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The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857--September 22--1907, A Book of Historical Reference, 1669-1907.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.

CHAPTER IX.      The Churches--Prior to 1857, inclusive  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200-266
                                                                                           [Pages 200-230 on this web page]
                                                                                           [Pages 230-266 are on part B]

NOTRE DAME. South Bend, St. Joseph County.
     Sacred Heart Church. 1831. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200-201
FORT WAYNE. Allen County.
   Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (St. Augustine). 1837. . . . . .201-207
LAGRO.  Wabash County. St. Patrick's Church. 1838. . . . . . . . . . . . .208-210
LOGANSPORT.  Cass County. St. Vincent De Paul's Church. 1838. . 211-213
PERU. Miami County.  St. Charles Borromeo's Church.  1838. . . . . . . 213-217
LAFAYETTE. Tippecanoe County.  St. Mary's Church.  1844. . . . . . . 217-220
HUNTINGTON. Huntington County.
     SS. Peter and Paul's Church. 1845. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220-222
DECATUR. Adams County.  St. Mary's Church.  1846. . . . . . . . . . . . 222-224
ST. JOHN, Lake County.  St. John Evangelist's Church.  1847. . . . . . . 224-227
FORT WAYNE. Allen County.  St. Mary's Church.  1848. . . . . . . . . . 227-230
MISHAWAKA. St. Joseph County.  St. Joseph's 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
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[pages 200-201  (See Reference)]
NOTRE DAME.  [South Bend, St. Joseph County]
SACRED HEART CHURCH.
1831.

     "The first church, not only at Notre Dame but in the diocese of Fort Wayne, was a log chapel erected by Rev. Stephen Theodore Badin, as early as 1831.  At that time it was known as the "Indian Chapel," and was the center of Father Badin's missionary activities throughout Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan.  It was located on the south edge of St. Mary's lake.  Having been destroyed by fire in 1856, a facsimile of it was erected recently, and the remains of Father Badin are buried in it.  White settlers from the earliest days worshipped in this chapel and the present Sacred Heart Congregation has the extraordinary privilege of having for their church the magnificent Sacred Heart Church of Notre Dame.  The number of families, however, is small being only fifty-eight in number, or two hundred and ninety two souls.  The pastor of the congregation, at the present time, is Rev. M. A. McGarry, C. S. C., D. D.
     Father Badin had blessed a tract of land, about a mile north of South Bend, between the upper Niles road and the river, known as the "Old Indian Grave-yard," for a cemetery.  This location was looked upon as not desirable, and when Father Sorin arrived, in 1842, he laid out the present cemetery on Notre Dame avenue, half way between Notre Dame and South Bend.  Brother Francis, C. S. C., had charge of this cemetery, and when, some years later, his favorite evergreens gave it a sightly appearance, he called it Cedar Grove cemetery.  In 1842, it formed but a small corner, but it now extends over twenty-five acres, and is being enlarged year after year.  In the early days, Cedar Grove was the only graveyard for Catholics within many miles of south Bend, and for this reason, even at this day, corpses are brought from great distances, to be buried by the side of relatives and friends, who are interred there."


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[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 211-213  (See Reference)]
LOGANSPORT.  [Cass County]
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL'S CHURCH.
1838.
     "The history of St. Vincent de Paul's Congregation begins about the year 1838.  The members, at that time, were made up mainly of laborers engaged in the construction of the Wabash and Erie canal, through this section of the country.  Previous to that time, the few Catholics at Logansport were attended by missionaries, who travelled up and down the Wabash Valley, in their missionary work.
     In the year 1838, the Rev. John Claude Francois made the first effort to establish a permanent place of worship.  He purchased five acres of land reserved to the children of Joseph Barrow, by a treaty with the Pottawottamies; later, making still other purchases, until a total of over twenty-three acres had been secured.  On this land he erected a story-and-a-half pastoral residence.  The congregation increasing rapidly, Father Francois found it necessary to secure better accommodations, and within a year erected a sufficiently large church, on Duret street, which supplied the needs of the congregation for several years, from 1842 to 1861.
     In the year 1860, lots 151, 152, 153 and 154, in John Tipton's addition to the town of Logansport, fronting on Spencer street, were secured, together with pieces of ground between these lots and the Wabash and Erie canal.  Upon this site, the present St. Vincent de Paul's Church was begun, by the laying of the cornerstone in 1860, and its completion and dedication in 1863.  At this time, the Rev. George A. Hamilton was the pastor.  The church is in the Gothic style of architecture.  In the year 1888, Father Campion built an addition to the church, at a cost of $11,500.  The twenty-three acres mentioned above, on which the original church was located, were sold during the pastorate of Father Hamilton.  The interior of St. Vincent de Paul's Church is beautifully finished.  The present pastor, Rev. P. J. Crosson, has made many improvements including the frescoing of the interior of the church, for $1,200; the placing of opulescent stained glass in the windows, for $2,000, a steam heating plant, for $2,400.  The seating capacity of the church is 700.  The church property has a debt on it of $6,200.
     The parochial schools were taught by lay teachers, until the year 1865, when the Sisters of the Holy Cross took charge.  As early as 1850, though for a short time only, school was taught in the old stone church on Canal street.  From 1863, the second parochial school was opened in the Cullom building, on Second and Market streets, where the Sisters of the Holy Cross began to have charge.  The present large, three-story brick school was erected in 1868, at a cost of $18,000.  The study halls and class rooms are well furnished.  The third story of the building is a large hall, giving ample room for school and other entertainments.  This school possesses a bell of historical interest.  It was purchased by Father de St. Palais, afterwards Bishop of Vincennes, on occasion of his visit to Paris, in 1845.  It was cast under his special supervision, and was presented by him to St. Vincent de Paul's Church.
     What is now Holy Angels' Academy, was formerly known as the Walker property, and was secured in the year 1871, for a consideration of $18,000.  Many alterations were made in the building, to make it answer the purpose for which it is now used.  The Sisters of the Holy Cross also reside in this building and from here attend the boys' school on the church grounds.  A course of eight grades is given the boys and a full high school course the girls; although if desired the boys are also taught bookkeeping, typewriting and stenography.  Ten Sisters have charge of 250 children.
     The pastoral residence is a two-story brick building, adjacent to the church, on the east side.  It was erected in the year 1879, during the pastorate of Father Walters, at a cost of $5,000.  The small, frame house, which formerly stood here, was sold and removed to Thirteenth street.  Additions to the house, with repairs and improvements, including a hot water plant, done since Father Crosson's advent, amount to $4,700.
     The following is an authentic list of the pastors of St. Vincent's Church:  Rev. John Claude Francois, from 1838 to 1841; Rev. August Mary Martin, from 1841 to 1844; Rev. Michael J. Clark, in 1844; Rev. Maurice de St. Palais, in 1845; Rev. Francis Fischer, from 1846 to 1848; Rev. P. Murphy, from 1848 to 1850; Rev. Patrick McDermott, in 1850; Rev. P. O'Connell, in 1852; REv. Francis Anthony Carius, from 1852 to 1855; Rev. William Doyle, from 1855 to 1857; Rev. Charles Zucker, from May 1857 to August 1859; Rev. George A. Hamilton, from August 1859 to January 1864; Rev. Bernard Joseph Force, from January 1864 to April 1868; Rev. Matthew E. Campion, from April 1868 to January 1869; Rev. Jacob Mayer, from January 1869 to July 1871; Rev. Francis Lawler, from July 1871 to May 1878; Rev. Edward P. Walters, from May 1878 to June 1883; Rev. Matthew E. Campion, from June 1883 to December 1899; Rev. Patrick J. Crosson, since February 1900.
     St. Vincent's is one of the irremovable rectorates of the diocese.  It has 270 families, numbering 1215 souls.
     This parish has the Sodality of the Living Rosary and the Children of Mary; The League of the Sacred Heart; The St. Vincent's Cadets and Total Abstinence Society, and the Catholic Benevolent Legion.
     Three boys of this congregation have become priests, and twelve girls have entered religious communities.
     The Church of the Immaculate Conception at Woodville, is visited from St. Vincent's Church on the last Sunday of each month.  The members of this mission are pew-holders at St. Vincent's.  The Rev. Francis A. King, residing in St. Joseph's Hospital, is the assistant pastor of St. Vincent's church."
[Note:  Woodville is located in Porter County, Indiana - postal address may be Chesterton.]
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[Pages 213-217  (See Reference)]
PERU.  [Miami County]
ST. CHARLES BORROMEO'S CHURCH.
1838.
     The city of Peru was surveyed in the spring of 1834, and, in the summer of the same year, work was let on the construction of the canal bed, which brought persons seeking work or engaged in trade to this place.  The records have preserved for us the names of some of the earliest missionaries, visiting Peru.  The first of these is Rev. Stephen Badin, from 1834 to [214] 1837.  During the summer of 1835 visits were made by the Rev. John A. Corcoran, who died here, and was buried on the north banks of the Wabash river between the river and the canal; later his remains were removed to the Reyburn cemetery at the instance of William D. McGregor, the first white resident on the site of Peru; and later still, in 1887, fifty-two years after his death, was reinterred in St. Charles' cemetery, on the lot of Michael Cannon.  The Rev. Matthew Ruff paid a visit in 1837.  From 1837 to 1842 Rev. Michael J. Clark was the pastor of Peru, and quasi resident.  Rev. Maurice de St. Palais, residing at Logansport, attended Peru from 1842 to 1845.  Rev. Francis Fischer, in 1846, and Rev. Patrick McDermott from 1848 to 1852, both from Logansport.  Rev. August M. Martin, Rev. William Doyle, from 1851 to 1852; Rev. Anthony Carius, from 1852 to 1857, who afterwards was a priest in the Leavenworth diocese and died chaplain in an Ursuline convent, St. Louis, Missouri; Rev. Charles T. Zucker from 1857 to 1860, later in the diocese of Albany, New York; Rev. George A. Hamilton, who came from Logansport September 1, 1859.  He purchased several acres, for cemetery purposes.  These latter priests were supposed to hold services about once a month.
     It is a matter of record that on June 19, 1838, for a consideration of $2.00, William N. Hood and Sophia C. Hood conveyed to "William Brute, Catholic Bishop, and to his successors in the holy office, lots 259 and 260, original plat."  A frame church, 20x40, was erected on lot 259 in 1838.  The first resident pastor was Rev. Bernard Joseph Force, who was appointed as such on April 15, 1860.  On November 26, 1860, he secured the adjoining lot 261 for $250.  The last purchase of ground, lots 257 and 258 for $4,400 on March 22, 1901, was made by Rev. H. Meissner.
     On january 5, 1864, REv. Bernard Kroeger was made pastor in Peru.  Having added a little sacristy to the frame church, he proceeded to the erection of a new church of brick of Gothic design, 133x60 feet.  All but the steeple was completed for $21,000, and was dedicated by Bishop Luers on December 8, 1867.  When Father Kroeger left on October 1, 1871, the church had hardly any debt.  Father Meissner added the spire, 183 feet to the church in 1888, which with roof improvements cost $9,500.  He had the church frescoed, and put in Munich stained, glass windows, costing together $6,000.  A pipe organ for $3,000 was added in 1893; the Main Altar was remodeled and two new Side Altars erected, in 1884, the latter costing $1,050, stations of the Cross $150, pulpit $500.
     Rev. J. H. Guendling, who has been the pastor since July 4, 1902, had the church redecorated in 1905 and the church completely furnished, for a total of $4,900.  The steam heating plant for church, school and house was put in, in 1902, for $6,000.  The seating capacity of the church is 600.
     For a number of years school was taught in the church itself, but when the present church was occupied in 1867, the old church was used for school purposes, until it burned down in 1873, when Rev. Lawrence Lamoor proceeded at once to the erection of the present school building, three stories, 50x80 feet, with residence for Sisters annexed, costing $16,000.
     The records show that Rev. Michael J. Clark personally taught the school, from 1837 to 1842.  During the pastorate of Father Force, Gabriel Volkert taught the classes, and "led in prayer," during the absence of the pastor.  At that time the school was on the corner of Fifth and Wabash streets, in the pastor's residence.  Some time after, Father Force engaged Franz Edtler to assist his sister Mary Force, in the care of the schools; but Professor Edtler, shortly after, accepted the position of organist of the Fort Wayne Cathedral, which he held for twenty-five years.  Victor Stephens came next, and was succeeded, in 1866, by Theodore Wolfram who resigned in 1867, followed by John Schenk, a brilliant young pedagogue, later a brother-in-law to Count John Creighton, of Omaha.  Thomas Miller and Mary Kinney had charge of the school for two years from 1866 to 1868.  The last of the lay teachers was Professor Rudolph Ladislaus Mueller of Zamzow, a native of Pomerania, conversing fluently in fifteen different languages, lecturer on mathematics in a military academy in Prussia, came to the United States lectured east and west on ethnological subjects, lost his considerable wealth in mining, would not return home where he had been disinherited on account of his conversion to the Catholic Faith, taught in St. Vincent's College, West Moreland, Pennsylvania, for several terms, when Rev. B. Kroeger, a former pupil of his, offered him the position of [216] teacher of the parochial school at Peru.  He filled this position satisfactorily for three and a half years, when Bishop Swenger secured his services for the seminary of the Sanguinist Fathers at Carthagena, Ohio, where he became a member of that community and died in 1885.  Rev. B. Kroeger in September, 1869, invited the Ursuline Sisters, four in number, to teach the girls in the parish school, the boys being taught by Francis G. Horn.  Father Lamoor, who succeeded Father Kroeger, in October 1871, invited the Sisters of Providence form St. Mary-of-the-Woods to take charge of the school, which they did in 1874; and Frank Horn resigning in September, 1881, these Sisters assumed charge of the boys' school also.  The usual grades are taught by nine Sisters, and the attendance is 261.
     The pastoral residence was erected by Father Force, in 1861, to which Rev. H. Meissner built an addition in 1890.  The original cost was $1,700.
     The various organizations of the parish are:  The Rosary Society, since 1858, for women only, with 100 members; the Catholic Knights of America, since 1878, with forty members; the Ancient Order of Hibernians, with forty-eight members, the Auxiliary of the same, since 1897, with forty-five members; the St. Aloysius' Society, since 1864, with forty-three members; the Poor Souls Confraternity, since 1880, with 200 members; the Young Ladies' Sodality, with 113 members; the Third Order of St. Francis, with fifty members; the Knights of Columbus, since 1902, with 140 members.  The total number of souls of the parish is 1,100, constituting 250 families.  The debt on the church property at present is $4,000.
     The records of the parish note some special events:  Rev. Anthony Carius was the celebrant of the first High Mass in Peru in 1853; Confirmation was administered for the first time in 1859; a week's Mission in February 1862, and the first in Peru, conducted by Re. F. X. Weninger, S. J.; Father Meissner, having paid the church debt of $16,350 with $5,000 accumulated interest, made due publication of the fact and the event was commemorated in a Jubilee of thanksgiving, on January 1, 1887; Bishop Dwenger named Father Meissner irremovable rector, on January 14, 1887; the third centennial of St. Charles Borromeo, November 3, and 4, 1884; the Silver Sacerdotal Jubilee of Father Meissner, July 5, 1893.
     Nine young men of St. Charles' Parish have become priests, and twelve young women have entered religious communities.
     St. Charles' Church has had these pastors:  Rev. Bernard Joseph Force, from April 15, 1860 to January 5, 1864; Rev. Bernard Kroeger, from January 5, 1864 to October 1, 1871; Rev. Lawrence Lamoor from January 1872 to September 1875; Rev. Henry Meissner, from September 13, 1875 to July 2, 1902; Rev. John H. Guendling, since July 4, 1902.
     St. Charles' Church has had these assistant priests:  Rev. Lawrence Lamoor, 1866; Rev. Michael Hanley, 1867 about a year; Rev. B. Theodore Borg, from July 1868 till 1869; Rev. Patrick Frawley from 1869 till 1870; Rev. J. H. O'Brien, June 1870; Rev. Frederick C. Wiechmann, from September 1870 till 1871; Rev. John Sand, from December 25, 1898 to July 5, 1899; Rev. John C. Keller, from July 5, 1899 to July 12, 1901; Rev. Julius Seimetz, from July 12, 1901 to June 30, 1905; Rev. John Oberholz, from June 30, 1905 till June 24, 1906; Rev. Joseph A. Lynn, since June 24, 1906.
     St. Ann's chapel, of the Wabash R. R. in charge of four Sisters of St. Francis, Maryville, Mo., is attended from St. Charles' Church.

[1999 update:
St. Charles Parish:  58 West 5th Street - Peru, IN 46970-2100  Phone: (765) 473-5543.
St. Charles Parish is presently (1999) encompassed within the Diocese of Lafayette, which was established in 1944.  A church profile for St. Charles Parish is on the Diocese web site.
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[Pages 217-220  (See Reference)]
LAFAYETTE.  [Tippecanoe County]
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
1844
     The city of Lafayette was laid out in 1825, and in 1840 it had at least fifteen Catholic families.  At their request, Bishop de la Hailandiere directed Rev. August Martin, residing at Logansport, to visit Lafayette occasionally, and after him visits were made also by Rev. C. Francois, as well as by Rev. Simon P. Lalumiere, of Terre Haute.  In those days Mass was celebrated in the houses of the different families.
     In 1843, the Bishop of Vincennes gave Lafayette its first resident pastor, in the person of Rev. Michael J. Clark.  The number of families had now increased to twenty-five, and Father Clark rented a one-story brick building, on Fourth street just south of the post office, in which the services were [218] regularly held.  In 1844, a site was bought on the corner of Fifth and Brown streets, on which in the same year the St. Mary and Martha's Church was erected, at a cost of $10,000, and was at the time the most imposing and handsomest church edifice in all Northern Indiana; known later as St. Joseph's Hall, and still existing under the name of Columbian Hall.  A priest's house was built, in the rear of the church, but was soon after destroyed by fire.  The pastor, appreciating the importance of a parochial school, erected a school building on the ruins of the pastoral residence.  Father Clark remained the energetic pastor at Lafayette for fourteen years until 1857, when he went to Illinois, and having charge of a congregation in Bloomington, died full of years and good works.
     Rev. Daniel Maloney succeeded Father Clark, but remained only one year and a half, when he was given an appointment in Indianapolis.  Rev. Edmund B. Kilroy came next in 1859, and remained until 1861.  In 1860, Lawrence B. Stockton donated a plot of ground, known as Seminary Hill, for a church, school, and parochial residence.  The Sisters of Providence erected the present St. Ignatius' Academy on these grounds, at their own expense, for $20,000.  Up to the arrival of the Sisters of Providence, the parochial school was taught by lay teachers, on Fifth  street, with an attendance of about fifty pupils.  Father Kilroy was appointed chaplain for the United States troops, during the Civil War, in 1861, and was succeeded, as pastor at Lafayette, by the Rev. George A. Hamilton, a cousin of Archbishop Spalding, and a Kentuckian by birth.  The foundation of the new St. Mary's Church had been laid by Father Kilroy, and after five years of indefatigable labor, and at a cost of $60,000 over and above that which had been expended on the foundation, the church was completed and dedicated in 1866.  The present pastoral residence was erected at an outlay of $8,000.  The boys' school, on South street, was constructed and paid for by the Community of the Holy Cross, of Notre Dame.  The Brothers of the Holy Cross were the teachers of the boys' school, from 1867 until 1895.
     Father Hamilton also erected St. Ann's Chapel, on Wabash avenue; and bought twelve acres of land for the enlargement of St. Mary's cemetery.  After a most successful pastorate of eleven years, Father Hamilton died suddenly on April 8, 1875, [219] with barely time for his assistant, Father Hallinan, to administer the sacrament of Extreme Unction.  His remains rest beneath St. Mary's Church.  The Rev. Matthew E. Campion was pastor of St. Mary's Church, for about four and a half years.  During his time two elegant side altars were provided.  He paid off a large sum of the indebtedness of the church, and gave much time and attention to beautifying St. Mary's cemetery.  At his own request he was relieved of his charge here, and was appointed pastor at Laporte.  The Rev. Martin Noll was appointed in 1880, and came here from Elkhart.  He arranged at once for a mission in St. Mary's Church, but, the mission hardly over, he died of a stroke of apoplexy, within a month of his arrival, on June 4, 1880.  Rev. Joseph Rademacher now was the pastor of St. Mary's Church, from June 1880 to June 24, 1883, when he was consecrated Bishop of Nashville.  He was noted for zeal and prudence and loved by all, for his gentle and fatherly disposition.  He was popularly known as Father Joseph.
     In June 1883, the Rev. Edward P. Walters succeeded Father Joseph.  In 1887, St. Mary's Church was made an irremovable rectorate and deanery.  During his time, Father Walters had the church beautifully frescoed, and artistic stained glass windows put in.  He reduced the debt of $15,000 to $2,500.  He died, after an illness of only a few weeks, on June 12, 1894.  His remains rest in St. Mary's cemetery.  On August 4, 1894, Rev. John R. Dinnen was appointed rector of St. Mary's Church.  In the year following he purchased the boys' school building and grounds from the Community of the Holy Cross, at Notre Dame, and within two years paid off the old debt of St. Mary's.  In the spring of 1898, a steeple was added to the church.  The interior of the church was wholly renovated, a new floor was put in throughout, with new pews, stained glass windows in the front of the church; and, besides all this, a costly heating plant for heating the church, the academy, the boys' school and pastoral residence was installed.  These improvements were made from June to October 1904, at a cost of about $14,000.  The indebtedness on the church property, at the present time, is $6,150.
     St. Mary's Congregation numbers about 255 families or 965 souls.  One hundred and seventy children attend the [220] schools, conducted by eight Sisters of Providence, including a high school course.  The Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with 150 members; the Children of Mary with forty-five; the Young Ladies' Sodality of the Immaculate Conception, with fifty; the Rosary Society, with fifty-six; the Holy Name Society, with forty-five, and the Holy Angels' Society, with forty-eight, constitute the organizations of the parish.
     The following were the assistants at St. Mary's Church:  Rev. Charles Mougin, Rev. Joseph A. Winter, Rev. Burns, Rev. Michael M. Hallinan, Rev. John R. Dinnen, Rev. A. M. Meile, Rev. John Ryan, Rev. M. Joy, Rev. Constantine Maujay, Rev. Patrick J. Crosson, Rev. Patrick F. Roche, Rev. James Twigg, Rev. Denis J. Mulcahy, Rev. James H. Werdein, Rev. Robert J. Pratt, Rev. Frederick J. Dandurand, Rev. Leopold Linder, C. PP. S., Rev. Peter J. Quinn, Rev. Peter J. O'Reilly, Rev. Frank Jansen, Rev. Charles E. McCabe, Rev. John C. Wakefer, Rev. Edward J. Houlihan, Rev. Felix T. Seroczynski, Rev. Joseph Lynn, and Rev. F. Joseph Mutch.

Update and additional information about St. Mary's Parish in Lafayette, IN:
     It is reported, by Rev. Alerding, in the biography of The Rev. Michael J. Clark, that In 1843, Rev. Michael J. Clark was made the first resident pastor at Lafayette, with "...his parish extending over Tippecanoe, Fountain, Warren, Madison, Montgomery, Putnam, Benton, Carroll and White counties.
     St. Mary Cathedral is presently the Cathedral for the Diocese of Lafayette (Tippecanoe County).
         Mailing Address: 1212 South Street - Lafayette, IN 47901-1576
         Address: 1207 Columbia Street - Lafayette, IN 47901-1521
         Phone: (765) 742-4440   Fax:  (765) 742-8933.
     [Page 89  (See Reference)] Biography of The Rev. Michael J. Clark.
     "He was ordained priest, February 28, 1841, by Bishop de la Hailandiere.  His name appears on the baptismal records of the Cathedral at Fort Wayne on August 13, 1841, June 1st, and July 1842.  He adds to his signature "Pastore absente."  For a time in 1842, he was the resident pastor of Peru.  In 1843, he was made the first resident pastor of Peru.  In 1843, he was made the first resident pastor at Lafayette, his parish extending over Tippecanoe, Fountain, Warren, Madison, Montgomery, Putnam, Benton, Carroll and White counties.  He remained at Lafayette until 1857.  He died at Bloomington, Illinois, pastor of a congregation at that place."
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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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[Pages 222-224]
DECATUR.  [Adams County]
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
1846

     The town of Decatur was laid out in 1836, and had in it, at the time, five houses.  In 1838, about a dozen Catholic families had settled in and about Decatur, and, in the spring of that year, Rev. Louis Mueller, residing at Fort Wayne, [223] offered the first Mass on record at Decatur, in the house of George Fittich.  The second priest, whose name appears on the records, is Rev. Joseph de Mutzig Hamion assisting at a marriage, on January 10, 1841.  After him came Rev. Joseph Rudolph, who began to collect money for a church, and the heavy timbers were being hauled.  The fourth visiting pastor was Rev. Alphonse Munschina, and the fifth Rev. E. M. Faller.  The old cemetery in the south part of town was bought in 1842.  The first church was built in 1846.  Up to this time Mass had been said in Fittich's house, in the Closs Tavern and in the old Court House.  About this time also, Rev. Julian Benoit came here to say Mass, to preach in English and French, and to attend the sick.  The first church bell was bought by Father Faller at Cincinnati for $60, and it had to be shipped by canal to Fort Wayne, and to be hauled from there to Decatur.  At this time the church grounds consisted of six lots.
     The sixth visiting priest, who was also the first resident pastor at Decatur, was the Rev. B. H. Schultes, who built the first priest's house in 1852; he remained till August 1856.  From August 1856 till June 1857; Father Faller and Father Rudolph again paid visits to Decatur.  Rev. Sebastian Ganther, C. PP. S. was here from June 1857 till May 1858.  After him, in 1858, came Rev. L. Schneider, who remained only a few months.  Rev. Jacob Mayer was pastor from July 1858 to September 1862.  During his pastorate a mission was held, in 1857, by Rev. Andrew Kunkler, C. PP. S. and the second, in 1859, by Rev. F. X. Weninger, S. J.
     Until 1865, the Rev. A. Heitmann visited Decatur from time to time.   Rev. Julius Becks came in January 1865, and remained one year.  The pastorate of Rev. John Wemhoff extends from 1866 to September 1872.  He collected funds for the presents church, and laid the foundation.  From September 1872 until February 1877, Rev. Frederick Von Schwedler was the pastor.  It was he who built the brick church.  He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Nussbaum, in February 1877, and remained until July 20, 1880, on which date the present pastor, Rev. Herman Theodore Wilken, took charge of St. Mary's Church at Decatur.  In the year of his arrival Father Wilken began at once the erection of a new school-house, and finished the same in 1881. [224]
     In 1895, he built a new Sisters' house and added two school-rooms to school-house.  These latter buildings cost $7,500, and were paid out of the bequest of Henry Dirkes.  The Sisters of St. Agnes have had charge of the parish school in Decatur since 1881.  On July 22, 1906, the Sister Superioress celebrated the Silver Jubilee of her arrival and her labors, in St. Mary's school and parish.
     The parish has 240 families, numbering 1,200 souls.  The church property consists of ample grounds, a fine brick church, a priest's residence with every modern improvements, and a commodious brick school-house, with six large school-rooms and a brick Sisters' residence with twelve rooms.
     Rev. John Blum was assistant priest from November 1896 to November 1, 1900.  Rev. Lawrence A. Eberle was assistant priest, with Portland for a mission, from July 1904 to July 3, 1905.  Rev. John B. Steger, from August 24, 1905 to September 15, 1906.  Rev. George Angermaier, since September 16, 1906.
     St. Mary's Parish has:  The St. Joseph's School Society, for married men, with seventy-four members; St. Mary's Altar Society, for married women, 156 members; St. Aloysius' Society, for single men, sixty-seven members; St. Agnes' Society, for single women, seventy members; the Children of Mary, 150 members; Confraternity of the Sacred Heart, 242 members; the Holy Family, 151 members; Confraternity of Mount Carmel, 930 members; and the Knights of Columbus, with 130 members.
     The debt on the church property at the present time is $585.  The pastor intends, during the current year, to make additions to the school and Sisters' residence, the cost of which is estimated at $7,000.  At the present time the school is taught by six Sisters of St. Agnes with an attendance of 260 children.

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[Pages 224-227]
ST. JOHN, LAKE COUNTY.
ST. JOHN EVANGELIST'S CHURCH.
1847.
     The priests who have had charge of St. John's Church at St. John from 1839 till the present time are as follows:  Rev. Francis Fischer from 1839 till the end of 1843; Rev. Anthony [225] Carius from 1843 till July 1849; Rev. Francis Cointet, C. S. C., from April 1850 till January 1, 1851; Rev. B. J. Force, C. S. C., from 1851 till the beginning of 1857; Rev. M. P. Rooney, C. S. C., and Rev. E. B. Kilroy, C. S. C., from beginning of 1857 till June 1857; Rev. Andrew Tusch, from June 1857 to March 1858; Rev. Jacob Mayer, from March 1858 till September 1, 1858; Rev. B. Rachor, from September 1, 1858 till October 1866; Rev. Christian Schilling, C. S. C., Rev. M. Sherer, Rev. M. P. Wehrle, and Rev. Henry Koenig, from October 1866 till November 1870; Rev. B. Rachor, from November 1868 till October 1870; Rev. Anthony Heitmann, from October 1870 till July 1, 1906; Rev. Charles F. Keyser, from July 1, till November 21, 1906; Rev. A. M. Buchheit, since November 21, 1906.
     Across Lake county, situated in the northwest corner of the State of Indiana, the watershed, extending from east to west, separates the St. Lawrence basin from the Mississippi valley.  This line enters the county from the west, in St. John township, passing north of the headwaters of West creek which runs very close to St. John and here takes a southwesterly course.  In the early days the locality was called Western Prairie, and also Prairie West, but when a post office was established the settlers, at a public meeting, gave it the name St. John.  This was done partly because the name of the first German settler was John Hack, who immigrated, in September 1837, with a large family.  John Hack's house was located about one mile southeast of the present church.  St. John township, not only almost exclusively Catholic but also German has in it three churches:  One at St. John, the other at Dyer, and the third at Schererville.  St. John the Evangelist's Church, in St. John, is the mother church of all the other churches in Lake county.  Until 1856 it was known as "H1. Kreuz Auffindung Kirche," as we find it recorded in the old baptismal record, over the signature of F. Cointet, C. S. C., under date of January 4, 1847.  On the same page of that record we find that the Rev. A. Cariius blessed the cemetery, comprising about one and a quarter acres.
     Until 1839 Father Fischer, from Chicago, visited St. John, as a station, twice a month celebrating Mass in John Hack's house.  The same Father also visited Baileytown, an Indian [226] settlement.  In that same year, the congregation, numbering about ten families, built a little frame church, 18x24 feet, on John Hack's land, about a half mile southeast of teh present church.  Bishop de St. Palais furnished all the money for material and labor on this church.  The lumber and other building material was transported from Chicago with ox teams, each trip requiring about one week's time.  In 1842, in consequence of some trouble, a schism divided the parish, some members siding with John Hack, but the majority with the priest.  The Hack faction retained the church, but Father Carius held diving service for the loyal party, in the house of John Thiel.  In 1844 or 1845, the eighteen loyal families built a log church, the logs, the lumber and the labor for which were donated and $269.14 expended in cash.  Bishop de St. Palais administered Confirmation in this church in 1846, the first confirmation in Lake county.
     It was under the pastorate of Father Force, that the present brick church was erected.  It measured 90x52 feet, with a height of 25 feet; it cost from $7,000 to $8,000. With the exception of putting new shingles on roof, no improvements whatever have been made since.  At the time of the building of the church, the congregation numbered about 120 families.  The dedication took place, on October 20, 1856, as we see it recorded in the church books over the signature of E. Sorin, who signs himself V. G.  The record says that Father Force was the pastor, that Rev. F. Mayer, C. S. C., celebrated the Mass, that the same preached in German and that Father Sorin preached in English, on the occasion.
     The first parochial school was opened in St. John, in 1846, by the Brothers and Sisters of the Holy Cross, from Notre Dame.  Father Tusch, on August 2, 1857, makes this record on the books in regard to the school:  "109 Kinder in der Schule, and der Schwester Conceptschen bezahlt $14.00."  With the beginning of the Civil War the parochial school was closed, and was continued thereafter as a public or district school.  Having rented the public school building for $150 per year, the congregation again has a parochial school, since September 4, 1903.  Two Sisters of St. Francis, from Lafayette, teach the school, which has an attendance of seventy-nine children. [227]
     The church property consists of three pieces of land, in all ten acres; four acres, where the present church stands, on which also is situated the old priest's house a two-story building erected in 1859, in which Father Heitmann continues to live, and also the cemetery; across the road, opposite the church, two acres on which stands now the first little church, remodeled for a Sisters' residence; the third peice of land, four acres, is located, about a half mile southeast of the present church, on which stood the first church and where also was the first little cemetery.  The present pastor is living in a rented house, at a distance of about one block from the church.  St. John's parish has a Rosary Society, for married women, with twenty members; a Sodality for single women, sixty-five members; a Sodality for single men, thirty members; the Central Verein, eighty-one members; Catholic Foresters, sixty-two members, and the Columbian League, with thirty-six members.
     The congregation consists of eighty-nine families, numbering 406 souls.  Father Buchheit is about to make repairs and improvements, which have become necessary, on the church, to cost about $500.  He also had an architect to prepare the plans and specifications for a new pastoral residence; which will contain about twelve rooms, is to be constructed a frame building, will cost about $4,500.
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[Pages 227-230]
FORT WAYNE.  [Allen County]
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
1848.
     In 1848, thirty German families, who were members of St. Augustine's Church, bought lots on the corner of Lafayette and Jefferson streets for $1,700.  This was the inauguration of St. Mary's Church, for the German Catholics.  An evidence of the fact that these people were in earnest, is seen when five men mortgaged their farms to pay for the lots.  The first building erected measured 32x64 feet, and was completed on the 29th of November, 1848.  This building afterwards served as a girls' school.  The Rev. Edward M. Faller was the pastor of the new parish.  At the same time a small one story [228] frame house was built to serve as a pastoral residence.  A frame school house, that served the Germans, when still members of St. Augustine's parish, was moved in 1849 from Calhoun street to the rear of the pastoral residence.
     Bishop de St. Palais, of Vincennes, visited the new parish in 1850 to administer Confirmation and gave the church $500.  The first edifice served for the church purposes until 1858, when the erection of a more commodious building was begun.  In 1857, the Rev. Joseph Weutz was made the successor of Father Faller, who had been transferred to New Albany.   The cornerstone for the new St. Mary's Church was laid by Bishop Luers, in the summber of 1858, and on the second of November, 1859, the church, 133x66 feet, was dedicated by him.  The erection of the church entailed an expense of $30,000.  During the absence of Father Weutz in Europe, in 1871, Rev. F. Von Schwedler had charge and completed the spire.  Father Weutz's assistant priests were, in turn, Revs. A. Heitmann, A. Youing and B. T. Borg.
     Rev. J. Weutz resigned the pastorate of St. Mary's in 1872, and Bishop Dwenger appointed teh Rev. Joseph Rademacher, with Rev. Charles Steurer as his assistant.  Seven years later, Father Rademacher was transferred to Lafayette.  Rev. J. H. Oechtering was appointed pastor of St. Mary's on July 14, 1880.  He had for assistants, successively, the Revs. C. Steurer, C. Ganzer, L. A. Moench, C. M. Romer, R. Denk and G. Hottenroth.
     Half past one o'clock in the afternoon of January 13, 1886, will ever remain memorable in the history of St. Mary's.  At that hour the boiler, beneath the church, from some cause not known, exploded.  The church now presented a disastrous scene of wreck and ruin.  The shock of that explosion was felt over the city.  The fireman was killed and a little girl, passing the church at the time, was struck and instantly killed by a door blown from its hinges.  But the energetic pastor and his generous people were not discouraged.  An architect of Cleveland, at once received orders to draw the plans of a new and better building.  On the 11th of July, 1886, the cornerstone of the new church was laid by Bishop Dwenger.  The present St. Mary's Church, including decorations and furniture, cost $100,000.  It was dedicated on the third Sunday of Advent, [229]1887, by Bishop Dwenger, amidst the rejoicings of a vast concourse of people.  Bishop Rademacher, of Nashville, and Very Rev. Abbelen, of Milwaudee, took part in the solemnities.  The seating capacity of the church, exclusive of galleries, is 950.  Its style of architecture is Gothic, the length being 195 feet, the width 68 feet, and the geight of the middle nave at the intersection of the arches is 66 feet.  The transept has a length of 84 feet and a width of 34 feet.  Each nave ends in a sanctuary of octagonal form.  The front of the building is flanked on each side by towers about 120 feet in height.  The main steeple in the middle, including the cross has a height of 237 feet.  The Crucifixion Group over the main altar is a work of art.  St. Mary's Academy, a handsome building, took the place of the old school house in the year 1892, at a cost of $20,000.
     In the year 1903 a large building was erected for a boys' school, on the two lots opposite the church.  On the ground floor are six school rooms.  The second story contains a magnificent hall, dining-room, etc.  In the basement are meeting and recreation rooms for the young men, a gymnasium, bowling alleys, billiards, library and reading rooms and baths.  The cost was $30,000.  In the same year a steam heating plant was provided.
     The priest's house, a frame structure, was bought with the lot on which it stands, in 1886, for $5,000.  An addition cost $1,800.  The first house was a little frame building erected in 1846; the second, was of brick costing $5,000, but it was destroyed by the explosion in 1886.
     A house for the organist, a two-story brick building, situated west of the boys' school, cost about $3,000.  A boiler house south of the church built of stone and brick, 30x20 feet, cost about $1,200.
     Ten boys of the parish have become priests and forty-five girls have become Sisters.
     Priests who served St. Mary's Congregation; Rev. Edward M. Faller was pastor from 1848 till 1849; Rev. Joseph Weutz, from 1857 till 1872; Rev. Joseph Rademacher, from 1872 till 1880; Rt. Rev. Mgr. John H. Oechtering, V. G., has been pastor since 1880.
     St. Mary's Church has the following societies:  St. Charles [230] Borromeo Mutual Benefit Society, with 166 members, was organized in 1859, for men; Catholic Knights of America, with forty-one members, and Benevolent Legion, with eight-seven members, are insurance societies; St. Aloysius' Society for young men, with 189 members, has existed since 1868; St. Stanislaus' Society, for boys up to their sixteenth year, with sixty-three members; St. Rose's Young Ladies' Society, established in 1868, is an altar society with 179 members; the Children of Mary, for girls up to their sixteenth year with seventy-five members; the Holy Rosary Society for married women, with 367 members, was organized in 1858; the Altar Society, for married women, was established in 1865; the Society of the Holy Childhood, for the school children; the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.  Two school societies, the one for men, the other for women, organized for the support of the schools.
     The parish has 488 families, and the total number of souls is 2,196.  The two school buildings, with ten school rooms, in charge of twelve School Sisters of Notre Dame, are attended by 535 pupils.  The debt on the church property is $9,010.
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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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+ TABLE OF CONTENTS +
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 PAGE
CHAPTER X.       The Churches--From 1858 to 1867 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266-314
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Notre Dame Archives: Diocese of Fort Wayne (CDFW)

Copyright 1998, 1999 by Ann Mensch.