variably consisted to some extent of the resident officials of the Pennsylvania rail- road company.

St. Luke's is the parent church of mis- sions that have been established quite re- cently in Hollidaysburg, where a church was dedicated in 1910, and in Juniata. A mission for colored adherents of the Epis- copalian faith was organized on June 10, 1910, to be called the St. Barnabas mission, in charge of Rev. Mr. Oxley. George Bris- coe, Charles Long, Frank Williams, Roy Brown, Mr. Shaw and George Russell were elected vestrymen. A woman's guild was also organized. The meetings are held in the old parish house, adjoining the church, the gift of General DePeyster, which still stands.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

St. John's Church .- Half a century has wrought great changes in the history of Al- toona. Our city is the creation of the Penn- sylvania railroad company. Here in 1850 the company began to erect its shops, which are being constantly enlarged, until now they are among the most extensive in the world. From being little less than a wilderness in 1849, when the site was purchased and the city laid out, the population has grown from a few hundred to over 60,000 inhabitants. Just a hundred years ago the prince-priest, Father Gallitzin, came to Loretto to minister to the Catholics scattered throughout the mountain and central portion of Pennsylvania. Fifty years before the beginnings of Altoona this de- voted missionary attended to the spiritual wants of Catholics, found here and there throughout this wide district. The convert Russian priest was, then, the first pastor of Altoona. But when Altoona began to take shape and form, Catholics were among the first to find employment and a home in the new town. A number were employed in the con- struction of the railroad up the steep mountain side and in the erection of the railroad shops.

370

HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

To these the Rev. Father John Walsh, then pastor at Hollidaysburg, ministered. The number of Catholics began to increase, and it was soon deemed necessary to purchase ground for the building of a church. This must have been done about the close of the year 1851, or the beginning of the following year. The first church is said to have been finished by Father Bradley, of Newry, who for some months in the early part of 1853 vis -. ited the Catholics of Altoona. In March of this year there is an old record of three chil- dren baptized by this pioneer priest; also a record on November 7, 1852, of baptism ad- ministered by Father John Walsh. The name of Rev. I. Neuper also occurs in 1852 and 1853, as occasionally ministering to the Cath- olics of Altoona.

On October 20, 1853, a lot was purchased for the sum of $75, and on April 10, 1854, four lots were purchased for the sum of $200. A little frame church was then built, the total cost for which and the furnishings was a little over $800.

The first church was dedicated in the begin- ning of the year 1853, but the precise date can- not be ascertained. It was a frame building, simple in style and finish, and was sixty by thirty-five feet in dimensions. Obviously sixty years have effected as great a change in the history of St. John's as they have in the material development of the city. The rapid growth of the town and the promise it gave of the future importance made it important that Catholics could not long be left dependent upon priests from other places. According, in July, 1853, Rev. John Tuigg, then stationed in Pittsburg, was appointed first resident pas- tor. Father Tuigg purchased a small house, corner of Thirteenth avenue and Thirteenth street, which he occupied as his residence. He also purchased a few acres of ground for a cemetery. Time went on, and the congrega- tion increased, and although the German Cath- olics built a church, St. John's was no longer capable of accommodating the members who thronged to it on Sundays. With a view of afterwards building a large brick church,

Father Tuigg put an addition to the rear of the then existing edifice, which, while enlarg- ing it in the present, was destined afterwards to become a part of the new church. When this addition was finished the now enlarged church was dedicated by Bishop Domenec, November 16, 1862.

The zealous pastor now turned his attention to providing more ample means for the educa- tion of the youth of the parish. Although a school had long been in existence he was anxious to provide a more suitable building and also to place the school upon a more per- manent basis. Accordingly on May 12, 1867, at Father Tuigg's invitation Bishop Domenec laid the corner stone of the present convent.

On August 18, 1870, the Sisters of Charity, Mother Seton foundation, took charge of the large and beautifully situated new convent and began their educational work in Altoona, which has been fruitful and eminently success- ful. The number of the community were six sisters, four of whom came from Cedar Grove in the archdiocese of Cincinnati, and two were novices from this diocese. The first superior- ess was Mother Aloysia, who was afterwards succeeded by Mother Regina, also one of the original six. To assist him in ministering to the still growing congregation, Father Martin Murphy was assigned as first assistant Febru- ary 25, 1871.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 51

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036