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The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857--September 22--1907, A Book of Historical Reference, 1669-1907.  By the Rt. Rev. H. J. Alerding.  Fort Wayne: The Archer Printing Co.  1907.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER XV.    The Missions and Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  402-428
                                                                                    [Pages 402-418 is on this web page 15]
                                                                                    [Pages 419-428 is on web page 15B]

    WHEATFIELD.  Jasper County.  Church of the Sorrowful Mother.  [est. 1886] . 419-420
    HAMLET.  Starke County.  Holy Cross Church.  [est. 1890] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 420
    ROLLING PRAIRIE.  La Porte County.  St. John Cantius' Church.  [est. 1891] . 421
    ROME CITY.  Noble County.  St. Peter's Church.  [est. 1891] . . . . . . . . . . . . . .421
    ALBANY.  Delaware County.  St. Anthony's Church.  [est. 1895] . . . . . . . . . . . .421-422
    GENEVA.  Adams County.  St. Joseph's Church.  [est. 1895] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .422
    CULVER.  Marshall County.  St. Mary's of the Lake Church.  [est. 1897] . . . . . .422-423
    VEEDERSBURG.  Fountain County.  St. Mary's Church.  [est. 1897] . . . . . . . . .423
    RED KEY.  Jay County.  St. Patrick's Church.  [est. 1898] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .423-424
    MOROCCO.  Newton County.  Sacred Heart Church.  [est. 1899] . . . . . . . . . . 424
    KNIMAN.  Jasper County.  St. Michael's Church.  [est. 1900] . . . . . . . . . . . . . .424
    OTTERBEIN.  Benton County.  St. Charles' Church.  [est. 1902] . . . . . . . . . . . .425-426
    WOODVILLE.  Porter County.  Church of the Immaculate Conception.  [est. 1902] . 426
    EAST CHICAGO.  Lake County.  Holy Trinity Church.  [est. 1907] . . . . . . . . . .426
    BUNKER HILL.  Miami County.  St. Michael's Church.  [est. -] . . . . . . . . . . . . .426-427
    ROYAL CENTRE.  Cass County.  Sacred Heart Church.  [est. -] . . . . . . . . . . . 427
    WINCHESTER.  Randolph County.  St. Joseph's Church.  [est. -] . . . . . . . . . . .427-428
    KNOX.  Starke County.  [A Station].  [est. -] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 428
    MATTHEWS.  Grant County.  A Station.  [est. -] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 428

[pages 419-420 (See Reference)]
WHEATFIELD.  Jasper County.
Church of the Sorrowful Mother.
1886.
     Wheatfield was part of the so-called Indian Ridge, a trail used by the Pottawottamies from Valparaiso to Rensselaer.  The land here belonged to the Kankakee swamp, and was reclaimed by tiling and ditching.  The earliest settlers were Germans, from Pennsylvania, emigrants originally from Baden, on which account Wheatfield was known as "Das Badische Settlement."  Without doubt, some of hte earlier missionaries came through these regions, but the first priest, whose name is on record as having visited the scattered farmers around Wheatfield, was Rev. Joseph Stephan who came from San Pierre, in 1872.  He celebrated Mass on occasion of these visits in the log-house of William Grube.  For a few years from 1880, Franciscan Fathers from Lafayette attended Wheatfield.  They said Mass in the Eagle Hotel.  The Fathers, whose names are remembered by the early settlers are:  Fathers John and Ignatius.
     The succession of priests, who attended Wheatfield from 1886 till the present time, is as follows:  Rev. Dominic Shunk, C. PP. S., Wanatah, 1886 till October 1895; Rev. Alphonse M. Grussi, C. PP. S., from October 1895 till 1897; Rev. Frank Schalk, C. PP. S., from 1897 till February 1898; Rev. Peter Kahellek, from February 12, 1898 till June 1898; Rev. Andrew Gietl, C. PP. S., from June to September 1898; Rev. Frederick Koenig, Lowell, from September 1898 till August 6, 1905; Fathers C. PP. S., since August 1905, under the direction of Father Gietl.  These Fathers were resident at the so-called Indian School, near St. Joseph's College.  Father Shunk, in 1886, organized the congregation at Wheatfield, and constructed a log church, 12x16 feet, and dedicated it to the patronage of the Sorrowful Mother.  At that time the parish consisted of six families.  He attended from Wanatah, a distance of thirty miles.  Some of the people had to come ten miles to hear Mass.  Two years and a half were spent in this block church for divine services, after which Father Shunk built the present church, at a cost of $1,400.  At this time the congregation consisted of twelve families, ten German, one Irish and one French.  The church is a frame structure, and can accommodate 150 persons.  Father Grussi, in his time, improved the church property at a cost of $400.  The number of families at present is twenty-five, and the number of souls eighty-seven.  Services are held here twice a month, by Fathers C. PP. S., from the "Indian School."  Bishop Rademacher visited Wheatfield, and administered Confirmation there, in 1895.  When attending Wheatfield, the priest occupies a room in a private house, which was furnished by the parish, in 1906.  There is here a Ladies' Altar Society, since 1905, with thirty members, and a Men's Society is about to be organized.  Four of the families, belonging to this parish, live in Wheatfield, the rest live at a distance of from four to ten miles from town.  There is no debt on the church property.
     At the present time, Rev. Alphonse Mueller, C. PP. S., attends Wheatfield from the "Indian School."

2001 update:
Church of the Sorrowful Mother parish, in Wheatfield, Jasper County, Indiana, is now within the Diocese of Lafayette, established, in 1944, from the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
The present contact information is:
   Holy Cross Parish  [est. 1890]
     P.O. Box 230 - Hamlet, IN 46532   Phone: (219) 867-2461

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[pages 420 (See Reference)]
HAMLET.  Starke County.
Holy Cross Church.
1890.

     The church property, at Hamlet, consists of one-half acre of ground, and was bought by Rev. Dominic Shunk, C. PP. S.  The church was built by the same Father, in September 1890.  It cost $1,231.50, including pews and bell.  It has a seating capacity of sixty, and the total number of souls is about fifty-eight, or ten families.
     This mission was attended by priests, residing at Wanatah, as follows:  Rev. Dominic Shunk, C. PP. S., from January 3, 1891 till March 1, 1897; Rev. Edward Jakob, C. PP. S., until September 1897; Rev. Raymond Vernimont, till January 18, 1898; Rev. Adam Buchheit, till September 10, 1899.  The following priests who visited Hamlet, resided at Walkerton:  Rev. Henry C. Kappel till July 18, 1901; Rev. Peter A. Budnik till June 5, 1902; Rev. Joseph Abel, who has been the visiting pastor, since June 5, 1902.  There is no debt on the church property.


2001 update:
Holy Cross parish, in Hamlet, Starke County, Indiana, is now within the Diocese of Gary, which was established, in 1956, from the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
The present contact information is:
   Holy Cross Parish  [est. 1890]
     P.O. Box 230 - Hamlet, IN 46532   Phone: (219) 867-2461

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[pages 421 (See Reference)]
ROLLING PRAIRIE.  La Porte County.
St. John Cantius' Church.
1891.
     The present church was built in 1891, by Rev. W. Zborowski, the resident pastor of Terre Coupee.  The intention is to build a new church in the near future, the present structure having been intended for a school, when it was built.  The congregation has sixty families, or 278 souls.  There is no debt on the church.

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[pages 421 (See Reference)]
ROME CITY.  Noble County.
St. Peter's Church.
1891.
     Tradition has it, that the early missionary Fathers officiated in these parts, on their way from Detroit to Vncennes, but there is no record of such visits.  It was in the year 1891, that Rev. Dominic Duehmig, pastor at Avilla, took steps towards providing the summer resort, for such Rome City had become, with church conveniences.  He collected the necessary funds from the cottagers around Sylvan Lake, and bought two lots in Rome City, for which he paid $425.  On these lots he erected a church costing $3,239.78, a miniature reproduction of the famous St. Peter's in Rome, Italy.  Rome City is a mission attended from Kendallville.  It has five families, numbering fifteen souls.  The debt on the church property is $475.

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[pages 421-422 (See Reference)]
ALBANY.  Delaware County.
St. Anthony's Church.
1895.
     The church at Albany was built in the summer of 1895, when Rev. Constantine Maujay, residing at Portland, had charge of the place.  Before that time Rev. Anthony J. Strueder, resident pastor at Portland, visited Albany and celebrated Mass in private houses.  The two lots, on which the church stands, are located in the eastern part of town, and were donated by the Cincinnati Syndicate Land Company.  The [422] church itself, a frame building of 30x50 feet, has traces of Gothic architecture about it and cost probably over $1,500.  The furniture is very good, and everything necessary has been supplied.  The seating capacity is about 125.  When Dunkirk received a resident pastor, Albany was attached to it; so that Rev. William S. Hogan attended Albany from March 1900 till September 7, 1902.  At present, the very few Catholics remaining attend Mass at Dunkirk having the facilities of the interurban electric road.

2001 update:


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[pages 422 (See Reference)]
GENEVA.  Adams County.
St. Joseph's Church.
1895.
     The erection of St. Joseph's Church was begun in July 1895, by Rev. Constantine Maujay, and was dedicated by Bishop Rademacher, on October 13, of the same year.  One hundred and twenty-five dollars was paid for two lots, and the church building itself cost $1,000.  The furnishings of the church amounted to $600.  The church property is free from debt.

     St. Joseph's Church, at Geneva, was always a mission attended by the pastors of Portland:  Rev. Constantine Maujay, till October 1900; Rev. J. P. Lasher, from November 25, 1900 till July 1, 1901; Rev. Thomas M. Conroy, from July 1, 1901 to July 1, 1902; Rev. L. R. Paquet, from July 1902 to February 1904; Rev. Paulinus Trost, C. PP. S., from March 1904 to July 1904; Rev. Lawrence A. Eberle, since July 3, 1904.  At present the membership of St. Joseph's congregation consists of only two families.


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[pages 422-423 (See Reference)]
CULVER.  Marshall County.
St. Mary's of the Lake Church.
1897.

     Culver is a town situated near Lake Maxinkuckee, a poplar summer resort of great beauty.  It takes its name from the Culver Military Academy.  Before the establishment of the institution it was known as Marmont.  A neat little church was erected in the spring of 1897, and was dedicated on July 4, of the same year.  It cost about $800, and was built under the superintendence of Rev. Charles Thiele, pastor of Monterey, of which place Culver is a mission.  During the summer months services are held here on three Sundays of the month.

     In 1906 the building was totally destroyed by fire, and will likely be rebuilt in the near future.


2001 update:


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[pages 423 (See Reference)]
VEEDERSBURG.  Fountain County.
St. Mary's Church.
1897.

     Veedersburg has been a mission attended from Covington, since Covington has had a resident pastor.  The church grounds consist of one lot, 66x132 feet, donated by James Sullivan.  Before the erection of the church, Mass was celebrated in a public hall.  The church is a frame structure with a brick basement, 26x75 feet, built in 1897, when Rev. John Tremmel had charge, at a cost of about $2,000.  The seating capacity is 150.  At the present time the parish has eleven families, or twenty-eight souls.  The mission is attended on two Sundays of the month.  The debt on the church property is $150.


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[pages 423-424 (See Reference)]
RED KEY.  Jay County.
St. Patrick's Church.
1898.

     In the beginning, Red Key was called Mount Vernon.  About the year 1877, perhaps five Catholic families lived here, and Rev. Jeremiah Quinlan attended the place from Union City bimonthly, as did Rev. Anthony J. Strueder and Rev. Constantine Maujay, from Portland.  These priests celebrated Mass either at Patrick Grady's house or in a rented hall.

     The church lot in Red Key is on North Meridian street.  The church is a very plain frame building, 30x40 feet, and was erected in the spring of 1898 at a cost of $800, during the time, when Father Maujay had charge of the place.  The Catholic population at this time was about ten families.  When Dunkirk received a resident pastor, Red Key was attached to it; so that Rev. William S. Hogan attended Red Key, from March 1900 till September 7, 1902.  At the present time, [424] since September 7, 1902, Rev. John C. Wakefer, pastor at Dunkirk, visits Red Key on the first Sunday of every month.  There are ten families at present, numbering forty souls.  The seating capacity of the church is 100.  There is no debt on the church property.


2001 update:


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[pages 424 (See Reference)]
MOROCCO.  Newton County.
Sacred Heart Church.
1899.

     Rev. F. Joseph Bilstein had charge of Morocco, during his pastorate at St. Anthony's, from February 1898 till Octover 1900.  He built the present church at Morocco.  At the present time, the congregation numbers three families, or fourteen souls.  Morocco was attended from St. Anthony's until Goodland received a resident pastor, when it became a mission attached to Goodland.  Rev. I. F. Zircher attends the place at the present time.


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[pages 424 (See Reference)]
KNIMAN.  Jasper County.
St. Michael's Church.
1900.


     In the year 1900, Very Rev. John H. Guendling, being Administrator of the diocese, the eleven Catholic families in Kniman and vicinity applied for permission, to erect a church in Kniman.  Up to this time, they had been members of the Wheatfield congregation.  Rev. B. Kroeger, of Logansport, having been directed to investigate, reported favorably on the building of a church. Rev. F. Koenig, of Lowell, had charge of Kniman, from 1898 till August 6, 1905.  A half acre of ground was bought for $75.  The church is a frame church, having a seating capacity for 200, and cost $1,300.  The dedication took place, on June 24, 1901, Rev. M. Zumbuelte officiating.  Since August 1905, the Fathers C. PP. S., of the "Indian School," of which Rev. A. Gietle, C. PP. S., is th Superior, visits the place twice a month.  Only one family is living in Kniman itself, but twelve families are members of the congregation:  eight German, two Polish, two French.  The total number of souls is sixty-eight.  At the present time, Rev. Alphonse Mueller, C. PP. S., attends Kniman.  The church property is not yet out of debt.




2001 update:


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[pages 425-426 (See Reference)]
OTTERBEIN.  Benton County.
St. Charles' Church.
1902.


    Previous to the year 1902, the Catholics of Otterbein were obliged to attend to their religious duties, either at Oxford or Barrydale, but upon the arrival of Rev. Charles E. McCabe, as pastor at Barrydale, having charge also of Otterbein, steps were taken, with the consent of Bishop Alerding, towards the organization of a parish and the building of a church.  The non-Catholic citizens of Otterbein contributed $1,000.  The corner-stone of the new church was laid by Rev. John R. Dinnen, on October 6, 1901, in the presence of fully 2,000 people.  In June 1902 the Church was dedicated by Bishop Alerding.  St. Charles' Church is a brick edifice of Gothic design, and as it stands today, complete in every respect, represents an expenditure of $9,000.  The debt on the church property is $406.  The frescoe work is well done.  The Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Conception, St. Patrick, St. Charles, St. Helena and St. Cecelia, are represented on the stained glass windows.

     The members of St. Charles' Parish cherish fond hopes that, one day, side by side with the beautiful church, they may be able to erect a suitable priest's house and have a resident pastor.  Otterbein has thirty-five families, numbering 145 souls.  The Societies are:  The Rosary Society, for married and single women, twenty-five members; the Holy Name Society, for single men and boys, fifteen members; the Children of Mary, twelve members; and the Catholic Order of Foresters, forty members.  Otterbein is a mission attended from Barrydale, on every Sunday and Holyday, from Easter to Christman, and on every other Sunday, from Christmas to Easter.



2001 update:


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[pages 414 (See Reference)]
WOODVILLE.  Porter County.
Church of the Immaculate Conception.
1902.

    The corner-stone of this church was laid, by Rev. P. J. Crosson, having been delegated by the Bishop, on May 27, 1902, assisted by Rev. James M. Walsh.  The dedication of the same took place, on October 5, of the same year.  The President of the Georgetown University, Father Doherty, officiated at the dedication, and the Jesuit, Father Sherman, preached the sermon.  The principal benefactor of the church was the Hon. Patrick O'Donnell, who donated the ground, on which the church stands, and $5,000 in cash, the cost of the church was $9,000; the present debt is $900.
   
     Woodville is attended from St. Vincent de Paul's Church, Logansport.


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[pages 426 (See Reference)]
EAST CHICAGO.  Lake County.
Holy Trinity Church.
1907.

    Holy Trinity Congregation, in East Chicago, is composed of Slavo-Hungarian Catholics, and was organized in 1906.  A very creditable, brick church, costing $10,000, was erected in the fall of 1906.  Rev. Benedict M. Rajcany is the founder of the congregation, and attends it from St. John Church in North Hammond.


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[pages 426-427 (See Reference)]
BUNKER HILL.  Miami County.
St. Michael's Church.
[est. -].

    With the construction of the railroad from Indianapolis came the first Catholics to Bunker Hill and vicinity in 1857 or 1858.  The Rev. Bernard J. Force, of Peru, had charge of them, paying occasional visits and celebrating Mass in private houses.  In 1864, there were about ten families in a scattered neighborhood southwest of Bunker Hill.  In 1865, Rev. Bernard Kroeger, who had charge of Peru, Kokomo, Marion, Tiption and elsewhere, also attended Bunker Hill.  With his own hands he constructed an altar in a private house.  During four or five years he visited here four or five times a year.  After a lapse of about ten years a lot was bought, on which stood a small room, which had served as a shoemaker shop.  This room was fitted up and used as a church for many years.  Having been attended as a mission from Peru, it was now attached to Marion, and visited by Revs. Crawley, Twigg, Kelly, Strueder and Grogan.  The present church was erected in 1879.  Since 1886, the mission has been attended from Kokomo, by Rev. F. Lordemann.  For a period of ten years the little congregation was prosperous.  At present it has no more than three or four families.


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[pages 427 (See Reference)]
ROYAL CENTRE.  Cass County.
Sacred Heart Church.
[est. -].

     The congregation at Royal Centre, which at one time gave promise of a flourishing parish, has at the present date dwindled down to four families.  The pastor at Pulaski visits the place, about every six or seven weeks, to give opportunity to receive the sacraments.  The church is in need of repairs and efforts are being made with the aid of special generosity, on the part of the few Catholics remaining, to have them attended to in the near future.


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[pages 427-428 (See Reference)]
WINCHESTER.  Randolph County.
St. Joseph's Church.
[est. -].

     It was at the home of Patrick McDonald, who settled at Winchester, in 1854, that Rev. Daniel Maloney, coming from Indianapolis, offered the Holy Sacrifice; and he continued to do so from time to time.  Rev. Michael Clark, believing that Winchester would become the home of many Catholic families, determined to reside here and secured much of the material necessary for the building of a church and priest's house.  When several Catholic families moved away from Winchester, he gave up the idea of becoming a resident pastor.

     Winchester was a mission attended from Union City after the departure of Father Clark, by Rev. John McMahon, Rev. Martin Noll, Rev. Jeremiah Quinlan, Rev. Francis A. King, Rev. M. J. Byrne and Rev. John P. Durham.  During the illness of Father King the mission was in charge of Rev. Constantine Maujay, Rev. Thomas M. Conroy and Rev. L. R. Paquet of Portland.  The church is a frame structure, 30x48 feet, well furnished and frescoed.  It was erected by Father Quinlan and frescoed by Father Byrne.  Father Durham put upon it some necessary improvements.  The number of families at the present time is about ten.


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[pages 428 (See Reference)]
KNOX.  Starke County.
[A Station].
[est. -].

      The Rev. Joseph Stephan, then residing at the "Indian School," Rensselaer, was, far as known, the first priest to visit Knox.  After him Rev. George Fleisch, C. PP. S. of Monterey visited it about three times a year, celebrating Mass in the Army Hall, and in private houses.  For six years Rev. Charles Thiele of Monterey, and then Rev. John Kubacki of North Judson for one year, and Rev. Peter Kahellek for one year, latter two residing at North Judson, visited this station.  Rev. H. C. Kappel, residing at Walkerton, attended Knox from September 1899 to July 1901, and Rev. Peter Budnik until June 1902, and after him Rev. Joseph Abel, until the present time.  The number of souls is thirty-eight.  Despite this small number, plans are being prepared for the building of a church, in the near future.

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[pages 428 (See Reference)]
MATTHEWS.  Grant County.
A Station.
[est. -].

     Matthews is a station in charge of the pastor of Fairmount, who celebrates Mass there, twice a month.  The Rev. L. R. Paquet was the first priest to visit Matthews, regularly.  There are at present three Catholic families there.  Mass is celebrated in a hall, rented for that purpose.


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The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857--September 22--1907, A Book of Historical Reference, 1669-1907.  By the Rt. Rev. H. J. Alerding.  Fort Wayne: The Archer Printing Co.  1907.
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Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000 by Ann Mensch.