USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 16
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Rosemond; Dr. E. K. Fletcher, Clarksdale; Dr. Calvin N. Goudy, Taylorville; Dr. Basil Green- wood, Edinburg; Dr. Jacob Huber, Pana ; Dr. L. D. Higgins, Pana ; Dr. H. H. Hall, Pana ; Dr. J. G. Harvey, Mt. Auburn; Dr. A. F. Hammer, Taylorville; Dr. Matt Hill, Taylorville; Dr. Henry Jayne, Taylorville; Dr. J. H. Lawrence, Mt. Auburn; Dr. J. B. Matthews, Mt. Auburn ; Dr. J. B. Maple, Stonington; Dr. R. McShea, Owaneco; Dr. Geo. T. Meacham, Taylorville ; Dr. Frank North, Taylorville; Dr. A. L. Perry, Taylorville; Dr. Geo. W. Patton, Pana; Dr. J. W. Petrie, Palmer; Dr. D. W. Porter, Stoning- ton; Dr. O. C. Reynolds, Mt. Auburn ; Dr. C. V. Rockwell, Taylorville; Dr. Lyman B. Slater, Taylorville; Dr. R. S. Simpson, Rosemond; Dr. A. B. Simmons, Morrisonville; Dr. D. F. Sal- ander, Morrisonville; Dr. A. F. Turner, Taylor- ville; Dr. W. H. Vermilion, Mt. Auburn ; Dr. G. M. Walker, Rosemond ; Dr. Geo. Walton, Clarks- dale; Dr. W. K. Wright, Mt. Auburn and Tay- lorville; and Dr. B. P. Windsor, Mt. Auburn.
DEVELOPMENT.
The development of the medical profession in Christian County has kept fully abreast of that recorded in other sections of the country. The problems of health, being really the problems of life, must pertain to all questions of human in- terest, and the work of the medical men in Chris- tian County has made possible, in large degree, the work which has been accomplished in other lines of human endeavor. As has been said, as the various communities grew and expanded, the itinerant physician, with his simple cures and his scanty store of knowledge, passed away, and in his place came a class of men thoroughly versed in all departments of the science, who found in the fast-growing section a prolific field for the display of their abilities. Many of these had been educated in the great institutions of the East, and Christian County even at a compara- tively early day became the liome of some of the best medical talent of the state. With the establishing of medical schools nearer home, their ranks were augmented by the addition of men who had secured their training in the Mid- dle West, and the two combined to form a class truly representative of all the leading schools of medicine. While the pioneer physician has passed, the motives which guided him in his work of benevolence are still manifest in the men who represent the profession today, and in the
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ranks there are to be found men to whom pecu- niary emolument is largely a secondary consid- eration. In fact, this may be said to be fairly representative of the entire class.
PRESENT PHYSICIANS.
Of the men now engaged in preserving the health and sanitation of the various communi- ties of Christian County, the following is, in so far as can be obtained, an accurate list: Dr. Lee Alderson, Pana; Dr. G. L. Armstrong, Tay- lorville ; Dr. Walter Burgess, Pana; Dr. W. T. Bridges, Stonington ; Dr. D. D. Barr, Taylorville ; Dr. J. R. Bierly, Dr. D. K. Cornell, Taylorville ; Dr. N. A. Crouch, Assumption; Dr. L. C. Car- roll, Taylorville; Dr. O. L. Crow, Assumption ; Dr. R. C. Danford, Pana ; Dr. F. J. Eberspacher, Pana ; Dr. W. H. Frazer, Taylorville; Dr. A. T. Gibson, Morrisonville ; Dr. J. E. Harper, Assump- tion ; Dr. S. B. Herdman, Taylorville ; Dr. R. E. Holben, Mt. Auburn; Hedrick, Mt. Auburn ; Dr. R. W. Johnson, Assumption; Dr. Grover Klein, Kincaid ; Dr. D. M. Littlejohn, Pana ; Dr. J. M. Little, Rosemond ; Dr. T. A. Lawler, Tay- lorville ; Dr. D. F. Morton, Taylorville; Dr. W. H. Mercer, Taylorville ; Dr. H. B. Milhon, Owa- neco; Dr. G. W. Milligan, Edinburg; Dr. J. F. Miller, Palmer; Dr. R. J. Miller, Bulpitt ; Dr. J. H. Miller, Pana ; Dr. L. H. Miller, Pana ; Dr. J. N. Nelms, Taylorville; Dr. Arthur Roberts, (Osteopath), Taylorville ; Dr. S. L. Reefy, Edin- burg ; Dr. G. J. Rivard, Assumption; Dr. M. H. Solliday, Taylorville; Dr. W. T. Short, Stoning- ton; Dr. W. J. Saling, Stonington; Dr. Jesse Simpson, Palmer ; Dr. C. M. Seaton, Morrison- ville ; Dr. C. A. Stokes, Edinburg ; Dr. M. W. Sta- ples, Grove City ; Dr. Jerome Thompson, Morri- sonville; Dr. G. A. Tankersley, Owaneco; and Dr. H. M. Wolfe, Taylorville.
HOSPITALS AND SANITARIUMS.
In the development of all communities, the first institutions or organizations of a medical character are the offspring of necessity. The occurrence of epidemic diseases and contagions and the presence of a large concourse of people unable to care for themselves suggest the neces- sity for some united action for the prevention of the spread of epidemics and the demand for pro- vision for the alleviation of the suffering of those not capable of helping themselves. Out of this
necessity have grown our modern hospitals. It has been thus in Christian County, where the growth of hospitals and sanitariums affords a fairly accurate index of the condition and prog- ress of the medical profession. Naturally, the first attempts of this character were modest in conception and incomplete in character, but as the years have passed the various towns and cities have become the homes of some really excellent institutions, fully equipped with the best appli- ances known to medicine and surgery.
ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL, TAYLORVILLE.
Early in 1905, it occurred to some of Taylor- ville's leading citizens that the rapidly in- creasing population demanded that a hospital be located in that city. On May 28, 1905, after much agitation of the subject, the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood offered to take charge of this matter. Their offer was accepted and oul June 13 a mass meeting was held at the court- house at which Mother Cecelia and Mother Mary, of Alton were present. The people of Taylorville pledged $10,000 to this good cause, which insured its success. W. T. Vandeveer donated a site on South Walnut Street and plans were immediately made for the erection of the new hospital. The following committee had charge of the work: Rev. J. W. Merscher, chairman; Henry Biermann, secretary-treas- urer ; S. K. Strother, Dr. J. H. Dickerson, Dr. J. N. Nelms, Frank M. Martin, Mrs. V. E. Foy, Mrs. Columbus White, Mrs. R. M. Potts, Miss Lizzie O'Hara.
Actual work was begun October 2, 1905, and the building was opened August 22, 1906. The cost of this first building was about $2,000. In 1910 the hospital was greatly enlarged by another addition which cost $35,000. It is now one of the best equipped hospitals in Central Illinois, having a capacity of fifty patients, a large operating room, sterilizing rooms with all necessary equipment, four maternity rooms, a drug room and two dressing rooms. Twenty- five sisters with Mother Angela look after the comfort of the sick and their tender sympa- thetic ministrations will be remembered long by the hundreds of suffering people who have come under their care. The first year the hospital was in operation 123 patients were cared for. The number gradually increased from year to year, until during the year ending
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August, 1916, 662 patients were received within the silent walls of mercy and given the best attention that their atllictions demanded.
PANA HOSPITAL.
Pana has a magnificent hospital, erected in 1913 at a cost of $80,000, $20,000 of which was left as a bequest for this purpose in his will by the late Dr. J. H. Huber. The consecration ceremonies were held September 5, 1913, by Father J. P. Moroney, of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, assisted by the Protestant clergy and citizens of all denominations, and was a very impressive ceremony. This hospital is a mod- ern hospital in every respect, with a capacity of about fifty patients, and fully equipped operat- ing room. The hospital is owned and managed by the Sisters of Misericordia.
During 1908 a quiet home for the friendless was established by the branch of the American Congregational Deaconess Association, and each church of Pana furnished a room in this lios- pital. Private contributions are its source of maintenance, and the good it accomplishes cannot be over estimated.
PROFESSION OF DENTISTRY.
The first pioneers in any community are the pioneers in settlement. Next come pioneers in trade, then those who establish professions. As a rule, the lawyer and minister come first, and close behind them follows the doctor. It is only after the various villages have grown to some maturity that practitioners in special lines ar- rive to seek for patronage and a livelihood. In the early days in Christian County, the village doctor was the only recourse for those suffering the torture of tooth-ache, while the nicer opera- tions for preserving the teeth and replacing those lost or decayed, by ingenious artificial substi- tutes, were quite unknown in the region. But with the growth of the various communities, the specialist in the profession made his appearance, and from that time to the present Christian County has been well represented in this line. Dentistry may be said to be unique among other occupations, being at once a profession, a trade and a business. Christian County has not been lacking in practitioners of dentistry, men thor- oughly conversant with the theory of the art, experts in the use of the many instruments and appliances incidental to the practice of modern
dentistry, men of high professional standing who are constantly striving for the elevation of a science which has become recognized as one so thoroughly necessary to the preservation of the community health.
Among the followers of this profession who have given Christian County standing and repu- tation in professional circles, the following may be cited as fairly representative of the best standards of the calling: Dr. J. A. Armstrong, Stonington ; Dr. S. P. Bowyer, Taylorville ; Dr. M. Bonbrake, Taylorville; Dr. H. A. Broering, Pana ; Dr. B. F. Dowell, Pana ; Dr. G. N. Gilbert, Pana; Dr. H. C. Lacharite, Assumption ; Dr. E. C. Horr, Taylorville ; Dr. W. H. Houser, Taylor- ville; Dr. L. T. Lundy, Edinburg; Dr. M. L. Mooney, Morrisonville ; Dr. H. C. Pence, Taylor- ville ; Dr. Jno. D. Reid, Pana ; Dr. W. M. Shaw, Taylorville; and Dr. G. P. Walker, Assumption.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHURCHES.
TAYLORVILLE BAPTIST-PANA BAPTIST-STONING- TON BAPTIST-EDINBURG BAPTIST-TAYLORVILLE CATHOLIC-ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC-ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC-CATHOLIC CHURCH OF RICKS TOWN- SILIP-STONINGTON CATHOLIC-ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC-MT. AUBURN CHRISTIAN-TAYLOR- VILLE CHRISTIAN-BEREA CHRISTIAN-ASSUMP- TION CHRISTIAN-PLEASANT HILL CHRISTIAN- ROSEMOND FIRST CONGREGATIONAL-ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL - TAYLORVILLE METHODIST -- MT. AUBURN METHODIST - BUCKEYE METHODIST - GROVE CITY METHODIST-ASSUMPTION METH- ODIST - SHARPSBURG METHODIST - OWANECO METHODIST - EDINBURG METHODIST - STONING- TON METHODIST-MILLERSVILLE METHODIST- MORRISONVILLE METHODIST-GERMAN METHODIST OF GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP-ROSEMOND METH- ODIST-PRAIRIE LEA METHODIST EPISCOPAL-KIN- CAID METHODIST-TAYLORVILLE PRESBYTERIAN- FIRST PRESBYTERIAN OF PANA-FIRST PRESBYTE- RIAN OF ASSUMPTION-FIRST PRESBYTERIAN OF MORRISONVILLE - STONINGTON PRESBYTERIAN-
EDINBURG REFORMED -- UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST, MT. AUBURN.
1
Verla H. Ensminger.
Annis J. Ensminger
Lov Enaminger.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
BAPTISTS.
TAYLORVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH was constituted November 23, 1848, with twelve members, who had previously been members of the Stoning- ton Baptist Church. The charter members were as follows: Thomas S. Leachman, Josephine Leach- man, Julia Leachman, W. S. Frink, Sarah Frink, Lydia A. Frink, John A. Leachman, Mary E. Leachman, Horace S. Morgan, Meroy Morgan, Aaron Behymer. William S. Frink was elected church clerk and Rev. Paris Pray was called as pastor. Having no church edifice, the First Cumberland Church was secured once a month as a place of worship. The building of a meeting house was commenced in the spring of 1852. A Sunday school was organized April 18, 1849. The church united with the Springfield Associa- tion August 31 of the same year. On April 7, 1875, a committee was appointed to decide on the building of a new church and the selection of a location for the same. The building was commenced on East Market and Pawnee streets in 1876, but was not completed until 1890. The estimated cost was $10,000. In 1908 a parson- age was built adjoining the church at a cost of $4,000. At the present writing, 1917, the church has an active Woman's Mission Circle, three chapters of the Girls Willing Workers Society, St. Cecilia Society, Baptist Young People's Union and a live Sunday school with an average attendance of 125. Charles O. Holliday is su- perintendent of the Sunday school; Boyd H. Dappert is clerk of the church, and Rev. John HI. Spindler is pastor.
THE PANA BAPTIST CHURCH was organized July 21, 1858, with only eight members. Previous to that date, William L. Dowling had gathered together a few Baptists, which action later led to the organization of the church. Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Baldwin of Los Angeles, Cal., are the only con- stituent members now living. Mr. Dowling, the founder and organizer, passed to the Church Triumphant June 22, 1891. At first, preaching services were held every other week. Dr. D. Read, then president of Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, preached to the members for a while. Part of the time services were held in a hall and part of the time in the Presbyterian Church. The first candidate received into the fellowship of the church was Mrs. Ursula M. Jordan, who was baptized by Dr. Read on April 8, 1860. The first deacons were W. L. Dowling and E. G. Greenman, who were chosen
May 2, 1860. Mr. Dowling remained a deacon until his death. In 1866 the main part of the present church was built and on February 3, 1867, was dedicated free of indebtedness. The dedication exercises were in charge of Dr. Read and G. S. Bailey. The first Sunday school was organized in 1867. F. W. Stockbridge was chosen superintendent and served four years. The following named pastors have served this church following Dr. Read: R. R. Coon, 1861; HI. H. Northropp, 1867-69; W. H. Stifler, 1869- 72; J. M. Bennett, 1873-74; H. A. Guild, 1874- 75; Simeon Hussey, 1876-79; J. S. Bovelle, 1880- 82; J. Y. Aitchinson, D.D., 1882-83; A. Millard, 1883-85; H. S. Black, 1885-90; H. F. Jordan, 1890-92; H. W. Theile, 1893-97; 1I. C. Abbott, 1897-98; Fred W. Eason, 1898-99; J. W. Be- ville, February, 1900-August, 1900; R. E. Burt, 1901; Reverend Rhodes, Reverend Grimm, Rev- erend Fuson, Reverend Etter, Reverend Tate and Reverend Fuson, the present pastor. Many of the pastors have been supplied by Shurtleff College. Rev. H. S. Blavk was a student of that institution and was ordained to the ministry in 1886. In that year he married Miss Clara V. Stockbridge, the first person he baptized in the Pana ministry. The following societies of the Pana Baptist Church are in a flourishing condition : B. P. Y. U., Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Societies, Woman's Bap- tist Aid Society. The Sunday school is well organized and strong.
BETIIEL BAPTIST CHURCH, located one and one- fourth miles northeast of Sharpsburg, was or- ganized in October, 1862, by Hezekiah Cain with eight charter members, namely: Nathan Gard- ner, Francis Gardner, Richard Gardner, Wil- liam Nichols, Lucinda Nichols, Delinda Nich- ols, Samuel Rogers and Mary Rogers. Services were held in the schoolhouse nearby until after the church building was finished in 1865. Among the early ministers besides Mr. Cain were: Samuel Vaughn, G. W. Carter, F. S. Randolph, Nathan Corley and James Shartzer. In 1SS4 Levi Corley took charge of the church, holding some successful meetings. William Hart had charge of the church during the years of 1890 and 1891. In 1892, M. C. Jones was chosen pastor and served the church six years. In the year 1895 he baptized forty-four into the fellowship of the church. In 1898 Levi Corley was again called to serve the church. During his services at this time twenty-five were added to the church. In the year 1900, F. M. John-
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IIISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
son was chosen as pastor. During his ministry the present church house was built at a cost of $2,500. Since that time the church has been served by C. P. Roberts, Levi Corley, M. C. Jones, Il. Etter, B. M. Webb and J. E. Bowman. The present membership of the church is 132, including the nou-residents. The Sunday school is a very great help to the church, having a membership of seventy-five, with an average attendance of forty-three. For the past twenty years there have been but three superintendents, namely : Dwight Hart, C. D. Greffe and Frank Gardner, the present incumbent. The Ladies' Aid Society helps to support all the various expenses of the church. The Women's Mission Circle was organized with fifteen charter mem- bers in May, 1917. The editor is indebted to Miss Ruth Watts, church clerk, for the above information.
THIE STONINGTON BAPTIST CHURCH. Many of the early settlers of Stonington came from Stoll- ington, Conn. In keeping with their religious convictions, the Baptists among them soon or- ganized a church known as the Old Stonington Baptist Church, which is located some four miles in the country from the limits of the village of Stonington. The New Stonington Baptist Church, which is located in the village, was or- ganized in March, 1895. The charter members were Dr. W. T. Bridges, George Kuntz, Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Chesebro. Mrs. II. C. Tanner, Miss Irene Tanner, Mrs. J. W. Sharp. and Mrs. Ma-
tenlee. Rev. J. J. Milkiff and Rev. J. B. Brown assisted in the organization. The church building was erected in the fall of 1895 at a cost of $3,000, and dedicated January 19, 1896. Rev. W. P. Harvey preached the dedica- tion sermon. O. J. Owen, E. H. Compton, H. K. Chesebro, W. T. Bridges, W. E. Peabody and Rev. O. E. Butler constituted the building com- mittee. Reverend Butler was the first pastor, serving until October 1, 1896. He was succeeded by Rev. J. J. Midkiff, who served as pastor for about nine years. Dr. W. R. Bridges and H. K. Chesebro were the first deacons. These men with E. II. Compton served also as the first trustees. In 1906 a very fine parsonage costing about $3,000 was built, and in 1908 the church building was remodeled under the leadership of Rev. N. O. Patterson at a cost of about $3,000. This church has been served by the following pastors: O. E. Butler, J. J. Midkiff, J. R. Stroud, D. L. MeBride, N. O. Patterson, 11. J. Wheeler and F. W. Parsons, Ph. D., the
present pastor. The following named men have served as officers of the congregation : Deacons, W. T. Bridges, J. B. Owen, J. C. Cooper, W. H. Brown, O. J. Owen; trustees, W. T. Bridges, Andrew Chapman, E. B. Shrout, E. H. Compton, H. K. Chesebro, J. C. Cooper ; clerks, J. A. Hol- liday, W. T. Bridges, J. I. Owen.
THE EDINBURG BAPTIST CHURCH Was organized with ten members, in the opera house in the fall of 1896, by Rev. II. S. Bowyer as a branch of the Taylorville Baptist Church. A building was bought and dedicated, May, 1897, Reverend Douglass being the first pastor. The church has maintained a Sunday school, Dorcas So- ciety, and Ladies' Missionary Society and has increased in numbers from 10 to 112.
CATHOLIC.
TAYLORVILLE CATHOLIC CHURCHI. The begin- ning of the Catholic Church and its organiza- tions in Christian County dates back almost to the first settlement. The membership is di- vided into congregations or parishes in the fol- lowing places: Taylorville, Assumption, Pana, Morrisonville and Stonington. As Taylorville was the first organized village in the county, here also the organization of the Catholic Church had its start, in about the year 1846. This district, like the whole state of Illinois, was at that time under the spiritual charge of the R. C. Bishop of Chicago. A few families that had come from Kentucky and settled around Taylorville, joined together and erected a small frame building to serve as a chapel for religious service. There was no priest residing in the county at that time, and even the at- tendance of a neighboring clergyman was very rare, as communication was difficult for want of railroads. A priest from Springfield in the adjacent county of Sangamon used to visit this place about three or four times a year. This continued until the time the Catholic congrega- tion of Assumption was organized in 1858. Henceforth the priest residing in Assumption attended Taylorville once a month. The mem- bers of the latter congregation soon began to feel the need of a resident priest and began to make preparations for building a new parson- age. This work was begun in 1871 by Father Recouvreur, who at that time was in charge of the Assumption parish. However, he was moved to Edwardsville and Father Claus was ap- pointed in 1872 by the R. C. Bishop of Altou,
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. ENSMINGER
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
1
as a resident priest for Taylorville. It was Father Claus who finished the building of the parsonage, which was located on a parcel of ground one block south of the old church. At the same time he succeeded in getting the old church moved from its former place to the new lot at the corner of West Adams and South Washington streets. On this occasion the building was remodeled and a sacristy added. Father Claus was sent to Ruma, where he re- mained for six months. He was then returned to Taylorville, but did not stay very long, going then to Morrisonville, from which place he at- tended the Taylorville Church every other Sun- day. This continued till December, 1877, when Father Schulze was sent by the R. C. Bishop of Alton, to Taylorville, where he resided until 1884. Then Father Pennardz of Assumption had charge for two years, preaching one Sun- day of each month. Within these two years St. Mary's Church was built at a cost of about $4,000, R. C. Rape being the contractor. Father Pennardz was succeeded by Father F. Rein- hart, who took charge September 29, 1888. In October, 1888, Father John J. Higgins was sent as leader of the local congregation. He re- mained until July, 1898, when he was succeeded by the present priest-in-charge, Father J. W. Merscher, who for the last nineteen years has led his people devotedly. In 1907 the church building was remodeled and an addition built at a cost of about $8,000. Father Merscher has superintended the expenditure of large sums of money, including the cost of the hospital and the parochial school. Although an older man than his appearance indicates, he attends well to the many exacting duties of his parish and bids fair to serve many more useful years. At present there are abont 125 families in the Taylorville charge.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH of Pana was established in 1862. The clergymen who have been in charge of it are as follows: Revs. T. E. Cusack, Tr. Turmell, H. J. Hoven, F. Storp, F. Stick, W. Weigand and J. P. Moroney. The church was erected by Reverend Stick. The parish school was opened in 1882, and is in charge of the Do- minican Sisters. The present school was erected in 1916 and it has 325 pupils, with seven sisters in charge. The parish house was built in 1911, and is valued at $2,500. Huber Memorial Hos- pital is conducted by the Sisters of Miseri- corde ' of Montreal, Canada. Its value is $90,-
000, and it was erected in 1913. There are 250 families in the parish.
ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ASSUMPTION owes its origin to a colony of Canadians coming to Christian County in the year 1857, under the management of Mr. E. Malhoit, who had bought a large tract of land of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. One of the first acts of Mr. Malhoit was to build a frame church in honor of Our Blessed Lady of the Assumption, and a plain cottage for the use of a priest. The first resident priest was the Rev. Charles Gonant, a native of France, who had been ordained in 1858, and was sent in the same year to Assump- tion. Father Gonant left for Litchfield in 1862. IIis successor was Rev. F. Dutour, a native of Auvergne, France. After a vacancy Rev. P. Bedard, a native of Quebec, Canada, accepted the charge in 1865. His successor was the Rev. F. N. Reconveur, who remained but a short time. Rev. Adolphus Jacque was sent to take charge of Assumption in 1868. The year before his coming a general subscription had been taken for the building of a new church, but nothing was accomplished until he came. In the fall of 1869 the cornerstone of the new building was laid by Bishop Baltes, D. D. Fairs and subscriptions supplied the means. It took until the year 1872 to get the building under roof. Father Jacque was sent to Shelbyville in 1874, and afterwards to Cahokia, Ill. In the spring of 1875, Rev. C. Withoff took charge of the congregation and remained until August, 1878. Times, for a succession of years, being hard, little in the way of improvement could be done during his term and that of his successor, Rev. F. Kempen, who was removed to Centre- ville Station, in November, 1878. Rev. Jos. De- chene, the present pastor, was sent to take his place. During his administration, in 1879, the church was plastered, ceiled and painted ; the priesthouse was painted, completed and furnished, and the debts paid. In the spring of 1880, Father Dechene was sent to Springfield, there to take charge of the new St. John's Hos- pital. He was succeeded by Father Leufgen, who was compelled by sickness to resign in October, 1881. Rev. A. J. Pennartz, like his three predecessors, a native of Rhineland, in Germany, and like them once a pupil in Louvain University, Belgium, took charge in 1881. He at once made the necessary improvements, In 1883 and 1884 he built the church steeple. In
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