Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 45

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1) > Part 45

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proud of the extension of Methodism, its organization and buildings, and its progress and prosperity.

A class was organized at Reno in the autumn of 1867, and this class was attached, as noted above, to Venango City. The congregation consisted of the following: S. A. Darnell, Angeline J. Darnell, Emily Daniels, Martha C. Simons, Isabella Hoffman, Albert Simpson, and Martha O. Simpson. Throughout the oil country the population fluctuated greatly. The congregation was soon reduced to three mem- bers by removals. The services were held in the office of the Reno Oil Company. Very notable revivals were held here in 1872 by the Rev. J. H. Vance, in 1876 by the Rev. J. M. Thoburn, and in 1880 by the Rev. J. M. Miller.

The church of Galloway was organized through the efforts of the Rev. J. M. DeWoody in 1875. It consisted at the outset of sixty- eight members. The leading laymen of the congregation were the following: Thomas Fee, Silas Smith, William Reading, James R. Neely, Nelson C. Smith and Amos Dunbar. The church building at Galloway was the aban- doned church of Petroleum Center. It was moved here in 1881, and after the necessary re- pairs was dedicated to the service of God.

Emlenton

The first meeting of the Methodists for serv- ices in Emlenton was held in the Town Hall or schoolhouse. It was built by general subscrip- tion, and it was generally understood to be for the use of all, irrespective of their denomina- tional affiliations. But the Methodist brethren met with much opposition and had to "contend earnestly for the faith" and a place to worship God according to the dictates of their own con- science. Their first minister, probably a local preacher, was the Rev. Robert Beatty. The congregation was organized in 1860. The first class was composed of Mrs. James Bennett, Mrs. J. C. Boyce, William Hunter and wife, Mrs. John Hunter, Armstrong Hunter. Mrs. Peter King, Joseph G. Smith and wife, Joseph Sloan and wife, and Mr. Donaldson. The present church edifice on the corner of Fourth and Hill streets was erected in 1872. During this year the Rev. Mr. Fay became the resident pastor, having charge also of the congregations at Foxburg, Big Bend and Register. The Emlenton Church has also had the following pastors : The Revs. Messrs. G. W. Moore, H.

G. Hall, P. J. Slattery, William Branfield and O. M. McIntyre.

It is a pleasure to close this account of the Methodist Church in Venango county with the words of a pastor at Reno, feeling confident that his words apply also to other Methodist congregations : "Reno is noted throughout the Conference for the ardent interest she feels in, and the handsome contribution she makes to, the missionary work. Her contributions toward this benevolence ever have been, and still are, greater per member than any charge in the Conference."

THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The beginnings of local institutions are often hidden in obscurity. It is possible that the services of the Episcopal Church may have been held in the county of Venango, from time to time, by clergymen of missionary zeal, be- fore the year 1825, but there is no record ex- tant. Although the services of the Church of England were held on our western coast as early as the sixteenth century, and were per- manently established at Jamestown in 1607, and congregations were formed in all the set- tlements along our Atlantic seaboard. the Episcopal Church did not venture beyond Pitts- burgh into what was even then called "the wilds of western Pennsylvania" until 1815. For nearly two centuries the Episcopal Church in this country was under the handicap of be- ing without Episcopal leadership. Immediately after the American Revolution the Episcopal Church, then commonly known as "The Eng- lish Church." was established as an indepen- dent American Church. Her members had been most loyal to the cause of the American Colonies and at greater cost than any of the other colonists. But many in the newly estab- lished Republic looked at her askance, if not with well-defined suspicion. They had heard so often the religio-political cry "A Church without a Bishop and a State without a King," that they had come to believe that autocracy and Episcopacy were inseparably connected, and that neither could possibly find a place in the political or ecclesiastical Utopia of their dreams. The atmosphere inland was not con- genial amid Scotch. Irish and German pioneers, and this. with the lack of requisite missionary zeal. and the difficulties of reaching the west- ern part of the State, induced the early fathers of the Episcopal Church to abide in the breaches along the seashore. At last the Rev.

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John Henry Hopkins ventured from Pitts- burgh to Meadville and from thence mission- aries came to Venango county.

Saint John's Church, Franklin

At Franklin a parish was organized under the title of "Saint John's Church." Frederick Carey, Alexander McCalmont, John Evans, Samuel Bailey, George Power, James Kinnear, George Brigham, William Raymond, John Little, David Irwin, James Perkins, John Galbreath and others applied for a charter on March 16, 1826, and the charter was granted on the 22d day of May, 1826. The following year the parish commenced the erection of a small brick church on a lot given for the purpose by Mrs. Sarah Mc- Dowell. But the churchmen of the Frank- lin of that day, as others in western Pennsyl- vania, did not exemplify very well the perse- verance of the saints. After the walls of the church were up and the roof was on, their funds and their hearts failed them, and the building, without floor, doors, and windows, was abandoned, and became a refuge for fowls of the air and beasts of the field. A resident clergyman, or the continuance of the Rev. Mr. Smith at Meadville, could have saved the situa- tion ; but the rector of Christ Church resigned in 1831, and the "parts adjacent" to Meadville suffered greatly.

In 1834, St. John's Church, Franklin, entered into an agreement with some Cumberland Pres- byterians. These Presbyterians were desirous of organizing a society in Franklin, but having no suitable building for their meetings they appealed to the vestry of St. John's Church. The Presbyterians were granted the use of the unfinished, abandoned, and neglected St. John's for six years, on the condition that they should finish the building. The records say that "the Episcopalians joined with them in the work and furnished most of the means." However, the effort of the Cumberland Presbyterians, though at first successful, in a few years came to naught, and St. John's Church, although materially improved, was, as before the spas- modic Presbyterian effort, still silent, spirit- ually inert, and remained so for some years. In 1862 the Board of Missions reported to the Convention that it had appointed the Rev. Henry Purdon to take charge of the Mission at Franklin, Venango county, and had in- structed him to extend his labors to Titusville, to Oil City, to other points on the Allegheny river, and in the "Oil Regions." The Board

expresses great pleasure in being "able to re- vive and re-establish the decayed parish at Franklin, which had had a place in the Journals of the Diocesan Convention since 1826." The prospects of a living, growing, working parish at Franklin now grew very bright. Through the hard work of two devoted churchwomen, Mrs. Ruth Elliott and Mrs. Agnes Mason, the church was restored. The Rev. Mr. Purdon labored here and at the other stations in his care most faithfully and successfully. How- ever, in the following year, in 1863, he re- signed St. John's, Franklin, and gave himself entirely to the work at Titusville and the sur- rounding territory. He was succeeded at Franklin by the Rev. John W. Tays, who was sent out by the Board of Missions. He suc- cessfully continued his labors here and in Oil City and at Reno, until 1865, when St. John's, Franklin, declared itself self-supporting, was admitted into union with the Convention, and entered upon a career of prosperity and benef- icence.

The Rev. S. T. Lord of Meadville officiated at St. John's Church until the newly elected rector, the Rev. Marcus A. Tolman, took charge of the parish on the last Sunday in November, 1865. In 1866 the small brick building was found too small for the growing congregation and the vestry resolved to erect a new church. The removal of the old church was begun in April, and on Aug. 13th the cor- nerstone of the new church was laid by the Rt. Rev. John B. Kerfoot, D. D., the Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Addresses were made by the Bishop, the Rev. Mr. Byllesby of Meadville, and the Rev. Mr. Nevius of Ala- bama. There was a large audience in attend- ance. Some of the neighboring clergy were present at this interesting function, among them the Revs. Messrs. Lord of Meadville, Porter of Warren, White of Butler, Washburn of Cleveland. Page of Buffalo, Hayward of Sharon, and the rector, the Rev. Marcus A. Tolman. During the erection of the church the congregation held its services in the court- house. On Easter Day, 1867, the new church was opened for public worship, and on Friday in Easter Week a formal opening service was held by the Bishop of the Diocese, at which twenty persons were confirmed. Some of the neighboring clergy attended this opening serv- ice. In 1869 the pews of St. John's Church were declared free to all. The rector then, in the early seventies, extended his ministrations to the Third ward and the First ward of the city. both in services and Sunday schools. The

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school in the Third ward was placed in charge of Mr. James M. Bredin, and that in the First ward in charge of Mrs. David D. Grant.

In 1874 the Rev. Mr. Tolman resigned the rectorship of St. John's to assume the rector- ship of St. Mark's Church, Mauch Chunk. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. B. Putnam, who administered the affairs of the parish until May, 1879. Upon his resignation the vestry elected the Rev. Harry Leigh Yewens to the rectorship. He assumed his duties on Thanks- giving Day, Nov. 27, 1879, and was instituted on April 19, 1880, by Bishop Kerfoot, the other clergy present being the Rev. G. A. Carstensen, of Meadville, and the Rev. P. B. Lightner. of Oil City. During his long rectorship, during which he maintained daily services and most faithful pastoral ministrations, a lot was ac- quired for a rectory in 1882, the church in- debtedness was paid in 1883, and the church was consecrated on St. John's Day by the Rt. Rev. Cortlandt Whitehead, D. D. Many of the clergy of the Diocese attended the consecration service. In 1887 Mr. W. J. Mullins presented a handsome brass altar cross in memory of his mother, Lucy A. Mullins. In 1890 the Woman's Auxiliary was re-organized and entered upon a vigorous career. On Christmas Day, 1890, Mrs. Sarah Frances McCalmont presented a silver communion service in memory of her husband and her daughter, Gen. Alfred B. Mc- Calmont and Lydia (McCalmont) McGough. In 1892 ground was broken for a rectory. Mrs. Arnold A. Plumer, Mrs. J. D. Hancock, Mrs. Mary Snowden and Mrs. J. W. Grant were appointed a committee on the new rectory. The following represented the men of the con- gregation on the rectory committee: Messrs. Thomas Algeo, Clarke Hayes and John K. Bryden. It was completed in April, 1893, and opened with a service of benediction before its occupancy by the rector and his family. On Jan. 27, 1895, the Rev. Harry L. Yewens died after a brief illness, a faithful priest of God, entering into his rest in the midst of his labors, with the words of the Eucharistic service upon his lips. He was succeeded by the Rev. Arthur H. Judge, who entered upon his duties on May 12. 1895. During his rectorship some handsome memorial gifts were presented to the church, the vested choir of men and boys was introduced, and a well appointed Parish House was added to the equipment of the parish. The cornerstone of the Parish House was laid by Bishop Whitehead on July 28, 1898. in the presence of a large concourse of people. Addresses were made by the Bishop and the Rev. Mr. Judge, the music being ren-

dered by the vested choir. The Parish House was opened with a service of benediction by the Bishop of the Diocese on April 22, 1899, and the formal opening of the House took place on May 2d, with addresses by the min- isters of the city. On Feb. 24, 1900, a fire in the organ chamber, caused by the carelessness of organ men, destroyed both the church and Parish House within an hour. The Parish House was restored at once and the congrega- tion, which had been compelled to resort to the courthouse for the church services, began to hold services there on June 17th.

The Rev. Arthur H. Judge resigned the rec- torship, his resignation taking effect on Aug. 1, 1900. On this day the Rev. Martin Aigner was elected to the rectorship of St. John's, and he assumed his duties Sept. 24, 1900. His rectorship is, so far, the longest in the history of the parish. It has witnessed great changes in the parish and community. When he came to the parish the contract for the new St. John's had just been given. It was his privi- lege to see the new St. John's rise from its foundation to completion. The church was opened for service on Easter Day, 1901, al- though not quite completed. St. John's Church is generally regarded as one of the handsomest churches in western Pennsylvania, and it is exceptionally rich in memorials of great artistic value. The indebtedness on the church was paid on Dec. 26, 1904, and the new St. John's was consecrated by Bishop Whitehead on St. John's Day, 1904. It was a most impressive service, largely attended. St. John's Church is open daily from sunrise to sunset, there is a daily service, and the Holy Communion is cele- brated every Lord's Day. The rector has ex- tended his ministrations regularly to the Insti- tution at Polk, to the Franklin City Hospital, and to the County Jail. The congregation of St. John's has given generously of its means to local and general charities, and to the Church's missionary work at home and abroad.

Christ Church, Oil City

During the year 1861 the services of the church were held occasionally in Oil City by the Rev. John W. Tays of Franklin. On Sun- day, June 8, 1862, the Rev. Henry Purdon, the rector of St. John's, Franklin, held service in Oil City, and afterward from time to time. During December, 1865, the Rev. Marcus Alden Tolman officiated at Oil City, and in January. 1866, he began to hold services at regular intervals. The Presbyterians very kindly granted the use of their edifice. After

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a service held there on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 20, 1866, the congregation assembled, numbering about fifty, and took steps to organ- ize a parish. The Rev. Marcus A. Tolman acted as chairman, and Mr. George A. Shep- herd acted as secretary. The congregation elected vestrymen, wardens were chosen, and the organization assumed the name of Christ Church. The rector of St. John's Church, Franklin, ministered most acceptably to the congregation for some months, but it was found necessary to have a clergyman who could give his entire time to Oil City. In August, 1866, a call was extended to the Rev. R. D. Nevius, of Mobile, Ala. He accepted this call, and became the first rector of Christ Church. It became at once a "free church," i. e., a church without pew rents. The parish was admitted into union with the Diocese of Pitts- burgh at the Diocesan Convention held in Erie on May 21, 1867. At this time, and for some years, the services were held in Bascom's Hall, and later in Excelsior Hall, which stood on the site of the present Chambers building on Cen- ter street. In January, 1870, a lot was pur- chased on First street, near State street. In the month of March the congregation decided to build a church, a building committee was appointed, and plans were adopted for a suit- able building. It was a substantial wooden structure, consecrated on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 1871, by Bishop Kerfoot.

The parish must have informally adopted the pew renting system sometime after the erection of the church, because in April, 1878, it is recorded that the vestry declared the seats "absolutely free." The parish continued to prosper. In 1881 a lot was purchased for a rectory. The rectory was finished and occu- pied on April 10, 1882.

In December, 1882, the Rev. J. H. B. Brooks was called to the rectorship of Christ Church. He entered upon his duties on Jan. 1, 1883. It is said that he assumed charge of the parish with the distinct understanding that he would give himself wholly to the spiritual affairs of the parish, and that he would leave the finan- cial affairs to the care of the vestry. This he did with unfailing consistency and devoted zeal. He was a most devoted pastor. No dis- tance was too great, and no weather conditions too severe for him to brave, in order to min- ister to the spiritual or physical needs of his parishioners, or to anyone who appealed to him for aid.

In February, 1884. the question of a new church edifice was presented to the congrega- tion. The need of the new building was so

keenly felt that the project was kept before the congregation constantly. The new church project took formal shape in 1886, and on July 12th of that year the cornerstone of the present church was laid. It was opened for service on Easter Day, April 10, 1887, with a service of benediction conducted by Bishop Whitehead. About this time the pew rental system was again adopted. The offerings of the people for the building project must have diminished their offerings for church support. The church was consecrated on May 12, 1894, by Bishop Whitehead, with an impressive serv- ice and a large congregation.

After the death of the Rev. J. H. B. Brooks in 1902 the Rev. Charles H. Stocking, D. D., was locum tenens for some months. In 1903 the Rev. John Dows Hills, M. A., became the rector. During his rectorship the exceptionally well adapted Parish House was erected. This has been a valuable adjunct to the parish and a great convenience to various organizations in Oil City. The Rev. John Dows Hills, D. D., resigned in 1909 and became the rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Bellevue, Pa. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Edward Reilly, D. D., who now administers wisely and well the affairs of Christ Church. The in- debtedness upon the rectory has been paid and the interior of the church has been greatly im- proved and beautified. Under his wise admin- istration, and with the hearty co-operation of a very able and efficient vestry, the parish has during the last eight years increased greatly in numbers, power and influence. The Rector of Christ Church has assumed the care of Christ Church, Tidioute.

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH

There were only a few Lutherans among the early settlers of Venango county, but occasion- ally missionaries of the Lutheran Church visited the scattered disciples of Martin Luther.'

Dempseytown

It would seem that the first Lutheran Church established in the county was that at Dempseytown. It was organized by the Rev. H. Weicksel, a missionary of the Pittsburgh Synod, as the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, sometimes between 1840 and 1850. Among the members of this Lutheran pioneer organization there were the following: Jacob Baum, Samuel Frankenburger, John Franken- burger, Mrs. Susan Homan, John Bannechoff,

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John Kinch, and the Meals, Ulrich and Phillips families. The first church, a simple frame structure, was erected on the Titusville road near Dempseytown, but later a larger and more attractive building was erected in the village proper. At first the congregation was con- nected with the mission at New Lebanon, but later the pastors of Franklin held services at Dempseytown.

Franklin

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

In one of his missionary tours the Rev. H. Weicksel visited Franklin, in July, 1851. His preaching resulted in the organization of a congregation, which was formally effected on Oct. 25, 1851, under the title of Grace Evan- gelical Lutheran Church. A lot for church purposes was secured at once. The erection of the church was begun in the following year, 1852, and the church was formally dedicated on Dec. 8, 1861. The Revs. Messrs. J. Brenne- man and S. M. Kuhns officiated at the dedica- tion. It embraced twenty members, namely : Martin and Fredrika Stiefel, Christopher and Margaret Heilman, Peter Hardman, John and Margaret Grieshaber, Dorothea Kunkle, Mi- chael and Mary Heinrich, Isaac and Elizabeth Bechtel, Jacob Siefer, John Borger, John and Susanna Young, George and Anna Keiser, George and Margaret West. The earliest rec- ord of officers extant dates back to 1861, when the following constituted the Church Council or Kirchenrath: Conrad Reiss, Jacob Hall- stein, Michael Dremmel, and Jacob Schneider. The Rev. Mr. Weicksel celebrated the Holy Communion here for the first time on Dec. 21, 1851. He continued his services here for some years, but they were conducted at irregular intervals. Such irregularity does not make for progress, so the services were discontinued. The services were resumed by the Rev. Mr. Nunner in 1859. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. Brenneman in 1864. In 1866 the Rev. W. F. Ulery acted as a regular supply. The Rev. J. M. Lange took charge in 1868, and on June 16th of that year the congregation was reorganized. Jacob Hallstein presided at this meeting and James McElhaney was the deacon. The Rev. S. W. Kuhns became the pastor in 1875. He was succeeded by the Rev. F. W. Kohler in 1881. and the Rev. H. J. G. Bar- tholomew became the pastor on Dec. 16, 1884. The congregation was growing steadily. In 1885, a fund for a parsonage having been ac- cumulated, it was deemed wise to seek for a

new and larger site. A lot was purchased at the corner of Eleventh and Buffalo streets. On this the new church edifice was erected, the Rev. J. A. Kunkleman, D. D., laying the cor- nerstone on July 25, 1886. It is the present church, an attractive structure of Queen Anne cottage style, with a tower surmounted with a cross. A parsonage adjoins the church. At first the congregation received aid from the Mission Board of the Synod. It has been for at least twenty-five years a self-sustaining par- ish. The Rev. H. J. H. Lemcke was one of the devoted pastors of Grace Church during this later period. The present pastor is the Rev. G. W. DeA. Hudson, a gentle, scholarly; and devoted pastor, who lives only for his parish and his people, highly esteemed by all who know him and sincerely loved by those who know him best.

Oil City Good Hope Church

In 1870 the German Lutherans of Oil City secured the Rev. L. Vogelsang, of Bradys Bend, Pa., to hold services occasionally in the Third ward schoolhouse. About the same time the Rev. J. M. Lange, of Franklin, held services in the Evangelical Church on First street. On July 30, 1871, a congregation was organized as the Good Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church with the following official board : George Walter, president; S. Kauffmann, secretary ; Louis Roess, treasurer ; and Messrs. Schmid, Burkle, Paul and Kistler. A lot was purchased on First street and the congregation at once proceeded to build, and the new church was dedicated on Aug. 20, 1871. The Rev. L. Vogelsang was formally installed as pastor on Oct. 8, 1871, and on Oct. 19th of the same year twenty-five members signed the constitution and the congregation was incorporated Oct. 21, 1872. He remained as the pastor of Good Hope Church nearly seventeen years and re- signed only because of his failing health. He established a Parish school, gathered a large Sunday school, and was a devoted pastor. The growth of the congregation was slow, but sub- stantial and permanent. The Rev. H. J. Rei- mann succeeded him on April 12, 1888. The needs of the younger generation now made the introduction of an English service imperative. Under the new pastor the evening service was rendered in the English language, and the con- gregation grew rapidly. From time to time various improvements have been made. The congregation continued for years to be made

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up largely of those of German extraction, al- though now the German element is confined largely to German-Americans.

In 1902 the congregation determined to erect a new church. The work was begun in 1902 under the supervision of the Rev. H. J. Rei- mann and completed in 1903. The new church is a fine brownstone structure. The Rev. Adolph Ebert became the pastor in 1912. He has continued the excellent work of his prede- cessors. The Good Hope Church is affiliated with the Missouri Synodical Conference.

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church

In 1897 some of the members of the Good Hope Church withdrew and formed a new con- gregation, under the title of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. The congregation seems to have been formed without direct clerical leadership. The first pastor of the newly formed congregation was the Rev. Mr. Steub. He remained several years, and was succeeded by the Rev. E. Mueller, whose pastorate ex- tended over three years. The present pastor is the Rev. E. H. Wishmeyer. He assumed the pastorate on Dec. 1, 1912. Christ Church is a member of the Ohio Synodical Conference. The present incumbent exemplifies well the patience and perseverance of the devoted Christian pastor, and he has the hearty co- operation of some very faithful Lutherans.

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Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 45

Author: Babcock, Charles A. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: