OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express

 

Mahoning County, Ohio

.

20th Century History of
Youngstown & Mahoning Co., Ohio

and Representative Citizens - Publ. Biographical Publ. Co.
Chicago, Illinois -
1907
-------------------

CHAPTER XXIII.
RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT
First Churches and Pioneer Ministers - General History of Religious Organizations - Churches and Clergy of Today.
Pg. 341


PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

     The Presbyterians of Redstone (1781) and Ohio (1798) were the first organized west of the Allegheny mountains.  The First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown belonged originally to the Presbytery of Ohio, but became a part of the Presbytery of Erie when the latter was erected by the Synod of West Virginia, Oct. 2, 1801.
     This embraced all the churches and settlements north and northwest of the Ohio and Allegheny rivers, extending from Beaver, Pennsylvania, on the south, to Lake Erie on the north, and from the Allegheny river on the east to Canfield, Ohio, on the west.  The population was mainly Presbyterian.  The Youngstown Church remained in this connection until 1808, when it was included in the newly organized Presbytery of Hartford.  In 1839 it was received under the care of Trumbull Presbytery, of which it was a member until the formation of Mahoning Presbytery, of which it was a member until the formation of Mahoning Presbytery in 1870.
     The exact date of the organization of the Youngstown church is not known, the early records being lost.  William Wick and Joseph Badger were the first regular preachers on the Reserve.  The latter was sent west by the Connecticut Missionary Society, and held the first Presbyterian service at Warren in the fall of 1800.  Baptist services had previously been held at that point, but no church society was organized.  Mr. Badger says in his journal that he reached Youngstown in the latter part of Rev. Dr. Wick about dark.  I was received by his bother and sister as a familiar friend.  William Wick was settled in charge of three small settlements, Hopewell, Neshannock and Youngstown a few weeks before I reached the Reserve."  Mr. Badger preached at Youngstown on the last Sabbath of the year 1800.  It is possible that the church had not then been formally organized.  The late Calvin C. Wick, youngest son of Rev. Mr. Wick, stated that he had been informed that the organization took place in May, 1800; that his father had preached in Youngstown early in 1799, and that an occasional sermon had been given by a pioneer minister of Western Pennsylvania as early as 1798, in Youngstown or vicinity, at a private house.
     At any rate, in 1801, Mr. Wick was released from the pastorate at Neshannock and installed over the congregation at Youngstown for half his time.
     At that is known as to the date of the erection of the first meeting-house is that it was prior to 1805.  It was built of logs and stood about at the present intersection of Wood and Market streets.  This house was occasionally used for public meetings, and also for the village school.  It served a useful purpose until 1832, when a new structure was built on East Federal street, between Champion and Walnut streets.  The first elders were Caleb Baldwin and William Stewart, the former of whom died in 1813, the latter, Oct. 28, 1831.  Other elders elected during the pastorate of Mr. Wick were William McClelland, elected 1805, withdrew 1839; Samuel Bryson, elected 1806, died 8132; John Duncan, elected 1806, resigned 1813; John Nelson, elected 1811, dismissed 1832.
     The church prospered under the faithful ministry of Mr. Wick, though, owing to the country being new and sparsely settled, its increase in membership was slow.
     William Wick was of Puritan descent, and was born on Long Island, New York, June 29, 1768, son of Lemuel and Deborah Wick.  In 1790 he removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and about 1794 married Miss Elizabeth McFarland, youngest daughter of Colonel Daniel McFarland, an officer in the Revolutionary army.  He had settled down to farming, but an acquaintance with Dr. McMillan, an earnest Presbyterian divine, changed his course of life, and he was prevailed upon to enter upon a course of study, preparatory to the work of the Christian ministry, for which his talents and piety designated him.  He completed an academical course at Cannonsburg in 1797, and read the theology in Dr. McMillan's log cabin.  Licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ohio, Aug. 28, 1799, he soon after became pastor at Neshannock and Hopewell, and subsequently at Youngstown.  After receiving aid from the Connecticut Missionary Society for about two years, his charge became self-sustaining.  "He took a warm interest in missionary work and associated with Revs. McCurdy, Marquis, Badger, Hughes, and other early divines in devising means for religious service in border settlements.  About 1803 there was an awakening of religious interest, which greatly strengthened the church at Youngstown."
     The period of Mr. Wick's ministry was brief.  Before leaving the farm he had experienced delicate health, and on that account hesitated to enter the ministry.  There was no cause for alarm, however, until 1814, when, in October, a severe cold affected his lungs.  He continued to preach during the winter, but his strength rapidly failed, and he died at Hopewell, Pennsylvania, Mar. 29, 1815, in the forty-seventh year of his age, and the sixteenth of his ministry.  At his own request he was buried at Youngstown.  His family consisted of eight sons and three daughters, "most of whom have been among the most prominent citizens of Youngstown."
     It is not known who served the church during the year succeeding Mr. Wick's death.  Rev. John Core, licensed to preach in 1816, was ordained pastor at Youngstown, June 25, 1817, at which time he was thirty-two years old.  He was a successful pastor and served in this field six years, during which time more than one hundred were added to the church at Youngstown.  A Sunday-school was formed in 1820, Elder Samuel Bryson being superintendent, but it is probable that it had not a continuous existence, as a union Sunday-school of all denominations was organized in the "Academy" in 1827, by the Rev. Mr. Harned, which the Presbyterian children attended until the completion of the church on East Federal street in 1832.
     In April, 1823, Mr. Core resigned and from that time until 1830 the church was dependent upon stated supplies.  The Rev. Enoch Bouton served as stated supply form 1824 till 1826; and from 1826 till 1829 Rev. Nathan Harned acted in that capacity.  Mr. Harned was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1789.  His name first appears upon the records of the Erie Presbytery in 1824.  After serving as pastor of several small congregations in Pennsylvania, he joined the Hartford  Presbytery in 1826 and was called to Youngstown as stated supply.  Failing health compelled him to resign this charge in 1829.  His ministerial labors really ceased here, although he subsequently acted as a supply whenever his health would permit. He died in New York in 1854- In 1827 Abraham Nelson and John McMurray were chosen to the eldership.  Both were dismissed in 1832.
     Rev. Ward Stafford .....................MORE TO COME.....

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

 

MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

     Memorial Presbyterian Church was organized Nov. 16, 1903, with 95 members.  The church building on the corner of Wick avenue and McGuffey street, was dedicated Dec. 4, 1904, and Rev. Daniel H. Evans, D. D., was installed as pastor, Dec. 6, 1904.

EVERGREEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 

HUNGARIAN EVANGELICAL REFORMED CHURCH.

 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

 

RICHARD BROWN MEMORIAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL CHAPEL.

 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.

 

CHURCH EDIFICE IN BOARDMAN

 

BUILDING THE FIRST CHURCH.

 

REV. SAMUEL MAXWELL, RECTOR.

 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

 

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH.

 

ST. ANNE'S CHURCH

 

ST. ANTHONY'S (ITALIAN) CHURCH.

     Prior to 1898 the Italians in Youngstown attended divine service at St. Anne's and St. Columba's churches.  They were occasionally visited by Rev. P. Capitani of St. Anthony's Church, Cleveland, and by other priests of their own nationality.  In May, 1898, Rev. Anthony Petillo was appointed their resident pastor.  In June of that year he bought for the sum of $2,500 the former church of St. Anne's Parish, in which he made various improvements.  The present pastor is the Rev. Charles Doria.

ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH

 

[Pictures of:
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, YOUNGSTOWN;
HELEN CHAPEL, YOUNGSTOWN;
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, YOUNGSTOWN; and
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, YOUNGSTOWN]

SACRED HEART OF JESUS CHURCH.

 

STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS (SLOVAK) CHURCH.

 

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

 

BAPTIST CHURCH.

 

WELSH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

 

WALNUT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.

 

MARTIN LUTHER GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

 

GRACE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

 

TRINITY ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

 

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

 

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

 

YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

 

THE SALVATION ARMY.

 

JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS.

 

 

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