+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
[+ Return to Rt. Rev. Alerding's History TABLE
OF CONTENTS +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857--September 22--1907, A Book of Historical
Reference, 1669-1907.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.
CHAPTER IX. The Churches--Prior to
1857, inclusive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200-266
[Pages 200-230
are on web page 9]
[Pages 230-266
are on this web page 9B]
MISHAWAKA. St. Joseph County. St.
Joseph Church. 1848. . . . . . . . 230-234
[The name was changed from Holy Angels' Church to St.
Joseph's in 1861]
MICHIGAN CITY. Laporte County.
Immaculate
Conception Church. 1849. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .234-237
[Michigan City: St. Ambrose's Church and St. Mary's Church
in early years]
NIX SETTLEMENT. St.
Catharine's Church. 1850. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237-239
[See also St. Joseph Church, Roanoke, Huntington County,
IN]
BESANCON. New Haven, Allen County. St. Louis'
Church. 1851. . . . 239-241
HESSE CASSEL. Allen County. St.
Joseph's Church. 1851. . . . . . . . . 241-243
LOTTAVILLE. Lake County. SS.
Peter and Paul's Church. 1851. . . . .243-244
PULASKI. Pulaski County. St. Joseph's
Church. 1852. . . . . . . . . . . . . .244-246
[Pulaski and Indian Creek]
AVILLA. Noble County. Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church.
1853. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246-249
LAPORTE. Laporte County. St. Peter's
Church. 1853. . . . . . . . . . . . . 249-252
SOUTH BEND. St. Joseph County. St.
Joseph's Church. 1853. . . . . . . .252-255
LAFAYETTE. Tippecanoe County. St.
Boniface's Church. 1854. . . . . . 255-259
MONTEREY. Pulaski County. St. Ann's Church.
1855. . . . . . . . . . . . . .259-260
ST. VINCENT. Allen County. St.
Vincent's Church. 1856. . . . . . . . . . . .261-262
UNION CITY. Randolph County. St. Mary's
Church. 1856. . . . . . . . . . 262-263
KEWANNA, P. P. Fulton County. St.
Ann's Church. 1857. . . . . . . . . . .263-265
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 230-234]
MISHAWAKA. [St. Joseph County]
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
1848.
The history of this parish dates back to the year
1833, when the celebrated Father Badin visited these parts. However,
in 1844, Very Rev. Edward Sorin, C. S. C., established a regular order
of services for Mishawaka, and for a few years Mass was celebrated in the
homes of Edward Mulligan, George Smith and Jeremiah Luce. From 1848
until 1855, a room in the residence on the southeast corner of Lawrence
and Margaret streets was arranged for divine service, and to it the name
was given, "Holy Angels Church." In the latter year, 1855, a small
frame building, for church purposes, was erected on the north-west corner
of Grove and Sarah streets, but this building was destroyed by fire in
1860. The priests who attended Mishawaka, prior to 1857, were all
members of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. Their names were:
Very Rev. Edward Sorin, Revs. F. Cointet, J. Gouesse, R. A. Shortis, [231]
W. Masterson, C. Schilling, A. Fourmount, M. P. Rooney, B. J. Force, Alexius
Granger, E. B. Kilroy, Thomas Flynn and M. Prendergast.
The Rev. B. Mager was the first resident pastor
at Mishawaka, from 1857 for a period of eighteen months. In 1859,
Rev. Henry Koenig was appointed, who began at once to collect funds for
a new church. The Civil War brought on hard times, and Father Koenig
made collecting trips into Ohio, not without success. At this time,
Mishawaka had about thirty-four Catholic families. The new church
was a brick building with stone trimmings, with a seating capacity of about
300, and was erected by Father Koenig, on the corner of Third and Spring
streets, where the school-house now stands, at a cost of about $8,000.
Bishop Luers laid the corner stone in June, and dedicated the church on
December 8, 1861. The name of the church was now changed from Holy
Angels' Church to St. Joseph's Church. This church served the congregation,
as a place of worship, until October 22, 1893. In the old church
1826 baptisms were administered, 284 couples were married, and from it
580 were buried.
The Rev. August Bernard Oechtering took charge
of St. Joseph's Church, Mishawaka, on May 17, 1867. He found it indebted
for $3,000, and the furnishings of the church poor. He paid off most
of this debt during two years, and in 1869 purchased the property on the
corner of Fourth and Mill streets, for $3,200.
As far back as 1854, a French lady taught
the few Catholic children in a building, at the southeast corner of Main
and First streets. Later, the Sisters of the Holy Cross located in
Mishawaka, and would have established at St. Mary's Academy in what is
now Battell Park, but fanaticsm and bigotry of a violent type drove them
away. After this, until 1864, school was taught, by different gentlemen,
in the vestry room of St. Joseph's Church. In that year, a brick
school building was erected, on Spring street, in the rear of the church.
A frame school-house was built on Fourth street, in 1870, and in 1876 an
addition was made to the brick school-house, and still later another school
was built on Mill street.
Prior to 1885, additional improvements were
made in the frescoing of the church, in the purchase of a pulpit and of
three [232] large bells. Ground for the Catholic Cemetery had been
bought in 1865, and here too, many improvements were made. A residence
for the Sisters, known as St. Agnes Convent, as well as the pastor's residence,
the latter on the corner of Fourth and Spring streets, were provided.
Up to this time the pastor resided in the frame dwelling, now occupied
by the janitor.
The Silver Jubilee of Father Oechtering, in
1886, was celebrated with particular solemnity. bishop Dwenger of
Fort Wayne, Bishop Rademacher of Nashville, many priests and distinguished
laymen took part. Many other memories cling to the old St. Joseph's
Church. From this church went forth seven young men as priests, two
young men for the religious state of life, four ecclesiastical sturdents
and seventeen young ladies, as Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. The
present Chancellor of the diocese of Fort Wayne, the Rev. Simon M. Yenn,
was one of the boys of old St. Joseph's.
The first steps, toward the erection of the
new church, were taken in November 1885, when a building fund was started,
and in five years $22,000 had accumulated. The new church was to
be Gothic in style, of white brick with limstone trimmings; and the dimensions
were to be 151x60 1/2 feet; height of ceiling 50 feet and elevation of
the spire 163 feet. On April 20, 1891, Father Oechtering "turned
the first shovel full of earth, and the building committee following in
the order of the seniority," and on August 30th, in the presence of $10,000
people, the corner stone was laid, Bishop Rademacher, of Nashville, officiating,
and Rev. Thomas E. Walsh, President of Notre Dame University, preaching
the English and Rev. D. Wermers of Detroit, the German sermon. The
new church was dedicated, with becoming solemnity, on October 22, 1893,
by Bishop Re\ademacher, now Bishop of Fort Wayne. Very Rev.
A. Morrissey, of Notre Dame, and Rev. J. H. Oechtering of Fort Wayne, preached
the English and the German sermons. The cost of the church and furnishings
amounted to $65,000. It may be remarked, that the artistic communion
railing, the pulpit and the altars were built by Mr. Erb and his sons,
and that the pipe organ was built by Mr. Louis H. Vandinter; these gentlemen
being members of the congregation.
The school accomadations proved to be entirely
unsatisfactory by this time. A new school building was determined
[233] on, which was to be a two-story and basement building of brick and
stone, with self supporting steel truss, slate roof. The dimensions
were to be 136x70 feet with a transept of 80 feet. It was to have
eight class-rooms, a chapel to seat 300 people, and a hall accommodating
700. The basement to be a gymnasium and recreation room. The
cost of this building was estimated at $40,000. Rev. John H. Guendling
officiated at the laying of the corner stone, and Rev. John Cavanaugh,
C. S. C., delivered the sermon on education, June 22, 1902. On Sunday,
May 3, 1903, the building was dedicated by Bishop Alerding, who in the
forenoon also administered confirmation to a class of 75.
The energetic, untiring pastor, Father Oechtering,
departed this life on December 28, 1902, and was succeeded by Rev. Louis
Aloysius Moench, on February 1, 1903, as Vicar pro tem. and on June 29,
of the same year, was named irremovable rector. He found a debt of
$37,000 on the church property, and he found also that the $40,000 school
building, though under roof, was not completed and not furnished.
The church grounds had to graded, and cement sidewalks had to be constructed
around the entire square. After four years of his pastorate, we find
that he has made all the improvements necessary and that the indebtedness
of the church property has been reduced to $17,450. There are 378
families and the number of souls is 1700.
Seven Poor Handmaids of Jesus Churst teach
the school attended by 350 pupils. The Sisters reside in the St.
Agnes' Convent, on Fourth street, opposite the church square. This
property was a donation by Mrs. Phillips.
St. Joseph's Church has the Holy Rosary Society
for married women, with 220 members; the Young Ladies' Sodality, with 125
members; the Sacred Heart Sodality, for girls under d16, with 54 members;
St. Leo's Society for Boys, with 50 members; St. Aloysius' Society, for
Young Men, with 35 members; St. Joseph's Society, for Men, with 175 members;
the Catholic Knights of America, with 45 members; the Catholic Order of
Foresters, with 60 members; the Women's Catholic Order of Foresters, with
35 members, and the Catholic Order of Foresters, with 35 members, and the
Catholic Benevolent Legion. [234]
Mr. William P. O'Neil, "the historian of St.
Joseph's Congregation," has our thanks for the information given.
The assistant priests at St. Joseph's have
been, in the order given: Rev. Peter Schmitt, Rev. Michael P. Louen,
Rev. John C. Keller, Rev. Charles Stuer, Rev. Lawrence A. Eberle, Rev.
Joseph Jagemann, Rev. L. Jungblut, and Rev. E. Weling, since June 8, 1907.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 234-237]
MICHIGAN CITY. [Laporte County]
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH.
1849.
In all probability, the ancient and mysterious
establishment known as A-ber-Cronk at the mouth of Trail Creek was a trading
post for exchange for the Indians. It is here where Michigan City
is located, and was early known as Baileytown, so called after Joseph Bailey,
a trader and agent for the American Fur Company, about the year 1832.
The directory for 1844 mentions Rev. M. de St. Palais in connection with
Michigan City. The church records of St. mary's Church name the following
early missionaries: Rev. R. A. Shortis, C. S. C., 1847-1852; Rev.
C. Schilling, C. S. C., 1852-1853; Rev. A. Granger, C. S. C.; Rev. F. Cointet,
C. S. C.; Rev. M. P. Rooney, C. S. C.; Rev. R. Wallace, C. S. C.; Rev.
B. J. Force, C. S. C., from January 1853 to October 1854; and Father Schilling
again, from October 1854 to March 1855 . Rev. Thomas Flynn, C. S.
C., paid visits from March 1855 to December 7, 1856; Rev. E. B. Kilroy
and Rev. B. Mager to October 25, 1857; on this date the Rev. Paul Gillen,
C. S. C., was appointed the first resident pastor of Michigan City.
The first church was remodeled from a small
warehouse to the size of about 20x30 feet, in 1849; it was situated on
the corner of Washington and Second streets. This structure was replaced
by a new frame church in 1854, and it is supposed was erected while Father
Gillen was paying occasional pastoral visits here; the church was called
St. Ambrose's Church. The Catholics of these early days were Irish,
employed on the construction of the Michigan Central railroad. Gradually,
however, German Catholics also settled in and about Michigan City.
Rev. Martin Sherer, who resided at Laporte from 1854 to 1858, frequently
visited Michigan City, and at his invitation [235] the Rev. F. X. Weninger,
S. J., gave a mission for the Germans. He induced the Germans to
build a church of their own, in 1859, on the corner of Washington and Fourth
streets.
In 1856 a parochial school was established
alongside of St. Amborse's Church, and a small frame dwelling for the Sisters
of the Holy Cross. The priest's house, a small dwelling of three
or four rooms, stood east of the church. The Catholic population
being too small to maintain two separate parishes, the Rev. E. B. Kilroy
was made pastor of both, while Father Sherer attended the Germans, from
Laporte. Both Father Kilroy and Father Sherer were succeeded by Rev.
George Steiner, as pastor of both churches from October 25, 1860 till September
21, 1864. Exclusive of labor and material donated, the cost of St.
Ambrose's Church, school, Sisters' house and pastoral residence, did not
exceed $1,500. The other, St. Mary's Church, costing $1,521.34 had
a debt of $940.04, when Father Steiner took charge. The so-called
trustees created many difficulties for the pastor, in their anxiety to
manage the finances of the parish. However there was not much to
manage, when we see from the church books that the total receipts for the
year 1861, amounted to $264.62; for 1862, $325.78; and for three months
of 1863, $46.20. On August 1, 1863, Bishop Luers attended a meeting
of the parish, at which certain rules for the government of both parishes
were adopted.*
Rev. Julius Becks succeeded Father Steiner,
and was pastor of both St. Ambrose and St. Mary's Churches, celebrating
Mass in both churches, on every Sunday. This order of things continued
until November 1, 1867, when both congregations were united, and began
the construction of the present church, on Tenth and Buffalo streets.
The number of souls, at this time, was from 120 to 150 families.
The present St. Mary's Church, the school, the Sisters' Convent and the
parochial residence stand on the ground purchased in 1852, for a cemetery.
In this cemetery were buried the Catholics of Monon, Rensselaer, Lacrosse,
Valparaiso, and Chesterton. Encroaching on the city limits this cemetery
was condemned, and Father Becks purchased ten acres of ground to the south
[236] of the present city cemetery. The remains of all the buried
were removed to the new cemetery, which was consecrated by Bishop Luers,
in 1865. Of the four acres of the old cemetery one full block and
a three-quarter block were retained for church purposes.
St. Mary's Church was built in 1868, and dedicated
by Bishop Luers in 1869. The cost of the church and of the frame
priest's house was $23,450. The church is Gothic, having simple but
neat decorations; the debt in 1885 was $5,965. Father Becks built
the present church and the old priest's house.
The present pastor, Rev. John Bleckmann, was
appointed to succeed Father Becks, on February 18, 1885. He has made
many purchases and improvements, such as a new pipe organ for $1,500, new
side altars for $800, frescoing of the church for $1,460, new pews for
$1,365, gas and electric lighting with fixtures for $1,935, steam heating
plant for $1,532, chime of church bells for $1,230. The seating capacity
of the church is 600.
Father Bleckmann erected the school buildings
in 1886; the dimensions are 90x70 feet, with the Sisters' residence of
fifteen rooms to the rear of the school building, at a cost of $23,372.
The sum of $2,675 has been spent since, on the school, for various improvements.
The Sisters of the Holy Cross taught the school up to 1897, when the Sisters
of Notre Dame took charge. The eight grades and three years of high
school are being taught by ten Sisters, with an attendance of 366 pupils.
In 1905, Father Bleckmann erected a new pastoral residence with all modern
conveniences, at a cost of about $17,000, to replace the old frame building,
which had become entirely unfit for use. Other improvements, such
as grading of the grounds and cement walks around church, school, and priest's
house, were made in the same year. The debt on the church property
is $26,341. The pastor's calculations are, that this debt will be
wiped out in five years.
St. Mary's Church has the following societies:
St. Joseph's Aid Society, since 1862; St. Joseph's Altar Society, since
1876; Foresters, German and English Courts, since 1887; St. Aloysius' Sodality,
for Boys; The Rosary Society for Married Women, since 1856; Ancient Order
of Hibernians, since 1888; [237] Knights of Columbus, since 1904; the Sodality
of the Immaculate Conception, with one hundred and twenty members, since
1876; the Children of Mary, with sixty-five members, and the Purgatorian
Society, with eighty members. The Altar society furnished new altars,
pulpit and statuary. The Young Ladies' sodality and the Rosary Society
have done much towards furnishing both the church and the pastoral residence.
St. Mary's Parish has 454 families, numbering 2531 souls. The parish
has given the Church six priests, and, various religious communities, sixteen
sisters.
Father Becks' assistants were Rev. A. Ellering
and Rev. C. Romer. Father Bleckmann had the following assistants:
Rev. J. H. Werdein, from July 1888 to July 1890; Rev. E. J. Wrobel, from
July 1890 to January 15, 1891; Rev. Gregory Zern, from June 21, 1895 until
September 24, 1896; Rev. George Schramm, for a short time; Rev. Herman
Juraschek, from September 24, 1896 until July 1897; Rev. George Horstmann,
till August 1900; Re. Thomas Jansen, till February 1903; Rev. William C.
Miller, till August 28, 1906; Rev. John Oberholz, till June 8, 1907, when
Rev. John Bleckmann succeeded him.
On the fourth Sunday of each month, the pastor
of St. Mary's celebrates Mass for the Catholic inmates of the State Prison,
at Michigan City.
*One of the rules adopted was: "Dass
die Gemeinde ihren Seelsorger die Befoerderung ihrer geistlichen sowohl
als auch materiellen Vortheile gaenzlich ueber lasse und in ihm den Vorstand.
Secretaer, Schatzmeister, kurz den Gemeinde-oder-Kirchen-Vor-Neben-Hinter-und-Beisteher
erkenne." The minutes of the meeting were signed, Rev. G. Steiner.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 237-239]
NIX SETTLEMENT.
ST. CATHARINE'S CHURCH.
1850.
The first immigrants in this part of the country
were the Nix family, in 1847. Mass was celebrated, as early as 1848,
in the house of Jacob Nix until, in 1850, a small frame church was erected,
about three quarters of a mile southwest of the present church. The
priests, who officiated in the house of Mr. Nix and in the first church,
were Rev. E. M. Faller, Rev. A. Schippert, Rev. Frederick Fuchs, Rev. Jacob
Mayer and Rev. Henry V. Schaefer, who came either from Fort Wayne, or Huntington.
The church burned down, in 1868, and then divine services were held in
the school house, near the site of the old church. Two acres of land
were donated for church [238] and cemetery, by George Bemer. Rev.
Theodore VanderPoel, residing at Arcola had charge of Nix Settlement and
Roanoke, at that time. On July 19, 1869, the corner stone of the
new brick church, 56x34 feet, was laid by Father Schaefer; Rev. George
Steiner preached the sermon. Rev. William Woeste, and after him Rev.
Cosmas Seeberger, C. PP. S., were resident pastors, at Roanoke, in rented
houses, visiting Nix Settlement, the former twice a month, the latter every
Sunday. Rev. W. Conrad Miller was the first resident pastor, at Nix
Settlement, from October 1881 till 1883. In 1882, he erected the
present priest's house, at the side of St. Catharine's Church. Prior
to 1882, Father Miller resided at Roanoke, after that Lambert, 1883 till
1884; Rev. Philip Guethoff, from 1884 to 1889; Rev. Edward J. Boccard,
from 1889 till 1895; Rev. Bruno Soengen, from December 1895 till June 23,
1905; Rev. John Biedermann, since June 30, 1905.
The first brick church was defective in its
construction, and was condemned, upon expert examination, by Bishop Rademacher.
The building was accordingly torn down, and in its stead and on the same
site, a larger and better church was erected. The dimensions of this
new and present church are 36x84 feet; it is built of brick and has Bedford
stone trimmings, the style of architecture is Gothic. The interior
is finished in quarter-sawed, red oak, and is furnished with three Gothic
altars, white and richly gilt, confessionals of oak, the pews of the same
material, all oil finished. The seating capacity is 300. The
windows are stained glass, and the frescooing is artistic. Bishop
Rademacher being sick at the time, the corner stone was laid by the Vicar
General, Very Rev. J. H. Guendling, on Trinity Sunday, 1899, and was dedicated
on October 8, of the same year, in the presence of fully 3,000 people,
by Rev. J. H. Oechtering, of Fort Wayne. The church was built during
the pastorate of Father Soengen, and the cost of it was $10,000 with a
debt of $1,700.
Fathers Guethoff and Boccard contributed their
share, during their pastorates, towards the improvement of the church property.
The present pastor, Father Biedermann, installed in November 1905, a most
satisfactory method for heating the church. The population of the
parish at the present time is [239] thirty-four families, and a total of
166 souls. Other improvements, made by Father Biedermann, of a porch
to the pastoral residence and of cement walks for the house and church
were found necessary.
St. Catharine's Church has St. Joseph's Sodality
for married men, and St. Ann's Sodality, for married women, both since
1883; St. Mary's Sodality for single women, and St. Aloysius' Sodality,
for single men. One child of the parish was ordained priest, in 1902.
The total membership of the societies is eighty-three.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 239-241 (See
Reference)]
BESANCON. [New Haven, Allen County]
ST. LOUIS CHURCH.
1851.
"French immigrants made up the settlement in
Jackson township of Allen County, now called Besancon, about 1840.
At that time it was known as New France. The thrifty settlers made,
of the swamp land, the best farm land in Allen county.
It was Rev. A. Bessonies, who first attended
to their spiritual wants. He said Mass in the log house of Joseph
Dodone. When, on January 14, 1851, Gideon Dickerson donated four
acres of land to Bishop de St. Palais, a neat church was at once erected
by Father Bessonies and placed under the patronage of St. Louis.
Father Bessonies' labors here ceased, when the diocese of Fort Wayne was
established, at the close of 1857. After him, Rev. Julian Benoit
attended New France regularly, until 1864. He was held in great esteem
and reverence by the people of New France. His picture is seen upon
the walls of nearly every home; and, when the ceiling of the present ch1urch
was first decorated, the parishoners insisted that the artist paint Father
Benoit's portrait among the figures of the angels, on the sanctuary ceiling.
Rev. Grevin was the first resident pastor. He built the first priest's
house, a modest cottage, costing only a few hundred dollars. The
four immediate successors of Father Grevin remained less than two years.
They were: Rev. J. C. Carrier, C. S. C. from April to November 1866;
Rev. F. M. Ruiz from November 1866 to April 1867; Rev. A. de Montaubricq
from April to December 1867 and Rev. Vandevennet from December 1867 to
October 1868. Rev. A. Mignault then had charge of the parish until
January 1, 1870, when the Rev. A. Adam, whom the well known Father Sorin
of Notre Dame brought with him from France, became the resident pastor
of St. Louis' Church.
About this time, New France received its present
name Besancon, owing to the fact that a large portion of the first settlers
emigrated from the vicinity of the city of that name, in France.
Father Adam, perceiving that the little frame church was becoming much
too small for his growing congregation (then numbering 600 souls), and
realizing that the people were now able to erect a more stately and substantial
edifice, began to collect funds towards building a new church. Father
Mignault had laid the foundation. When completed the church cost
$10,000. The parishoners furnished timber for the most of the lumber,
and the bricks were burnt a few rods from where the church stands.
Father Adam contrived a unique way of raising funds for the new church.
He asked the head of each family to raise a calf until it would be three
years old; and his request was complied with. Each donated calf was
marked by the pastor, as soon as it came into the world. Then on
a given date a public sale was advertised, to which prospective buyers
came from far and wide. The sale of these cattle netted over $3000.
In 1875 Father Adam received permission from Bishop Dwenger to return to
France.
The Rev. W. Demers, C. S. C., was appointed
to succeed Father Adam, in 1875. A year later Rev. Constantine Maujay
was made pastor, and served for two years. In 1880 Rev. Felix Veniard,
C. S. C. took charge and liquidated the indebtedness of $3000 on the church.
Of this amount Father Benoit contributed $500. Father Veniard was
longes the resident pastor of St. Louis' Church, having served from 1880
till his death in 1893. For the space of one year Besancon was attended
every Sunday from the Cathedral, at Fort Wayne, by Rev. Charles Guendling
and Rev. William J. Quinlan, of whom the latter built the present priest's
house. Father Quinlan collected over $4,000 before the house was
completed.
In June, 1894, Rev. F. X. Labonte was appointed
to the pastorate of Besancon, where he remained until February 1902, nearly
eight years. During his pastorate he made extensive improvements.
Besides making repairs on the church and installing a new heating apparatus,
he purchased six additional acres of land, on which stood a house, on September
1, 1897, at a cost of $1,050. On this ground he built a school and
Sisters' residence, in 1898, at a cost of about $4,000. St. Joseph's
School, this was its name, was opened in the fall of 1900, with the Sisters
of St. Agnes in charge. From February to June 1902, the Rev. F. J.
Dandurand attended Besancon from Monroeville.
The Rev. John F. Noll was transferred from
Kendallville to Besancon, in June 1902. There was $6,000 of debt
on the place when he took charge, which he reduced to $2,500, besides paying
for improvements costing $3,000. The Church was beautifully frescoed
in 1904, the school house renovated and church property generally improved.
Three new altars, which, with their furnishings, cost $1,300, were placed
in the church and solemnly dedicated on May 30, 1906. On July 11,
1906, Father Noll was transferred to Hartford City and the Rev. Charles
Dhe was appointed pastor of St. Louis' Church, at Besancon, where he remains
at the present time. St. Louis' Congregation now has 108 families
numbering 544 souls. [pub. 1907]
St. Louis' Church has the Confraternity of
Christian Mothers organized on March 19, 1906, with forty members, and
the Children of Mary Sodality, with twelve members. Two boys of the
parish are now preparing for the priestgood. The school is attended
by forty-eight pupils, taught by two Sisters of St. Agnes. The debt
on the church property, at the present time, is $2,300."
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 241-243]
HESSE CASSEL. [Allen County]
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
1851.
In the archives of St. Joseph's Church is found
an old book, dated September 29, 1841, in which the Catholics of that time
pledged themselves to pay a certain amount for the support of their priest,
Rev. Joseph de Mutzig Hamion. Similar lists are found in that book
up to 1846. The first priest visiting the Catholics here was, likely,
Father Hamion. The first settlers were immigrants from Hesse Cassel,
diocese of Fulda. [242]
The church grounds consist of four acres,
secured at four different times. These grounds also answer for cemetery
purposes. The first church, a log building, was erected in 1851 or
1852, and later on a frame addition was made. The present church
begun in 1860, was finished in 1861, by Rev. Jacob Mayer. Its dimensions
are 80x42 feet, and will seat 250 persons. It is a plain structure,
without any pronounced style of architecture, though the altars, placed
in 1892, are Gothic.
The present school was built by Rev. J. H.
Hueser, D.D., in 1879, a two-story brick building, 32x20 feet, with accomodations
for 100 pupils. The cost of this building, including a dwelling for
the sisters, was about $3,690. Until 1870, the school was in charge
of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ; since that time two Franciscan Sisters,
of Joliet, Illinois, have taught the school, attended by sixty-six pupils.
The school is a free school, all the expenses being paid by the St. Joseph's
School Society.
The priest's house is a brick building.
It was begun at an earlier day, but Rev. Joseph Nussbaum, the first resident
pastor at Hesse Cassel, completed it, in 1875. It was Father Nussbaum
also who began to keep the parish records, as they sould be kept.
Four girls of Hesse Cassel have become Sisters.
The following are the priests who have served
the Catholics, at Hesse Cassel. the list is prepared form the church
records: Rev. Joseph de Mutzig Hamion, as early as 1841; Rev. Julian
Benoit; Rev. Joseph Rudolph; Rev. Alphonse Munschina, 1845; Rev. Edward
M. Faller, from 1847 till 1851; Rev. B. H. Schultes, from 1851 till 1856;
Rev. Joseph Weutz, 1857. The names of Fathers Schultes, Benoit and
Faller appear in 1857. Rev. John Force, 1857; Rev. L. Schneider,
1858; Rev. Jacob Mayer, from 1858 till 1863; Rev. Martin Kink, from 1863
to 1866; Rev. William Woeste, from 1866 till 1872; Rev. John Wemhoff, 1868;
Rev. Joseph Nussbaum, from 1873 till 1877: first resident pastor; Rev.
William Geers, 1877; Rev. J. H. Hueser, D.D., from 1877 till January 1880;
Rev. John Mark, from 1880 to 18997; Rev. Maximilian Benzinger, since October
17, 1897.
St. Joseph's has seventy-three families, numbering
386 souls. St. Joseph's School Society, for married men; St. Mary's
Altar Society, for married women; St. Aloysius' Society, for single men,
and the St. Agnes' Society, for singel women, have a total membership of
two hundred and twenty. The Confraternities of the Holy Rosary, of
the Holy Family, and for the Poor Souls, aggregate one hundred and fifty
members. The church property is out of debt.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 243-244]
LOTTAVILLE. [Lake County]
SS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
1851.
The Catholic settlers at Lottaville, numbering
about thirteen families, had emigrated from Bavaria, from 1840 to 1842.
It seems that Rev. Francis Fischer, who at the time resided in Chicago,
celebrated Mass for the first time in Lottaville (Turkey Creek) in a log
house, in the year 1841, and paid bimonthly visits until 1846. Rev.
A. Carius residing at St. John, Lake county, paid Lottaville regular monthly
visits up to the year 1851, when a frame church was erected on the grounds
of the present cemetery. At this time the number of families had
increased to forty. It appears from the records that Revs. C. Schilling,
C. S. C., Fuerst, James Joseph Mayer, Dresch, Wolfgang N. Giedl, paid Lottaville
occasional visits.
Rev. Philip Wegemeyer was the first resident
pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. M. P. Wehrle, who built the stone church
in 1863. Lottaville did not have a resident pastor continuously.
Rev. Matthew Jacob Schmitz, of Dyer, attended it and built the present
priest's house. The Rev. Henry Meissner was pastor at Lottaville
from July 1871 to 1873, and was succeeded by Revs. F. J. Freund, in 1874,
F. X. Baumgartner, from 1874 to December 1880, H. M. Roth, until the spring
of 1883, Maurice Kaeder, O. S. B., and AEmilian Wenddell, O. S. B., in
1884. After these came the Rev. Joseph Flach from 1885 till July
29, 1888, and after him Rev. Charles V. Stetter, D. D., who erected the
present Sisters' dwelling. For two years, until November 1905, Lottaville
was a mission attended from Hobart by Rev. Thomas F. Jansen, during which
time the School Sisters of Notre Dame came to Lottaville. On November
6, 1905, the Rev. Frederick Koenig was appointed pastor of SS. Peter and
Paul's Church at Lottaville, [244] which position he holds at the present
time. He at once erected a suitable school-house, consisting of a
basement, two school-rooms and a hall. Three School Sisters of Notre
Dame have charge of the school, with an attendance of sixty-six pupils.
The congregation has a cemetery of four acres. Besides this there
are two acres, on which the church, the school-house, the priest's house
and Sisters' residence have been erected.
There is a debt of $3,500 on the church property.
The parish has forty-eight families, numbering 259 souls. The Altar
Society, for married women, has forty-two members; the Sodality, for single
women, fifty-eight members; the same for single men, twenty-four members;
and the Catholic Order of Foresters, thirty-one members.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 244-246]
PULASKI. [Pulaski County]
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
1852.
This mission comprised Indian Creek township,
of Pulaski county, and had two distinct settlements, known as Pulaski and
Indian Creek. The first Catholic settlers were Germans, arriving
here about the year 1840. They came from northern Ohio, at the time
of the construction of the canal through Logansport. The first baptism
for the station Pulaski was recorded by the Rev. F. A. Carius on September
10, 1846, and the first baptism for Indian Creek by the Rev. E. M. Faller
on September 2, 1851. These stations were visited by Rev. F. A. Carius
1846 till 1847, Rev. Patrick McDermott 1848 till 1850, Rev. E. M. Faller
and Rev. Philip O'Connell in 1851.
In the year 1852, the first church, called
ST. Ann's and later St. Francis of Assissi, was erected. It was a
frame building, 16x24 feet, and had in it one door and two windows.
It was situated one mile west of the present Pulaski. When in 1870
a larger frame church was built, this smaller one was added to it, and
used for a sacristy. The first church in the Indian Creek settlement
was erected in 1855, and was enlarged in 1858. Theis location was
abandoned in the year 1866, when a new frame church was built about two
miles south of Pulaski. At the time these first churches were erected,
Father Carius had charge of these missions. He was succeeded by Rev.
[245] William Doyle, in 1855. Bishop Luers, in 1858, sent Rev. F.
X. Nigh as the first resident pastor to Pulaski, with Indian Creek, Winamac,
Monterey, etc., as missions. Father Nigh resided with a private family.
His successor, in 1862, was Rev. Martin Kink, who did not reside here.
One baptism, by Rev. B. Kroeger, is recorded in the fall of 1863.
Rev. B. J. Force was pastor from 1864 to 1866, during which time Rev. Joseph
A. Winter also attended these missions. The pastorate of Rev.
Henry Koenig extended from 1867 till the close of 1872. He bought
one-quarter of an acre of ground, near the Indian Creek Church, and on
it built the first priest's house, a small frame building. Rev. Bernard
Wiedau was pastor from the close of 1872 till the summer of 1873.
Bishop Dwenger, in the summer of 1873, gave
the Fathers of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood charge of the
churches at Pulaski and Indian Creek. The first priest sent was Rev.
Augustine Reichert, C. PP. S., who resided at Winamac, and from there attended
these churches for about three months. After him came the following
Fathers: Rev. Beatus Ziswyler, C. PP. S., from 1873 to 1874; Rev.
Cosmas Seeberger, C. PP. S., in 1875; Rev. Theobald Schoch, C. PP. S.,
in 1876; Rev. John Frericks, C. PP. S., in 1877; Rev. Cosmas Seeberger,
C. PP. S., again from 1878 till 1880; Rev. John Frericks, C. PP., S., again
from 1881 till 1889; Rev. Frederick Baumgartner, C. PP. S., in 1890; Rev.
Raphael Schmaus, C. PP. S., from 1891 till 1893; Rev. J. Wilibald Sliemers,
C. PP. S., from 1894 till 1896; Rev. Erhard Fritz, C. PP. S., from 1897
till June 1901; Rev. Martin L. Dentinger, C. PP. S., from 1901 till October
1903; Rev. Julian Meyer, C. PP. S., six weeks, in 1903; Rev. Anthony Dick,
C. PP. S., from Novermber 24, 1903 till September 30, 1905; Rev. Frank
X. Schalk, C. PP. S., since October 1, 1905.
When, in the year 1894, Bishop Rademacher
visited these churches and saw how they were old and decaying and how inconveniently
they were located, being only a few miles apart, he decided it would be
best for both, if the two parishes were united into one, by building a
church in Pulaski. Father Sliemers then bought two acres of land,
on the east side of the Tippecanoe river, just opposite Pulaski, and on
this site the present priest's house and a chapel were built, in 1895.
The [246] Sisters of the Precious Blood, prior to 1890, had conducted a
school at Indian Creek, but in that year abandoned the place for a lack
of funds and of attendance. Steps however have been taken for the
erection of a new school, in the near future.
The corner stone for the new church was laid,
on July 2, 1899, and the dedication took place on May 20, 1900, Father
Fritz being the pastor. The building is of brick with stone trimmings,
measuring 45x90 feet, with a tower 100 feet high, and has a seating capacity
of 350. The cost of the church, including furniture, was about $9,000.
The church property has a debt of $600.
St. Joseph's Church has the St. Rose's Young
Ladies' Sodality and the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, for Married Women.
The number of souls in the parish is about 500, constituting 106 families.
One boy and one girl, belonging to the same family, have entered religious
communities.
[1999 update:
St. Joseph Parish: Mail to: 5895 South State Road 119 - Star
City, IN 46985-9517 Phone: (219) 595-7198.
St. Joseph Parish is presently (1999) encompassed within the Diocese
of Lafayette, which was established in 1944. A church
profile for St. Joseph Parish is on the Diocese web site.]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 246-249]
AVILLA. [Noble County]
ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY CHURCH.
1853.
In the thirties, of the last century, Mr. Comparet
established a trading post between Kendallville and Rome City, where the
settlers and the Indians were accustomed to meet. It was here, that
Father Badin paid occasional visits to the few Catholics, not numbering
more than eight families. Father Lalumiere's name is still mentioned
reverently as another of the pioneer missionaries. Rev. Alphonse
Munschina visited the place, at a later date, attending to the spiritual
wants of the Catholics in and about Avilla. After him came, at intervals,
the Rev. Louis Mueller, resident at Fort Wayne, from 1836 until 1840.
Father Benoit paid frequent visits to Avilla. The visits had to be
made on horseback.
Mass was celebrated at Avilla, either in the
log house of John Geiser or of Frank Borck. Rev. Joseph Rudolph also
visited Avilla from Fort Wayne. The eight Catholic families, at that
time living in or near Avilla, were organized into a congregation by Rev.
Edward M. Faller, pastor at Fort Wayne, in 1853, and placed under the patronage
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The land for the new church was donated
by John Geiser; it was on the site of the present cemetery. A frame
building, 25x36 feet, to serve as a church, was erected on the land donated
and was dedicated by Bishop de St. Palais, in 1853.
Avilla received its first resident pastor
in 1858, in the person of Rev. Henry Schaefer. The sphere of labor,
assigned to him, extended from Elkhart county to the Ohio State line, and
from Allen county north to the Michigan State boundary. Rev. Francis
Deipenbrock was appointed to succeed Father Schaefer, in 1863. The
little church having become entirely too small, he built an addition of
twenty feet to it. Rev. John Wemhoff took charge in December, of
the same year, and remained until December 1865. The Rev. A. B. Oechtering
had charge until May 12, 1867.
The Rev. Dominic Duehmig arrived in Avilla
on February 22, 1867, and on May 12th, of the same year, was installed
as pastor of the Church of the Assumption at Avilla, and continued as such
until June 3, 1905, the date of his death. Father Duehmig found his
parish to consist of about forty families, and a little building 18x24
feet, serving as a schoo, with an attendance of only seventeen children.
Father Duehmig at once added twelve feet to this building. He secrured
the services of John Everhardy as teacher, who was later succeeded by August
Vogeding, who was organist of the church for twenty-eight years, and then
by Edward Spoth, who had becom a famous composer of church music.
In 1872 the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ taught the school for some time,
until the Sisters of St. Francis of the Sacred Heart took charge.
When Thomas Storey, in the early part of 1876,
donated the congregation six and one-quarter acres of land, located about
one-quarter of a mile south of where the first church sttod, the majority
of the members of the congregation decided to build the new church on this
ground. The corner stone of the new church was laid, by Father Duehmig,
in the fall of 1876. The new church is a beautiful brick building,
44x113 feet in size, and owing to careful supervision and management, including
the frescoing the pews and stained glass windows, cost only $8,600.
Bishop Dwenger dedicated it on May 19, 1878. The church is of Roman
architecture, with a seating capacity [248] of 400. The pulpit and
the side altars were placed in 1880, the pipe organ in 1885, and the main
altar in 1895.
The new school house was erected in 1878.
An addition, 30x36 feet was built in 1990, thereby enlarging the Sisters'
dwelling, and providing a little chapel for their use. One hundred
and fourteen children are on the school roll, taught by three Sisters.
A commodious priest's house was erected south of the church, in 1889, at
an outlay of $3,600. In 1895 Father Duehmig became largely instrumental,
in supplying the buildings of the Old Peoples' Home, with a more modern
structure. In the year 1904, Father Duehmig erected a Mortuary Chapel
in the cemetery and named it the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, in
commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the definition of that dogma.
Father Duehmig did not live to see it entirely finished. He departed
this life, as already stated, on June 3, 1905.
Four great events have been specially commemorated
in St. Mary's parish. First, the Silver Jubilee of Pope Pius IX,
in 1871. Second, the Silver Jubilee of Rev. D. Duehmig, in 1891.
Third, the Fourhundredth Anniversary of the Discovery of America, in 1892.
Fourth, the Pontifical Silver Jubilee of Leo XIII.
The congregation has the following societies:
The Rosary Society, for married women, seventy-seven members; St. Joseph's
School Society, for married men, fifty-eight members; the Young Men's Sodality,
for single men, sixty-six members; the Young Ladies' Sodality, for single
women, sixty-six members; the Holy Childhood, for children, one hundred
and ninety members; the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, sixty
members; the Apostleship of Prayer, three hundred and seventy members;
the Confraternity of the Scapular of Mount Carmel, fifty-six members; and
the C. K. of A., forty-two members.
On July 1, 1905, the Rev. John H. Bathe took
charge of the parish. Father Bathe cleared up the financial affairs
of the congregation and on October 3, 1905, having finished the Mortuary
Chapel, dedicated it.
Assistant priests at St. Mary's, in the order
given, were: Rev. M. Zumbuelte, Rev. Louis A. Moench, Rev. Maurice
Helferich, O. S. B., Rev. Henry Meissner, Rev. George Lauer, Rev. John
Schmitz, and Rev. William C. Miller. [249]
St. Mary's Church has given three of her sons
to the priesthood and fifteen of her daughters have entered the religious
state of life. The parish at Avilla has eighty-six families, numbering
509 souls. The debt on the church property is $1,050.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 249-252]
LAPORTE. [Laporte County]
ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
1853.
The Government had a land office located where
Laporte now is, for the purpose of disposing of the land, in the year 1833.
Settlers had arrived here as early as 1830. The town was surveyed
in the year 1833. The first railroad to enter into Laporte was, what
is now known as the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, in 1852, and extended
to Chicago the following year. The Lake Erie railroad wa built between
Laporte and Plymouth in 1856, and in 1871 the branch to Michigan City.
With the building of the railroads Catholic families settled in Laporte.
In those days, priests from Notre Dame visited the place at regular intervals,
and Mass was celebrated in private houses. Mass was also celebrated
in the old universit building, better known as the Medical College, which
was situated on the site of the present "Central School Building."
Mass was even said in the old Methodist church, located on the northeast
corner of Jefferson and Monroe streets. In the history of Laporte,
by Packard, we read; "The existence of St. Peter's Church is almost coeval
with that of the city of Laporte." An old baptismal record, and old
records prior to 1870 show, that this church was formerly called the Church
of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 1849, the Holy Cross Fathers visited Laporte,
and said Mass once a month in a little school-house, at the west end of
Harrison street. When no opportunity for Mass was given in Laporte,
people would travel twelve miles over sandy and rough roads to Michigan
City, to assist at the Holy Sacrifice. Many of them would go to Notre
Dame to receive the Sacraments. The Holy Cross Fathers traveled,
either in cumbersome farm wagons or on horse back to reach Laporte.
[250]
Rev. M. P. Rooney built the first church,
30x40 feet, part of which is still standing. It was erected between
1853 and 1854 and was very primitive. The faithful knelt upon mother
earth, the altar was constructed of dry goods boxes, confessions were heard
by the priests sitting on the altar steps. Later on, Rev. Francis
Lawler aded wings to the building, and to the rear of the church annexed
the priest's house. Here the priests lived until 1880, when Rev.
M. E. Campion built the present house, at a cost of $1,793. Rev.
John Crawley remodeled the church, in 1893, and built a steeple:
but he did not live to celebrate Mass in the church he had beautified.
From the year 1840, Rev. F. Cointet, C. S.
C., Rev. A. Shortis, C. S. C., and Rev. C. Schilling, C. S. C., visited
Laporte and vicinity. Father Rooney was the first resident pastor.
After him came Rev. R. Wallace, C. S. C., and Rev. B. J. Force, C. S. C.
From 1854 to July 1859, Rev. E. B. Kilroy was pastor. Father Kilroy
was succeeded by the Rev. Francis Lawler, the first secular priest in charge
of this parish. Rev. Timothy O'Sullivan was pastor here from 1870
until June 1880. He also visited the missions Walkerton, Wanatah
and Westville. During his time the Lake Shore railroad shops were
moved from Laporte, causing an enormous decrease in the Catholic population.
Father O'Sullivan was succeeded by the Rev. M. E. Campion in June 1880,
remaining until May 1883. He built the frame pastoral residence.
Rev. James A. Twigg came next, from the spring of 1883 until the fall of
1884, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Crawley. The latter contracted
pneumonia when the remodeled church was dedicated, and died on December
19, 1893. Until October 1897 Rev. John Grogan was the pastor, when
he was compelled to resign owing to bad health. The present pastor
was appointed on October 9, 1897, his name is Rev. George M. Schramm.
The present church property has 188 feet front
on Monroe street. The ground was secrured by the founder of Notre
Dame. The seating capacity of St. Peter's Church is 400.
Brother Daniel, C. S. C. taught school, in
1855, using the church for a school-room. In the spring of 1856 school
was taught in a building, located where now the priest's house stands.
Later on, the Sisters bought the Walker homestead, situated on Ridge street,
the ground comprising an entire [251] block, and located at a distance
of about five blocks from the church. The old school building was
moved to this place, and here the Sisters opened an academy for girls,
though it is the parish school also. The school having become too
small, it is being enlarged, at the present time. These sisters are
Sisters of Holy Cross. They reside in the convent, annexed to the
school, which was formerly the old Walker residence. Non-Catholics
also send their daughters to this school, which is called St. Rose's Academy.
St. Peter's Aid Society for Men, with a membership
of fifty-two, was organized in 1901. Its object is to unite the men
of the parish and afford relief in time of need. The Rosary Society, for
married Women, was first called the altar society organized in 1855, and
has a membership of ninety-one. The Sodality of the Children of Mary,
established in 1882, has eighteen members. In 1903, the St. Aloysius
Society was organized, with a present membership of twenty. The Young
Ladies' Sodality of the Immaculate Conception has seventy members.
The numbers of families is 162, numbering 654 souls. The debt on
the church property is $1,000.
Millcreek and Stillwell are stations, attended
from Laporte. The pioneer pastors of Laporte had the care also of
Chesterton, Warsaw, Walkerton, Wanatah and Westville, at different times.
A statement concerning St. Peter's Church
at Laporte, dated July 26, 1872, made by Rev. Timothy O'Sullivan to Bishop
Dwenger, presents some interesting items. A few may be given:
"Value of church property $6,375. Number of Full Families, including
Walkerton, Fish Lake and Eastward on Railroad about 105, of these forty-five
families to little or nothing for the church; some of them scarcely ever
make their appearance in church. Families of Widowers or Widows,
twenty-two, of which eleven pay little or nothing towards the support of
the church. Parties married to non-Catholics five, of which three
do nothing for the church. One woman has become an infidel.
Young women or men working fro themselves fifteen, of these six pay nothing
or very little. Since my arrival at Laporte, about twenty-seven families
have moved away. One or other of the parties is German. We
have parochial school and an Academy of the Sisters of Holy Cross.
Income: Pew rents about $600. Sunday collections [252] $140.
My salary here has been $600 a year. Since I received charge of Chesterton,
I always try to supply my place here on Sundays by a priest from Notre
Dame."
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 252-255]
SOUTH BEND. [St. Joseph County]
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
1853.
The history of the Catholic Church in South Bend
dates back to 1680. In this year, Rev. Claude Allouez, S. J., erected
a most primitive chapel on the borders of St. Mary's lake, of the present
Notre Dame. At that time it was principally the Pottawottamie Indians,
who worshipped here. After the death of Father Allouez, which occurred
in 1689, came Rev. James Gravier, S. J., who in turn was succeeded by Rev.
Claude Aveneau, S. J., when, in 1759, the fort on St. Joseph's river was
reduced by English soldiers, and the survivors were taken prisoners and
were carried away to Quebec. The mission was then entirely deserted,
until it was reorganized by Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin, who built here
a log chapel in 1830, 24x40 feet, which served for church and priest's
residence. Father Badin labored here until 1832, when Rev. Louis
de Seille took up the missionary work in these regions, from 1832 to 1837.
The youthful, newly ordained priest, Rev. Benjamin M. Petit was Father
de Seille's successor, from 1837 to February 10, 1839, the date of his
death. For three years thereafter, the Catholic Indians, and others
living in these regions, were attended by missionaries from different parts
at irregular intervals. From November 26, 1842 until the present
day, however, the Catholics of South Bend have been served faithfully by
Fathers of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. It was on the date
mentioned, that Rev. Edward Sorin, C. S. C., with six Brothers arrived
and founded Notre Dame.
Until the year 1853 the Catholics of that
part of South Bend known as Lowell, worshipped in the chapel at Notre Dame:
but in the year mentioned, Father Sorin erected a brick structure, 22x40
feet, on ground which had been secured in 1847, consisting of three lots
located on the south-east corner of Hill street and La Salle avenue.
The addition of a kitchen [253] and dining room is still standing.
A second story was added on this building in 1882. Divine services
were held here by priests from Notre Dame, and the school was taught in
the same building by Sisters of the Holy Cross. This building was
known first as St. Alexius' School and Chapel, and later as the Academy
of the Assumption. The priests who attended St. Alexius' Chapel from
Notre Dame were: Rev. Edward Sorin, C. S. C., Rev. Alexius Granger,
C. S. C., Rev. Francis Cointet, C. S. C., Rev. Richard Shortis, C. S. C.,
Rev. Thomas Flynn, C. S. C., Rev. B. J. Force, C. S. C., Rev. J. Bourget,
C. S. C., Rev. Z. Leveque, C. S. C., Rev. P. P. Cooney, C. S. C., Rev.
Thomas Carroll, C. S. C., Rev. W. Corby, C. S. C., Rev. C. Exel, C. S.
C., Rev. J. C. Carrier, C. S. C., Rev. P. Hartlang, C. S. C., Rev. A. Lemonnier,
C. S. C., Rev. S. Daugherty, C. S. C., Rev. L. J. L'Etourneau, C. S. C.,
Rev. Julius Frere, C. S. C., and Rev. Louis Neyron. It was in the
year 1867, that Father L'Etourneau began to take up a subscription for
the new church, and how difficult it was in those days to collect money
may be surmised from the fact, that in two years and four months he collected
$748.83. The new church was erected on the corner of Hill street
and LaSalle avenue, at a cost of $1,385.76. It was a frame building,
40x60 feet, and was completed in September 1868. A sacristy and one
room were added to the rear of the church, and on July 1, 1869, Father
Frere, became the first resident pastor of St. Joseph's Congregation.
A paper, left by Father Frere, contains the census of the parish which
he took up in 1868 and which records forty-seven families, with a total
of 210 souls. Even in those early days St. Joseph's had flourishing
societies: The Ladies of Nazareth, since 1860, who had charge of
the sanctuary and altar, who, since 1890, have become members also of the
Apostleship of Prayer, of the Living Rosary, of the Confraternity of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Children of Mary, since 1862.
The St. Joseph's Society for Men since 1868, the strongest Catholic organization
in South Bend in its day, it flourished until 1896. The St. Aloysius'
Society for Boys, since 1868, known today as the Catholic Knight's Cadets.
Father Oechtering of Mishawaka was want to say "that any priest may organize
societies for boys, but that not even the grace of God can keep them up."
[254]
In the fall of 1870, Rev. William Demers,
C. S. C., was made the second resident pastor of St. Joseph's Church.
He repaired and improved the church property, in many respects. On
December 26, 1872, at high noon, the church burned down. The origin
of the fire was not known at the time, but some years later, an unfortunate
man on his death bed at Laporte, confessed to the deed. The Blessed
Sacrament, the sacred vessels, the church books and the church vestments
were saved, and the church was insured for $2,500. "Even the famous
reed organ was thrown down from the gallery, and out of the burning edifice.
It survived the fall, but to judge from the groans which it now occasionally
emits in the present St. Joseph's school, it never got over the shock."
The congregation now returned to the old St. Alexius' Chapel, with Rev.
Peter Lauth, C. S. C., as their pastor and Father Sorin bought the block,
on which St. Joseph's Hospital now stands. Here he erected a brick
building, 32x50 feet, the upper story of which was used for a church, and
the lower for a boys' school, with rooms for pastor and teachers.
Father Lauth was pastor from January 1873 till September 1874, and was
succeeded by Father L'Etourneau, who remained until September 1875, when
Father Lauth returned and was pastor till September 1876. Rev. William
Demers, C. S. C., from September 1876 to September 1877; Rev. P. F. Veniard,
C. S. C., from September 1877 to July 1, 1880; Rev. Thomas Vagnier, C.
S. C., from July 1, to August 1880; Rev. Michael Philip Fallize, C. S.
C., from August 15, 1880 till the fall of 1888. Father Fallize was
a most energetic pastor. Being himself a musician, the choir received
his first attention. A new census taken by him revealed the necessity
for a new church, and it was decided to put up a new church, on the site
where the church had been destroyed by fire, in 1872. The present
St. Joseph's Church was accordingly built, a brick structure, 51x149 feet,
at a cost of $18,000. The corner-stone was laid at the close of July
1881, and the church was dedicated September 10, 1882. During the
erection of the church, Rev. D. Hagerty was assistant to Father Fallize.
In 1884 a two-story brick building, 30x60 feet, costing about $4,000, was
provided for a boys' school and a hall. The school was taught by
Brothers of the Holy Cross for two years, since which time the Sisters
of the [255] Holy Cross have had charge of them. Father Fallize establised
the Catholic Knights of America, known as St. Paul's Branch, in 1885, and
also the Total Abstinence Society, he being the State President for years.
The next pastor was Rev. James Gleeson, C. S. C., from the fall of 1888
till August 1889. After him came Rev. N. J. Stoffel, C. S. C., who
attended St. Joseph's from Notre Dame during one year, before he took up
his residence at St. Joseph's. In the summer of 1891 the boys' school
and hall building was converted into a pastor's residence, at a cost of
$1,355. Costly repairs and improvements were made, including a first-class
furnace for the church. A children's fair held in 1900 netted $1,860.
Alexius Coquillard, who died in February 1890, bequeathed $5,000 to St.
Joseph's Church. Father Stoffel departed this life, on March 20,
1902.
The next pastor of St. Joseph's Church, and
who is the pastor at the present time, is the Rev. Peter Lauth, C. S. C.,
who took charge on April 5, 1902. Since his advent all but $1,200
of the old debt has been paid, and many repairs and necessary improvements,
amounting to over $3,300, including new roofs on church and house, construction
of sewer, paving of streets, frescoing of the church have been made.
It is the intention to build a new parochial residence, in the near future.
Besides the societies mentioned, St. Joseph's
has at present the Holy Name Society, with fifty members, and the Holy
Angels' Sodality, with 100 members. The records show that the parish
includes about 330 families, with a total of 1,826 souls.
St. Joseph's parochial school is attended
by 306 children, in charge of seven Sisters of the Holy Cross. The
church property has a debt of $1,200.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 255-259]
LAFAYETTE. [Tippecanoe County]
ST. BONIFACE'S CHURCH.
1854.
In 1853, Bishop de Palais entrusted Philip Doyle
with the organization of the German Parish in Lafayett. Two lots
were purchased, and a substantial brick building was [256] erected, fronting
on Tenth street, in 1854, at a cost of $8,400. Rev. Pinkers, succeeding
Father Doyle, erected a brick school building, fronting on Ferry street.
Up to 1863, Rev. Neuber, Rev. John Wemhoff and Rev. Joseph Stephan were
pastors, in the order named. After them came Rev. Francis Deipenbrock,
during whose pastorate, the present St. Boniface's Church, situated on
the corner of Ninth and North streets, was erected. The church is
of Gothic architecture, 155x60 feet, and without tower and spire cost $28,762.
In the beginning of 1866, Bishop Luers gave
the Franciscan Fathers, of the Cincinnati Province, charge of St. Boniface's
Church. Rev. Venantius Arnold, O. F. M., was made the first pastor,
and Rev. William Gausepohl, O. F. M., his assistant. During that
year the church was furnished with stained glass windows, and a magnificent
Main Altar. At the same time, a two-story building was erected on
the foundation of the old church, on Tenth street. Rev. Dionysius
Abarth, O. F. M., was pastor but on account of ill health had to retire,
in 1870, when Rev. Accursius Beine, O. F. M., succeeding him, furnished
the church with a large pipe organ and two Gothic Side Altars. In
1871, the lot in the rear of the church was purchased for $1,600, and the
present parsonage built on it for $5,000. Rev. Agnellus Fischer,
O. F. M., was pastor of St. Boniface's Church, from 1878 to 1882, when
he returned to Europe.
During the pastorate of Rev. Daniel Heile,
O. F. M., in 1883, a two-story brick building, adjoining the church on
Ninth street, was erected, which has since then served as a boys' school.
It was completed and furnished at a cost of $7,300. A dwelling for
the teachers, Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, was built
in 1885, at the corner of Tenth and Ferry streets, costing $2,500.
In the summer of 1887, the tower and spire of the church were completed
for $2,000. Rev. Pius Niehaus, O. F. M., who had been the assistant
at St. Boniface's Church since august 1886, was made its pastor in 1887.
He made various improvements on the church property. Rev. Ubaldus
Webersinke, O. F. M., became pastor in 1891. Under him the interior
of the church was beautifully ornamented at a cost of $3,000. With
becoming solemnity, the people of St. Boniface's Church celebrated the
[257] Silver Jubilee of the dedication of the present church, on Sunday
December 28, 1890.
From 1892 until August 1897, Rev. Hilary Hoelscher,
O. F. M., was the pastor. He gave the church fine stained glass windows,
two exquisite statues of the Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph for the
side altars, two confessionals of carved oak, and a new communion railing
richly gilt and with a marble top. During the pastorate of Rev. Lucas
Gottbehoede, O. F. M., the cemetery, known as St. Boniface Cemetery, consisting
of twenty-three acres of land and located opposite Springvale cemetery,
was secured and solemnly blessed on September 17, 1898, by Bishop Rademacher.
The St. Joseph's Cemetery, consisting of five acres on the north-west corner
of Greenbush and Seventeenth streets, had been used for the burial of the
dead since 1862, and had become inadequate.
A red letter day in the history of St. Boniface's
Church will ever remain, Sunday September 24, of the year 1899, when the
Most Rev. Archbishop Martinelli, Apostolic Delegate for the United States,
in the presence of a vast congregation and a large number of clergy, solemnly
consecrated St. Boniface's Church to the service of Almighty God.
Extensive improvements had been made for the occasion, such as a new floor
of quartered oak, new pews of the same material, the three fine Gothic
altars redecorated in white and gold, together with their statuary, the
pulpit better located and redecorated, chandeliers and gas fixtures remodeled,
in fact the interior of the entire church was made to appear as new.
Somewhat later the walls of the church were tuck-pointed, giving the church
the appearance of being newly built of pressed brick. The Rev. Francis
de Paul Lotz, O. F. M., became pastor in September 1900. His pastorate
was distinguished by various improvements of the church property, notable
the lighting of the church by electricity, and the artistic stone crucifixion
group in the cemetery. The present pastor, Rev. Leonard Nurre, O.
F. M., took charge in September 1903. A notable event of his pastorate
was the solemn celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the foundation of the
parish, on October 23, 1904. Bishop Alerding celebrated the Pontifical
Mass, assisted by all the former pastors still living, and [258] by a number
of other Franciscan Fathers; the Very Rev. Provincial Chrysostom Theobald
preached the sermon. Father Leonard has been especially active in
making his parish schools the very best. The eight grades are taught
in it; the larger boys by an efficient lay teacher, the other classes by
six Franciscan Sisters. The number of pupils is 238.
The following were the assistants at St. Boniface's
Church: Rev. William Gausepohl, O. F. M., from January 1866 to April
1867; Rev. Accursius Beine, O. F. M., from 1867 to 1870; Rev. Gregory Fangmann,
O. F. M., from September 1870 till August 1872; Rev. Stephan Sailer, O.
F. M., from August 1872 to August 1873; Rev. Eberhard Huelsmann, O. F.
M., from August 1873 till August 1874; Rev. Maximilian Schaefer, O. F.
M., from August 1874 to September 1875; Rev. Nicholas Holtel, O. F. M.,
from March 1876 to April 1877; Rev. Marcus Kreke, O. F. M., from September
1876 to April 1877; Rev. Leonard Nurre, O. F. M., from April 1877 to August
1879; Rev. Athanasius Lingemann, O. F. M., from August 1879 to June 1881;
Rev. Philibert Altstaetter, O. F. M., from June 1881 to August 1884; Rev.
Bonaventure Hammer, O. F. M., in Lafayette, since April 1882; Rev. Philip
Rothmann, O. F. M., from August 1884 to August 1886; Rev. Pius Niehaus,
O. F. M., from August 1886 to 1887; Rev. Henry Berberich, O. F. M., from
December 1887 to August 1890; Rev. Ignatius Wilkens, O. F. M., from 1891
to December 1892; Rev. John Capistran Heitmann, O. F. M., from September
1890 to August 1891; Rev. Otto Ziegler, O. F. M., from January 1893 to
August 1894; Rev. Guido Stallo, O. F. M. from August 1893 to September
1894; Rev. Matthias Sasse, O. F. M., from January 1895 to November 1896;
Rev. Gaugentius Schuster, O. F. M., from October 1896 to August 1897; Rev.
Clementine Broermann, O. F. M., from August 1897 to November 1898; Rev.
Samuel Gelting, O. F. M., from November 1898 to May 1901; Rev. Bede Oldegeering,
O. F. M., from May 1901 to November 1902; Rev. Leander Schell, O. F. M.,
October 1902; Rev. Justine Welk, O. F. M.
Six boys of St. Boniface's parish have become
priests and twenty girls have become sisters. St. boniface's Church
has: The Third Order of St. Francis; Apostleship of Prayer and [259]
League of the Sacred Heart; the Young Mens' and the Young Ladies' Sodalities
of the Blessed Virgin Mary; St. Boniface Mens' Society, ninety-five members;
St. Mary's Ladies' Society, three hundred and seventeen members; Sacred
Heart Young Ladies' Society, one hundred and thirty-seven members; St.
Joseph's Benevolent Society, one hundred and eight members; Knights of
St. Paul, one hundred and twenty-two members; Catholic Order of Foresters,
three hundred and twenty-five members.
The St. Boniface's Church property has no
debt on it. The St. Boniface's Cemetery, twenty-three acres, has
a debt of $2,950. The parish has 368 families, numbering 1,936 souls.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 259-260]
MONTEREY. [Pulaski County]
ST. ANN'S CHURCH.
1855.
In the memory of the oldest living members of
St. Ann's Church, Rev. Francis Anthony Carius was the first priest to visit
Monterey, from Logansport, every three months and celebrating Mass in the
houses of Martin Keller, and others, from the year 1852 to 1855.
In the latter year, Rev. F. X. Nigh, residing at Winamac, built a little
frame church, about two and one-half miles north-west of Monterey, on the
banks of the Tippecanoe river. Four acres of ground had been secured
here, November 26, 1851. Father Nigh continued to visit Monterey
(Buena Vista) for a few years after which from 1863 until 1867, it became
a mission attended by the pastors of Plymouth: Rev. Gabriel Volkert
and Rev. George Steiner. From 1867 till 1872, St. Ann's was visited
by Rev. Henry Koenig and Rev. B. Wiedau, from Winamac, after which Rev.
George Zurwellen visited it, from Plymouth, and from January 1873 till
September Father Wiedau. From 1873 till 1888, ten different Fathers,
C. PP. S., had the care of Monterey: Rev. Beatus Ziswyler, 1873 to
1875, who organized the Married Ladies' Altar Society, the St. Mary's Young
Ladies' Society and the St. Aloysius Young Men's Society. Then came
the Rev. Cosmas Seeberger, C. PP. S., Rev. Theobald Schoch, C. PP. S.,
Rev. John Frericks, C. PP. S., Rev. Rudolph Abbrederis, C. PP. S., Rev.
Conrad Schneider, C. PP. S., and Rev. [260] Christian Nigsh, C. PP. S.
Rev. George Fleisch, C. PP. S., who came in September 1880, was the first
resident pastor and remained for five years. He bought the present
church lots in Monterey, in the fall of 1882. The corner-stone of
the new brick church, in Monterey, was laid in the summer of 1883, on which
occasion Rev. Henry Meissner preached the sermon. Bishop Dwenger
dedicated the new church in May, 1884. The cost of this church, including
the most necessary furniture, was $6,746.25. In January, 1886, Father
Fleisch was succeeded by Rev. Erhard Fritz, C. PP. S., the last Father,
C. PP. S., in charge of Monterey.
The Rev. Charles Thiele, newly ordained, was
the pastor of St. Ann's Church, from July 1888 till August 1898.
The priest's house of brick was built in 1889, and with the furniture cost
$1,865. In 1891, the church was frescoed for $439. In 1895,
a new brick school, hall and Sisters' dwelling combined was erected on
lots, opposite the church, donated by P. A. Follmar. The building
cost $2,700, and Bishop Rademacher dedicated the same in the fall of the
same year. Sisters of St. Agnes of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, were installed
as teachers. The average daily attendance at school is seventy-five
pupils. When in August, 1898, Father Thiele was remoed, the debt
on the church property was $2,275. Rev. Gregory A. Zern was the pastor,
for two years, and during his time three acres of ground were bought for
$300, one-fourth of a mile west of town, for cemetery purposes. The
first interment was that of August Fox, on May 1, 1899, from whom the ground
had been bought. Father Zern made some necessary repairs and improvements
on the church and house, and, when in October, 1899, he was removed, he
left a debt of $2,863.20 after him.
The Rev. F. Joseph Bilstein, the present pastor,
officiated for the first time, in St. Ann's Church, on Rosary Sunday, October
7, 1899. Under his administration the entire debt was wiped out.
St. Ann's has the Married Ladies' Rosary Society, with fifty-five members;
the St. Mary Young Ladies' Sodality, with forty-three members; the St.
Joseph Young Men's Society, with twenty-three members; the Catholic Order
of Foresters, with twenty-eight members. The number of souls is 412,
constituting sixty-eight families.
[1999 update:
St. Ann Parish: Mail to: P.O. Box 96 - Monterey, IN 46960-0096
Phone: (219) 542-4711.
Steet address: 6894 North Walnut - Monterey,
IN 46960
St. Ann Parish (Est. 1855) is presently (1999) encompassed within the
Diocese of Lafayette, which was established in 1944. A church
profile for St. Ann Parish is on the Diocese web site.]
See also other Pulaski County Parishes:
St. Joseph Parish (Est. 1852) - Profile
for St. Joseph Parish -
Mail: 5895 South State Road 119 - Star City, IN 46985
Phone: (219) 595-7198.
St. Peter Church (Est. 1859) - Church
Profile for St. Peter Parish in Winamac.
401 North Monticello Street - Winamac, IN 46996 Phone:
(219) 946-4906.
St. Francis Solano Church (Est. 1867) Church
Profile for St. Francis in: Francesville.
Mail: C/O St. Joseph's College - P.O. Box 852 -
Rensselaer, IN 47978 Phone: (219) 866-6271.
St. Henry Church (Est. 1868) - Church
Profile for St. Henry Parish in: Medaryville
Mail: C/O St. Joseph's College - P.O. Box 852 - Rensselaer,
IN 47978 Phone: (219) 866-6271.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 261-262 (See
Reference)]
ST. VINCENT, ALLEN COUNTY.
ST. VINCENT'S CHURCH.
1856.
The first settlers of what was then known as New
France, were emigrants from the eastern part of France, and the parish
of today is made up almost exclusively of the descendants of these early
settlers. When the early days of church life in this settlement are
spoken of the names of the missionaries frequently mentioned, are Fathers
Deschamp, Botti, and Grevin. As a mision, St. Vincent was attended
from the Cathedral at Fort Wayne, especially by Father Benoit. Alexander
Pichon donated the church grounds, about two acres of land. The first
church was a log structure, and stood in the middle of what is now St.
Vincent's Cemetery. It is not known when this first church was built,
nor by whom. The second church was a frame structure erected by the
Rev. August Adam, in the year 1861, at a cost of $1,476, the congregation
furnishing the lumber and the greater part of the labor. The church
was dedicated on All Saints' day. Father Adam also built the pastoral
residence still in use, in the year 1868. The third and present church
was erected in 1904, during the pastorate of Rev. M. P. Louen. It
is a brick structure, after the roman style of architecture and, inclusive
of furniture, cost approximately $12,000. The seating capacity is
350, exclusive of gallery. The present indebtedness of the parish
is $1,100.
The Sacred Heart Academy building was put
up, in the year 1866, by and is under the direction of, the Sisters of
the Holy Cross. A small brick building, adjoining the Academy, is
used for a parish school, attended by thirty pupils.
We gather from the baptismal records, that
the pastors of St. Vincent's Church were the following: Rev. Francis
Deschamp, 1856 till 1858; Rev. Alexius Botti, 1858 till 1860; Rev. Grevin,
1860 till 1861; Rev. August Adam, 1861 till 1870; Rev. Julius Frere, C.
S. C., 1870 till 1873; Rev. W. Demers, C. S. C., 1873; Rev. Constantine
Maujay, 1873 till 1875; Rev. C. Wardy, 1875 till 1878; Rev. Bonnet Roche,
C. S. C., 1878 till 1888; Rev. P. J. Franciscus, C. S. C., 1888; Rev. John
Lauth, C. S. C., 1888 till 1890; Rev. J. M. Toohey, C. S. C., [262] 1890
till 1895; Rev. Jacob Lauth, C. S. C., 1895; Rev. E. Amaud, C. S. C., 1895
till 1897; Rev. A. E. Lafontaine, 1897 till 1901; Rev. M. P. Louen, 1901
till January 1, 1907; Rev. Ambrose Dowd, C. PP. S., since Jan. 1, 1907.
The missions St. Leo and Pier Settlement are
attended from St. Vincent's; the former on the third Sunday of the month,
the latter four times a year. These churches are St. Leo's and St.
Michael's.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 262-263]
UNION CITY. [Randolph County]
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
1856.
As far back as 1852, it is of record that Rev.
John Quinlan, afterwards Bishop of Mobile, Alabama, visited the Catholic
families of Union City and vicinity. He administered to their spiritual
wants until 1854, and was succeeded by the Rev. Sheon, the resident pastor
at Sidney, Ohio. In 1855, we find the name of Rev. J. B. Hensteger
of Piqua, Ohio, attending Union City, as a station.
As a mission Union City was visited from Piqua,
Sidney and Greenville, Ohio, for a number of years. The first church
miles east of town, under the supervision of Rev. McClare, in the year
1856. Father Hemsteger again had charge from Ohio, and soon after,
by Rev. Shelhammer of Greenville, Ohio. The number of Catholics was
rapidly increasing, and in 1865 a brick church, with a seating capacity
of 250, was erected on Plum street. At the present time this building
is used as a Mary's Parish, from 1862 till 1867. When the diocese
of Fort Wayne was established, in 1857, every doubt was removed as to whether
St. Mary's Church was in the archdiocese of Cincinnati or, what was up
to that time, the diocese of Vincennes. From 1857 St. Mary's Parish
has been attended by priests of the Fort Wayne diocese.
Rev. Lawrence Lamoor was the pastor from 1867
till 1870. After him Rev. Frederick Von Schwedler had charge, and
was succeeded by Rev. Martin Noll, who attended to [263] Union City from
1872 til 1875. During the pastorate of Rev. Jeremiah Quinlan, which
extended form 1875 till 1890, funds were being collected for the erection
of a new church, as the old church was too small to accommodate the congregation.
The number of souls at this time had increased to 650. Father Quinlan's
successor was the Rev. Francis A. King, who was the pastor from 1890 till
1899. It was under his pastorate, that the present church, on the
corner of Plum and Hickory streets, with a seating capacity of 600, was
begun and completed before the close of 1892, at a cost of $25,000.
The Rev. Michael Byrne was the pastor at Union City, from 1899 till the
spring of 1901, since which time the present pastor, the Rev. John Durham,
has had charge of the congregation. The church property, situated
in the center of the city, consists of four lots or a half block, on which
are the beautiful brick church, the school-house, a hall and chapel, the
priest's and the Sisters' residences. A commodious new school-house
and Sisters' house is being erected at the present time.
The parish has a Rosary Society of one hundred
and forty-three members; a Young Ladies' Sodality of sixty-five members;
a Columbian Literary Club of eighty members; the Holy Angels' Sodality
of ninety members; the Knights of Columbus of one hundred members and also
the Catholic Benevolent Legion.
The Sisters of the Holy Cross conduct the
school, which is attended by eighty-one pupils. The parish has 126
families, numbering 580 souls. When the erection of the new school
was begun in 1907, St. Mary's church was out of debt, and had about $500
in the treasury, not counting a liberal subscription.
The mission, St. Joseph's Church, at Winchester,
is attended from Union City.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[Pages 263-265]
KEWANNA, P. P. [Fulton County]
ST. ANN'S CHURCH.
1857.
These parts were visited as early as 1855, as
a station, by priests who, for the most part, were located at Logansport.
The names of priests given in this connection are: Rev. Francis Anthony
Carius, about 1855; Rev. William Doyle, [264] Logansport, from 1855 to
1857; Rev. Charles T. Zucker, Logansport, from 1857 to 1859; Rev. George
A. Hamilton, Logansport, from 1859 to 1864; Rev. Bernard Kroeger, Logansport,
assistant to Father Hamilton; Rev. Bernard Joseph Force, Logansport, from
1864 to 1868; Rev. Matthias Zumbuelte, assistant at Logansport, from 1866
to 1868; Rev. Matthew E. Campion, Logansport, from April 1868 to January
1869. They came on horseback, over roads well nigh impassable, once
a month and celebrated Mass in private houses. The families were
few and scattered. In 1857 or 1858 Rev. F. X. Nigh, of Pulaski, induced
the people to build a church. It was a plain, little frame building
and the number of families, at this time, was about fifteen. The
ground, on which this first church stood, contains about three acres, and
where the present church stands is about two acres. The first mentioned
three acres are used for cemetery purposes, and the new ground was bought
by Rev. D. J. Mulcahy, in 1887. The present church was built in that
same year, and is a plain, frame structure and cost probably $3,000.
It seats about 300.
The first priest's house was built by Rev.
John Dempsey, containing three rooms, and was addd to from time to time;
and, after doing service for thirty years, was sold by Rev. M. J. Ford
for $100. In 1902, Father Ford erected the present pastoral residence,
which, including furnishings, cost about $3,000. There is no debt
on the church property. The number of souls is 300, constituting
thirty-seven families. One girl of the parish has entered the convent.
What is now known as Kewanna and Lucerne,
was, in the early days, Fulton and Harrison, and then Grass Creek and Harrison.
The succession of pastors, from 1868 to the present time, is the following:
Rev. Charles J. Mougin, Harrison, from April 13, 1868 till 1870; Rev. James
O'Brien, Harrison, from 1870 till fall of 1871; from October 29, 1871 till
August 2, 1873, a vacancy; Rev. John Dempsey, Fulton, from August 2, 1873
till January 1877; from January 1877 till the spring of 1878, a vacancy;
Rev. Thomas M. Cahill, Fulton, from the spring of 1878 a few months; Rev.
P. J. Crosson, Fulton, from November, 1878 till the summer of 1880; Rev.
M. Joy, Fulton, from the summer of 1880 till the summer of 1884; Rev. M.
F. Kelly, Fulton, from the summer of 1884 till the fall of 1886; Rev. D.
J. Mulcahy, Fulton, from the fall of 1886 till the spring of 1891; Rev.
Rudolph Denk, Fulton, from spring till fall of 1891; Rev. F. C. Wiechmann,
Fulton, from October 1891 till the fall of 1892; from the fall of 1892
till July 1893, a vacancy; Rev. F. W. Schaeper, C. PP. S., Fulton, from
July 1893 till the fall of 1893; Rev. G. M. Kelly, Fulton, from the fall
of 1893 till August 1894; Rev. John Cook, Fulton, from August 1894 till
the spring of 1896; Rev. D. J. Hagerty, C. S. C., Fulton, from spring to
September 1896; Rev. G. A. Zern, Fulton, from September 1896 till the summber
of 1898; Rev. E. J. Boccard, Fulton, from the summer of 1898 till the fall
of 1900; Rev. John Blum, Fulton, from November 1900 till June 1901; from
the summer of 1901 till May 1902, a vacancy; Rev. M. J. Ford, Fulton, from
May 1902 till September 1904; Rev. Edward J. Houlihan, Fulton (Kewanna),
since October 20, 1904.
The Rosary Society is for all the members
of St. Ann's parish, and the Holy Name Society, for children has twenty
members.
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.
-----
+ TABLE OF
CONTENTS +
-----
PAGE
CHAPTER X.
The Churches--From 1858 to 1867 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 266-314
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
[+ Return
to Local Catholic Indiana page +]
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Notre Dame Archives: Diocese
of Fort Wayne (CDFW)
Copyright 1998, 1999 by Ann
Mensch.