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The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857--Sepember 22--1907, A Book of Historical Reference, 1669-1907.  By the Rt. Rev. H. J. Alerding.  Fort Wayne: The Archer Printing Co.  1907.
LAGRO.  Wabash County. St. Patrick's Church. 1838. . . . . . . . . . . . .208-210
WABASH. Wabash County.  St. Bernard's Church.  [est. 1864] . .  . . 300-302
For early history, see also the following parish histories:
FORT WAYNE. Allen County.
   Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (St. Augustine). 1837. . . . . .201-207
HUNTINGTON. Huntington County.
     SS. Peter and Paul's Church. 1845. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220-222
[Pages 201-207  (See Reference)]
FORT WAYNE.  [Allen County]
CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
1837.

     "The old Jesuit missionaries that may have visited Fort Wayne, when it was a mere trading post, have left here no record of their labors.  The few Catholics that resided here were visited, for the first time on record, on the 3rd, of June, 1830, by Very Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin, the first priest ordained in the United States.  He was then Vicar General of the dioceses of Bardstown, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio.  At that time the State of Indiana was within the limits of the diocese of Bardstown.  Father Badin repeated his visits to Fort Wayne in 1831, offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and preached in the residence of Francis Comparet, and, in 1832, when he performed the functions of his ministry in the residence of John Bequette.
     "The next priest who visited this city was Rev. L. Picot, then pastor at Vincennes, September 25, 1832.  Then Father Badin was again in Fort Wayne December 25, 1832.  Rev. Boheme also in 1832.  Father Badin again in 1833 and 1834.  Rev. Simon P. Lalumiere, pastor at Terre Haute, visited Fort Wayne in 1835.  Rev. Felix Matthew Ruff in 1835.  Rev. J. F. Terrooren in 1835.  Rev. John Claudius Francois, stationed at Logansport, visited Fort Wayne in January, February, May, June, July and August, 1836.
     "The first priest permanently appointed pastor of Fort Wayne was Rev. Louis Mueller, who took possession in August, 1836, and remained until the 16th of April, 1840.  In 1838 Fort Wayne was visited by Bishop Brute.  In the beginning of 1840 Bishop Hailandiere appointed Rev. Julian Benoit pastor of St. Augustine's Church, Fort Wayne, having to attend (as missions) Lagro, Huntington, Columbia City, Warsaw, Goshen, Avilla, New France, New Haven, Besancon, Hesse Cassel and Decatur.  His first assistant was Rev. Joseph Hamion, a saintly young priest, who died at Logansport in the early part of 1842.  His second assistant was Rev. Joseph Rudolph, who died in Oldenburg, Franklin county, Indiana, after many years of hard missionary labors.  His third assistant was Rev. F. A. Cariius, who remained but a short time.  The fourth was Rev. Alphonse Munschina, afterwards pastor at Lanesville, Indiana.  The fifth was Rev. Edward Faller, who is now in the diocese of Vincennes.  In 1849 the German portion of St. Augustine's congregation built a church and school-house, forming the first German speaking congregation in Fort Wayne, St. Mary's, of which Father Faller was made the first pastor." --(Father Benoit in History of Allen County.)
     The first undertaking of Father Benoit was the finishing of the finishing of the church which had been begun by his predecessor.  He very soon after erected school-houses, and secured the Sisters of Providence, and the Brothers of the Holy Cross, to take charge of these schools.
     The Right Rev. John H. Luers, who was appointed the first bishop of Fort Wayne, took up his residence in Fort Wayne, soon after his consecration, which took place on January 10, 1858.  He died June 29, 1871.
     The Right Rev. Joseph Dwenger, the second bishop of Fort Wayne, from April 14, 1872, till January 29, 1893.
     The Right rev. Joseph Rademacher, the third bishop of Fort Wayne, from July 14, 1893, till January 12, 1900.
     The Right Rev. Herman Joseph Alerding, the fourth bishop of Fort Wayne, was consecrated November 30, 1900.  [Right Rev. Alerding is the author of this diocese history.]
     The first church in Fort Wayne was a small frame structure, erected in 1837, on the site of the present Cathedral and was known as St. Augustine's Church.  In 1859 this first church was moved to the east side of the Cathedral Square, facing on Clinton street, but was shortly after destroyed by fire.  In the same year, 1859, the present Cathedral was erected at a cost of about $54,000.  The greater part of this money was collected by Father Benoit, while on a visit to New Orleans.  The organ, pews and other furniture cost over $9,000.  The episcopal residence was erected by Father Benoit, at a cost of $16,000, paid from his own resources.
     The first priest's house stood on the corner of Calhoun and Lewis streets.  It was erected by Rev. A. Bessonies, who was pastor of St. Augustine's Church in 1853 and 1854, during Father Benoit's sojourn in New Orleans.
     The imposing building on Cathedral Square, known as Library Hall, was erected in 1880, under the management of Father Brammer.  It was he, who secured a huge block of Irish marble, which forms the corner stone of this building.
     In 1896 the Cathedral underwent a thorough restoration, at a cost of about $50,000.  This work also was superintended by Father Brammer.
     In 1901, the first year of Bishop Alerding's administration, the Bishop's House, on the corner of Lewis and Clinton streets, was erected.  The necessary funds were secured from the sale of the old Cemetery grounds, near Fort Wayne, and of a farm, in Jasper county.
     In 1906 a Crypt, for the burial of church dignitaries, was constructed beneath the sanctuary at an expense of over $1,000.  In 1907 two entrances, in addition to the main entrance, for the convenience of the parish, and adding much to the appearance of the building, were made at a cost of over $2,500.
     The parish has five hundred and seventy-five families, numbering two thousand and seven hundred souls.  The schools taught by four Brothers of the Holy Cross, and sixteen Sisters of Providence, are attended by six hundred and seven pupils.  During Rev. P. F. Roche's pastorate a number of improvements and many repairs were made, and $30,000 of the debt on the Cathedral property paid, reducing the same to less than $60,000.
     The societies are:  The Sodality of the Blessed Virgin for married men with one hundred and fifty members; the Rosary Society for married women, three hundred and eighty members; the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin for single men, one hundred and forty members, the smae for single women, two hundred and fifty members; the Children of Mary for boys and girls, one hundred and ninety-five members; the Holy Angel's Society for Children, one hundred and forty-three members; the Holy Angels' Society for Children, one hundred and forty-three members.  Besides these there are the C. K. of A., the C. B. L., the A. O. H., A. O. H. Auxiliary, St. Joseph's Benevolent Association, and the Knights of Columbus, with an aggregate membership of eight hundred and forty.
     We find the certificates of Baptism on the baptismal record of the Cathedral at Fort Wayne, beginning with January 23, 1831, to the present time, signed as here follows:
     1.  Very Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin, from January 23, 1831 to January 5, 1832, affixing to his name Vicar General of Bardstown and Cincinnati; from December 25, 1832 to January 4, 1833, Vicar General of Bardstown; from June 8, 1834 to September 5, 1834, Protosacrdos Baltimorensis.
     2.  Rev. L. Picot from September 25, to October 11, 1832.
     3.  Rev. Boheme from 1832 to 1833.
     4.  Rev. Simon P. Lalumiere from May 31, to June 7, 1835.
     5.  Rev. Felix Matthew Ruff from August to September 10, 1835.
     6.  Rev. J. Ferd. Terrooren from November 20, to December 29, 1835.
     7.  Rev. J. C. Francois, January, February, May, June, July, and August, 1836 and June 1839.
     8.  Rev. Louis Mueller from August 27, 1836, to May 11, 1840.
     9.  Rev. F. Bartels (pastor in Muenster) July 17, 1838.
    10.  Rev. Julian Benoit from April 9, 1840, to January 26, 1885.
    11.  Rev. Joseph de Mutzig Hamion from September 19, 1840, to April 17, 1842.
    12.  Rev. Michael Clark (pastore abstente) August 13, 1841, June 1, and July 1842.
    13.  Rev. August Martin (pastore absente) May and June 1842.
    14.  Rev. Joseph Rudolph from July 18, 1842, to October 16, 1844.
    15.  Rev. J. B. Chasse October 10, 1842.
    16.  Rev. Alphonse Munschina from December 15, 1844, to February 15, 1846.
    17.  Rev. A. Carius April 12, 1846, June 17, 1846, and May 7, 1847.
    18.  Rev. L. Baroux October 19, 1846.
    19.  Rev. Edward M. Faller from November 8, 1846, to November 11, 1849.
    20.  Rev. J. Baker July 24, 1852, and November 9, 1856.
    21.  Rev. A. Bessonies from March 11, 1853, to February 1, 1854.
    22.  Rev. Theodore Van der Poel March 31, 1859.
    23.  Rev. P. J. Madden February 1862.
    24.  Rev. B. Kroeger August 23, 1863.
    25.  Rev. E. P. Walters August 23, 1864.
    26.  Rev. Jacob Mayer January 20, 1864.
    27.  Rev. C. F. Smarius January 26,, 1864.
    28.  Rev. L. Lamoor July 16, 1865.
    29.  Rev. M. M. Hallinan August 13, 1865.
    30.  Rev. Francis Siegelack May 13, 1866.
    31.  Rev. A. J. David May 31, 1868.
    32.  Rev. Joseph Brammer June 28, 1868, until his death, June 20, 1898.
    33.  Rev. Edward Koenig July 13, 1868.
    34. Rev. P. Jean Mcarleray November 17, 1868.
    35.  REv. J. Weutz February 7, 1870.
    36.  Rev. W. F. M. O'Rourke July 30, 1871.
    37.  Rev. Z. Zaza October 29, 1871.
    38.  Rev. A. M. Aleile October 18, 1871 (Monroeville).
    39.  Rev. John Grogan from February 7, to May 26, 1872.
    40.  Rev. Joseph Graham from June 2, to November 3, 1872.
    41.  Rev. A. Young June 9, 1872.
    42.  Rev. A. Beine, O. S. F. August 22, 1872.
    43.  Rev. Joseph Rademacher November 11, 1872.
    44.  Rev. John Wemhoff December 8, 1872.
    45.  Rev. M. E. Campion from October 19, 1873, to April 4, 1875.
    46.  Rev. V. Putter, S. J., February 1, 1874.
    47.  Rev. Francis X. Baumgartner March 22, 1874.
    48.  Rev. Theodore Hibbelen August 4, 1874.
    49.  Rev. B. Theodore Borg from November 15, 1874, to April 23, 1876.
    50.  Rev. P. M. Frawley from April 25, 1875, to July 11, 1875.
    51.  Rev. John R. Dinnen from December 4, 1875, to May 5, 1878.
    52.  Rev. M. F. Kelly July 2, 1876.
    53.  Rev. L. A. Moench from October 8, 1876, to November 10, 1878.
    54.  Rev. James M. Hartnett from May 11, 1878, to October 17, 1880.
    55.  Rev. B. Roche, C. S. C. October 6, 1880, October 1882, August 24, 1888.
    56.  Rev. A. J. H. Kroeger November 7, 1880.
    57.  Rev. Henry A. Boeckelmann from December 1, 1880, to February 16, 1885.
    58.  Rev. P. F. Roche from July 12, 1881, to December 11, 1881, and since June 16, 1901.
    59.  Rev. Charles A. Ganzer November 16, 1882.
    60.  Rev. James Twigg April 4, 1882.
    61.  Rev. Constantine Maujay April 29, 1882.
    62.  Rev. John F. Lang October 31, 1882.
    63.  Rev. T. M. O'Leary from February 26, 1885, to October 1889.
    64.  Rev. F. A. King August 3, 1885.
    65.  Rev. Charles M. Romer June 27, 1886.
    66.  Rev. Joseph Uphaus August 22, 1886.
    67.  Rev. Joseph F. Delaney from July 24, 1887, to November 27, 1889.
    68.  Rev. William J. Quinlan from July 10, 1888, to August 30, 1891.
    69.  Rev. Michael J. Byrne July 22, 1888, and again September 3, 1898.
    70.  Rev. John R. Quinlan July 13, 1890, and again March 10, 1901.
    71.  Rev. M. Robinson, C. S. C. August 20, 1890.
    72.  Rev. Charles B. Guendling August 6, 1892.
    73.  Rev. George M. Schramm May 28, 1893.
    74.  Rev. F. X. Labonte July 11, 1894.
    75.  Rev. Thomas Eisenring, C. PP. S. October 18, 1894.
    76.  Rev. Julius Becks September 8, 1895.
    77.  Rev. L. R. Paquet October 27, 1895.
    78.  Rev. A. E. Lafontaine May 25, 1896.
    79.  Rev. George Lauer May 30, 1897.
    80.  Rev. F. J. Dandurand August 8, 1897.
    81.  Rev. John Durham August 1, 1897.
    82.  Rev. John H. Guendling August 1, 1898.
    83.  Rev. P. J. O'Reilly July 16, 1899.
    84.  Rev. J. H. Bathe September 21, 1899.
    85.  Rev. Charles Dhe November 25, 1899.
    86.  Rev. Aegidius, O. S. B. July 21, 1901.
    87.  Rev. James B. Fitzpatrick August 4, 1901.
    88.  Rev. William D. Sullivan June 8, 1902.
    The Very Rev. Julian Benoit, V. G. was rector of the Cathedral until January 26, 1885, the date of his death; the Very Rev. Joseph Brammer, V. G. from January 1885 till June 20, 1898, the date of his death; the Very Rev. John H. Guendling, V. G. from July 15, 1898, till February 1901; the Rev. John R. Quinlan from march to May 16, 1901, when, on account of his health, he resigned and was succeeded by the Rev. Patrick F. Roche, who is the rector since May 16, 1901.
     The assistants at the Cathedral were:  Rev. John P. Durham from June 17, 1897, till March 7, 1901; Rev. Peter J. O'Reilly from December 1897, till January 1902; Rev. James B. Fitzpatrick from July 1901, till February 1903; Rev. William D. Sullivan since June 1902; Rev. William C. Miller since August 28, 1906, whose duties are to assist at the Cathedral and do clerical work at the Bishop's House.

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[Pages 208-210  (See Reference)]
LAGRO.  [Wabash County]
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.
1838.
     "Jesuit Missionaries, on their way from Montreal, Canada, to post Vincennes, visited Lagro as early as 1800.  The venerable missionary, Father Badin, stopped there, in 1833, on his way from Fort Wayne to Logansport.  The construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal, in 1837, opened up a general traffic, and Lagro became the chief shipping center for wheat, corn and other crops.  A number of families, of whom many were Irish Catholic, came from the east to make Lagro and its vicinity their home.
     Lagro has no church records prior to 1846, but such names as de St. Palais, Benoit, Clark, and Franciscans, are frequently mentioned.  It was in 1838, when Thomas Fitzgibbon donated two lots, and a frame church, 30x40 feet was erected.  Beginning with the year 1846, we have the following names of clergymen, who attended to the spiritual wants of St. Patrick's Congregation:
     1.  Rev. Patrick McDermott, from May 24, 1846, to August 27, 1847.
     2.  Rev. Michael C. O'Flannigan, from September 12, 1847, to August 8, 1848.
     3.  Rev. John Ryan, from September 9, 1848 to January 1865, who built an addition of 30x40 feet to the church.  The church having now the dimensions of 60x40 feet.  He had charge also of the missions, Huntington, Wabash, Warsaw and Pierceton.  On November 20, 1857 he bought two acres of land for cemetery purposes.
     4.  Rev. Bernard Droeger from January to September 1866 who bought the old priest's house for $1,000.
     5.  Rev. George Steiner, from September 1, 1866 until August 1, 1868.  During his absence on a collecting tour for the Orphan Asylums, from September 25 until December 22, 1866, Rev. J. A. Winter supplied his place.  Father Steiner bought a frame house for $200, and opened in it the first parochial school, with Julia Cannon, the teacher.
     6.  Rev. Mattew E. Campion, from August 3, 1868 until October 1, 1873, who built the present brick church, with a frontage of 50 feet, a depth of 114 feet, and a height from floor to ceiling of 38 feet, having a seating capacity of 600.  The corner stone was laid by Bishop Luers, on June 15, 1870.  The church being under roof September 1, 1872, a fair was held in it netting the handsome amount of $1,600.  Bishop Dwenger dedicated the church, on March 17, 1873.  This was the most flourishing period in the history of Lagro.  The number of souls, belonging to St. Patrick's Church, was 300 families.  At the present writing St. Patrick's has lost much of its prestige, as may appear from the following comparative statements:  In 1870, fort-five baptisms, in 1906 five; in 1870, marriages sixteen, in 1906 none; in 1870 deaths eighteen, in 1906 two.
     7.  Rev. John Grogan, from October 1, 1873, until March 1, 1882, who placed oak pews in the church, a stairway to the gallery, a most ornamental communion railing of black walnut, a handsome pulpit, confessional, baptismal font and, besides all this, had the church frescoed.  The total cost of the church with furnishings was more than $20,000, all cash paid.
     8.  Rev. M. F. Kelly, from April 20, 1882 until January 1884.
     9.  Rev. Patrick F. Roche, from February 3, 1884 until August 24, 1888, who purchased the pipe organ, for $700.
    10.  Rev. Anthony J. Kroeger, from August 28, 1888 until June 1, 1890, who reopened the school in the old frame church, and secured the Sisters of St. Francis of Lafayette, as teachers.  He also built the church in Andrews.
    11.  Rev. Jeremiah Quinlan, from June 1890, until July 1891.
    12.  Rev. John Tremmel, from July to August 1891.
    13.  Rev. Julius Becks, from August 1891 till August 1894.
    14.  Rev. G. M. Kelly, from August 29, 1894 till November 1895.
    15.  Rev. Michael Hanly, from December 1, 1895, until December 27, 1897.
    16.  Rev. Peter Joseph Quinn, pastor since January 1, 1898.
     Father Quinn found the church property sorely in need of repairs.  He expended over $2,000 for this purpose.  The lots on the cemetery having been sold, he purchased the adjoining five acres, inclosing the same with an iron fence, entailing an expense of about $600.  In 1904, Father Quinn built a parochial residence, with modern improvements, at a cost of about $4,000.  The present indebtedness of the congregation is $125.  The number of souls is 250, or forty families, most of whom live in the surrounding country.
     St. Patrick's Church has the following societies:  The Rosary Society, organized about the year 1858; St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society, also of an early date; the League of the Sacred Heart; the Young Ladies' Sodality, and the St. Aloysius' Sodality.  Aside from their spiritual purposes, these societies assist the pastor in temporal affairs.
     One boy of the parish became a priest, and four girls have entered the religious life.
     It is asserted by those, who seem to know, that the bell hanging in St. Patrick's Church tower, is the first bell to have swung its sweet sound over the Wabash valley.  It wa purchased during the pastorate of Father Ryan and everybody, Catholic or non-Catholic, contributed toward it.  It was not an easy matter to ship that bell to Lagro.  A young man, named Pasque, drove to Toledo with a yoke of oxen.  Here he waited for two weeks in vain and concluded to go on to Buffalo, where he found the bell.  In the meantime the citizens of Lagro became uneasy, wondering what could have happened to Pasque, and why the bell did not come.  At last, one fine morning, the old ox team plodded into town with the bell on the wagon.  It was a great day for Lagro.  There was shouting and singing and procession and hurrah, until the bell was ringing in the tower.  That bell now hangs in the tower of the present St. Patrick's Church.   The oldest inhabitant of Lagro says:  "I don't believe I would be happy if I didn't hear old St. Patrick's bell.  That old bell has rung for children that have grown old, and it has tolled lots of old friends of mine into the cemetery up there."  The bell has a clear sweet tone and citizens of Lagro say, they have heard its peal nine miles distant from the town.

2000 update:  St. Patrick's is located within the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.
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[Pages 300-302 (See Reference)]
WABASH.
St. Bernard's Church.
1864.
     The first priest on record at Wabash, is Rev. John Ryan, who residing at Lagro occasionally attended Wabash, from 1862 to September 1865.  He celebrated Mass at the homes of Patrick Ivory and others.  At this time the number of souls [301] was thirty-five, Irish and German.  The foundation for the new church was put down, in 1864, by Father Ryan, and the building was begun by Rev. B. Kroeger, and completed during the pastorates of Rev. George Steiner, and Rev. M. E. Campion, the latter two residing at Lagro.  The building cost about $2,000, and the number of souls at this time was about forty.  A lot, donated by Patrick Dwyer 66x132 feet, was given in trade for two lots making the grounds 132x132 feet.  This business was transacted by Father Ryan.  The church built in 1864 was a brick building, 30x60 feet, to which Rev. P. J. Crosson added sixteen feet, in 1898.  The same had the interior decorated and put in electric lights, at a cost of $700.  The seating capacity of this church was 250.  A frame school-house, 20x30 feet costing $800, was built by Rev. F. C. Wiechmann in 1877, but the school had to be discontinued after the first year, for want of support.  The first priest's house was located on the corner of Maple and Comstock streets, a half block west of the church; but in 1888, Rev. John H. Bathe built a new house on the corner of Minor and Fisher streets and adjacent to the church, at a cost of about $1,700; and in 1898, Rev. P. J. Crosson enlarged it, at an expenditure of about $500.
     The described church property was exchanged by Rev. Robert J. Pratt, for a church and house, owned by the Methodists, on the northeast corner of Sinclair and Cass streets.  The church is a two-story brick building, the second story used for church purposes has a seating capacity of 500.  The house, adjacent to this church, which is the present priest's residence, is a commodious two-story brick building.  The Methodist people had expended fully $22,000 on these buildings.  The church and house have a frontage of 96 feet on Sinclair street and 123 feet on Cass street.  St. Bernard's Congregation secured this property, in exchange for their church and house, by paying a cash difference of $5,500.  This business was transacted on April 17, 1900, and, on the same day, two lots 264x264 feet, with a large brick residence, just back of the church property were bought, with the intention of using it for school purposes at some future time.  This last purchase cost the congregation $4,00 in cash, and the first priest's house on Comstock and Maple streets, valued at $1,500.  The church was remodeled, and $3,500 was spent in doing this; [302] besides furnishing the church with altars, confessionals, sacred vessels and also putting in a heating system.  The Very Rev. J. H. Guendling, Administrator of the diocese, dedicated the building on September 23, 1900, the Rev. D. H. Clark, of Columbus, Ohio, preaching the sermon.  The church has a debt of $2,900.
     St. Bernard's Church has the Confraternity for the Poor Souls, since 1889; the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin, since 1898; the Young Ladies' Sodality, since 1900; the Catholic Knights of America, since 1885; the Lady Foresters since 1899.  The congregation numbers 403 souls, or 102 families.  Two girls of the parish have entered the religious state of life.
     The visiting pastors of the parish have been:  Rev. John Ryan, Lagro, 1862 till September 1865; Rev. B. Kroeger, Peru, September 1865 till December 1866; Rev. George Steiner, Lagro, December 1866 till July 1868; Rev. M. E. Campion, Lagro, August 1868 to 1871.  The resident pastors were:  Rev. F. C. Wiechmann, from February 1871 till October 1879; Rev. M. M. Hallinan, D. D., from November 1879 till November 1881; Rev. John H. Bathe, from December 1881 to May 1898; Rev. P. J. Crosson, from May 1898 to January 30, 1900; Rev. Robert J. Pratt, since January 30, 1900.

2000 update:  St. Bernard's is located within the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend.

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[Pages 220-222]
HUNTINGTON.  [Huntington County]
SS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH.
1845
     Catholicity, in Huntington county, dates back to the year 1838, when about a half dozen families, chiefly Irish laborers, were employed in the construction of the canal.  The Rev. Julian Benoit was the first offerer of the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, on August 15, 1843, in the residence of the Roche family.  After Father Benoit, Rev. E. M. Faller and Rev. John Ryan attended Huntington, as a station, regularly every three months.  During this time, Francis Lafontaine, chief of the Miami Indian tribe, and his father-in-law, Rushville, donated a piece of ground, on which a small log church was erected.  The chief Lafontaine died April 13, 1847, and was buried near the log church.
     The first resident priest at Huntington was Rev. Dr. A. Schippert, native of the kingdom of Wuertemberg, and a convert from lutheranism.  He lived in a rented cottage on Cherry [221] street.  He procured and laid out a new cemetery at the edge of town.  His pastorate continued from March 1857 till August 1858, when on account of ill health he retired to Innsbruck, Tyrol.
     His immeditate successor was Rev. Frederick Fuchs, a native of Munster, Westphalia.  He came to Huntinton from Cincinnati.  He immediately built a frame addition to the log church, and opened a school.  He also erected a priest's house of brick, remarking that at last the "fox had found shelter."  The number of families at this time was one hundred German and thirty-nine Irish and French families.  After five years of successful labor, considerations of health brought about his removal to Klaasville.  Rev. Martin Kink was pastor, from August to December 1863.  Bavaria was his native country, to which he returned and where he died.  In December, 1863, Rev. Jacob Mayer was appointed pastor.  It was he who built the present church, a Gothic structure of brick, 142x58 feet.  The cost of the building amounted to about $30,000, of which he paid ll but $9,564.  After five years of indefatigable labors, he was transferred to Logansport, in August 1868.  The next pastor was Rev. George Steiner, born in New Ulm, Bavaria, April 13, 1836.  He gave the School Sisters of Notre Dame charge of the school; he completed the church spire and gave the steeple a clock; he furnished oil paintings of the fourteen stations of the cross, and in 1873, built a large and substantial school house of brick, together with a Sisters' residence at a cost of $17,000.  He suffered with hemorrhage of the lungs and spent the winter of 1876 to 1877 in Florida, and spring and summer of 1877 in Minnesota to recover his health.  In the meantime, Rev. J. H. Hueser, D. D., had charge of the parish.  In January, 1880, he resigned as pastor and with his faithful friend, Rev. Julius Becks, went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he died peacefully, on June 1st, of the same year.
     The pastorate of his successor, Rev. J. H. Hueser, D. D., extends from January 1880 to August 24, 1906.  During this time he paid off old debts in the sum of $14,238, and besides made repairs and improvements, aggregating $43,000.  The improvements made were a new pastoral residence for $10,000, a main altar $2,300, a chime of three bells $1,350, frescoing of the church and renovation the same $6,000, an organ $4,000, [222] ten stained glass windows from the Tyrolese Art Glass Company $5,140, tuck pointing brick work of church, and veneering the foundation $1,300, furnaces for the three buildings $2,500, cemetery of twenty acres $4,200.
     The societies of SS. Peter and Paul's Parish are: St. Joseph's Society, since 1857, with a membership of seventy-one; the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers, with 160 members; St. Aloysius Society, for Young Men, with forty-two members; the Young Ladies' Sodality, with 100 members; the Holy Angels' Sodality with eighty-eight members.
     The following were assistants at SS. Peter and Paul's:  Rev. William geers, from August 1877 to February 1879, now a priest of the diocese of Marquette; Rev. F. S. Kunkler, from May 1879 till January 1880, later a member of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood; Rev. Adam Buchheit, from June 2, 1890 till July 19, 1895, attending also to Andrews as a station, for three years; Rev. Bruno soengen, during six months, Rev. Francis P. Faust, from December 1895 to October 1897; Rev. Ignatius F. Zircher, from June 1902 till April 1905; Rev. Joseph Jagemann succeeded Father Zircher, and from October 1905, Rev. Robert Meyer, C. PP. S. served until the arrival of Rev. William B. Hordeman who remained until the appointment of Father Hueser's successor.
     Rev. W. C. Miller was appointed pastor at SS. Peter and Paul's Church, on October 6, 1906, and holds this position at the present time.
     The parish has 205 families, numbering 1102 souls.  Five School Sisters of Notre Dame conduct the school, teaching the eight grades.  The number of pupils is 177.  The debt on the church property amounts to $1,789.
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Notre Dame Archives: Diocese of Fort Wayne (CDFW)

Copyright 1998, 1999 by Ann Mensch.