The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-04-11
ENGLISH CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Historical Sketch Showing the Growth
and Development Of st. Johns
Congregation.

The history of st. Johns Catholic church
of this city is one of absorbing interest. The
first Catholic in Canton was John Shorb, who
came here in 1907, with his wife and three
children. iye settled upon the land that has
ever since belonged to his heirs, excepting that
portion that has been sold off and donated to
the church.
After the war of 1919 other Catholic families
came and settled here, among them being An
drew Myers, Stephen Shorb, George Hosso-
fross, the Pirrong brothers, Joseph Trout,
Adam Rider, Owen Givens, Martin thinner
man, John Gillig and others.
In these early days the Catholic church had
no regular established congregations in the
west, but the Dominican Fathers occasionally
came through to hold service and do mission
ary duty.
The first Catholic service in Ohio was at
Gallipois in 1893, the second in Perry county
in 1912 and the third in Shorb's grove, in Can
ton, in 1916. From this time
on the Dominican Fathers visited Canton
about twice year and held services. People
came from great distances, as much as thirty
and forty miles, and brought their provisions
along to attend these meetings. The services
were generally held near the present home
stead under large oak tree that still stands, a
silent witness of the past.
Mr.. Shorb was a Jealous religious worker,
and II was his ambition to have a church in
Canton. By dint of personal solicitation among
Catholics in the east he got enough money for
a start, and then donated the present site Of
st. Johns church from his own land. The
donation took in considerable more than is
now owned, the church having disposed of
the land south of North street.
Mr., Shorb gave his personal attention to the
work of constructing the church, which was
commenced in 1923 and finished the following
year. He, however, was never to worship in
the building, for in raising the structure a
beam fell and struck him ON the head, causing
his death the next day.
The first priest in charge of the church was
John A. Hill, anephew of Lord Hill of Eng
land. Father Hill commanded a regiment at
the battle of Waterloo He was
married soon after, but both he
and his wife became Catholics and
mutually agreed to enter the ministry. They
therefore parted, she entering a convent in
Italy, he taking up the priesthood. Father
Hill came to Canton in 1924 and labored hard
for the church until his death in 1928. He
was a splendid man and much beloved. He
had a strong social turn of mind and used to
enjoy game of chess with William Reynolds,
DIR. Simmons or William Christmas, the chess
experts here AT that time.
For several years after the death of Father
Hill the church had no regular pastor but
services were held at intervals by Fathers
Miles, Martin and others.
From 1880 to 1884 Rev, John NJ. Henri was
in charge. 1t was during his pastorate, in 1889
that Bishop Fenwick, of Cincinnati. after at
tending jubilee in Canton was taken with
cholera on his way home in the stage and died
at Wooster. Rev. J. S. Alemany took the pas
torate from the hands of Father Henri. Both
afterward became archbishops, Father Henri
of the Milwaukee diocese and Father Ale
many of San Francisco.
For ten years after Father Alemany's left
PASTORAL charges at st. Johns were frequent.
In 1874 about twenty-five families of the
church under Rev. III. Lahr left the English
Catholic and organized st. Peters German
Catholic church and at once began the erection
of building.
Among the later pastors Of ST. Johns church
were Father Doherty, Lindesmith, Bartolett
and lastly the present Father Mcclure. Father
Mcclure has been at the head of the church
! for sixteen years and has been eminently sue
oess'ul.
The first church was of brick about 40 by 90
feet. 1t was upon the site of the present
church except was little farther east and
faced west, the east end being used as the par.
sonage. 1t was twice enlarged to meet the de-
mands of the growing congregation until in
! 1880 Fathers Bartolett and M.Guire had it
torn down and the present spacious temple of
worship was erected in its stead. This con-
gregation is very large and includes over two
hundred families which means membership
Of nearly thousand.