USA > Illinois > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 45
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ST. PETER'S CHURCH, BELLEVILLE.
SECOND ST. PETER'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF BELLEVILLE.
BY DR. JUL. KOHL .*
THE compilation of the history of a congregation, like that of St.
* NOTE-The author of this sketch has taken his facts and dates from a
Peter's of Belleville, presents more difficulties than would appear at first glance. Material is scant, has to be collected from different sources, the most of it being traditional, and comprises a period of more than fifty years. The first missionary priests were generally manuscript of about 200 pages, entitled " History of St. Peter's congregation". written by Rev. L. Hinssen, the present Rector.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
content to labor, and leave the record of their deeds to God alone. The material of this historical sketch is collected to a great extent from the narratives of the old pioneers, and may of necessity, now and then, be a little at variance with real facts, as regards dates, etc.
The history of the establishment and development of St Peter's congregation to its present large proportion differs but little from that of every other congregation of the West. A few settlers form the nucleus, so in Belleville. Among the first of Catholics we find Mr. Etieune Pensoneau. When, in the year 1814, the County seat of St. Clair was removed from Cahokia to Belleville, Mr. Pensoneau obtained the contract for the building of the new Court house. It appears that Mr. Pensoneau owned the greater part of the land in and around Belleville, which in the year 1825 he sold to Governor N. Edwards. It is more than probable, that now and then divine service was held in his house by priests from Cahokia, at which place a flourishing congregation had been in existence for about 200 years. The congregation of Cahokia consisted mostly of French, and some few German and English Catholics. About the year 1830 other Catholic families removed from Cahokia to Belle- ville. Prominent among them were were the names of Hay, Snyder, Chandler, La Croix. A son of Mr. Hay is our worthy Ex-Congressman, Hon. J. B. Hay. A son of Mr. Snyder is our beloved fellow-citizen, Hon. Win. H. Snyder, Judge of the Circuit Court, while Mrs. Chandler and Mr. R La Croix, Mrs. Mary Mueller, formerly Miss Demette, and others are all enjoying the love and esteem of the citizens of Belleville. In the houses of most of the above mentioned divine service was held by priests from Cahokia, Kaskaskia and St. Louis. Only two German Catholic families were living near Belleville at that time. But in the year 1830 Germans began to settle in and around Belleville. We find the names of Hyacinth Minie, Anthony Joffray, Peter Mersinger, G. J. Adam, Peter Fegan, John Kern. Two years later L. Boul, L. Germain, N. Robo, N. Stauder, J. Priegler, Karlskind, Pfeiffer, Perrin, Lutz, Prospor Pournor, with his two sons, Jacob and Leverin. They came from Alsace and Lorrain. Mr. N. Robo is the only survivor of the first comers. He is the old member of St. Peter's congregation, and now 85 years old. After the year 1832 immigration assumed larger proportions. Numerous Catholic arrived. We find the following names : Joseph Meyer, N. Meyer, still one of the most prominent members of the congregation. Probably no one has done so much for the church as he. Froehlich, Mueller, Louis, Wisrock (now in Texas), Huber, Wagner, Gundlach, Steinwasser, Bosch, Sholz, Dahm, Kissel, Stauder, and others. By this time the number of Catholics was enough to form a congregation, but they had not the means to build a church. Mass was said in the different houses, sometimes in the Court-house. To comply with their Easter duties, they went to St. Louis to the Cathedral Church, or to St. Thomas Church, in the vicinity of Centreville. In the latter part of the year 1839, a priest from Cahokia visited Belleville with more regularity. For some time it was Father Loisel, a Frenchman. Afterward Father Dontreligne, a member of the Lazarists of St Louis and Cape Girardeau. Mention of him will be made elsewhere.
The first German priest who visited Belleville was Father Meyer. He came from Prairie du Long. Besides Belleville, Father Meyer visited Shiloh and O'Fallon. Near Shiloh there was a little log church called the Stauder church. Whenever Mr. Stauder was advised of the arrival of a priest he would call the settlers together. After mass Mr. Stauder would also provide for the bodily needs of those that came from a distance. The bell used at that chapel is hanging at present on the north side of St. Agnes Orphan Asylum, Belleville. It is the only relic of those bygone days.
In the year 1842 the Catholics of Belleville received their first pastor in the person of Rev. Father Kuenster. His name appears on the baptismal record, first on November 20, 1842, and last, on September 24, 1845. Father Kuenster labored hard to establish a congregation and with success. He held divine service in the houses of Messrs. Joseph Meyer and N. Meyer, the latter still an active and highly meritorious member of St. Peter's congregation. But seeing the congregation steadily increasing he decided to build a church. His decision was hailed by all with joy. Two acres of land were bought of Mr. Joseph Meyer, for the sum of two hun- dred dollars. They were situated on what was then just on the line of the city limits where now St. Peter's Church and the Institute of the Immaculate Conception stand. In the spring of 1843 the corner stone was laid by the Right Reverend Peter Richard Ken- rick, at present Archbishop of St. Louis. The dimensions of the proposed building were sixty feet by forty. Mr. Nicholas Meyer received the contract for the brickwork for the sum of one hundred and eighty dollars, the lowest bid. The building progressed slowly for the want of means. People were poor, as may be inferred from the fact that only thirteen members of the congregation declared themselves able to contribute money, the rest paid their subscrip- tion in labor. It took more than a year before they could get the church under roof, and for a long time afterwards it was neither plastered nor floored, so that the faithful coming to mass on Sunday, had to kneel on the bare ground. Father Kuenster was discouraged. Other troubles began to surround him. Because he had refused to admit a bad Catholic to stand for godmother at the baptism of an infant, a mob from Centerville waylaid him at a place where now West Belleville is built. They carried him off to Centerville and from there about three miles farther to an oll log- house, where they kept him 22 hours without water and food. For some time it was not known among the Catholics of Belleville where Father Kuenster was, until a messenger brought the news, whereupon several men of Belleville started out to release him. The families of those who took part in that fiendish act against the priest have all disappeared, their fate has been poverty and dis- honor. But under such circumstances it became desirable for Father Kuenster to be removed from Belleville. His superior therefore trausferred him to Teutopolis, Effingham Co. Ills., but soon afterwards he went to Quincy, where he died. Whilst he was in Belleville he visited regularly the settlements in St. Libory, Germantown, Clinton County ; Red Bud, Randolph Co., and Edwardsville, Madison Co., 1845 to 1855. The successor of Father Kuenster as pastor at Belleville was the Rev. Father G. H Ostlangenberg. He was a native of Alsace Lorrain He must have arrived about the middle of September, 1845, for we find his name in the Baptismal Record of the congregational on the 28th of September, 1845. Father Ostlangenberg was a man of great piety, zeal for the honor of God, and of great kindness of heart. Add to this, that he spoke French, German, and English fluently.
No wonder that he laboured with great success in the numerous congregations of French, German and English catholics. His first task was to complete the new church, which his predecessor had begun, and to clear it from debt. This done, his next undertaking was to establish a catholic school, to protect the children of his congregation against a godless education. In the fall of 1849, he took a trip to Europe, to see his old home. During his absence the congregation built him a residence. Whilst pastor at Belleville, he attended regularly the Catholic settlements in Mascoutah, Prairie du Long, Freeburg and Centerville. Father Ostlangenberg. though beloved by the congregation re- mained poor. He often had to beg for the most necessary things,
CITY HALL, BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS.
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ST. AGNES ORPHAN ASYLUM,(CONDUCTED BY SISTERS OF CHARITY. ) BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS .
RESIDENCE& STORE OF H.FRIED EWALD ESQ.SHILOH, ST.CLAIR CO. I'LL.
ST ELISABETH HOSPITAL(CONDUCTED BY SISTERS OF CHARITY.) BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS.
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
even food, and for the first two years he had not even a bed to sleep on. However, he persevered, trusting to God and better times. The congregation increased rapidly by immigration and converts. Twice during his administration the sacrament of con- firmation was administered. The first time by Bishop Quarter, from Chicago; the other time by his successor, Bishop Van de Velde. Although Father Ostlangenberg was a man of great piety and kindness of heart, nevertheless he had his enemies. They caused him a great deal of trouble and grief; broken in heart he left Belle- ville. But whilst his enemies have disappeared altogether, reduced to poverty and oblivion, the name of Father Ostlangenberg is kept in veneration by all. At present he is stationed in Augusta, Ken- tucky.
The successor of Rev. Ostlangenberg was Rev. Father P. J. Baltes, of St. Paul's Church in Waterloo, Monroe county, Illinois, at present bishop of the diocese of Alton. The Right Rev. P. J. Baltes was born in Germany ; at the age of seven he came to this country with his parents, who settled at Oswego, New York. He finished his ecclesiastical studies at Montreal, in the Sulpitian Sem- inary, and was ordained prist in the year 1853. With a firm haud he took hold of everything to further the progress of his congrega- tion. He took great pains to conduct divine service in a worthy manner, and had the church ornamented by nice fresco-paintings. During the first year of his administration a large new bell was purchased. On the occasion of the blessing, it was carried through the streets of Belleville in a large procession, November 26, 1856 ; the Rev. Father Siegrist, of St. Louis, delivered the sermon. In the year 1857, he took up a collection for the building of a convent for sisters, for the education of the girls of the congregation. Else- where will be found a description of his success in this undertaking. In the year 1863, every one could see that the church which had been built by Father Kuenster twenty years ago, was inadequate for the accommodation of the constantly increasing congregation. Permission to build a new church was readily granted by his grace the Rt. Rev. Bishop D. Juncker, of Alton, Illinois, and on June the 29th, 1863, the corner-stone was laid by the same in the presence of the whole congregation, and numerous priests of the diocese of Alton and St. Louis. The building of the new church progressed rapidly under the direction of Mr. Brady, from St. Louis, the architect. Catholics and protestants alike looked forward with eagerness to its completion, when misfortune overtook the work on December 6, 1865. On that day one of the large pillars, which had unfortunately been constructed of brick gave way, and the beautiful edifice, the pride of the city of Belleville, the work of years, fell to- gether a heap of ruins. Consternation betook all, but not the one who had undertaken and conducted the whole work ; Father Baltes stood like a man. Trusting in God and his good parishoners, he began the work anew, and in less than one year the church rose out of it ruins better and finer than before. About the 1st of October, 1866, the building was completed with the exception of the towers. In November, 1866, priests and people had the pleasure to see the magnificent temple dedicated to the worship of God in the presence of Rt. Rev. P. R Kenrick, archbishop of St. Louis; Bishop Luers, of Fort Wayne, and Rt. Rev. Bishop D. Juncker, of Alton, and numerous priests and people. The cost of erection amounted to $87,000. Mr. Nic. Meyer made the brickwork ; Mr. U. Becker the masonry ; Mr. Rufus Melcher the carpenter work ; Mr. Stoppel- kamp the furniture, and Mr. Gratian of Alton, the organ, which alone cost $4,200. The church is built in Gothic style, has one large and one small steeple, the larger one being 213 feet high. The inside is divided in three naves, and a spacious sanctuary. The dimensions are as follows : depth of church 198 feet, width 70 feet,
height 65 feet. The high altar built in Gothic style by Mr. Stop- pelkamp of St. Louis, was put up in the spring of the year 1870, and in the month of May the saine year, was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop P. J. Baltes. There are four life-size statnes on the altar, St. Jerome, St. Ignatius, St. Charles Borromeo and St. Francis of Sales. They were made by Mr. Schneiderhahn of St. Louis, and are masterpieces of art. Mr. Schneiderhahn three years afterwards built also the altar of the Blessed Virgin and the statnes thereon. Finer pieces of art can hardly be found anywhere. The altar is built like everything connected with St. Peter's church in Gothic style, richly ornamented. The statute of the Blessed Virgin with the infant Naviour graces the centre niche, while the two side niches are adorned with the statues of the youthful saints St. Aloysius and Rosa of Lima. Near the main entrance of the church on the gospel side, there is the Baptismal font and a statue of the mother of Dolors, also from Mr. Schneiderhahn. It is like the celebrated "Pieta " of Achterman. The paintings consist of one large fresco painting, representing the transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor, the other of any note is an oil painting represent- ing Saint Margaret Alocoque, with the well-known picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the second year after the dedication of St. Peter's Church, 1868, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Juncker of Alton died ; Father Baltes was appointed administrator, and about thir- teen months afterwards bishop of the diocese of Alton, by his holi- ness Pope Pius IX. His consecration, of which mention will be made hereafter, took place January 23, 1870.
1870 TO 1881.
The successor of Father Baltes was Rev. Father Louis Hinssen, the present rector of the congregation. Aside from an enormous church debt, resulting from the building, downfall and rebuilding of St. Peter's church, etc., the new rector found a well-regulated and large congregation. With youthful energy he took hold of every- thing likely to further the interests and welfare of his flock. His first care was to reduce the church debt, by collections taken up through the congregation, by fairs, and by obtaining money at a lower rate of interest. He succeeded so well in this, that now, after the lapse of eleven years, after having paid during that time the sum of $27,560 for interest on the old church debt, $56,420 for new buildings and other improvements, and more than $30,000 for cur- rent expenses, the debt is reduced to nearly one-half of what it was. At the same time, numerous other improvements have been made during his administration. Among others, we mention the building of the two spires of St. Peter's church, at a cost of about $10,000; the life-size statues on the high altar; the altar of the Blessed Vir- gin, in gothic style and richly ornamented, which cost $1675 ; the Catholic Casino building, the St. Agnes Orphan Asylum, the acqui- sition of the new St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery on Green Mount, and lastly, the fine St. Elizabeth Hospital for the Sisters of Charity, which was completed May 21, 1881, and on the following day, May 22, opened for the reception of patients .* He was also instrumental
* 1. All patients wishing to have access to the hospital must get a permit from the rector of St. Peter's church, together with a recommendation of any physician of good standing in the county of St. Clair, in which the sickness is stated. If it be a case of accident or any other urgent case, the admission is left optionable with the Sister Superioress of the hospital.
2. The charges for ward patients are from $4 to $6 per week, including board and medicines. Delicacies, fine wines, etc., prescribed by the physician, form extra charges.
3. Private patients, who are able to pay for medical services, either surgical or otherwise, have to pay for them. They pay to the hospital from $6 to $8 per week. Delicacies, fine wines, etc , preseribed by the physician, form extra charges.
4. Any patient wishing to employ any other physician than those connected
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
in establishing several societies for the interests of his church and his parishioners, so the St. Peter's Altar Society, the object of which is to provide means for beautifying the altars of the church and everything necessary for divine service; the St. Cecilian Society, for good church music, with about fifty members, Mr. Clemens Wel- lenbrink, director; the sodalities of the Blessed Virgin, for young men and young ladies ; a Library and Reading society, with a cata- logue of at least 1100 works; the St. Aloysius Debating Club, for the intellectual improvement and amusement of young men ; the St. Aloysius and St. Rosa Society, for first communicants; the Catholic Casino, for the intellectual improvement and recreation of the men of the congregation, by lectures, speeches, debates and con- certs A building was erected for the club at a cost of $15,000, including furniture. etc. It contains, in the first story, two store- rooms; in the rear, two reading-rooms and a large school-room for a high school for boys. The second story contains one large hall for the accommodation of five hundred people, a stage, gallery and dress-room. The s ciety was organized December 26th, 1873, with one hundred and forty two members ; Dr. Julius Kohl, president ; Henry Reiss, secretary. This society had the same object in view as the Catholic casinos in Germany, and no doubt would have accomplished the same good; but because of the narrow-minded- ness of some and the self-interest of others, it met with obstacles from directions least expected, and its operations were suspended for the time being ; also the High school.
The St. Peter's Benevolent Society was organized February 2d, 1872, with Mr. M. Reiss as first president, and Valentine Reiterman as secretary. The society has expended for sick members, for the widows and children of deceased members since its establishment, the sum of $12,994, and has at present $4000 on interest. It num- bers two hundred and eighteen members. The Order of Catholic Knights of America was established in the month of March, 1880, with Mr. J. B. Tenner as president, and Henry Reiss, secretary. The object of the society is the same as that of any other life insur- ance company ; the society issues life insurance policies of $2000 to its members. The centre around which such Catholic life pulsates in Belleville is St. Peter's church. To get an idea of the number of persons it can accommodate, and at the same time of the number of Catholics iu and around Belleville, one must place himself on Sunday morning, just before divine service is over, in front of the church, to see the crowds coming out of its doors, as if the half of the city of Belleville had knelt before the altar of St. Peter's
with the hospital, can do so by making their request known to the Sister Superioress; but in this case they have to pay the charges of the physician and the medicine extra, and the Sisters will in no case be responsible for them.
5. Patients wishing to leave the hospital, must give notice to the Sister Superioress, between the hours of 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning and from 2 to 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
6. Loud talking or noise of any kind, smoking, spitting upon the floor, use of liquors, are strictly forbidden. Persons wishing to donate anything for the use of the patients, must band it to the Sisters, who will properly apply the same.
7. Patients are requested to be in their room when the physicians or sur- geons are paying their regular visits; the same is required at medicine hours.
8. Visitors to the hospital will be admitted on Tuesday and Friday of each week, from 9 to 11 o'clock in the forenoon and from 2 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
9. All billa must be paid for weekly in advance.
10. Patients wishing to go out, will give notice to the Superioress. They should state where they are going to and when they will return. After six o'clock P. M. no patient is allowed to be out.
11. All complaints, if there be any, must be made known to the Sister Superioress.
church. Divine service is conducted in a becoming manner, and is very imposing on the great festival days of the church. The hours for divine service are, on Sundays, first mass at six o'clock, second mass half-past seven, high mass and German sermon at ten o'clock, vespers at three o'clock ; on week-days, first mass is at half- past six, second mass at half-past seven o'clock. Present number of Catholic souls, 4000; present number of Easter communions, 2560; number of yearly communions, 16,000; school children, 700; number of children prepared for first holy communion, since 1870, is 1423.
EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS AND INCIDENTS IN THE HISTORY OF ST. PETER'S CONGREGATION.
1. The first general festival of any note was the consecration of the new bell for St. Peter's church, on November 26th, 1856. It was carried about in a procession through the streets of Belleville, before it was consecrated by Archbishop Kenrick, of St. Louis. Rev. Father Siegrist delivered the oration of the day.
2. The laying of the coruer stone of the new St. Peter's church by Bishop Juncker, of Alton, on June 29th, 1863, was another gala day of the congregation.
3. So was the day of the dedication of St. Peter's church, Novem- ber 6th, 1866, in the presence of several bishops, many priests and people.
4. The next event of importance was the consecration of the Pastor of St. Peter's congregation, the Rev. Father Baltes, as Bishop of Alton, January 23d, 1870. Bishop Luers, of Fort Wayne, Ind., assisted by Bishop Toebbe, of Covington, Ky., was the consecrator. The Very Rev., now Bishop Ryan, of St. Louis, Very Rev. Schæ- fermeier of Quincy, Very Rev. Muehlsiepen, V. G. of St. Louis, Very Rev. Coosemanns, S. J. of St. Louis, Very Rev. J. Janssen, V.G., and about forty other clergymen, were in the sanctuary. The Very Rev. P. S. Ryan, of St. Louis, delivered the English sermon ; Rev. Schweninger, of Cincinnati, the German. The concourse of people was immense. After the consecration, the new bishop gave his first episcopal blessing.
5. Another memorable event in the history of St Peter's congre- gation was the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the coronation of Pope Pius IX., June 21st, 1871. We copy from the Missouri Republican the following description :
Coronation of Pope Pius the IX. Grand Celebration in Belleville.
The twenty-fifth anniversary of the coronation of Pius IX was celebrated by the Catholics of Belleville and vicinity yesterday, in a manuer which shows that the spirit of that grand old church is still animated and living, and its members ever ready to do honor to its supreme head: It is historically true that the present pope is the only one, through the long line of pontiffs of the Catholic hierarchy, who has occupied uninterruptedly that position for twen- ty-five years ; and in view of this fact, and for the purpose of pay- ing a tribute of respect not only to the pope for his incorruptible life during the many vicissitudes in which he has passed as priest, bishop, and pontiff, but as the supreme head of the Catholic church throughout the worid, the members of that church, both in Europe and America are at the present moment generally and zealously celebrating the occasion. The Catholics of Belleville have not been remise in this pleasing duty. At an early hour the booming of cannon from Eimers Hill was a sure indication that something of more than ordinary importance was about to be enacted. The programme of the proceedings of the day which have been publish- ed in the papers of that city was faithfully carried out by the com- mittee appointed for that purpose. At eight o'clock in the morning
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HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
solemn high mass was celebrated in the large and exquisitely fur- nished church, which was most tastefully decorated, both outside and inside, with garlands, wreaths, pictures, &c. Rev. Father Tro- gan was the celebrant, assisted by Revs. Berlage, Kloke, Levi, Janssem, Pinkers, and the pastor, Father Hinssen. A full choir was in attendance, and the music was more than ordinarily fine. We could not but notice particularly the rendition at the offertory of Zambillots Ecce pavis by the choir, which was executed in fine style, and in a manner melting the hearts of the worshippers there assembled.
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