Summit County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 19 of those read), 1881 (part 2 of 2)

The present and second church edifice built by St. Vincent De Paul's congregation was commenced on St. Patrick's Day, 1864, by Rev. M. A.Scanlon. It is a massive stone structure, fifty feet wide and one hundred feet long, and ot Roman style of architecture. The interior is quite attractive, the ceiling, especially, being very beautifully stuccoed. There are no pillars, and hence an unobstructed view is had of the whole interior. The twelve elegant, stainedglass windows are gifts from the different church societies and from several members of the congregation. The altar is only temporary. and will be replaced by another as soon as the debt is somewhat diminished. The-cost of | the church is estimated at about $50,000. The , parish school was organized during the pastorate of Rev. Francis McGann, about the year 1853. There are at present two divisions with | an average attendance of one hundred and fifty children.

The Universalist Church* is among the early religious societies organized in Akron. Some time in the summer of 1837, Rev. Freeman Loring visited Akron for the purpose of establishing a Universalist Church. His meetings were held in the building now known as Merrill's pottery, and, subsequently, in a hall on the site now occupied by the store of Wolf, Church & Beck. Among those who became interested in the movement was Dr. Eliakim Crosby, then a man of wealth and great enterprise in business. An organization was effected in a few months. Dr. Crosby, Minor Spicer, Jacob and Jesse Allen and Henry Chittenden being among the more prominent members. Wholly at the expense of Dr. Crosby, and under the superintendence of Mr. Loring, a stone church edifice 44x57 feet. surmounted by a steeple 100 feet high, was erected, and dedicated in November, 1839. The cost of the building was about 38,000. Mr. Jesse Allen presented the church with a fine organ,.and the building was completely

Dr. Crosby was at this time engaged in the construction of a canal, commonly known as " The | Chuckery Race." for the purpose of bringing water power from the Cuyahoga. at the falls. to Akron, a project which proved to be a disastrous | failure, involving the doctor in financial ruin. To relieve his embarrassment in a measure, the members of the church organized a stock company, and bought the church building, paying therefor $7,000. Mr. Loring resigned in | the fall of 1839, and was succeeded by Rev. Nelson Doolittle, whose pastorate extended through several years. To him succeeded | Revs. J. G. Foreman and Z. Baker. the latter there were divisions growing out of the introduction by the Pastor, of skeptical theories and so-called Spiritualism. The building needing extensive repairs, and the church becoming discouraged, the edifice was at last

A new efiort to organize phe: was made in November, 1872, when twenty-four persons adopted and subscribed a profession of faith and church government - John R. Buchtel, Moderator; S. M. Burnham, Clerk; Avery Spicer and Talmon Beardsley, Deacons. Rev. G. S. Weaver was chosen Pastor in April, 1873, and the church held its meetings in the lecture room of Buchtel College. Thirty members were added to the church during the first year of Mr. Weaver's pastorate; twentythree the second year. In December, 1876, Mr. Weaver resigned. He was succeeded by Rev. H. L. Canfield, whose term of service lasted about eighteen months, during which time there was a small increase of membership. Rev. E. L. Rexford, D. D., became Pastor in April, 1878, and remained till July, 1880. when he resigned. During Dr. Rexford's pastorate, the church completed the erection, | at a cost of about 345,000. of an elegant | church edifice, on the corner of Broadway and Mill street. Large accessions were also made | to the membership. The present Pastor, Rev. | Richard Eddy, commenced his labors in Sep- | tember. 1880. The officers of the Church, elected in January. 1881, are W. D. Shipman, Moderator: S. M. Burnham, Clerk: J. H. Pen- | dleton. Treasurer: Ferdinand Schumacher, |

A Sunday school. the membership unknown. was established in connection with the early | organization. The present school was organized in 1872. and has a membership of 190. with an average attendance of 160. The pres-

I. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a revelation of the character of God. and of the duty. interest-and |; final destination of mankind.

II. We believe that there is one God. whose nature is love, revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit of Grace. who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.

III. We believe that holiness and true happiness are inseparably connected, and that believers ought | to be careful to maintain order and practice good | works: for these things are good and profitable un-

The Church of Christ of Akron was organ- | ized in 1839, but its history dates back several years beyond the period of its formation as a church. The following sketch was furnished by its Pastor, Elder C. C. Smith:

In the history of every church, there is first, | the period of struggle previous to organization, when a few devoted persons, strong in faith and conviction, fight for a place among the workers in God's vineyard. This time of warfare in this church occupied about ten years preceding the beginning of the history of the Akron Church of Christ proper. From the time when Elder

William Hayden and E. B. Hubbard preached a few sermons in Middlebury in 1829, to the organization of the church in 1839. Some of the first fruits of the early seed-sowing was the baptizing of William Pangburn and Mrs. Judge Sumner. by Elder O. Newcomb ; also the baptizing of Mrs. Pangburn and Levi Allen (still a member of the church), by Elder Hayden. Prominent at this early time may be noticed Elder M. 8. Wilcox, who preached as opportunity permitted, in schoolhouses and private residences. A discussion was held in Middlebury between him and a Methodist minister of the name of Graham. The name of Elder A. B. Green is also prominent in the early history of the church. We could not very well give too much prominence to the labors of two women connected with this work, viz.. Mrs. Dr. Parker and Mrs. J. N. Botsford. Brother A.S. Hayden says: "These were the days of heart-song and heaven-reaching prayers and the preaching! It was hail mingled with rain. The prolonged hour flitted away unconsciously. The group of Disciples tarried. exhorted each other, sung warmly and feelingly a parting hymn, and with a final. earnest supplication, they commended one another to the good Shepherd and separated. But they were unspeakably happy !" In the year 1839, Brothers Bently and Bos- building on Main street, now occupied by Merrill's pottery, they organized. with thirty-two members. into the Church of Christ of Akron, and with Levi Allen and Samuel Bangs as Elders; W. R. Storer and Jonah Allen. Deacons. Although organized into a society, the church had no regular place of meeting. Sometimes it came together at Middlebury. and sometimes in Akron in schoolhouses and private residences. In 1843, a meeting was held by Elder John Cochrane, assisted by Elder John Henry. of Mahoning County {of whom it was said, he " was swift to hear, but not slow to speak"), which resulted in forty-nine conversions to Christ. and in greatly increasing the influence of the church. Shortly after this, the church purchased a small frame building on a lot on High street, the present site of the Gerword and doctrine." In 1849, M. J. Streator became Pastor of the flock, remaining with it about ten months. In 1854, W. S. Gray commenced his three years' service for the church ; in 1857, during his last year's stay, it sold the above mentioned house and lot. For six years the church rented Tappin Hall, on Market street, for its place of meeting. Here Elder Warren Belding held for them a very successful meet-

The officers of the church at the present time are: Elders - Levi Allen. Dr. William Sisler. Jacob Rhodes and C. C. Smith. Deacons - William Allen. Bennett Smetts, William Weston, Elijah Briggs, Edwin A. Barber, John Noble and J. P. Teeple. Clerk - Horton Wright. Treasurer - Albert Allen. There is upon the church books, +44 members. a net increase of 164 members during the four years of the last pastorate. It is in a vigorous and healthy condition, and stands first among the churches of | umphs of the individual members, and the unrecorded number who have taken membership from the church below to the church above. The names of the following ministers (not mentioned above) were prominently connected with the early work of the church here: Elders A. S. Hayden, J. W. Jones, Benjamin Franklin and R. Moffett.

In September. 1876. the sisters organized | *The Akron Auxiliary of Woman's Board of Missions." with Mrs. Levi Allen as President. The society has been in a flourishing condition from the start. and is now one of the largest and most efficient societies of the kind in the State.

' On the 30th of May. 1842, a number of persons met to consider the expediency of organizing the present Congregational Church. A resolution was then adopted. declaring such organization desirable. and appointing a committee of three gentlemen - Mr. Seth Sackett. Mr. H. B. Spellman and Mr. A. R. Townsend - to prepare a confession of faith and a covenant. as a basis for final and permanent organization. At the same meeting a similar committee was appointed to prepare a statement of the reasons which seemed to require another church organization. and to invite neighboring ministers to assist in forming it. The meeting then adjourned to January 2, 1843. the articles of faith and the covenant were fession of faith and covenant. July, nine others united with the infant church, when. on the 7thof July. with thirty-one members, the first election of officers was made. Mr. H. B. Spellman being elected Deacon and Mr. Allen Hibbard being chosen Clerk.

On the Ist of May. 1843. Rev. Isaac Jennings, having ministered to the church for six months as a supply. was called to be its first Pastor. This call was accepted. and on the 14th of June following he was ordained and installed. In June, 1845. the society complete: a comfortable house of worship. situated on North Main street. at a cost of 81.800. Mr. Jennings remained Pastor of the church until June 7. 1847. when he tendered his resignation. Several meetings of the church having been helc at which he was urged to withdraw his resigns tion. it was reluctantly accepted on the 7th of

~ February following. and the separation was a)- proved by Council. convened upon the joint request of the church and Pastor. on the 12th o7 February. 1847. Rev. W. R. Stevens supplied the pulpit of the church from November. 1347, N. P. Bailey began his ministry to this people. On the 7th of October following. he was ordained and installed

The church was supplied by Rey. A. Dun- 1857. to November. 1858. when Rey. Abram E. Baldwin was invited to officiate as Pastor for one year. with reference to future settlement. This invitation was accepted, and at the close of this engagement it was renewed. and, in February, 1860. he was ordained by Council convened upon invitation of the church. and his ministry continued until May. 1861. On December 30. 1861. the chureh called the Rev. Carlos Smith to become its Pastor. who accepted the call. and entered upon his pastorate February 2, 1862. The church at this time had a membership of about sixty. It had been heartily engaged in the great reforms and its new Pastor cordially cocil.

' him to the entire people, Mr. Smith resigned ' his relation to the church, but remained a com- ' municant of it until his death, which occurred | April 22, 1877, as the bell was tolling for six hundred resident members. with about one The various benevolent activities of the church are earnestly prosecuted. and the church enters the current year

The Sunday school has been for eight years under the efficient management of Mr. Samuel Findly, to whom it is indebted for its eminent order and intelligence. Mr. Henry Per- grown out of the old Middlebury Methodist | Church. In a very early period of the history | of the county, the Rev. Doctor Clark and the © Rev. Mr. Monk, of Tallmadge. preached at this | place. From the present Pastor of the church, Rey. Mr. Arundel, we obtained some of the facts pertaining to the history of this church, and which are here given.

of a circuit consisting of Tallmadge, Pleasant | Valley, Mogadore, Brimfield and Middlebury. | Soon after.or about the time of the annexa- - tion of Middlebury to the city proper, in 1870, | this church was set off as a charge by itself. | and. since that time, has been supplied by the following clergymen: Revs. Painter, Greer. Hlliott. Merchant. Wilson, Corry, Randolph. and Arundel. the present Pastor. Some three years ago, the old building was entirely remodeled. under the eflicient direction of Mr. Jacob Snyder, architect of Akron, at a cost of 33,000. The audience-room and parlor are very neat ancl conveniently arranged, and, together with the Sunday-school room, have just been handsomely decorated by Messrs. Diehl and Caskey, of this city. The present membership is about eightyfive. The Sunday school has some two hundred enrolled on its books, and an average attendance of one hundred and fifty.

The following historical sketch of the First German Reformed Church of Akron was furnished for this work by the Pastor, Rev. J. Dahlmann. The First German Retormed Church and was the continuation of the German Evan- | gelical Protestant congregation which was organized about 1842. and worshiped in the stone church on North High street near the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal. The building still stands, but is now turned into a dwelling The Lutheran element separated from - the congregation in 1852 and organized a congregation of theirown. The Reformed element remained and continued their organization until the year 1855, when it united with the German Reformed Church of Akron and became identified with it. Before the two congregations united their interests, the latter had already purchased the frame church building of the Baptists on the northwest corner of Broadway and East Center streets. After uniting their interests, they mutually assumed the responsibility to cancel the debt which still rested on the church property. Divine services were held in the English and German languages on alternate Sundays by Rev. L. C. | Edmonds, a young minister of talent and energy. Lathe English portion of the congregation did not possess sufficient activity to go forward energetically. After Rev. L. C. Edmonds had resigned, the German portion, not wishing to be long without a Pastor, called Rev. John F. | Engelbach, of the German Reformed Church in | the United States as their minister. They had | undertaken much and were successful. Under the pastorate of Rev. J. F. Engelbach, the German portion of the congregation - the English portion merely existing in name - obtained a charter, andl was incorporated on the 27th day of April, 1857, as the First German Reformed Church of Akron, Summit Co., Ohio. The following are some of the original members: John Heintz, Philip Heintz, Louis Koch, Joh.' Kling, Peter Brecht, Carl Schwing. J. Jacob Grether, George Billau, Jacob Grether,

The First German Reformed Church continued to worship in the house of God which they owned conjointly with the English portion or the werman, Reformed Church of Akron, Ohio, until the fall of 1858, when the former bought the latter out and obtained full posses- Ap of the church property which they still

| gust, 1864. Very little progress was made during his pastorate, and this was that the congregation was separated from other congregations and became a charge itself.

This school flourished for some time. and with its discontinuance his labors came to a close, especially when the consistory and the congregation forbid him to preach any longer for them.

Rev. John Baumgiirtner, an educated minister, from Canton Berne. Switzerland, who had been Pastor for some time of a Reformed congregation in Pittsburgh. Penn.. was chosen as Pastor. He entered upon his labors in the fall of 1866, and continued until September 18, 1870. During his pastorate. a new constitution for the congregation was drawn up and accepted, and an attempt made to sever the connection of the congregation with the Reformed Church in the United States which was not successful.

Rev. Christoph Schiller, from Limaville. Obio. was by the congregation unanimously elected as Pastor on October 16, 1870, and entered upon his duties on November -27, 1870. He was successful in rescuing the congregation from ruin and enervate it to new life. It began to live again and became conscious of its duty as a Christian congregation. Under his labors. the congregation increased in membership and

_ activity, and purchased and enlarged the parsonage next to the church on Kast Center street. In the summer of 1876 he resigned, and moved to Toledo, Ohio.

was active, and caused the church edifice to be remodeled inside, and the purchasing of over seven acres of land on the west end of the city, north of Market street, for a burial-place, _ which was dedicated in August, 1880. for that After having resigned his pastorate | and it is hoped that his pastorate will, his life | being spared, be of long duration and crowned | |W. H. H. Snyder, S. S. Miller, J. M. Mickley | and I. E. Graff, in pastorates ranging from one lately, when the Pastor, Rev. Jacoh Dahlmann, D. D., became (ex officio) Superintendent of the Sunday school. The Sunday school is held every Sunday morning from 9 to 10:30 o'clock. There are 150 children on the roll, and 130 or more in regular attendance in the summer and 110 in the winter.

Grace Reformed Church has been in existence in Akron for a third of a century. The following historical sketch is by Rev. Emil P. Herbruck, its present Pastor: Grace Reformed

March, 1853, by Rev. N. Gehr, Missionary of the German Reformed Church in the United States. salist Church on High street, a constitution was adopted, and signed by the following persons: John Weimer, Catharine Weimer, Thomas Moore, Susanna Moore, William Heil, Esther Heil, Philip Kremer, Henry Rinehart, Sophia Rinehart and Magdalena Kremff. Rev. N. Gehr was elected Pastor. and served the congregation about one year. He was followed by Revs. Schlasser, J. F. Helm, William McCaughey, charge, and under his direction it enjoyed a greater measure of prosperity than at any previous time. He labored in the congregation successfully for four years, though having almost unsurmountable difficulties to overcome. Rev. M. Laucks became his successor, and served for about two years. In April, 1876, Rev. Emil P. Herbruck assumed the pastorship, and has discharged its duties ever since.

on Broadway, where it was in constant use by the congregation for eighteen years. In 1881, it became apparent that a new building was necessary to meet the growing demands of the church. Accordingly, on the third Sunday in April, the corner-stone of the present structure was laid. It is built of brick, with stone ing capacity of about five hundred. The commodious basement is arranged for the Sunday school, with class-rooms of semicircular form. The building is neat and attractive, furnished with the modern conveniences, and cost $15,000.

The Sunday school was organized in 1853, and has been kept up ever since, though with .& somewhat fluctuating attendance. It is at present in a flourishing condition, having an average attendance of 175. The school is well conducted by its Superintendent. G..F. Eberhard.

The German Zion's Lutheran Church* was organized on the 6th day of August, 1854, by the Rev. P. J. Buehl. The original members were J. Beyruther, N. Henke, Ch. Baumgaertel, J. Grad. D. Steinhagen, J. Rogler. J. Bauernfeind, E. Seidel, J. Dietz, W. Gerdts. H.

Strobel, W. Strobel, A. Voss. N. Oellrich, G. Kling, J. Feuchter, I. Frank, G. Proehl. C. _ Kroeger, Mrs. Kaiser, J. Harter, G. Beck, J. | Miller, W. Schroeder, P. Bibricher, E. Ditles, | W. Hageman, J. Bernitt, D. Lamparter. J. Stein, C. Reinhard, 8. Schmidt, G. Miller, J. Wolf, J. Brod, G. Goetz, J. Bitsch, Mrs. Sorrik, Ch. Nebr, J. Reibly, Mr. Schneider, G. Tents. Mrs. Shinefield, Mr. Dresler. In 1855. the society purchased a church edifice for their own from the Disciples, a building which was the pioneer house of worship in Akron, having been erected in 1834-35, by the Congregationalists, on a portion of the present court house grounds. Rey. Buehl having accepted a call to the Lutheran Church at Massillon, Rev. G.

$16,000, was solemnly dedicated to the services of the triune God. It is situated at the | corner of High and Quarry streets, and covers | a space 50x100 feet, with a spire 150 feet high; | it has a seating capacity of about five hundred | people, and is built of brick. The congrega- - tion at present consists of about one hundred - and fifty families with 450 communicants. A school containing 130 scholars, is connected with the church, in which the children are taught both the German and English languages, Mr. I'. Strieter acting as teacher. The school is held in the old church building, which was removed to the rear of the lot back of the new church edifice. The present officers of the church are as follows: George Haas. Treasurer; F. Manthey, W. Wiese and W. Woehler, Trustees; Ch. Baumann, H. Dietz and F. Kunz, Vestrymen.

St. Bernard Catholic Church* (German) was organized in 1861. In that year, the few German families deemed it proper to form a separate congregation, and for this purpose gathered in the cooper-shop of George Roth. on Green street. The number of families then were twenty-three. and they resolved to separate from St. Vincent De Paul's Church. to which they had belonged up to that time. A church was formed under the title of St. Bernard Catholic Church. The lot on the northeast corner of Center and Broadway was purchased. where the present building of the society Rev. Father Loure, of St. Peter's Church, Cleveland, attended the little flock for some time, and, in 1862, the corner-stone of the new church was laid by Very Rev. Father Loure. In June, 1862. Rey. Louis Shiele was appointed the first regular Pastor of the con- In Janary, 1863, they took possession of their new building, and, in July, of the same year. Rey. Peter Donnerhoffe succeeded Father Louis in 1870, two bells were bought, at a cost of 31 390; in 1872, the organ was ~ purchased, costing $1,260; in 1874, some improvements were made at a cost of $1,200; in 1877, the tower on the church was built, at a cost of $2.600; the church frescoed at a cost of $400 more, and a large bell bought at $946, and other improvements at a cost of $200. In 1880, an addition was built to the church at a cost of $12,000. The present strength of the church is about three hundred families, with some four hundred attendants at the Sunday school. At the school. conducted under charge of the Church, the attendance is about two hundred and eighty children.

the promotion of the educational. moral and religious interests of the Jewish community. charter members were Michael Joseph, Theo. Rice. J. L. Joseph, S$. B. Hopfman, Simon Joseph, H. W. Moss, Isaac Levi, 8. ee Ziesel., Moses Joseph. Herman F. Halin, J. N. Leopold.

rented a hall and fitted up a synagogue and school on the third floor in Allen's Block, which it occupied for five years, when the steady increase in membership made the rooms inade- | were dedicated on the 26th of October. 1874. Besides supporting a school and synagogue, employing a regular teacher and minister, and purchasing burial grounds, the congregation responded freely to appeals to its benevolence. contributing in the year 1868, $477 to the

Cleveland, 3198, raised by voluntary subscription, to the sufferers by the Chicago fire. the increased membership, and the additional number of pupils, compelled the Congregation of the newly-erected Barber Block was leased for a term of five years. Over a thousand dollars were expended in fitting up the synagogue and school-room, which were dedicated to divine worship on the 23d of July, 1880. and which will compare favorably with the temples ot many much larger congregations. As an adjunct to the congregation. the ladies organized a society called * Der Schweslerbund,"

Rev. N. L. Holstein, Rev. J. Jesselson. Rey. Suhler, Rey. A. Schreier, Rev. A. Burgheim and the present minister Rabbi.S. M. Fleischman. This is the history of the Akron Hebrew Congregation from the days of its inauguration to when the congregation is again compelled to | | which resulted in this organization was _perremove from its present location, it will dedicate a temple built by its own money on its

| for the following facts pertaining to this church : _ Calvary Church was organized with the following members: Benjamin Stahl (leader), Cath- _ arine Stahl, Henry Nicholas, Catharine Nicho- _ las, Samuel Nicholas, Leah Nicholas, Joseph - Nicholas, Martha Nicholas, Louisa Cook, Nancy ' Henninger, W. W. Farnsworth, Margaret Farns- _ worthand John and Eliza Shaffer. In 1867, it was _ determined by Conference that Akron should be | made a Mission, under the charge of Rev. Mr. Sichley. There was no preaching, however, in

. the early part of the the year, on account of being unable to obtain a suitable building. A : church was commenced during the year and the

_ basement completed, and dedicated in October, ' 1867, by Rev. John Stull, Presiding Elder. _ The dedicatory sermon was preached by him, _ on the 6th of October. During the winter of 1867-68, the main audience-room of the church was finished, and dedicated to the service of ' God May 3, 1868, by Rev. Joseph Long, Bishop. | The building, which is a substantial frame, cost about $4,000, outside of considerable work and material, which was contributed by individual ' members. It has been remodeled and improved | since it was originally built, and is now a hand- ' some and commodious church edifice, located in South Akron.

bered at the time about forty scholars. It has continued since without interruption, and, at _ the present time, is in a very flourishing state, formed by Rev. W. A. Passavant, D. D., of Pittsburgh, and Rev. 8S. Laird, now of Philadelphia, Penn. There were about thirty members at the time of itsorganization. The first regular Pastor of the congregation was Rev. U. P. Ruthrauff, now deceased. It was during his ministry that the fine gothic church on Prospect street was built and the parsonage purchased, ata cost of about $45,000. The church, though not yet completed in its towers and Sunday school arrangements, was consecrated in June, 1872. Rev. W. P. Ruthrauff soon after resigned

Fahs, the present Pastor, who took charge of the congregation in October, 1872. The congregation now numbers about one hundred and | ninety-five communicant members.

The Sunday school was organized soon after the organization of the congregation, and num- | bers about one hundred and twenty-five schol- | ars, with an average attendance of about one hundred. Mr. R. N. Kratz is the Superintenddent. - [ Written by Rev. J. F. Fahs.}

The Church of Christ of Middlebury, or the | Sixth Ward of Akron, is of recent organization. The facts for the following sketch of it | were furnished by the Pastor, Elder T. D. But- | ler: The Church of Christ, Middlebury, Summit County. Ohio, was organized March 30, | 1875, with eighty members, and the following | officers : H. J. White, A. Brown, M. Jewett, Elders; F. W. Inman, G. F. Kent, T. H. Botsford and Richard Whitmore, Trustees; G. F. Kent | and T. H. Botsford, Deacons; S. C. Intman, | Clerk, and Almon Brown, Treasurer.. The | membership of the church at present is eighty- | five. The first Pastor was Elder H. J. White. | He has been followed by Elders F. M. Green, | R. G. White, J. W. James, W. H. Rogers (in the order named), and by the present Pastor, | The church building is quite a model of architectural beauty, and was | erected in 1878, at a cost of about $6,000.