USA > Illinois > Kankakee County > Pilot > History of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Pilot, Illinois : with an historical sketch of Sacred Heart Church, Goodrich, Illinois, and St. James Church, Irwin, Illinois, at one time forming one parish; prefaced by a general local history. > Part 6
USA > Illinois > Kankakee County > Irwin > History of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Pilot, Illinois : with an historical sketch of Sacred Heart Church, Goodrich, Illinois, and St. James Church, Irwin, Illinois, at one time forming one parish; prefaced by a general local history. > Part 6
USA > Illinois > Kankakee County > Goodrich > History of SS. Peter and Paul's Church, Pilot, Illinois : with an historical sketch of Sacred Heart Church, Goodrich, Illinois, and St. James Church, Irwin, Illinois, at one time forming one parish; prefaced by a general local history. > Part 6
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During the vacation time of 1890, we visited Italy and the Eternal City, 1891 Treves and the legendary Rhine. In 1892 at the end of the theological studies, the "Tour de France" was made with sidetrips to Portugal and Spain.
On account of impaired health, a European trip with the following main stops was undertaken in 1912:
New York, Gibraltar (Spain), Algiers (Africa), Genoa (Italy), Pavia, Bologna, Florence, Pisa and Rome, the city of the past, the city of the Holy Father, the city of more modern times, the Eternal Rome. An audience with the Holy Father was granted in company with other pilgrims. In this trip was included Monte Casino, a Benedictine mon- astery built 529 A. D., Naples, with its incomparable Vesu- vian Bay, the buried cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii nearby.
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On March 9th we boarded the French steamer "Sag- halien" which took us to Athens, the capitol of Greece, the city that will never die.
Constantinople on the Bosphorus, with its unrivaled situation, the Sultan's residence and capital of Turkey, Smyrna, which rises like an amphitheatre on the gulf, here St. Polycarpe suffered martyrdom, 155 A. D. A sidetrip took us to Ephesus now in ruins, but at the time of St. Paul, a city of splendor and luxury; here St. Paul preached the gospel. March 18th we landed on the island of Rhodes, where the Knights and Hospitalers had established them- selves in medieval times. Beyrut, beautifully situated, the chief commercial place in Syria. We boarded the train to cross the Lebanon, with the majestic snow covered Mount Hermon to the north. At Rayak we made a sidetrip to visit the famous old ruins of Baalbeck, whose history is lost in the mist of times. In the evening of the same day, we ar- rived at one of the oldest cities of the world, Damascus, Abraham must have seen it. This city affords the best op- portunity for observing the characteristics of oriental life: Bazaars, Mosques, Minarets. After a day's stop we left early in the morning and reached the Lake of Genesareth by rail, late in the afternoon. A small steamer took us to Tiberias. This lake, hallowed by the presence of the God- man is surrounded to the west by moderate hills, whose slopes form a real paradise in spring ,a scenery of a smil- ing and peaceful character. Capharnaum was visited next morning. In the afternoon we went to Nazareth by car- riage, passing at the foot of Mount Thabor. Nazareth is the home town of the Holy Family, a most charming place, especially in the spring, when its dazzling white walls are embosomed in the green of cactus, hedges, fig trees and olive trees. Mount Carmel, whose beauty has been extolled in Holy Writ, overlooks the Mediterranean Sea; a large monastery contains numerous rooms for the accomodation of pilgrims. After a three day's trip by carriage, stopping at Zummarin, Naplouse, with its fanatic Mohammedans, we were anxious to catch the first glimpse of Jerusalem, our life-time dream was realized, on Thursday, March 28th, in
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the afternoon. Four cities belong to all men, rather than to any one nation, Athens, the great preceptress in liberty, literature and art; Rome, the mother who gave us our laws, and to most of us our language; Constantinople, the birth- place of the Justinian Code; finally, Jerusalem, which gave the world the Christian religion. Words cannot describe the emotions, when for the first time in our life, we enter the city, where the Godman spilled his blood for the re- demption of the world. All the Holy spots in Jerusalem and its vicinity are too numerous to mention, a few may suffice. The Garden of Gethsemany, the Holy Sepulchre, the site of the Temple of Solomon, Mount of Olives, Bethle- hem, 6 miles south of the Holy City. One afternoon took us to Jericho, 13 miles. The next day we visited the Jor- den, the Dead Sea, whose surface is 1290 feet lower than the Mediterranean Sea.
April 8th made us bid farewell, to the city where we had spent days full of pleasing and consoling memories. "If I forget thee, Jerusalem, may my right hand be given to oblivion, let my tongue cleave to my mouth, if I am not mindful of thee; if I do not place Jerusalem in the beginning of my joy." After a few hours in the train, there arose Jaffa, a very old city, on the high bluffs over the blue waters of the Mediterranean. We take the steamer to go to Egypt. The approach to the steamer, about a quarter of a mile from the rocky shore is all but romantic. Little boats must take us through a semi-circular belt of rocks, reefs, some of which left their savage tusks above the waves, while others lurk below the surface, a continual danger of capsizing. For lack of accomodation we had to sleep on the deck of the steamer, arriving in the morning at Port Said, Egypt, the port of the Suez Canal. Egypt, the land of mystery, the oldest born of time, the land of the Phar- aohs, the pyramids, the sphinxes and oblisks. Cairo, one of the brightest jewels on the River Nile is the capital of Egypt. We visited one of the pryamids, the tombs of the kings near Lucksor, and other places, the temples of Luck- sor and Karnac, with their colored decorations about four or five thousand years old; we proceeded to Assouan to see
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the famous dam across the Nile (length on crest 6200 feet), built by the English government. In a very old granite quarry a block can be seen ninety-two feet long by ten and one half feet wide. On April 19th the steamer took us to Trieste, Austria from where we made a trip to Cattaro, on the Dalmatian coast, the loveliest spot in the world. On April 27 we left Cattaro for Venice, Italy, a unique city, with no living horses, Venice with its gondolas, its build- ings rising directly from the sea, its St. Marc Cathedral, its campanilla. On the way back to Austria we paid a visit to St. Anthony of Padoua, then proceeded to Botzen (Austria) with a side trip to the Penegal, a high elevation from where at every point of the compass, snow and ice capped moun- tains are visible in the distance, a sight never to be forgot- ten.
May 5th, Klagenfurth with the Dragon Well, Vienna, one of the oldest cities in Europe with the famous St, Step- hen's Catherdal, 450 feet high, one of the grandest temples ever reared for Christian worship. Salzburg, (Tyrol). Innsbruck known for its university, Maria Einsiedlen (Notre Dame des Ermites), Switzerland, the famous pil- grimage, (annually from 150,000 to 200,000 pilgrims) in charge of the Benedictine Fathers, who established a colony in 1854 among the Indian tribes at St. Meinard's, at present known as St. Meinard's Abbey, in the State of In- diana.
Interlaken: An interesting electric car line brings us up to the Mountain "Jungfrau" the "Maiden of the Alps" with its appaling precipices, dangerous crevasses. The electric car takes the tourists under the ice clad cap of the mountain, where he finds a hotel equipped with an electric cooking apparatus, 13,000 feet altitude. How wonderful is God's work!
At last May 19th we arrived at a small village in Al- sace, the garden of Europe, where we could review again the lovely scenes of our childhood, after an absence of twen- ty years, but father and mother were no more! After a stay of some three weeks, our itineary took us to Cologne
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on the noble Rhine, with its legends and memories of two thousand years.
From Cologne we went to Kevelear, Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) the city of Charlemange. The old "Dom" con- tains many precious relics. June 17th we arrived at Brus- sels (Belgium), the quiet, clean city, where we feel at home. Among the imposing buildings is the Cathedral of St. Gud- ule, the Hotel de Ville, the Palace of Justice, etc. Side- trips to the famous grotto or cave of Han (about one mile in length) with its subterranean palaces ,its lake, its dis- appearing and reappearing little river, called Lesse, its halls, precipices, cascades, stalactites and stalagmites. Waterloo, where the duel between Napoleon and the United Europe was decisively concluded. Louvain, famous for its univer- sity. Antwerp, whose origin is traced back to the seventh century. From the Cathedral spire, which is the admira- tion of the world for centuries, the tourist commands the great city and watches the peaceful river Schelde, wind- ing through cultivated fields. Bruges, a town of an essen- tially Flemish character, rather lifeless, quiet. The City Hall and the Palace of Justice are masterpieces of architec- ture. Very old streets and market places are noticable. A few boats furrow her deep canals with numerous bridges, which gave the town the Flemish title "Bruges." June 24th we left for Ostende to take the steamer to Dover (Eng- land), from where we took the train bringing us to the largest city in the world, London.
A visit to the Westminster Abbey founded in the 7th century is of real interest. This edifice wears the triple crown of noble architecture, venerable age and hallowed memories. Then we visited the famous Tower of London, for centuries the home of inhumanity, sorrow and despair. Sidetrips to Kenilworth, the loveliest of England's ruined castles, Stratford on Avon, Shakepeare's birthplace. Ox- ford, the old university city. A trip on the Thames, took us to Winsdor ,Hampton Court. June 30th, we boarded the train for Holy Head where we arrived at 2 A. M. The steamer was waiting to take us to fairy Ireland, the land of St. Patrick. Dublin with its Phoenix Park, seventeen hun-
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dred acres, the statue of O'Connell, the idolized leader of the people of Ireland. Cork, Macroom, Kilarney, this lat- ter with its far-famed lakes, whose crystal waters have few equals, with its grand yew-tree in Muckross Abbey. Re- turn to Cork form where we went to see Blarney Castle:
"There is a stone there, that whoever kisses Oh! he never misses to be eloquent."
We resolved rather not to be eloquent than to venture the hazardous experiment.
Queenstown possesses a new and beautiful Cathedral and enjoys the reputation as a health resort. Many think of Ireland only as a poverty-stricken place, but a study of its history and country will reveal a multitude of attrac- tions. The Emerald Isle, as it is called has no equal. It is a land of beauty, mystery, grandeur, a land of ruined castles, cloisters, solemn mountains, lovely rivers, crom- lechs, celtic tombs and druid altars. We must say farewell, the steamer Celtic coming from Liverpool is to take us to the American shores, arriving at New York July 13, 8 A. M. Washington, Mount Vernon, with the old-fashioned wooden mansions of the first president of this glorious re- public were the last stops made of this memorable trip- but there is no place like home, which we reached July 17th, after an absence of six months.
The Western Coast Trip.
Here we are, ready to start on a journey westward, April 20th, 1914. Kansas City, Denver, the city which calls the tourist "Welcome," Colorado Springs, a renowned health resort with a few side excursions: the Garden of the Gods, strewn with grotesque rocks and cliffs. Manitou, where the Indians met once a year to stop all wars for a day or so and to drink of the natural soda water, a gift of the Gods. Cripple Creek affords a trip of singular attrac- tiveness, grand sceneries, glimpses of gold mining at about 10,000 feet altitude. South Cheyenne Canyon with a water fall descending in seven leaps. Cave of the Winds in Wil- liams Canyon near Manitou. April 27 Santa Fe (7040 feet altitude), the capital of New Mexico, next to St. Augus-
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tine the most ancient town in the United States, founded by Spaniards in 1605. A most quaint and interesting place, with narrow streets, adobe houses. Albuquerque whose railway station as many others is in the picturesque Spanish Mission style. The Indians offer their wares for sale. Laguna, an Indian pueblo or village, arriving at 10 P. M. Next day we leave for Acoma accompanied by an In- dian guide, Fred Kie. For 15 miles we notice no building. Suddenly a fearful thunderstorm with wind, hail and ter- rific lightning comes up in this lonely desert land.
There presently looms up the Mesa encantada or Haunted Mesa, called by the Indians, Katzimo, a perpen- dicular sandstone rock rising from a grassy plain 430 feet high, regular in outline, suggesting a mighty fortress. We meet many of such formations in New Mexico and Arizona. A feeling of solemnity steals over us. A sinister tradition exists among the Indians, that many centuries ago, when the men of the village were at work upon the plain, a mass of rock fell into the narrow cleft and rendered it impass- able. The women and children thus left in the summit of the mesa, are said to have slowly perished by starvation. A little further Acoma, an interesting Indian pueblo, nobly perched on the plateau of a huge rock elevation. Adamana, a small station on the Sante Fe R. R. Six miles south of it are the petrified forests, an area of 25,625 acres covered with trunks of petrified trees, some 3 to 10 feet in diameter, 80 to 100 feet in length. The fields are strewn with pet- rified stones of all colors. On our return we noticed an ele- vation with strata of different colors called the "Painted Desert."
Williams-Grand Canyon, Arizona, one of the most stu- pendous wonders of nature in the world, a hole 3-5000 feet deep, 217 miles long and about 10 miles wide. Who dare peep in this yawning depth with its solemn eternal silence. The descent to the bottom with a saddle horse and return requires about 61/2 hours. Los Angeles, Cal. May 17th with side trip to the Ostrich and Alligator Farm in Pasa- dena. Another side trip to the Mission of Capistrano.
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The Missions in California, 21 in all, scattered over a dis- tance of about 600 miles, are a credit to the zeal and labor of the sandaled monks, the Franciscans who have done so much for the civilization of the Indians, a century or more ago. Annaheim, San Diego, the Ramona House, San Diego Mission, San Gabriel Mission with a church tower to which we ascend by a stairway built on the outside. Mount Lowe (6100 feet) which commands a view extending over 100 miles in every direction. The ascent is made by a mountain railway with open cars, where the passenger seems to be traveling in a flying machine. He lightly swings around a precipice 2500 feet in depth, a sentiment of fear and dread seem to overcome the tourist. Santa Catalina, a beautiful mountainous island with a delightful climate, twenty-five miles west of LosAngeles. We can notice flying-fish, a glass bottomed boat, with open-sea aquarium in sight be- low. May 19th, side trip to the Missions of San Buenaven- tura and Santa Barbara, the latter founded by Padre Juni- pero Serra, 1786, now occupied by a few Franciscan Fath- ers. The stillness of the empty cloister is noticeable. Nearby we see the stately cross, which casts its shadow like a benediction on the sleeping dead; there is a hush of mel- ancholy brooding over the place. Wednesday, May 20th, we bid farewell to Los Angeles to go to San Francisco, Tehachapi, where we stopped to meet a former classmate. May 26th from Merced on the Southern Pacific we take the train of the Yosemite Valley Railroad. After a ride of 78 miles we reached El Partal ,the entrance or door to the Na- tional Park par excellence, Yosemite Valley. On certain portions of our globe Almighty God has set an altogether special print of divinity. This is the case in regard to the incomparable Yosemite, meaning "full grown grizzly bear." The nearly level of the valley is 6 miles long, about 3960 feet above sea-level, while the enclosing walls are 3000 to 5000 feet higher. The width between the walls varies from one half mile to two miles. Through this wonderful valley flows the busy Merced River. We notice picturesque rock formations, noble cliffs, glorious water-falls several hun- dred feet high. There we see walls three thousand feet high and more, rising vertically. Bridal Veil, one of the
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finest waterfalls of the valley. Early in the morning a short trip takes us to the beautiful Mirror Lake, with its wonder- ful reflections of the nearby cliffs. Features of sublimity and beauty, which can hardly be surpassed by any moun- tain valleys in the world, where in so limited a space we find a wonderful variety of grand and romantic scenery. We naturally exclaim: "Oh, God! how magnificent are all thy works!" Side trip to Mariposa Grove with its gigantic trees. According to scientists some of these trees date form the time of Adam and Eve. The Grizzly Giant, the largest of all 94 feet in circumference, 31 feet in diameter. The road leads through an opening or tunnel 10 feet high, 91/2 feet wide, cut through the heart of one of these gigantic trees. San Francisco, with its Mission Dolores, the Pre- sidio, the Chinatown, a Canton in miniture. Here we met a few. old acquaintances. Side trip to Palto Alto with the famous Stanford University, Menlo Park, St. Pat- rick's Diocesan priest seminary, Santa Clara with a new col- lege conducted by the Jesuit Fathers, San Jose: side trip to Mount Hamilton, 25 miles from San Jose, with the Lick Ob- servatory forming an astronomical department of the Uni- versity of California. Telescope with an object glass 36 inches in diameter. Monterey, once the capital of Califor- nia and the Mission de San Carlos de Monterey, which was visited by the Spaniards in 1602, a town largely of Spanish descendants. The mission was transferred to Carmel by the Sea, a few miles distance from Monterey where we notice the burial place of the famous Missionary Junipero Serra. During our stay we enjoyed the kind hospitality of Father R. Mestres, of Spanish extraction, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo's Monterey. Return to San Francisco, trip to Mount Tamalpais, with the most "crooked" scenic railroad in the world. June 13th finds us in Woodland with some acquaintances of the school years in Europe. Sacramento, the capital of California, on the river of the same name. Portland, Oregon, with a view of the snow capped Mount Hood. Forestry Building, a relic of the Centennial Exposition of 1905. The building is made of logs from 2 to 6 feet in diameter. Seattle, one of the larg- est and most energetic cities of the Pacific North West,
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founded in 1852 by and named after an Indian Chief. There is a Totem Pole in pioneer square, a high pole cov- ered with grotesque figures, painted by the Indians. Steamer to Van Couver, a youthful city in British Colum- bia. Spokane, a thriving city, lies in the center of a district of great agricultural richness. National Glacier Park near Canada, a three day's trip by vehicle, launch, horseback and automobile. Beautiful lakes, mountains, rising with one majestic sweep, forests, rivers, glaciers. We crossed a very dangerous passage with deep snow June 27th on a sharp incline; to glide out would mean to land in a lake 1000 feet below, a thing that almost happened to our guide. The scenery in this park is incomparable. We return to Spokane, our headquarters, where we stayed with a friend and old acquaintance. Side trip to Cottonwood, Idaho, Colfax, to meet other friends of long ago. Butte, Montana, probably the chief mining city in the country. Visit to a copper mine, descending 2000 feet in three minutes. Liv- ingston, Yellowstone National Park, the Wonderland, a unique museum of marvels. A five day's trip takes us through the park. Hot Springs, terraces of a variety of brilliant hues. Here is a mass of steam gushing from an opening in the ground, like from a safety valve on an engine, summer and winter, year by year. There is a geyser play- ing at regular intervals, hurling the boiling water to a height from one to two hundred feet; the sun shines through the mass, producing myriads of diamonds and pearls. Further on we notice superbly tinted caldrons, pools, immense so-called paint pots, with bubbling slime of all colors, boiling mud geysers, rising and falling in nau- seating gulps. We reach now Yellowstone Lake, the fa- mous inland sea, about 8000 feet above the ocean level. Oh, the loneliness of this great lake, for eight months scarcely a human eye beholds it. Near the edge of the lake there is a little cone containing a boiling pool; a fisherman catches a trout in the lake and without moving from his place, drops it in the boiling pool, and cooked! How awe inspiring the great falls, filling the air with diamonds, tint- ed spray, sending up to the cliffs a ceaseless roar. Pres- ently we stand near the edge of a yawning chasm of 1500
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feet, the walls painted with all shades of colors except blue, which Almighty supplies by the overspreading canopy of heaven. What a splendid vision! The Creator allows man to gaze spellbound upon these wonders of nature. The animals in the park are tame, bears approach the visitor for sweets, herds of roes and buffaloes may be seen.
July 10th finds us at Norris Basin with the so-called Black Growler, a small geyser whose angry voice can be distinctly heard four miles away. Side trip to Salt Lake City, founded in 1847 by the Mormons. The "Tabernacle," a huge and extraordinary structure resembling the shell of a turtle, with unexcelled acoustic and a fine organ. Near- by is the "Temple" of the Mormons, a handsome building of granite. The interior is not accessible to non-Mormons. Salt Lake twelve miles from the city, contains 25 per cent of pure salt (ocean only 3 to 4, Dead Sea 24 per cent). The bather in its water is "unsinkable." July 18th we reached Minneapolis and St. Paul. After a short visit we arrived at Dubuque. A sidetrip was made to the Trappists, New Melleray Abbey, about 12 miles from the city. The next morning the train took us to the great city on the lake, Chicago, and without delay we took the train to Kankakee, and again, there is no place like home: July 22, 1914. The reader will kindly pardon the dry enumeration of places and sights and dates in the foregoing, but this is all that the scope, nature and space of a publication of this kind would permit
Cemetery.
The last item to mention in the Parish History is the resting place of the pioneer and subsequent settlers, the Cemetery. The ground (1 acre) of SS. Peter and Paul's Cemetery was donated by Peter Geiger about 1869. The first one buried in the cemetery was a child, Mary Studer, died August, 1869, daughter of Francis and Mary Studer. The first adult buried was Michael Clodi in 1870. A Cemetery Cross was donated by Michael Frueh in 1902 with the following inscription (translated) :
"O, all ye that pass by the way attend and see, if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow."
4 Lament. 1, 12
May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
This hallowed plat of ground contains an interesting history. The pioneer settlers are gone, their plans, their schemes, their hopes, their cares, their reverses and their success are forgotten, but not their good deeds. These noble deeds should always be an inspiring example to our modern, pampered generation. All honor to their memory, may their souls rest in peace.
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SS. PETER AND PAUL'S CEMETERY
SS. Peter and Paul's Cemetery
List of Buried Taken From Tombstone Inscriptions and Interment Records Opened 1899
NAME
BORN
DIED
AGE
Michael Ruder
1865
Transferred from St. James Cemetery, then lo- cated at the present site of Old Lehigh.
Mary, daughter of A. and M. Jarvais
May 11, 1867
Joseph, son of A. and M. Jarvais
May 26, 1868 Aug. 9, 1869
Mary Studer, daughter of Francis and Mary
Frank Emling
June 4, 1819
March 9, 1869
July 11, 1870
29 years, 11 mo., 18 days
Elisa, daughter of A. and M. Jarvais
Dec. 15, 1870
1 year, 1 mo.
Martin Spitz
Oct. 12, 1870
March 5, 1871
Catherine Heimburger, daughter of John and Theresia
March 14, 1871
17 years, 9 mo. 1 day.
Sabetta Spitz
Nov. 22, 1849
March 18, 1871
Helena, daughter of I. and M. Knittel
July 16, 1871
10 mo., 29 days
Mary Anna, wife of Frank Emling
Aug. 28, 1825
Aug. 14, 1871 Sept. 3, 1871
20 years, 8 mo.
Our Little Infant, son of P. and M. Karcher
Sept. 19, 1871
Anna M., daughter of C. and L. Knittel
July 17,
1872
Geo. Grasser
Sept. 22, 1868
Feb. 5, 1873
A. M. Elizabeth, wife of Chryst Knittel
Oct. 12, 1851
Dec. 17, 1873
22 years, 2 mo., 5 days. 1 year, 3 mo.
Francis, son of N. and C. Weiler Matthias Clodi
Feb. 24, 1812
March 20, 1874 Jan. 20, 1877
Joseph L. Joron John Kral
Aug. 6, 1820
Oct. 27, 1877
Cecilia Clodi, wife of Matthias Clodi
Sept, 2,
1807
Dec. 20, 1877 1877
Barbara Ruder
1876
Mary Lena, daughter of M .and C. Studer
Jan. 10, 1878
March 8, 1878
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10 mo., 11 days.
March 25, 1877
1 mo., 14 days.
George P., son of George and Mary Peter
15 mo., 10 days
Michael Clodi
NAME
BORN
DIED
AGE
Apolonia, wife of Peter Geiger
March 27, 1822
March 28, 1878
Maria, wife of Paul Meyer .
May 25, 1878
48 years.
Apolinia, wife of Geo. Schosser
Feb. 16, 1817
Feb. 29, 1880
John Emling, son of F. and M. Emling
Oct. 11, 1856
March 9, 1880
John Heimburger .
Feb. 26, 1881
Marshal Rappel
Aug. 28, 1881
John B. son of M. and K. Weiler
Sept. 2, 1881
12 years, 1 mo.
Catherine, daughter of M. and K. Weiler Julia Rappel
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