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The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857--September 22--1907, A Book of Historical Reference, 1669-1907.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 XI.     The Churches--From 1868 to 1877 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  314-353
                                                                                    [Pages 314-332 are on this web page 11]
                                                                                    [Pages 333-353 are on web page 11B]

   CROWN POINT.  Lake County.  St. Mary's Church.  [est. 1868] . . . . . . . . . . . . 314-315
   ELKHART.  Elkhart County.  St. Vincent's Church.  [est. 1868] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316-317
   MARION.  Grant County.  St. Paul's Church.  [est. 1868] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .317-318
   MONROEVILLE.  Allen County.  St. Rose of Lima's Church.  [est. 1868] . . . . . . 318-319
   LOGANSPORT.  Cass County.  St. Joseph's Church.  [est. 1869] . . . . . . . . . . . . 320-322
   MUNCIE.  Delaware County.  St. Lawrence's Church.  [est. 1869] . . . . . . . . . . . .322-325
   LAFAYETTE.  Tippecanoe County.  St. Ann's Church.  [est. 1870] . . . . . . . . . . . 325-326
   LOWELL.  Lake County.  St. Edward's Church.  [est. 1870] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326-327
   Richland Township, Benton County.  St. Anthony's Church.  [est. 1870] . . . . . . . . 327-328
   WALKERTON.  St. Joseph County.  St. Patrick's Church.  [est. 1870] . . . . . . . . 329-330
   FORT WAYNE.  Allen County.  St. Peter's Church.  [est. 1871] . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330-332
   HOBART.  Lake County.  St. Bridget's Church.  [est. 1873] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .332-333
   BARRYDALE. near Otterbein area. St. Bridget's Church.  [est. 1873]. . . . . . . . . .333-335
       [Barrydale, formerly known as the "Ditch", appears to have been located in Pine Township, Benton County, near the intersection of Hwys. 231 and 18, north of Otterbein.]
   OTIS.  Laporte County.  St. Mary's Church.  [est. 1873] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .335-336
   AUBURN.  Dekalb County.  Church of the Immaculate Conception.  [est. 1874] . .336-337
   SCHERERVILLE.  Lake County.  St. Michael's Church.  [est. 1874] . . . . . . . . . . 337-339
   TIPTON.  Tipton County.  St. John's Church.  [est. 1874] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . 339-341
   FOWLER.  Benton County.  Sacred Heart Church.  [est. 1875] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341-344
   LOGANSPORT.  Cass County.  St. Bridget's Church.  [est. 1875] . . . . . . . . . . . .344-345
   REMINGTON.  Jasper County.  Sacred Heart Church.  [est. 1875] . . . . . . . . . . . 345-346
   DUNNINGTON.  Benton County.  St. Mary's Church.  [est. 1876] . . . . . . . . . . . .346-348
       [Ambia, Benton County, (just south of the community of Dunnington in 2000) presently served from Sacred Heart in Fowler, IN.]
   GARRETT.  Dekalb County.  SS. Peter and Paul's Church.  [est. 1876] . . . . . . . . .348-349
          [When a new church was built ca. 1928, SS. Peter and Paul was renamed St. Joseph's.]
   PORTLAND.  Jay County.  Church of the Immaculate Conception.  [est. 1876] . . .350-351
   SOUTH BEND.  St. Joseph County.  St. Hedwig's Church.  [est. 1876] . . . . . . . . 351-353


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[pages 333-335 (See Reference)]
BARRYDALE. near Otterbein area, Benton County.
St. Bridget's Church.
1873.
     Barrydale, formerly known as the "Ditch," was so termed on account of a big open ditch a mile or so from the church, which served to drain the low, swampy country.  In the [334] autumn of 1901, it was named Barrydale.  St. Bridget's Church was attended by priests from Lafayette; Rev. F. Joseph Stephan, about the year 1860, celebrated Mass in private houses from time to time.  The same can be said of Rev. E. B. Kilroy in 1862, and of Rev. C. J. O'Callaghan, in 1864.  In the year 1870, the Rev. John R. Dinnen, residing at Oxford, began to pay St. Bridget's regular visits.  At this time the Catholic population did not exceed a dozen families.
     The first little frame church wa built, in 1873, at a cost of $800, by Rev. Meinrad McCarthy, O. S. B.  This building still stands and is now used for a hall.  Father Father Dinnen, of Oxford, had charge of the mission until 1875, and Rev. Thomas M. Cahill, until 1878.  Father Cahill was succeeded by the Rev. John Dempsey, who for a short time lived in a farm house near by, then moved to Fowler and attended the mission from there till 1882, when again it was visited from Oxford, by the Rev. P. J. Crosson, till 1894.  The number of families had now increased to about thirty-five.  The church grounds comprise about two acres.  One acre was secured for $50 in 1873 by the Benedictine Father McCarthy; and the rest, by the present pastor, also for a consideration of $50, being less than half its actual value.  The parish never had a cemetery of its own, its dead being buried in Lafayette or Oxford.  Nor has there been ever a Catholic school in the place, owing to the long distance the children would have to come.  The present church was built, in 1896, by the Rev. W. Conrad Miller residing at Oxford, at a cost of about $7,000.  It is a handsome and substantial brick structure with a seating capacity of about 325.  The congregation has forty-three families, numbering 245 souls.
     The present and only priest's house, the place has had, was built in the summer of 1901 by the Rev. Charles E. McCabe, the first resident pastor, at an outlay of about $3,500.  It is a fine frame structure of ten rooms, with all modern conveniences, and complete in every detail.  The church property has a debt of $2,600.
     The Societies, organized in the summer of 1901, were:  The Rosary Society for married men and women, with thirty members; the Sodality of the Children of Mary for young women and girls, with eighteen members, and the Sodality of the Holy Name for young men and boys, with twenty members.  [335] Aside from the spiritual purposes, for which these organizations were called into existence, the same are also helpful in a material way, by furnishing the church and sanctuary with many necessary and useful articles.
     The present pastor, the Rev. Michael J. Ford, was appointed on July 22, 1906.  He has secured additional ground, has beautified the place, and has made several necessary improvements.
     The pastor at Barrydale visits the mission, at Otterbein, every Sunday and Holyday, from Easter to Christmas, and every other Sunday from Christmas to Easter.

1999 update:
     Barrydale, formerly known as the "Ditch", appears to have been located in Pine Township, Benton County, near the intersection of Hwys. 231 and 18, north of Otterbein.  This area is now within the Diocese of Lafayette, established, in 1944, from the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
     In an e-mail to Ann Mensch, dated 31 Dec 2001, Michael Perigo wrote the following about St. Bridget's:
     "The parish had been staffed from St. Charles (Borromeo) Parish in Otterbein.  It was located about 8 mi. north of St. Charles, on the same road.  The St. Bridget community had dwindled to less than 20 families when, sometime during or after 1986, the furnace overheated and caught the build aflame.  After a period of study, the Lafayette diocese, along with the St. Charles and St. Bridget parishes, came to the inevitable conclusion that the St. Bridget Church should not be rebuilt and that the two parishes should be combined.  The former education building next to St. Bridget church was
retained as a recreational/educational hall for use by St. Charles parishioners.  (I don't know if today, 2001, it is still in use.)  Fr. Ambrose Ziegler was pastor of St. Charles and St. Bridget when the fire
happened."
   The following is the 2001 information for St. Charles Parish, in Otterbein, Benton County, Indiana.
  • St. Charles Parish [Est. 1902] - Church Profile - Rev. David L. Rasner, J.C.L.

    •    Mail: P.O. Box 661 - Otterbein, IN 47970-0661  Phone: (765) 583-4641.
       Street address: 108 North Meadow Street - Otterbein, IN 47970-8571
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    [pages 335-336 (See Reference)]
    OTIS.  Laporte County.
    St. Mary's Church.
    1873.
         The Rev. John H. Oechtering was the first priest to visit Otis, or Salem Crossing, as it was then known, and the neighboring country.  The Catholic population, in the year 1870, consisted of about forty-five Polish and two or three German families.  Father Oechtering, who was the resident pastor at Laporte for ten years, built the first church at Otis in 1873 and secured the services of the Rev. Francis X. Szulak, S. J., of Chicago several times a year to give the Polish families an opportunity of receiving the sacraments.  Shortly after, the Rev. Peter Koncz began to reside at Otis, and became its first resident pastor, making his home with private families.  His successor was Rev. Ludwig Machdzicki, who built the first priest's house and remained till 1881.  In August 1881, the Rev. Urban Raszkiewicz was appointed pastor at Otis, where he continues to live and labor at the present time, the venerable pastor of St. Mary's Church, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.
         The church property contains five acres of land, part of which is used for cemetery purposes.  The present pastor has made additions to, and improvements on both the church and the priest's residence.  The church is neatly furnished, cruciform, frame building, and can seat 400 people.  It has a chime of three bells, in a belfry beside the church.  The school was [335] built by Father Machdizicki, in 1880; it is a two-story frame building with basement, and has two class-rooms, and private rooms for the Sisters and boarders; it cost $2,000.  The average attendance at school is seventy pupils.  Two Felician Sisters, from the Mother-house at Detroit, Michigan, teach English and Polish branches.  The priest's house with additions and improvements has cost about $3,000.  There is no debt on the church property.
         The parish has three Societies, two are sodalities and one is beneficiary.  St. Mary's Congregation has given the church two priests and four Sisters.  Otis has 110 families, comprising 500 souls.  Unable to attend to his pastoral duties, on account of old age, Father Raszkiewicz received Rev. P. A. Budnik for his assistant, on June 8, 1907.

    1999 update:
    St. Mary's parish, in Otis, New Durham Township, Laporte County, Indiana, is now within the Diocese of Gary, established, in 1956, from the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
    Saint Mary's Catholic Church
           903 N Jefferson Street, Otis, IN 46391 + Phone: (219) 785-2212.

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    [pages 336-337 (See Reference)]
    AUBURN.  Dekalb County.
    Church of the Immaculate Conception.
    1874.
         Rev. August Young visited Auburn, for the first time, on August 5, 1872, finding eight Catholic families in that place.  For two years he had services in the house of E. Ashley, on West Seventh street.  The foundation for the present church was laid on June 1, 1874, on the corner of Fourth and Railroad streets, and the church was dedicated by Bishop Dwenger on October 18th, of the same year.  The building cost $3,000, and the total amount was paid on the day after the dedication.  The present priest's residence adjoining the church, was bought for $1,900, on April 15, 1874.  The congregation at that time numbered 300 souls, and had no debt on the church property.  By order of the Bishop, Father Young changed his place of residence from Auburn to Garrett, on November 10, 1886, but continued to visit Auburn from Garrett, until November 1, 1891.
         The resident pastors succeeding Father Young at Auburn were the following:  Rev. Rudolph Denk, eight months; Rev. Francis P. Faust, from June 1892 till November 1895; Rev. Edward J. Boccard, form November 1895 till September 1898; Rev. Frederick J. Dandurand, from September 1898 to July 1900; Rev. John M. Schmitz, since July 13, 1900. [337]
         On August 30, 1881, four and a half acres of ground, known as Mader's addition to the town of Auburn, were bought for $543.54, and have since been St. Mary's Cemetery, serving Auburn, Garrett, and missions for burial purposes, up to 1897.  Since his accession, the present pastor, Father Schmitz, has done much toward improving the church property.  The Rosary Society for married women, with twenty-four members, a Sodality for single women, with twenty-three members, proved beneficial to the parish in many respects.  At present, Auburn has forty Catholic families, numbering 161 souls.  The debt on the church property is $160.

    2006 update:
    The Immaculate Conception parish is within the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
         Immaculate Conception
            500 East Seventh Street - Auburn, IN  46706  +  Phone: (260) 925-3930.

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    [pages 337-339 (See Reference)]
    SCHERERVILLE.  Lake County.
    St. Michael's Church.
    1874.
         The pastors of St. Michael's Church were:  Rev. Henry Meissner, Crown Point, from 1874 till September 1875; Rev. Godfrey Kueng, form 1875 till October 1876; a vacancy from October 1876 till February 1877; Rev. John Henry Bathe, from February 16, till August 18, 1877; Rev. F. X. Deimel, from August 1877 till May 28, 1881; during Father Diemel's Rosenbauer, C. SS. R., attended the parish; Rev. William Berg, since May 28, 1881.
         Schererville exists since 1866.  All the old settlers of these regions were Catholic, and according to convenience attended the churches at St. John, Turkey Creek, Crown Point or Dyer.  In the year 1874, Bishop Dwenger approved the project of building a church at Schererville, and placed the undertaking under the supervision of Rev. Henry Meissner, pastor at Crown Point.  Four and a quarter acres of land, for church and cemetery purposes, were donated by Nicholas Scherer, after whom the town is named.  The church was a frame structure 45x95 feet, with a tower 100 feet.  It was dedicated by Bishop Dwenger at the end of September 1874, and placed under the patronage of St. Michael, the Archangel.  The church cost $5,000.  The congregation was anxious to have a resident priest, and, with this end in view, they built a priest's house at a cost of about $1,800, in 1875.
         [338] Rev. Godfrey Kueng was the first resident pastor; he was a good priest, but, having no taste for financial matters, he resigned in October 1876, and returned to his native country in Tyrol.  Father Bathe provided some vestments, and Father Deimel procured two bells, stations of the Cross and both these pastors reduced the debt.  Father Deimel's health was not good.  He spent about two years in the Alexian Brothers' Hospital, at St. Louis.  When Father Berg took charge he found a debt of $2,300.  He made many improvements and repairs on the church and house, and when, in the summer of 1889, all the church debt had been paid, he was given a three months' vacation to visit his native country; during which time his brother, Rev. John B. Berg had charge of the parish.
         The cemetery is adjacent to the church, on the west side, and was blessed by Bishop Rademacher, on September 27, 1895.  In the year 1893, the church was frescoed, and repaired and their statuary were provided gradually, costing probably $1,300.  The church received ten stained glass windows in 1889, a new roof in 1890, a hot air furnace underneath the church and in 1897, a pipe organ.  The church is supplied with vestments, sacred utensils and everything necessary in the line of furniture.
         Father Berg secured the services of the Sisters of St. Francis, of Joliet, in 1886, to teach the public school.  They had lived in a rented house for two years, when a separate residence was built for them, in 1888.  The public school arrangement proved unsatisfactory, for many reasons.  In 1893, the old public school building was sold, and 20x24 feet of it was moved to the church for school purposes, and, in the year 1900, an addition was made to it, affording two roomy apartments for school purposes.  The building was blessed on September 15, 1900, and on the day after the school opened with an attendance of 42 pupils.  The school building measures 24x50 feet, and cost $1,200.
         St. Michael's has these Societies:  St. Mary's Altar Society, over twenty-five years old, has done much for the sanctuary.  St. Michael's Society for men.  The Catholic Order of Foresters.  The Columbian League of Indiana.  The Young Ladies' Sodality of the Blessed Virgin.  Ten young ladies of [339] the parish have entered religious communities.  In 1888 the Apostleship of Prayer was canonically established and has now 150 members.  The aggregate membership of these societies is 500.  The school is attended by eighty-five children, taught by two Sisters.  There is no debt on the church property.

    2006 update:
    St. Michael's parish, in Shererville, Lake County, Indiana, is now within the Diocese of Gary, established, in 1956, from the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
  • St. Michael Parish

    •     1 W. Wilhelm Street - Schererville, IN 46375   Phone: (216) 322-4505.

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    TIPTON.  Tipton County.
    St. John's Church.
    1874.
         Tipton changed its name from Kingston to Canton and then to Tipton.  The town was laid out in 1844, and in those days Catholics in Tipton and vicinity were few and far between.  The first priest, as far as can be ascertained, who said Mass in Tipton county, was Rev. Simon Siegrist, pastor of St. Mary's Church, at Indianapolis, who, on occasion of a sick call to Tipton, said Mass in the home of John Murphy.  In 1856, Rev. D. Maloney came occasionally and said Mass alternately at the homes of John Murphy at Tipton, and of James Sheil at Shieldsville (now Atlanta), five miles south of Tipton.  Next came Rev. B. J. Force, stationed at Peru.  After him, Rev. Bernard Kroeger from Peru, who having assistants from 1864 to 1871 attended Tipton, at regular intervals.  These assistants were:  Rev. C. Mougin 1864, Rev. Lawrence Lamoor 1865, Rev. Michael Hanley 1867, Rev. B. T. Borg 1869, Rev. P. Frawley 1870, and Rev. J. H. O'Brien in 1871.  Rev. John Grogan attended Tipton as a station, from Kokomo.
         Rev. Francis Lordemann pastor at Kokomo, attending Tipton built the first church there in 1874, a small frame structure 30x40 feet, costing $1,200.  At that time the congregation at Tipton consisted of fifteen families.  The church grounds consist of seven lots; three of these, on which the church and priest's house stand, were secured by Father B. Kroeger in 1866; the four lots constituting the school grounds, were secured by Rev. F. G. Lentz, while pastor at Tipton.  The Sisters of St. Joseph erected their convent on four lots, adjoining the school property.
         The Rev. F. G. Lentz became the first resident pastor of St. John's Church, at Tipton, in July 1876.  In 1881 he built [340] an addition 30x30 feet to the church.  The church was destroyed by fire, on the evening of December 14, 1885, caused by a defective flue.  Until the completion of the new church divine services were held, first in one of the school-rooms, and later, when the school building had been completed, in the hall upstairs.  The corner-stone for the new church was laid, on the site of the old, by Bishop Dwenger, June 16, 1889.  Father Lentz remained long enough to see the church under roof, when he was succeeded by Rev. Anthony  J. Kroeger, on June 5, 1890.  Father Kroeger completed the church, and it was dedicated on August 30, 1891.  Owing to the sickness of Bishop Dwenger, Very Rev. J. H. Brammer, V. G., officiated.  The church is built in Gothic style, of brick and stone, has two towers, one 165 and the other 80 feet high.  The dimensions are 130x60 feet, with a frontage of 85 feet.  A life-size statue of St. John the Baptist is seen over the center entrance door.  The church has three double entrance doors.  In 1895, massive pews of quartered oak were placed, at a cost of $1,500.  In 1898, the towers were completed and the brick work was tuckpointed, at a cost of $3,000.  In 1900, excavation for basement was made and the steam heating plant installed, for $3,000.  In 1901, the church received electric light, for $600.  In the same year three altars were placed; the main altar costing $1,000 was donated by Francis Mattingly, one of the side altars costing $500 was presented by James Sheil.  In 1903, a set of stations of the Cross (statuary) was added, the gift of F. J. Froelich, having cost $800.  In the same year two large transept windows 30x16 feet, one representing the Nativity of our Lord and the Adoration by the Magi, the other His Ascension, were placed at a cost of $1,700.  In 1904, the church was refrescoed, a work of art throughout; the side walls are done in plain olive green, the ceiling divided into fields contains the twelve Apostles life-size, and over the transept windows are seen the four Evangelists.  The sanctuary especially is beautifully done.  The cost of this work was $2,000.  In 1906, a new pipe organ was installed, at a cost of $3,000.
         The school-house, erected by Father Lentz in 1885, was a two-story brick and stone building, 65x50 feet, with two school-rooms on the first floor, and the second floor the hall for society meetings, school entertainments, provided with stage, etc. [341] The cost was about $5,000.  From 1885 to 1888, the school was taught by lay-teachers, after which the Sisters of St. Joseph took charge.  The Sisters resided in a cottage, on the southeast corner of the school property, until the summer of 1891, when they moved into their new convent, adjoining the school property opposite the church.  The usual grades are taught, including high school.  The number of pupils is 133.
       The first priest's house was built, in 1876, by Father Lentz.  It was a story-and-a-half brick house, with eight small rooms.  In 1897, a new priest's house, a two-story brick and stone building was erected by Father Kroeger.  It is a house of twelve, well arranged, commodious rooms with a basement of five rooms.  The building cost only $7,000.  The little frame house, used for a time by the Sisters, is still there, and answers the purpose of an infirmary, when needed.
         The Catholic cemetery consists of two acres, adjoining the non-Catholic cemetery, southwest of the city limits.  It was bought by Father Lentz, in 1897 for $150.  The church property is without debt.  St. John's Parish has the Emerald Benevolent Association, organized in 1885, by Father Lentz.  This society merged into the present St. John's Benevolent Association, in 1890, and has a membership of fifty.  The Catholic Benevolent Young Men's Sodality, since 1890, with sixty members.  The Rosary Confraternity, since 1895, with eighty-five members.  The Young Ladies' Sodality, since 1877, with sixty-five members.  The Holy Angels' Society, since 1906, with nineteen members.  The women's societies look after the needs of the sanctuary.  The number of souls is 675, or 142 families, and three girls of the parish have entered the convent.  The pastorate of Father Kroeger continued until January 1, 1907, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Anthony Henneberger.

    1999 update:
  • This area is now within the Diocese of Lafayette, which was established, in 1944, from the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
  • St. John the Baptist Church [Est. ca. 1866] - Church Profile

    •       340 Mill Street - Tipton, IN 46072-1403  Phone: (765) 675-2422.

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       FOWLER.  Benton County.
    Sacred Heart Church.
    1875.
       The town of Fowler was platted October 27, 1872, and was named after its founder.  About twelve Irish Catholic families settled in the town.  In the fall of 1874, Rev. John [342] R. Dinnen, then pastor of Oxford, visited Fowler, and made preparations for the building of a church.  Moses Fowler donated four lots, or one-half block, and Father Dinnen bought the other half for $100, and donated it.  In the spring of 1875, a frame church was built, 22x40 feet, the furnishing of which consisted of a plain, little, home-made altar, three dozen second-hand pews, a set of vestments, linens and a small chalice.  Bishop Dwenger dedicated the church, under the invocation of St. John, the Evangelist.  Succeeding Father Dinnen in October 1875, Rev. Meinrad McCarthy, O. S. B., had charge of Oxford and Fowler until October 6, 1877.  In September 1875, Bishop Dwenger bought 200 acres of land a half mile south of Fowler, on which to erect a Catholic College.  The conveyance was made upon condition, that the deed would be void if the grantee would fail to erect a college building, worth a specified sum, within one year.  Bishop Dwenger left the matter in the hands of Father McCarthy, who failed to interest the Abbey of St. Meinrad in the undertaking, and the whole project fell through.
         Rev. John Lang pastor at Oxford, attended to Fowler, from October 1877 until April 19, 1878.  After him Rev. John Dempsey, from April 19, 1878 to January 1, 1882.  He had charge also of St. Bridget's, as a mission.  The congregation, at this time, numbered about twenty-five families.  He built a priest's house, from his own means, which he occupied during his stay in Fowler.  He fenced the entire church property.  After him, Rev. P. J. Crosson was pastor of Fowler and the mission St. Bridget's, from January 1, 1882 to June 15th of June 15, 1882 till May 1889.  The mission, St. Bridget's, was now attended from Oxford and Earl Park, a mission, attached to Fowler.  In 1887, however, Earl Park received a resident pastor, both places having now about forty families each.  Father Maujay made a number of improvements; he purchased a new reed organ and organized a choir, provided a fine picture of the patron of the church, a set of new stations, ostensorium, cope, etc.  Up to this time, he lived in a rented house; but in September, 1882, he bought a little frame house of three rooms and moved it on the church lots.  This dwelling, 20x26 feet, was enlarged by an addition of 12x12 feet.  The ceiling was [343] eight feet high.  This work cost $500.  A barn was built, 20x24 feet, in 1883.  In 1884, the number of families having increased to fifty, an addition of 20 feet was made to the church.  In the same year he bought a bell, weighing 1,385 pounds.  In May, 1889, Father Maujay left Fowler to visit his aged parents in France, once more.  For one month the parish was visited, on Sundays, by Rev. Michael Byrne, assistant at the Cathedral of Fort Wayne.  Rev. A. Henneberger, newly ordained, was appointed pastor at Fowler and took charge June 29, 1889.  At this time the parish numbered twenty-eight Irish, twenty Canadian and twelve German families.  The new pastor built a small sacristy to the rear of the church.  He organized St. Ann's Society, for the married women, and the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, for the single women, in 1889.  In 1891, a frame building, 26x32 feet, was erected for $800, on the first floor of which a school was opened in September of that year, with an attendance of sixty-five children; and the second floor became the Sisters' residence.  The Sisters of St. Francis have charge of the school.  In 1892 an addition was made to this building, of 18x20 feet for $400.  In the fall of 1894, it was resolved to build a new church, to cost about $10,000, and in May of 1895, the corner-stone was laid by Bishop Rademacher and on Ascension Day, 1896, the church was dedicated, in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The church is built in the Gothic style of architecture, 46x112 feet.  The steeple measures 125 feet, the interior elevation of the church is 38 feet, with a seating capacity of 400.  The total cost, including furniture, was $15,000.  The old school-house was now remodeled and made a priest's house, for $556.80, and the old church was changed into a two-room school-house, and the old priest's house, some what enlarged, was added to the school for a Sisters' residence, costing $491.
         In August, 1898, Father Henneberger was transferred to Attica and Rev. H. A. Hellhake took charge of Fowler, remaining until August 12, 1900.  The new pastor improved the church property in several respects.  Father Henneberger was made pastor of Fowler, a second time, from August 12, 1900 to January 1, 1907.  Cement walks were put down in 1902.  In the same year a pipe organ was bought for $1,200.  In 1903, twelve parishoners donated a set of stations of the Cross, [344] at an expense of $700.  In 1904, he erected a one-story building, 40x60 feet, for $1,500 to be used for school purposes, since the old building had become wholly unfit for use.  the eight grades are being taught by three Sisters, and the attendance is ninety-three.  Four girls of the parish have become Sisters of St. Francis.
         The dead of the Sacred Heart Parish were buried in a cemetery, consisting of two acres of ground, but owing to a change of roadways, this cemetery was no longer desirable, and five acres were bought situated along a public road, in 1895.  It has a strong, iron fence and in the center a Crucifixion group, life size.
         The Societies here, are:  The league of the Sacred Heart, 150 members; St. Ann's Society, for married women, eighty-four members; the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, for single Women, thirty-five members; the Guardian Angel Society, 140 members; the Confraternity of the Precious Blood, for the relief of the Souls in Purgatory, 100 members; the Catholic Order of Foresters, St. Anthony's Court, since 1894, fifty members.
         The present pastor Rev. Michael P. Louen took charge of the Sacred Heart Church at Fowler, on January 1, 1907.  The parish has 131 families, numbering 670 souls.  The amount of debt on the church property is $4,100.

    2000 update:
  • This area is now within the Diocese of Lafayette, which was established, in 1944, from the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
  • Sacred Heart Parish [Est. 1872] - Church Profile

    •     107 E. Main Street - Fowler, IN 47944  Phone: (765) 884-1818.
        The pastor of Sacred Heart also tends to St. Mary's Church, in Ambia.

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    [pages 344-345 (See Reference)]
       LOGANSPORT.  Cass County.
    St. Bridget's Church.
    1875.
         St. Bridget's Congregation owns a whole square of ground in Logansport.  Bishop Dwenger bought it, July 11, 1873, from Judge Dykmann, for the sum of $5,000.  Prior to that time the forty-five families, or 125 souls, living in that part of the city, attended one or other of the existing parishes.  Rev. Bernard Kroeger was the first pastor, who in 1875 erected a two-story structure, which has since served the purposes both of church and school.  It cost about $8,800.  The school was opened in 1875, and can accommodate about 120 children.  About $350 was spent in furnishing the school.  Sisters of St. Joseph, whose Mother-house is in Tipton, Indiana, teach [345] the eight grades, and they live in rooms annexed to the school.  The priest's house was erected in 1893, by Father Kroeger, at an expense of $5,272; improvements were made on it from time to time.
        A hall for entertainments, socials and society meetings was built in 1890, at a cost of $2,500.  The church property is not only free from debt, but has over $3,000 in the treasury.  St. Bridget's has 113 families, numbering 610 souls.  Two Sisters of St. Joseph, conducting the school, have 103 children in their charge.  Four girls of the parish have become members of religious communities.
         The Rosary Society, for married people, organized in 1875, has seventy-four members; the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, for single men, has twenty-six members, and the same, for single women, has forty-nine members; the Children of Mary, thirty-five members; St. Anthony's League, since 1901, has 103 members; and the League of the Sacred Heart, since 1890, has a membership of twenty-seven.
         The following priests have been assistants at St. Bridget's Church:  Rev. John F. Noll, from December 1898 to February 1899; Rev. Henry C. Kappel, from February 1899 to June 1899; Rev. Michael J. Ford, from 1900 to 1902; Rev. James F. Connelly, from 1902 to 1905; Rev. John F. Kohl, since June 30, 1905.

    2000 update:
        Rev. Bernard Kroeger, the first pastor of St. Bridget's, was assisted by several priests due to ill health.  In July 1907, Father Kroeger died.  He was succeeded by Rev. Peter J. Quinn, who remained the pastor of St. Bridget's until June 1925.  Father Quinn built the new church during this time.  From June 1925 until January 1926, the parish was tended by Rev. James Durham, who was then transferred to St. Vincent de Paul Church, in Logansport.  On 29 January 1926, he was succeeded by Rev. Nicholas A. Keller, who was transferred to St. Bridget's after having served as pastor of Bluffton and Montpelier.  In the book, "The Diocese of Fort Wayne", Bishop Noll reports that Rev. Nicholas A. Keller was born 28 August 1884, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
    This area is now within the Diocese of Lafayette, which was established, in 1944, from the Diocese of Fort Wayne.  Parishes located in Cass County, Indiana presently include the following:
  • All Saints Church [Est. 1985] - Church Profile

    •    111 East Market Street - Logansport, IN 46947-3427  Phone: (219) 722-4080.
  • St. Elizabeth Church [Est. 1953] - Church Profile

    •    P.O. Box 86 - Lucerne, IN 46950-0086  Phone: (219) 889-4223.


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    [pages 345-346 (See Reference)]
       REMINGTON.  Jasper County.
    Sacred Heart Church.
    1875.
         The first priest to visit Remington was the Rev. Joseph Stephan, who came here from about 1860 to 1870.  In 1870, Rev. Anthony Messmann, residing at Kentland, visited Remington regularly, celebrating Mass in the house of Timothy O'Connor, in the western part of town.  At the same time Rev. August Young, residing at Rensselaer, said Mass from time to time in the home of John Eck, some eight miles northwest of here.  At this time the number of families was about twenty-five.  This state of things continued until 1875, when a frame church, 70x25 feet, serving the purposes of a school at the present time, was erected under the superintendence of [346] Father Messman.  The church grounds were bought at different times, three lots in 1875, two in 1881, and one and a half in 1903.  From 1876 till 1883, the Franciscan Fathers attended Remington, as a mission.  Rev. John Wellinghoff, O. F. M., from 1876 visited every two weeks.  From 1879, Rev. Guido Stallo, O. F. M., and from 1881, Rev. John B. Schroeder, O. F. M.  During his pastorate the sanctuary and sacristies were added to the frame church.  At this time the congregation numbered about forty families.
         In 1883 the Sacred Heart Church at Remington received its first resident pastor in the person of Rev. J. H. Werdein.  He erected a parochial residence of seven rooms at a cost of about $700.  Rev. John B. Berg broke ground for the present church in 1899, and after two years the beautiful church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on July 22, 1901.  The old frame church was moved across the street and converted into a school, at an expense of $1,500.  The school was opened in September 1903, in charge of two Franciscan Sisters of Lafayette teaching fifty-four children.  The church property has a debt of $3,500.
         The Sacred Heart Church has the Married Ladies' Sodality, the Young Ladies' Sodality, the St. Aloysius' Society, the Children of Mary; as well as the Catholic Order of Foresters and the St. Joseph's Society.  The total number of members is 180.  The parish has ninety-six families, or 450 souls.
         The following is a list of the pastors, from 1883 to 1907:  Rev. J. H. Werdein, from 1883 till 1886; Rev. Henry A. Hellhake, from May 1886 till August 1893; Rev. M. Kelly, from August till October 1893; Rev. J. B. Berg, from October 16, 1893 till July 4, 1905; Rev. George H. Hortsmann, since July 4, 1905.

    2000 update on Sacred Heart Parish:
    St. Joseph County, including Remington, has been encompassed by the Diocese of Lafayette since it was established in 1944.  Prior to 1944, this county was included in the Fort Wayne Diocese.
    The present contact information is below:
       Sacred Heart Church [Est. 1875] - Church Profile
         Mail: P.O. Box 159 - Remington, IN 47977-0159  Phone: (219) 261-2302.
         Street address: 124 North New York Street - Remington, IN 47977-8782.

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    [pages 346-348 (See Reference)]
     DUNNINGTON.  Benton County.
    St. Mary's Church.
    1876.
         About four families bought farms and settled in the wild prairie of the present Dunnington and surroundings, in 1870.  They attended Mass, during the summer season, at Kentland, a distance of about seventeen miles.  On July 7, 1874, the [347] Rev. John R. Dinnen, then pastor of Oxford, came out to the prairie, for the first time, and organized the new congregation, calling it St. Michael's.  He secured two lots at Talbott and put in a foundation for a new church, to be a frame building, 30x40 feet.  The congregation furnishing the stone and doing the hauling, the foundation cost $100.  The foundation finished, the people objected to the building of the church at Talbott, because it was not centrally located.  In the fall of 1875, Rev. Meinrad M. McCarthy, O. S. B., succeeded Father Dinnen at Oxford and visited Dunnington twice a month, celebrating Mass in a school-house.  The record shows that he was paid $15 for each visit.  By this time the congregation had increased to fifteen families, Irish, German and French.  On August 12, 1876, Father McCarthy bought the one acre of land on which the church and house now stand, and opposite to it, he bought two acres for cemetery, at $40 per acre.  A month later he let the contract for a frame church, 30x40 feet, for $850 and called it St. Columbkill's Church.  The first services were held in the new church on Christmas-day, 1876, and Father McCarthy continued to visit St. Columbkill's twice a month, until the fall of 1877, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Lang.
         In 1881, Father Lang built an addition of 24x30 feet to the church and called it Holy Trinity Church.  Hoffman's Directory of the next year called the place Langton.  The number of families, at this time, was thirty-six.  The pastorate of Father Lang terminated on April 30, 1882.  Rev. John Grogan was the first resident pastor of the congregation, from June 25, 1882 till the summer of 1884.  He built a pastoral residence, a one-and-a-half story frame structure, at a cost of $900.  Father Grogan was succeeded by Rev. A. J. Strueder, who remained from the summer of 1884 till May 15, 1888.
         On May 15, 1888, Rev. F. J. Lambert, the present pastor, took charge of the congregation.  The number of families had now increased to seventy, owning three acres of ground, on one of which stood the church and house, and the other two acres were used for cemetery.  In 1892, Father Lambert bought the corner lot on to which he moved the old church.  Adjoining the church property, a quarter acre was donated for a new church.  This new church, a substantial frame building of [348] 125x52 feet, was begun in July 1892 and was ready for occupancy on July 1st, of the following year.  The cost of this church was $9,000.  The architecture of it is Gothic.  It was frescoed for $1,000.  The tower is 133 feet high and has a chime of three bells.  The furniture is all antique oak, costing $2,500.  In 1905 the hot air furnaces were discarded, and replaced by a steam heating plant, at a cost of $1,165.  A light plant was installed this spring, for the church and house, costing $300.  The seating capacity of the church is about 600.  Father Lambert changed the name to St. Mary's Church, the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin being the patron feast.
         In the summer of 1893, a residence was built for the Sisters, opposite the church, being a two-story frame building, costing $1,500.  The old church was remodeled into a school-house, with two commodious school-rooms and a large chapel, in which Mass is celebrated on week days during the winter season.  In September, 1893, three Sisters of St. Francis opened the school with an attendance of eighty pupils, teaching the eight regular grades.  The expense of the school is paid from the revenues of the church.  The priest's house was remodeled in the fall of 1899 and a brick veneered building was added to it, at a cost of $4,950.  It is a two-story building with basement and attic; it is heated by hot water, is lighted by acetylene gas and has all modern improvements.  The entire church property has a debt of $2,890.
         St. Mary's has:  The Catholic Order of Foresters, with a membership of sixty-four; St. Mary's Altar Society, with sixty members; St. Joseph's Society, with twenty-five members; the Purgatorian Society, with 150 members.  The number of souls is 640, consisting of 117 families.  The parochial school has an attendance of seventy-three children and is conducted by two Sisters of St. Francis, of Lafayette.  Two of St. Mary's boys have become priests and five girls, Sisters.

    2000 update on St. Mary's Parish:
    Benton County has been encompassed by the Diocese of Lafayette since it was established in 1944.  Prior to 1944, this county was included in the Fort Wayne Diocese.   St. Mary's is served by the pastor of Sacred Heart parish, in Fowler, Benton County.

    The present contact information is below:

  • St. Mary Parish [Est. 1876]  - Church Profile - Rev. Donald B. Vernon

    •    2961 South State Road 71 - Ambia, IN 47917-8516  Phone: (765) 884-0508.
       See Area Map -

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    [pages 348-349 (See Reference)]
    GARRETT.  Dekalb County.
    SS. Peter and Paul's Church.
    1876.
         A small frame church, 24x26 feet, was built at Garrett and was opened for divine service, on June 29, 1876.  The [349] congregation increasing rapidly, a cruciform addition of 110x50 feet was made to the church, in 1886.  This addition, beautifully painted on the interior, with three altars and pulpit, stained glass windows and a bell cost $5,000.  The seating capacity of the church was 300.  A two-story pastoral residence, at a cost of $1,500, was provided and the first resident pastor, Rev. August Young, took possession of it, on November 10, 1886.  In 1893, another addition had to be built to the church, increasing the seating capacity to 500, costing $3,300.  This the SS. Peter and Paul's Church, was dedicated by Bishop Rademacher, on September 16, 1893.
         The present school-house, situated a hundred feet south of the church on Peter street, was begun in 1888, by erecting the main building, 54x32 feet, and one wing 18x30 feet.  This portion contains four school-rooms.  At that time, 180 pupils were enrolled and the school was taught by five Sisters of the Precious Blood.  In 1904, the school had become inadequate for the accommodation of the children to such a degree, that twenty-four children could not be admitted for want of room.  Accordingly, in 1905, the school was enlarged by completing it, after the original plan, giving four additional school-rooms.  The building presents a beautiful appearance, built of brick, trimmed with Bedford stone, with an elevation of two-stories and basement.  In all its appointments it is the most completely equipped school-house, in Dekalb county.  At the present time, 226 pupils are in attendance.  The usual eight grades are taught and the four grades of high school.  Since 1894 a goodly number of pupils have graduated annually.  The school can accommodate 400 children.  It is a free school all expenses being paid by the School Society.  Seven Sisters of the Precious Blood conduct the school.
         The congregation has 147 families, numbering 583 souls.  The Sisters' residence was built in 1890 for $2,000.
         On the 10th day of January 1897, seven and a half acres of land were purchased just outside of the city limits, for $800.  This plot of ground was laid out for cemetery, has 750 lots, beautiful drives and walks; and the total amount spent on it is about $3,000.  The amount of debt on the church property is $2,550.

    2000 update on SS. Peter and Paul/St. Joseph Parish:
       When the new church was built, SS. Peter and Paul was renamed to St. Joseph Church.  This parish remains within the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
        Present contact information is below:
    St. Joseph (est. 1876 as SS. Peter and Paul Church)
        300 W. Houston St. - Garrett, IN 46738-1424 Phone:  (260) 357-3122.

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    [pages 350-351 (See Reference)]
     PORTLAND.  Jay County.
    Church of the Immaculate Conception.
    1876.
         The first priest, known to have visited Portland, was Rev. Joseph Dwenger, C. PP. S., later Bishop of Fort Wayne, who celebrated Mass and preached in the Court House, at stated intervals.  It was visited, as a station in 1873, by Rev. Paul Reuter, C. PP. S., from St. Mary's Home, near New Corydon.  He came on horseback and celebrated Mass once a month on week days, at the home of F. V. Gigandet, about two and one-half miles northwest of Portland.  The first Catholics of neighborhood were mostly Irish.
         Father Reuter called a meeting of all the Catholics of Portland, consisting of about seven families, on April 3, 1875, at which it was determined to build a church.  Everybody, Catholic and non-Catholic, in Portland and in the neighborhood of it contributed generously, and in a short time $600 were secured.  A lot was bought on East Walnut street for $25.  From 1876 till 1888 services were conducted, in the church at Portland, on two Sundays of every month by the Sanguinist Fathers from Fort Recovery, Ohio, and from St. Mary's Home, near New Corydon, Indiana.  The church was built, in 1876, by the Rev. George Fleisch, C. PP. S., a frame structure, 28x40 feet, costing $1,185.  Two additional lots were bought, in 1888, by Rev. Joachim Baker, at a cost of $1,200, on one of which stood a small cottage, which is used as the priest's residence.  The Rev. L. A. Eberle, in 1906, remodeled the church and built an addition of 28x32 feet to the nave of the church, adding also a new sacristy 15x15 feet, at a cost of $1,900.  The seating capacity of the church is about 200.  The priest's house was remodeled and a kitchen, bath room and pantry added in 1903 by Father Paquet.
         The societies are:  The Living Rosary Society since 1905 with thirty-two members; the Children of Mary, made up of boys and girls who have made their first communion, with twenty members.  The number of souls is 180, consisting of forty families.
         Beginning with Rev. Joseph Dwenger, C. PP. S., in the early 70s up to July 1888, Portland was attended by Fathers [351] of the Most Precious Blood:  Rev. Paul Reuter, C. PP. S.; Rev. George Fleisch, C. PP. S., from January 1878 to December 1878; Rev. Aloysius Malin, C. PP. S., from December 1878 to May 1882; Rev. August Seifert, C. PP. S., from May 1882 to September 1882; Rev. Joseph Heitz, C. PP. S., from September 1882 to February 1885; Rev. J. O. Misler, C. PP. S., from February 1885 to November 1885; Rev. M. L. Dentingter, C. PP. S., from November 1885 to March 1888; Rev. John A. Nageleisen, C. PP. S., from March 1888 to July 1888; Rev. Joachim Baker, first resident pastor, from July 1888 to October 1891; Rev. Anthony J. Strueder, from October 1891 to October 1894; Rev. Constantine Maujay, from October 11, 1894 to October 1900; Rev. J. P. Lasher, from November 25, 1900 to 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.
         The present debt on the church property is $600.  The pastor of Portland has charge of the mission Geneva.

    2000 update on the Church of the Immaculate Conception Parish:
    The Jay county area has been encompassed by the Diocese of Lafayette since it was established in 1944.  Prior to 1944, this county was included in the Fort Wayne Diocese.
       Present contact information for Jay County, Indiana Catholic Parishes are below:
     Holy Trinity Church [Est. 1860] - Church Profile
        7321 East State Road 67 - Bryant, IN 47326-9636  Phone: (219) 997-6450.
     Immaculate Conception Church [Est. 1876] - Church Profile
        506 East Walnut Street - Portland, IN 47371-1599  Phone: (219) 726-7341.
     St. Mary Church [Est. 1896] - Church Profile
        346 South Broad Street - Dunkirk, IN 47336-1310  Phone: (765) 768-6157.

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    [pages 351-353  (See Reference)]
    SOUTH BEND.  St. Joseph County.
    St. Hedwig's Church.
    1876.
         Polish people have been arriving in South Bend since 1869.  Up to 1877 they were part of St. Patrick's Congregation, and worshipped in the old St. Patrick's Church, on west Division street.  Their spiritual wants were attended to by Polish priests from Chicago and from Otis, then known as Salem Crossing.  Two of these priests were, Rev. Peter Koncz and Rev. Louis Machdzicki.  The number of souls at this time had increased to 125 families.
         On January 1, 1877, Rev. Valentine Czyzewski, C. S. C., took charge of the congregation, residing at St. Patrick's parochial residence.  The first church, located on Monroe street, was started in the fall of 1876, and was finished and blessed on July 1, 1877.  It was a frame structure, 83x40 feet, [352] and 24 feet in height.  The cost of this church was $3,500.  In 1879, a cyclone totally destroyed this church.  The present church property on Scott street was bought at a cost of $2,325 on January 18, 1880.  The present St. Hedwig's Church was begun on August 12, 1881, and was dedicated April 15, 1883.  The style is the Romanesque, its length 149 feet and the width sixty-two feet; the main walls being thirty-three feet in height and the steeple 156 feet.  The altars used for several years were temporary, and the church, including pews, was erected at an outlay of $33,000.  It was entirely remodeled in 1898:  pillars were placed in position to support the roof, steel arched ceilings were provided, new pews replaced the old ones, together with decorations of various kinds, amounting in all to $7,300.  In 1891, three very fine altars were donated by the societies of the church.  The St. Hedwig's Society donated the Main Altar, costing $2,500.  The two side altars were donated by the St. Stanislaus' Society, at a cost of $1,200.  The organ was donated at an expense of $2,500, by the St. Casimir's Society.  The seating capacity of the church is 920.
         The first school of brick, containing eight rooms and two offices, was built in 1884 and was destroyed by fire, on February 4, 1886.  The present school is three-stories in height and its dimensions are 126x62 feet.  It contains twelve school-rooms, a large hall and two rooms for office purposes.  It has an attendance of 735 children.  The school was erected in 1886, and cost $28,000.  The interior was entirely repainted in 1905, at an expense of $600.  In the same year, an iron fence was built around the church property.  The school is taught by eight Sisters of the Holy Cross and five female lay-teachers.  The Sisters reside in St. Joseph's Academy, one block away from St. Hedwig's school.  The original school building is now used as a society room, and also for choir practice, as well as by St. Florian's Turners.
         The parochial residence is a frame building, and was moved to the present site in 1884, having been purchased by Father Czyzewski at a cost of $3,000.  An addition was made to the house in 1884; and the hot water heating apparatus was provided for it, in 1904.  This house is the first parochial residence and, until it was ready for occupancy, Father Czyzewski resided with the pastor of St. Patrick's Church.
         [353]  St. Hedwig's Church has numerous societies:  St. Stanislaus Kostka's Society, St. Casimir's, St. Hedwig's, St. Vincent de Paul's, St. Valentine's, St. Adalbert's, St. Florian's, the Apostleship of Prayer, the Young Ladies' Holy Rosary Society, the Children of Mary, the Guardian Angel Society and the Temperance Society.  The number of souls in the parish is about 4000, or 828 families.  There is a debt of $19,000 on the church property.
         Father Czyzewski has been the pastor of St. Hedwig's Church, since January 1, 1877.  In 1896, he bought the lots for, and organized St. Casimir's Congregation, and in 1898 he did the same for St. Stanislaus' Parish.  He also built churches at Terre Coupee and Rolling Prairie.  Among the assistants, FAther Czyzewski has had, may be mentioned Rev. Michael Lauth, C. S. C., Rev. A. Zubowicz, C. S. C., Rev. C. Sztuczko, C. S. C., Rev. Eligius Raczynski, C. S. C., Rev. Theodore Jarzynski, C. S. C., Rev. George Kolesinski and Rev. Boniface Iwaszewski, C. S. C.  Three regular and four secular priests have come from St. Hedwig's Parish and thirty young women have entered different convents.

    2000 update on the St. Hedwig Parish:
       St. Hedwig's Parish remains within the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
       The present address is:
    St. Hedwig Church (est. 1877)
        331 S. Scott St. - South Bend, IN 46601  Phone: (260) 287-8932.

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    [pages 359-360  (See Reference)]
       GOODLAND.  Newton County.
    SS. Peter and Paul's Church.
    1880.
         Goodland was a mission, from 1872 till October 1903.  The priests, who attended the place, during this time, were the following:  Rev. A. Messmann, Kentland, from 1872 till 1878; Rev. John Hoss, St. Anthony, from 1878 till 1881; Rev. F. X. Baumgartner, Kentland, from 1881 till 1883; Rev. W. Conrad Miller, Kentland, from 1883 till 1888; Rev. A. J. Strueder, St. Anthony, from 1888 till 1891; Rev. Joachim Baker, St. Anthony, from 1891 till 1898; Rev. F. J. Bilstein, St. Anthony, from 1898 till 1900; Rev. G. A. Zern, St. Anthony, from 1900 till October 1903.
         Father Zern was the first resident pastor at Goodland, from October 2, 1903 till August 27, 1905, the date of his death in St. Joseph's Hospital at Logansport.  Rev. Francis A. King, residing at Goodland was Father Zern's assistant, from June 1902 till August 9, 1903.  Rev. Ignatius F. Zircher has been the pastor at Goodland, since October 10, 1905.
         In 1877 Goodland had eight Catholic families.  A lot was purchased, in 1880, and a frame church erected, at a cost of about $1,000, Father Hoss attending the place at the time.  The priest's house is a very old dwelling, which stood on one of five lots, purchased in 1902, for $2,400, by Father Zern, attending the mission at the time.
         The present church is a brick edifice, 98x54 feet, with a seating capacity of 400.  The exterior is imitation Gothic and the interior Roman.  It cost about $14,000.  The corner-stone was laid on November 9, 1902, and the church was dedicated, by Bishop Alerding, on July 12, 1903.  The number of souls [360] is 325, consisting of 55 families.  The debt on the church property is $4,200.
         The Societies are:  The Rosary Society, for married women, forty-four members; St. Aloysius' Sodality, for single men, twelve members; the Blessed Virgin's Sodality, for single women, thirty-five members; the Guardian Angel Society, for children, twenty-five members.
         Morocco is a mission attended from Goodland.

    1999 update on SS. Peter and Paul Parish.
     When the Diocese of Lafayette was established, in 1944, from the Diocese of Fort Wayne, the area of Newton County came within the jurisdiction of the Lafayette Diocese.
    SS. Peter and Paul Church, is presently within the Fowler Deanery of the Diocese of Lafayette.
  •    SS. Peter and Paul Parish:

    •        421 South Newton Street, Goodland, IN 47948-8156,   Phone: (219) 297-3224.

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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, 2001 by Ann Mensch.