USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > The history of Catholicity in Stephenson County; Illinois > Part 2
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Stephenson County, Illinois, 1896.
THE EARLY Catholic Settlers in Stephenson County.
Heroism has many phases and is variously developed by courage and by fortitude. The heroism of the battlefield is easily recognized and rarely fails to meet with the reward of fame; the brave soldier, the sturdy sailor, the gallant fireman-these are heroes whose right to applause is never questioned, and among them any manly man would gladly be classed, but there is a si- lent heroism, a hidden fortitude, an unproclaimed courage in many spheres of human action that escape the ordinary observer and are seldom recorded on the pages of history, Such was the heroism of the explorer, such the fortitude of a pioneer's wife, such the courage of the pioneer himself. Ah, those early settlers ! those brave men and women who severed the ties of kindred and of friendship, who uprooted the fondest affections for place and people to go into strange lands and among savage tribes in search of a home, in search of a support denied them elsewhere. If we pause to reflect upon the condition of things, in the early part of our century, we will not hesitate to recognize the heroism it re- quired to settle on the prairies of Illinois, or in the forests of Wis- consin, and to make one's way, sometimes with nature, and more times against her, towards the foundation of a home. A thous- and difficulties, unknown in our day, and therefore not to be realized by us, rose up in the pathway of the first settlers striving to gain mere subsistence, where prosperity now offers freely the richest gifts. We would be ungrateful indeed, were we to forget those whose sacrifices and labors secured for us an inheritance of
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Golden Jubilee Souvenir.
faith and prosperity. All honor then to the early settlers of our county and our town ! We fain would see their names, not only recorded in this little book but inscribed upon monuments of marble in letters of gold ! Think of the absence of physical com- forts, of the dearth of mental food, of the loneliness and even des- olation. Above all and before all, with the Catholic pioneer, ranked spiritual comforts and food for the soul, yet how frequent- ly these were lacking, so that we find him, with his family, walk- ing long miles over rough country roads, to assist at Holy Mass,
THE LATE GEN. GEO. W. JONES, OF DUBUQUE.
or selling his last cow in order to donate his share towards the erection of a log church, near his own farm and amid the simple homes of his neighbors, each of whom had made similar sacrifices to gain benefits ranked by him above all other blessings.
In 1832, when the late lamented General Jones, of Dubuque, visited the Black Hawk battle-fields, in search of the remains of Col. Dufresne, his brother-in-law, he met with Father E. Brady. a pioneer priest of Michigan, and they together visited what re-
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Stephenson County, Illinois, 1896.
mained of the house in which was celebrated the first Mass offered in Stephenson County.
This, as we have elsewhere stated, was the home of Simon Brady, the first Catholic settler in our county, he having located here in 1827. He was a cousin of Father Brady, mentioned above, and is remembered as a devout and faithful son of the Church, esteeming himself more highly honored by the offering of the Holy Sacrifice under his roof than if he had entertained all the kings of Europe.
THE LATE MR. AND MRS. THOMAS BARRON.
Some of our citizens may remember Freeport's first court house, also the fact that its foundation was laid by James Burns and William Kilpatrick, who came here in 1836. The former bought from the U. S. government forty acres of land, bordering on the river, on a portion of which the Brewster House now stands ; the latter purchased a hundred and sixty acres upon which the greater part of Freeport is built. James Burns, having sold his property, went to Ireland, about 1841, and was there married to Miss Kate Barry, in 1845. Returning to Freeport in
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Golden Jubilee Souvenir.
1850, he made here his home and proved himself a worthy mem- ber of St. Mary's parish.
William Kirkpatrick remained in Freeport until 1844 or '45, after which he resided in Canada, where he went in company with the Cavanaugh Brothers of Dublin.
Edmund Mullarkey and family came from Indiana in 1836, and settled in Irish Grove. Daniel and Anthony, sons of Ed- mund Mullarkey, are still prominent members of that parish and identify themselves with every religious and charitable under- taking. Mrs. Sartori, nee Kate Mullarkey, a descendent of Ed- mund's, is a resident of LeMars, Iowa, where she takes an active part in religious, charitable and educational affairs. She was this year elected president of the Ladies' Auxiliary Committee of the Western Summer School at Madison, Wis. She was educated at St. Clara's Academy, Sinsinawa, Wis. Portraits of Messrs. Anthony and Daniel Mullarkey and of their wives will be found in this work.
In the same year, 1836, the following old settlers and their families came to Stephenson County, viz : Thomas, Patrick and Michael Flynn, Robert and George Cavanaugh, John Glynn, James, Nicholas, Michael and Peter Fenlon.
Rev. Father Petiot said Mass in Michael Walsh's log house in 1841; this was the first time the Holy Sacrifice was offered in Irish Grove; the house now belongs to James Spellmann.
In 1842 there came to the county, with their families, Mich- ael Stenson, Martin Mullin, Thomas Brie, Thomas Cuff, Thomas Fox, Thomas Flemming, Thomas Howley, Patrick Richardson, John Blaney, Patrick Bradley, Matthew Reedy, Michael Blimm, Peter Mullin, Austin O'Malley, Thomas Slack, Martin and James Fitzpatrick, James Owens, Denis O'Donavan, Denis and Edward Doonan, Patrick O'Malley, Matthew Doyle, John Ginnenwein, John Spellmann, William Marlow and Maurice Hyland.
The last named settled in Rock Run township in 1846, where he now possesses a fine farm which he purchased, in those old days, directly from the government. Many a time his log dwell- ing was not only the abiding place of the priest of God but the
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Stephenson County, Illinois, 1896.
£
PATRICK FINN. MICHAEL KENNEDY.
MICHAEL NOLAN. JAMES O'BRIEN. ANDREW FAY.
MICHAEL MOONEY. HIMICHAEL STACK. 100L
STUDENTS' LIBRARY
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Golden Jubilee Souvenir.
shelter under which was offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
During the time that elapsed between the years 1842 and 1850, homes were built in Stephenson County, for themselves and families, by the following faithful members of God's Church :
MRS. CATHERINE EGAN. Sister of the lamented Rev. John Cavanaugh, the pioneer Priest.
John and Michael Graham, Denis Hawkins, M. Muligan, John Carty, John Maloney, J. Daley, Edward Crowe, Thomas McDon- ough, M. Geary, Martin Sughrove, Edward Kealy, James Murry, James Cullen, Charles Hopkins, Edward McNally, W. Rowen,.
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Stephenson County, Illinois, 1896.
William Gray, John Tracey, James Sullivan, Michael O'Leary, James Cox, John Herrington, Thomas Cashman, Thomas Kee- nan, Thomas McGuire, William McGurk, John Barron, Philip Hogan, Michael O'Boyle, Moses McGrath, Patrick Callen, Mary O'Sullivan, Patrick Moulton, Richard Gould, Elizabeth Cavan- augh, Lawrence Murphy, John Scanlan, John Kennedy, Robert Moran, Robert Franey, Catherine Murphy, George Murphy, Thomas Summers, John McNamara, Dennis Cavanaugh, Wm. Dunn, Bart Doyle, Francis Higgins, Christopher Hughes, Mary Murphy, John Menlove, Stephen Byrne, John Mullarkey, Dennis Quinlan, Edward Higgins, J. B. Vale, A. Malloy, H. Collins, W. Kinney, W. T. Cox, James Murphy, Pat Parron, Pat O'Brien, James Campbell, Frances Foley, Robert Wall, A. Hawley, Thomas Hawkins, Patrick Hawkins, Daniel Hawley, John Walsh, Joseph Carey, Charles O'Neil, Joseph Hays, James Hays, Jacob Burns, John Murray, James McCauley, C. Cummings, J. Cooney, Wm. Hamilton, Miles O'Brien, Ellen Doran, David Graham, John Graham, John Daley, Thomas Flemming, Peter Began, Jane Kelly, Thomas Howley, Annie Kern, A. McKenny, Thomas Kelly, Patrick Giblin, Dan Cavanaugh, John Howe, Patrick Lucy, James Kugan, James O'Brien, John O'Brien, Mat Carmody, James Cavanaugh, William Gould, Dan Brown, Andrew Farrell, Dennis Meagher, Michael Donovan, John Flanagan, Michael Reed, Thomas Reed, Michael Bowler, Pat Burns, Martin Byrnes, John Eagan, John Mclaughlin, Bernard McCarthy, John Howes, Michael Laughlin, John Gannon, John Buckly, Patrick McGrane, James Barry, Joseph Pere, Windel Miller, Michael Mitchell, Matthias Kishermer, Matt Hettinger, John Hettinger, George Lamm, Philip Hamm, Andrew Hamm, William Hamm, Mr. Nohe, Henry Pifer, Joe Miller, Henry Lichtenberger, George Lichtenberger, Michael Bangasser, George Bangasser, Adam Rippberger, Peter Altes, Anthony Schaedel, Dony Schaedel, Joe Rapple, George Bruehler, Thomas Barron, William Barron, James O'Brien, John Foley, Patrick Hanafin, Bernard Coyle, Walter Barry, James Cavanaugh, Mrs. Carroll, Mr. Vail, John Loftus, John Martin, James Sullivan.
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Golden Jubilee Souvenir.
1850 TO 1860 .- Wm. Osborne, Patrick Lacey, J. J. Sweeney, Dennis Sweeney, James McCarthy, John O'Brien, Dennis O'Con- nell, John O'Connor, Michael Cowley, Michael Ryan, John Lane, Patrick Carrigan, Michael Kennedy, Patrick Silk, Thomas Glavin, Bernard McGuire, John Collins, James Hart, Jolin Crossen, Peter Bordaux, Patrick Kelly, John Keenan, Anthony Gavin, Morris Wingert, Bernard Devy, Patrick Hannifan, John Fanon, Patrick Riley, William Power, Thomas O'Connor, John Rapp, John Hen- sing, Robert Moran, Peter O'Regan, Dennis Murphy, Patrick Henry, Edward Connelly, Brien Casey, John Mahony, Carroll Fitzgibbons, Michael Nohe, John McGinnis, Richard Drever, George Shady, Michael Madegan, Dennis Haskens, Joseph Bar, John Lammon, Martin Lally, Patrick Mayly, Patrick Naton, Wm. Mannin, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Thomas Hollis, Martin Crowe, Wm. Lawler, Andrew Williams, Thomas Cashman, Edward Lynch, Robert Welsh, James Cox, Laurence Lyons, James Len- ard, Thomas Keily, Michael Flar, John Power, John Sullivan, Thomas Hasset, Richard Hughes, John Sheehan, John Mahan, Martin Sordan, Michael Cowley, Thomas Ryan, James Kane, Michael Maher, James Casey, James Boyle, John Regan, Martin Fitzpatrick, Patrick McGrane, Patrick Mackin, Peter Grady, William Sheehan, George Scott, Matthew O'Neal, John Vail, Pat- rick McGrath, Pat McGuinnis, Thomas Gordon, Michael Brod- erick, Thomas Mooney, Joseph Rapple, Philip Steffen, James Hanahan, Thomas Grant, Patrick Silk, Richard Goff, Wm. Hyde, Richard McCale, Pat Dougherty, Thomas Gray, Martin McAn drews, James Darrah, George Blust, John Lyous, James Nolin, Thomas Lane, James Hogan, Bernard Casey, Richard Madigan, Anton Rodemeyer, Patrick McCoy, John Loftus, James Welch, Daniel Allen, Moses Burns, James Kane, John McDonnell, Rob- ert Welch, Thomas Craton, Patrick Garreton, Thomas O'Connell, Joseph Brewster, Pat Hanafin, Pat Casey, Wm. Gallagher, M. Mullin, Cornelius Murphy, John McCalligot, Bernard Deery, James Keogh, James Cavanaugh, Patrick Root, Martin Lawless, Tom Barry, John McGinity, Pat Farrell, James Flanagan, John Wall, James McCarthy, Andrew Williams, John Reddington,
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Stephenson County, Illinois, 1896.
1
-
THE LATE MRS. MARGARET WALL.
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Golden Jubilee Souvenir.
Patrick Cawley, Patrick Hamilton, John Lahey, James Lahey, Joseph Lambert, James Hanagan, Timothy Coffee, Michael Dady, James Simson, Nicholas Glynn, Wm. Connell, Patrick Laly, Den- nis Sweeney, Patrick Brennan, John Carr, Stephen Rigney, Christopher Skelley, Richard Dunn, Edward Mullaney, Pat Mc- Govern, Dan Brown, Lawrence Seifert, M. Schneider, Pat Keenan, James Grace, Wm. Lahey, Thomas Brady, James Daley, Owen McCarthy, Pat Ward, Dan Kane, John McNerney, Edward Joyce.
These are a part of the great number of families that settled in this county before 1860.
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Stephenson County, Illinois, 1896.
The Foundation of St. Mary's Parish, FREEPORT, ILL.
" An old meadow can be ploughed in straight furrows, but in ' a clearing' the plough must be turned aside for stumps and be lifted over rocks." There is much homely wisdom in this assertion of an author whose name we cannot now recall, and it ·contains a figure suggestive of the work done in pioneer days for religion as well as for agriculture. The devoted priests who dwelt in our county, from 1836 to 1855, worked in "the clear- ing"; they felled the trees, as it were, and prepared not only the harvest fields, but the pathways which were to become, ere long, highways to a then undreamed of prosperity. The soil has proved good, but in the "30's " and " 40's," and the " 50's," only a divinely enlightened eye, or prophetic spirit, could have ·discerned its value, for during that time the " clearing " was full of the stumps of human difficulty and of rocks of providential plac- ing, such as God uses to test the strength of His chosen servants, but there were never wanting skillful, willing hands, under the guidance of wise heads, to turn the plough around the stumps or to lift it o'er the rocks.
The pastors of St. Mary's Church, from the earliest date to the present time, were Rev. Ferdinand Kalvelage (July, 1854- July, 1859), Rev. Thomas O'Gara (August 1859-March, 1866,) Rev. Fathers Westkamp and Fischer (assistants to Father Kalvelage), Rev. Thomas Kennedy (March, 1866-September, 1866), Rev. George Rigby (September, 1866-March, 1867), Rev. M. J. Hanley (March, 1867-August, 1869), Rev. P. L. Hendricks (August, 1869-February, 1870), Rev. F. J. Murtah (February,
3
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Golden Jubilee Souvenir.
1870-May, 1871), Rev. M. Stack (May, 1871-April, 1877), Rev. Thomas Mangan (April, 1877-October, 1887), Rev. M. Welby (October, 1877-February, 1890), and Rev. W. A. Horan (February, 1890-).
REV. FERDINAND KALVALAGE, The second Pastor of St. Mary's Church.
In 1854 Rev. Jas. Cavanaugh came to Freeport as its first resident pastor, and in 1855 the first Catholic church, "old St. Mary's," a plain frame building, was erected by the joint congre- gation of Germans and Irish. Father Kalvelage, as was men- tioned above, took charge of the parish in 1859, and when the
MR. AND MRS. P. M'GRATH. MR. AND MRS. WM. VAIL. MR. AND MRS. HUGH CLARK. MR. AND MRS. D. O'CONNELL. MR. AND MRS. M. FAGAN.
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parishes were divided, in 1862, he continued in charge of the German congregation, which had, in the meantime, completed another church and had it dedicated under the patronage of St. Joseph. Father O'Gara became pastor of St. Mary's after this separation.
For Rev. Father Hanley, the people erected a comfortable brick residence, which Father Stack, with unselfish zeal, gave to the Sisters for a dwelling place, while he took up his abode in the attic of the school building. In course of time he caused the original St. Mary's Convent to be constructed, also the first St. Mary's Parochial School. The Sisters, Dominicans from Sinsin- awa, numbered four, a music teacher and two teachers for the school, also one to oversee household affairs. During Father Stack's pastorate there was a vigor in the life of the parish that had excellent results.
Father Mangan's ten years were distinguished by several excellent improvements ; the cemetery was surveyed, plotted and beautified, the church was raised and otherwise repaired, and an addition was built to the pastoral residence.
Rev. Father Welby, who was highly revered by his people, died while absent from his parish, on a journey taken for the benefit of his health. Father Horan, who had taken charge of the parish during Father Welby's absence, succeeded him as pastor.
Such, in brief, is the history of the " old St. Mary's "; simple indeed, but nothing is great in itself; it is only the doing of it that makes it great, and to such greatness the simplest deeds lend themselves. God does not care for mere results; what He does care for is the nice workmanship which our human personality has the power to lavish on the indifferent materials of an ordin- ary life and from which the finest results may originate.
Our readers will find it interesting, we do not doubt, to review the biographical sketches that appeared in a local paper, at the time of the dedication of the present church, hence we repeat them here, in addition to the brief statements made on the previous pages, regarding the labors of St. Mary's pastors:
MRS. M. MAHAN. MRS. HANAFIN. MRS. M. DELANEY.
MRS. HAGERTY. MRS. GARVEY.
MRS. O'ROURKE. MRS. R. CASEY. MRS. JOHANAH NOLAN.
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Golden Jubilee Souvenir.
RECORDS OF THE PASTORS.
In the modest home of James Cavanaugh and Mary Keogh, his wife, in county West Meath, Ireland, was born a son in the year 1823. He was christened John, and his early days were spent in rural simplicity, for his father was a farmer and toiled early and late for the sustenance of his little flock. It was in this atmosphere that the boy took on the lines of character which characterized him as a man. It was here, too, that he received an education in hardihood eminently fitting him to take up his life work in a new section of America.
When seven years old the lad began attending school near his home. Three years later, he started for Mellingar, Carlow college, at which institution he studied until thirteen years of age. Next he attended college at Rheims, France, for seven years, and then entered the All Hallows College, near Dublin, where he remained about three years. During his entire school life, he showed himself to be an earnest student and made rapid progress in pursuing the course of study prescribed in each institution that he attended.
In 1846 he set his face westward, landing at New York city and going directly from there to Chicago. At the latter place he was ordained a priest, by Bishop Quarter, in 1847.
Soon after his ordination Father Cavanaugh came west to this county and located at New Dublin. His mission included New Dublin, Freeport, Irish Grove and the Fenlon settlement, north of Davis. Of these places only two-New Dublin and Irish Grove-had church edifices. Besides the parishes named, he filled occasional appointments at Elizabeth, Rockford, Mt. Carroll, Plum River, Savanna, Warren, what is now called Durand, and to all parts of the present congressional district, where families or congregations of Catholics had settled. He had four distinct residences: with Mrs. Catharine Egan, his sister, at Freeport; Mrs. Murphy, New Dublin ; Edward Mullar- key, Irish Grove, and Peter Fenlon, at the Fenlon settlement.
His time was fully occupied in going from mission to mission, administering, with unfailing energy and zeal, to the
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1%.
MR. AND MRS. MOSES BURNS.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN VAIL.
MR. AND MRS. WM. OSBNRNE.
MR. AND. MRS. CHAS. M'COY. MR. AND MRS. PETER MULLEN. MR. AND MRS. JOHN LANE.
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Golden Jubilee Souvenir.
spiritual needs of the scattered Catholic families. Numerous. sick calls, requiring long journeys, by night as well as by day, were faithfully attended, his sacred powers, as a Catholic priest, making it his imperative duty to respond, at any hour, and under any circumstance, to the call of persons in danger of death.
He continued in the discharge of his laborious duties at. Freeport, until the summer of 1854, where, as directed by his- Bishop, he took charge of St. George's, the only church, at that. time, in Joliet, Illinois.
He was a man of great natural talent and many acquired gifts. His sympathetic nature and his ardent zeal made him untiring in his efforts for the temporal and spiritual welfare of those committed to his care.
He was in Joliet but a year and a half, when he was ap- pointed to Alton, from which place, after a short stay, he departed to take charge of a church in St. Joseph, Mo. After a brief pastorate there, he returned to this section of the country, to bid his old parishioners good-bye. In 1859, intending to set sail for France, he went to New Orleans, but having stopped there to attend the Yellow fever victims, he fell a martyr to charity, and was found dead at his post.
Soon after his death, Mrs. Egan, who still lives in Freeport, received from the pastor, and from the Archbishop of New Or- leans, kind and sympathetic letters, in which Father Cavanaugh's great zeal and his devotion to duty, in the midst of the plague, as. well as his edifying death, were vividly described. He was. greatly attached to his sister and her husband, and while in Joliet sent them several volumes of "Lives of the Saints," in which is written on the fly leaf, in a bold, flowing hand, " A gift. from the Rev. John Cavanaugh, P. P., of Joliet, to his brother-in- law, Thomas Egan, and Catharine, his sister."
Besides superintending the building of the first Catholic church in Freeport, and raising funds to meet the expense, he be- gan a fine house of worship at Alton, Ill., which was finished by his successor.
.A HIGH SCH
PASTORS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THIS SECTION.
UENTS' LIBRARY
REV. FR. WALKER.
REV. FR. STACK.
S. CAL
REV. FR. MURTAUGH.
REV. FR. MANGAN.
REV. FR. WELBY.
REV. FR. RYAN.
REV. FR. KEARNEY.
REV. FR. SULLIVAN.
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Golden Jubilee Souvenir.
During Father Cavanaugh's pastorate in Freeport there were no railroads. Early in the fifties, the Illinois Central was not yet completed, and he had to travel almost constantly with horse and buggy. The cholera made his work yet more laborious, because of the great number of sick people he was called upon to see. He met with many ludicrous and sometimes very dangerous adven- tures, in his travels over the wild country. Everywhere he found open for him opportunities for earnest work, and it is no wonder that he was greatly beloved by the members of his flock, for he was untiring in his efforts in their behalf.
FATHER FERDINAND KALVALEGE was born at Lohne, Olden- burg, Germany, June 27, 1829. He is a son of Henry and Cath- arine Kalvalege, and is an uncle of Father Clement Kalvalege, of St. Joseph's Catholic church. He attended school at his home and after coming to this country, in 1847, pursued his studies at Girardeau, Mo. Later he took up the course at St. Mary's of the Lake, Chicago.
He was ordained June 11, 1854, and his first mission was at Freeport, which place he reached July 22, 1854. He remained in charge of St. Mary's congregation until July 18, 1859. It was during his administration that the brick church, a decided im- provement upon the little frame structure, was built.
At the same time he secured a suitable building and estab- lished a school for the children of his parish, though, at that period, parochial schools were not obligatory.
On leaving Freeport, Father Kalvalege went to Chicago, where he erected St. Frances' church, also its commodious school building and comfortable parochial residence.
Of fine abilities, greatly improved by an excellent education, Father Kalvalege was ever an earnest and successful worker in behalf of any good cause that enlisted his sympathies. His death was widely lamented and his memory is held in high esteem.
FATHER THOMAS O'GARA was Father Kalvalege's successor. Coming to St. Mary's in August, 1859, he showed himself, during the seven years of his pastorate, to be an indefatigable worker and a most zealous pastor.
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Stephenson County, Illinois, 1896.
Not being acquainted with the German language, he en- gaged, from time to time, the services of a German priest, for the benefit of those members of the congregation who spoke or un- derstood that language better than they did the English.
Rev. Father B. Herderer, Rev. J. Mehlman, Rev. J. Uhlana, Rev. P. Fischer, and Rev. J. Westkamp were among those who gave Father O'Gara assistance in this manner.
It was during his pastorate that the congregations separated, the Germans building St. Joseph's church, and the Irish retain- ing the use of St. Mary's, after having given a certain sum to aid in the building of St. Joseph's.
The frame church, which had been vacated in Father Kal- valege's time, was immediately and effectively converted into a parochial residence, through Father O'Gara's efforts. He like- wise secured property for St. Mary's cemetery.
The period during which Father O'Gara was St. Mary's pastor was marked by trials and difficulties, yet he always met them squarely, and displayed an admirable zeal, promptness, and diligence in the discharge of his duties. Agreeable to meet, witty in conversation, and edifying under all circumstances, he was highly esteemed by his people, who felt for him a warm friendship, for " to know him was to love him," as somebody said recently, in referring to his remarkable qualities.
Not less remarkable was his success in raising funds ; besides paying off the entire indebtedness of the parish, and keeping its buildings in a respectable state of repair, he collected a sum suf- ficient for the purchase of the pipe organ which has ever since afforded St. Mary's excellent choir with equally excellent accom- paniments.
Father O'Gara was transferred, in 1866, to Bloomington, Ill., a much more important charge, and there he erected a magnifi- cent church which a cyclone demolished, almost immediately after its completion.
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