USA > Indiana > Franklin County > History of Franklin County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 45
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Consequently, it was never used for the purpose for which it was designed. It was a substantial brick building, thirty-three by sixty-six by twenty-two feet and had a steeple ninety-six feet in height. It remained unused until it was torn down in 1906.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH, ST. PETER'S.
A few Catholic families settled in Highland township, near St. Peter's, as early as 1834 and in 1837 began to erect a little log church, which was dedicated as St. Peter's by Bishop Bruté, in 1838. This little church was attended by the Rev. Joseph Ferneding, of New Alsace, until 1842, when he left the diocese in 1842 and reported to the Bishop the condition of his mis- sions, mentioning St. Peter's as having sixty acres of land and ninety fam- ilies. From 1842 to 1844 Revs. Michael O'Rourk and Charles Oppermann, resident priests of Dover, attended the church. In 1844 the Rev. William Engeln became the first resident priest of St. Peter's and remained in charge until 1854. During his time the brick church and residence were built, which are substantial buildings to this day. In 1853 Bishop de St. Palais dedi- cated the church. From 1854 to 1859 the congregation was attended from Oldenburg by the Rev. Joseph Rudolf and at times from St. Leon by the Rev. Henry Koering. In 1859 the Rev. Leo Osredkar came to St. Peter's and remained till his death, May 4, 1882. During his long pastorate of twenty-three years the brick school was erected, the church neatly furnished and many improvements made. The congregation prospered and, due to his kind disposition, he was held in high esteem by all the members of his con- gregation.
After his death, the Rev. William Kemper took charge and remained until 1886. During his pastorate the new residence was erected. When he resigned, in 1886, the Rev. Ferdinand Hundt was assigned to St. Peter's, but, owing to opposition to him in the congregation, he left in 1889. The congregation was then without a resident priest until January, 1891, when the Rev. Joseph A. Fleishman was assigned to St. Peter's. He remained there for seventeen years and during his long pastorate he made many im- provements, such as frescoing the church, installing new pews, providing beautiful stained glass windows and enlarging the sacristy. He resigned in 1908, owing to ill health, and died at Vincennes in 1910. When he left the congregation, the church was free of debt, as he was a man of great zeal and hard work. He was succeeded in 1908 by the Rev. Charles A. Wagoner, who remained till 1912, when, owing to ill health, he resigned, to the great
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sorrow of his parishioners. He was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. William Wack.
The church census of 1914 gives St. Peter's one hundred and twenty families, of five hundred thirty-five souls, and a school attendance of eighty pupils. The church buildings are all in good repair and well furnished.
ST. ANNE CHURCH, HAMBURG.
About 1868 Wesley Martin, who owned a large tract of land in Salt Creek township, Franklin county, Indiana, laid out the present village of Hamburg. He offered to donate five acres of land provided a church would be built at once.
There were in the neighborhood about thirty-five Catholic families. These had been attending the Holy Family church at Oldenburg. The dis- tance was rather great, the roads were bad and when Salt creek was high they were impassable. The Catholic farmers came together and decided to accept Martin's offer. Bishop M. de St. Palais gladly consented to the erection of the church. The Franciscan Fathers of Oldenburg directed the work. In the spring of 1869 the corner stone was laid and in the same year, on October 19, the church was dedicated. The church is of brick, measuring in the interior eighty-three by fifty-three feet, with a height of thirty-three feet in the clear. Other Catholic settlers then came, mostly Germans, and in a few years the congregation numbered about ninety fam- ilies. In the last two decades, however, there has been a slight decrease. At present there are about eighteen families, of four hundred and twenty- five souls, belonging to the parish. The church property is free of debt. Twenty-five thousand dollars is not a too high estimate of the value of the property.
In 1876 a commodious two-story brick rectory was built, at the cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars ready for occupancy, and since then the congregation has had a resident pastor. Prior to that time the parish was taken care of by the Franciscan Fathers of Oldenburg. The names of the Fathers that appear most frequently in the records are as fol- low: Revs. Bonaventure Hammer, Louis Haverbeck, Clement Steinkamp, Dionysius Abarth, Eberhard and Gabriel Lipps.
Rev. Gabriel Lipps, under whose direction the rectory was built, became the first resident pastor in 1876. He remained until 1879, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Paul Alf, from 1879 to 1880; Rev. Eberhard, 1880-82; Rev. Clement Steinkamp, 1882-83; Rev. Beda Oldegering, 1883-84. All the Fathers mentioned above are Franciscans.
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In February, 1884, the congregation came in charge of the secular priests. Rev. Matthew A. Gillig was pastor from 1884 to 1890. He was followed by Rev. John Schoentrup. After a few weeks, however, Father Schoentrup had to resign on account of ill health. He died shortly after- ward and was buried in the parish cemetery. Rev. Frank Neuhoffer was pastor from 1890 to 1897; Rev. A. Dannenhoffer, 1898-99; Rev. John Scheefers, 1899-1910. Father Scheefers, zealous priest, made many im- provements. He purchased new pews and a good organ. Besides, he greatly reduced the heavy debt that had been a burden to the congregation. In June, 1910, Rev. George G. Borries, the present pastor, took charge of the parish.
Many years prior to the building of the church, a log building had been erected, which served as a school house and was considered a branch of the parochial schools at Oldenburg. In 1873 a one-story brick school building, fifty by thirty feet, containing two school rooms, was built. Two secular teachers had charge until 1878. In that year a two-story frame house was purchased to serve as a residence for the Sisters. Since then the Fran- ciscan Sisters of Oldenburg have taught the schools. The present enroll- ment of pupils is eighty-eight. The parish cemetery is about a half mile to the northeast from the church. The ground for it was donated in 1869 by Bernard H. Luesche and wife. In 1912 the members of the congregation took it upon themselves to improve the road to the cemetery with crushed stones. In 1914 additional ground was purchased and an ornamental fence and gate put around it. The parish has five prosperous societies: St. Joachim, for the men; St. Anna, for the women; St. Sebastian for the young , men, and the Guardian Angel Society, for both children and adults.
The congregation has given to the Catholic church three priests, Rev. Peter Alcautara Welling and Rev. Theodosius Meyer, both of whom belong to the Franciscan order, and Rev. John Haskamp, of the diocese of Indian- apolis. The present councillors of the parish are Henry Effing, Bernard Leising, John Usimer and Frank Ricke. The statistics for the year 1914 showed fifteen baptisms, ten funerals and five marriages.
CHURCH OF HOLY FAMILY, OLDENBURG.
In the year 1837 the German Catholic pioneers of Oldenburg and vicinity were formed into a congregation by the Rev. Joseph Ferneding and immediately erected a log church. Until 1844 they were occasionally visited
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by the Rev. J. Ferneding, the Rev. K. Schniederjans, the Rev. C. Oppermann and the Rev .. Alph. Munschina.
On October 29, 1844, the Rev Francis Joseph Rudolph, a native of Alsace, was installed as resident pastor. Filled with true missionary zeal, he built a small school and immediately started a subscription for the purpose of building a large stone church. His own name headed the list with a very generous amount from his own patrimony.
On September 8, 1846, the corner stone was laid and on April 14, 1850, the new church was consecrated in honor of the Holy Family. The church built, Father Rudolph secured the services of the Rev. F. X. Weninger, S. J., for a ten-day mission. This was Father Weninger's first mission in the United States.
Father Rudolph now turned his attention to the obtaining of more com- petent teachers for his schools at Oldenburg and the other missions, which he regularly attended. With this end in view, he made a trip to Europe in 1850. He applied in many places and succeeded at last in obtaining the consent of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, in Vienna, to settle at Oldenburg and take charge of the schools. The Rev. Mother Teresa arrived at Oldenburg, January 6, 1851, and laid the foundations of that community which has been, and continues to be, such a great power for good in this and many other dioceses of the United States.
The church built in 1848 soon proved to be too small for the congrega- tion, which had now increased to one hundred fifteen families. Accordingly, on the 20th day of May, 1861, the corner stone for the present splendid church was laid by the Very Rev. Augustus Bessonies, and was solemnly consecrated by Bishop de St. Palais, assisted by Bishop Carroll, of Covington, on De- cember 14, 1862. The church is one hundred sixty-five feet long by sixty- five feet wide, forty-four feet high from floor to ceiling, and has a seating capacity of one thousand. It is built of red brick, manufactured at Olden- burg, and is surmounted by a beautiful, tapering steeple one hundred eighty- seven feet high, the highest church tower in Franklin county.
After the death of Rev. F. J. Rudolph in 1866, the Franciscan Fathers of the Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati, took charge of the con- gregation at the request of Bishop Palais.
The following is a complete list of Franciscan pastors: Rev. N. Wach- ter, 1866-69; Rev. P. Louis Haverbeck and P. Dennis Abarth, 1869-79; P. Peter B. Englert, 1879-82; P. Pius Nichaus, 1882-85; P. Anthanasius Linge- mann, 1885-90; P. Luke Gottoeboede, from January, 1890, to September,
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1891; P. David Kersting. 1891-1900: P. Chrysostom Theobald. 1900-03; P. David Kersting, 1903.
To give a complete account of the faithful work and many improve- ments made by each of these zealous pastors and their many able assistants, would take us far beyond the limits of this sketch. Suffice it to say that they have ever been untiring in their efforts to foster and cultivate the true Catholic spirit and sturdy piety which Father Rudolph, by word and example, instilled into his congregation. And while cultivating the spiritual, they have not neglected the temporal. In 1868 a new two-story school was built, containing four large classrooms. It has an attendance of about one hun- dred seventy-five children. taught by the Sisters of St. Francis. There are two hundred families embraced in the congregation. Other improvements on church and school have been added from time to time to the amount of thirty-two thousand dollars.
In September. 1912. the congregation celebrated the diamond jubilee of its foundation and the golden jubilee of the present church. The Right Rev. Bishops Chatard and Chartrand and very many of the clergy, secular and regular. graced the occasion with their presence. A masterly sermon was delivered by the Very Rev. Anthony Scheideler. vicar-general. In anticipation of this celebration. the church was refrescoed. a marble com- munion rail installed and other improvements made, costing thirty-five hun- dred dollars.
The Holy Family cemetery is a beautiful spot of consecrated ground, containing about five acres, and the pride and faith of the parish is manifested in keeping it in faultless order. The school. church and premises are in the best of repair and present a scene of thrift and care and general prosperity.
CATHOLIC KNIGHTS OF AMERICA (ST. JOSEPH BRANCH.)
The branch of the Catholic Knights of America, at Oldenburg. was given the number 693. It was organized several years ago and now has a membership of about forty. The members meet in the town hall on the first Sunday in each month. Mortality insurance is the chief object of this order, and policies are issued in amounts from two hundred and fifty dollars up to three thousand dollars each. The only such lodges in Franklin county are located at Brookville and Oldenburg.
The 1915 officers are: Frank Flodder, president: J. H. Wittenburg, recording secretary: A. J. Hackmann. financial secretary and treasurer.
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KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN.
The Catholic order known as the Knights of St. John is in existence at Oldenburg, and is no where else represented in this county. It was organ- ized January 12, 1893. with charter members as follows: Rev. Fred Hernz- man, chaplain; Hy Wittenburg, first lieutenant; John Lamping, John Rohe, Clem Fischer, F. W. Pence, Frank Geisting, Benj. J. Ressing, Joseph B. Mollaun, John Huerman. A. Kleinmeyer, Louis Ferry, August Haverkos, Henry Schmidt, John B. Gehring, second lieutenant, Peter Pistner, John Wessling, H. H. Kessing, Alois Springman.
The lodge, which is known as St. Joseph's Commandery No. 220, had a membership in February, 1915, of fifty-eight. When the lodge was first organized it met in the basement of the school house, but now the Knights . have a hall over Blank's store, to which place they moved in May, 1913, with a lease of ten years on the place. The uniform rank (military) is the prin- cipal feature of the order. In this there are now twenty-five members, active, and a few more retired. There is also a ladies' auxiliary of thirty-five mem- bers, of which Mrs. Joseph Freihage is the president.
The officers in the spring of 1915. were: President, F. W. Peine ; first vice-president, Harry Mollaun ; second vice-president, John Struewing; re- corder and corresponding secretary. F. J. Hoelker ; financial secretary. Joseph Wittenburg; treasurer, Theodore Heidlage.
The military officers are: Captain. Harry Mollaun; first lieutenant, Joseph Wittenburg; second lieutenant, Joseph W. Gehrung; first sergeant, Theodore Heidlage : clerk, George Obermeyer.
CONVENT OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, OLDENBURG.
"I was glad at the things that were said unto me: We will go into the house of the Lord."-Ps. 121, I.
The energetic, soul-loving founder of the Oldenburg Community of Sisters of St. Francis was the Rev. Francis Joseph Rudolf, of sainted mem- ory, a native of Strassburg, Alsace. In 1842, in recognition of his holy zeal, he was appointed to the United States missions, where, after two years, he was put in charge of the Oldenburg primitive mission.
By the most cordial approval of the Bishop of Vincennes, Rt. Rev. Maurice de St. Palais, Father Rudolf secured the Holy See's (Pope Pius IX) consent to and sanction of his heart's desire, the foundation of a convent at Oldenburg for the Christian education of youth.
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The mother superior of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Vienna, Austria, proposed the American Oldenburg mission to her Sisters for consideration and choice. Brave, noble Sister Teresa answered the call most heroically and arrived in Oldenburg, January 6, 1851.
Three postulants were awaiting Mother Teresa's arrival to relinquish themselves unreservedly to her care and guidance. God's blessings rested visibly upon the community. Despite the numerous privations, hardships and sufferings of untold poverty and trials, members came in numbers and the work of self-sanctification and education of the young went on apace under God's providence and blessing.
In 1854 Mother Teresa opened an orphanage, and eleven orphaned little ones became its first inmates. From this time on till the diocesan orphanage was established, the Oldenburg Sisters, irrespective of their own dire pov- erty, cared for their loved orphans most devotedly. The following year the Sisters took charge of their first mission school, at Dover, Indiana. Three other missions were accepted this same year.
Man proposes and God disposes. On January 23, 1857, the prosperous, happy, little community, alas! was forced to witness the total destruction of their loved convent, chapel and school. A few hours' devastating fire re- duced to a heap of ruins the material conquests of six years' unabated toil and economy. Nothing daunted, however, the courageous band took up the work anew with unbounded trust in Divine Providence. Generous dona- tions poured in from various sources, and by November 19, of the same year, the Sisters were again sheltered, now within new convent walls. In 1858 the corner stone of the chapel was laid, and anon blessings inundated the community. On September 27, 1869, however, God called gentle Mother Teresa to her eternal reward. Ardent Mother Antonia took up the devoted work, and continued the happily entrusted charge most successfully till her death, March 23, 1872. The third superior-general, humble Mother Michaela, governed the community for twelve years, until called by death, April 9, 1884. The unanimous choice of the community then selected the present superior, Mother Olivia, under whose able guidance the devoted com- munity continues most blessed in the Lord.
The Oldenburg community now numbers over six hundred Sisters, hav- ing charge of academies and parochial schools in seventy-eight missions in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Ohio and Kentucky.
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ACADEMY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, OLDENBURG.
The Academy of the Immaculate Conception at Oldenburg, under the entire control of the Sisters of St. Francis, was chartered by an act of the General Assembly of the state of Indiana, April 8, 1885. It is accredited by the state board of education, and affiliated with the University of Cin- cinnati and with the Catholic University of America.
The academy is situated in the pleasant little town of Oldenburg, near the southwestern border of Franklin county. An excellent turnpike of four miles connects Oldenburg with Batesville, the nearest railroad station on the Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis division of the Big Four route.
The buildings constituting the academy are models of architectural skill and foresight, and are replete with all that modern science holds out to the world by way of school equipments and educational aids. The main building is a four-story-and-basement, fireproof structure, and contains the various halls, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, dormitories, lavatories and private rooms. The Immaculate Conception chapel is a gem of art and beauty. St. Cecilia's hall is equipped with a large auditorium and contains the music department of twenty-four rooms. To promote the literary work of the institution, a fine library, containing standard works of the best authors in English, French, German and Spanish, is at the disposal of the students.
The course of study embraces everything which can conduce to the acquisition of a solid and accomplished education. The courses include college preparation, academic, business, domestic science, music and art. The complete laboratory and science rooms are noted possessions of the academy. Each year adds to the apparatus and to the attractions of the academy gymna- sium. Lessons in physical culture form part of the regular routine.
The Academy Alumnae Association meets annually at the loved alma mater in grateful, loving acknowledgment of the truly refined education re- ceived there. Here they receive a new impetus to continue to practice vigor- ously the wholesome lessons instilled by their alma mater, while under her excellent system of discipline and instruction.
"In thy comeliness and thy beauty, go forth, proceed prosperously and reign."
HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL CHURCH, CEDAR GROVE.
The Catholics living in and near Cedar Grove attended church at St. Peter's, St. Leon and Brookville up to the year 1872. By that time their
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members had increased to twenty families, and they felt able to support a church of their own. Consequently they organized the church of the Holy Guardian Angel, under the direction of the Rev. Meinrad Fleischmann, of Brookville. He conducted the first service in Cedar Grove at the home of Philip Eschenbach, in November, 1872.
A meeting was held after the services on this occasion and a building committee appointed, consisting of Philip Eschenbach, Jacob Meyer, Philip Riester and G. Felig. Three acres of ground were purchased by the com- mittee and a brick church, thirty by sixty feet, was erected. This building has served as a school since the building of the present church in 1894.
The corner stone was laid on September 8, 1873, by the Very Rev. Scheideler, Rev. H. Sieberts and the pastor. On the third Sunday in Janu- ary, 1874, divine services were held for the first time in the new church. In the fall of 1874 the Rev. Joseph Fleischmann came to Brookville as assist- ant and took charge of the promising little congregation at Cedar Grove, which had by that time increased to thirty families. In 1877 the church erected a parochial school, to provide instruction for the children of the parish. Father Fleischmann continued to attend the church with marked success until 1883. In that year he was transferred to a larger field of labor in Dubois county, Indiana. He was succeeded on June 24, 1883, by the Rev. Harmon Tegeder, who ministered to his people until his death, November 24, 1886. As soon as he took charge of the church he began the erection of a handsome parsonage, but shortly after its completion he was called to his reward. For the next two years the Rev. A. Koesters and Rev. George Loesch had charge of the church at Cedar Grove, being followed, on August 15, 1888, by the Rev. P. S. Mesker. As the parish was constantly growing, it became apparent that a larger church was necessary. In 1894 the erection of a building was begun and it was ready for the dedicatory services by the Right Rev. F. S. Chatard, on August II, 1895. This church is a credit to the able and enterprising pastor, to the loyal and generous congregation and to the town in which it is located. An interesting article covering the growth of the church of the Guardian Angel appeared in the Brookville Democrat, August 8, 1895.
Father Mesker remained in charge until 1906, when, upon the death of Father Rudolph at Connersville, he was transferred to the latter city, a well- deserved promotion in view of the good work he had accomplished at Cedar Grove. He was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Clever, who at once took up the good work. As he is a man of great zeal, he has accomplished a great deal for his people in a spiritual way. In 1912 he purchased an addition
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of three acres immediately west of the church and school. Father Clever, who is much esteemd by his good people, now has a congregation of about seventy-five families, numbering about four hundred souls. He has a fine church, a good school building, a comfortable residence, and six acres of ground on which there is very little indebtedness.
CATHOLIC ORDER OF FORESTERS.
On March 28, 1915, the Catholic Order of Foresters established a sub- ordinate court at Cedar Grove. Twenty-four members were initiated and the new court promises to be a great success.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
The German Catholics began to settle in Ray township in the middle of the thirties. The early history of the church at Enochsburg is rather ob- scure, although it is known from "Die Chronik des Vater Rudolf" that he was serving the congregation at Enochsburg in October, 1844. Father Rudolf mentions in his chronicle that he dedicated the church at Enochs- burg on December 22, 1844. From accounts handed down it is known that this was a log church and it is further known that it was a mission attached to the Oldenburg parish. It continued to be served from the Olden- burg church until 1862, when Rev. Lawrence Oesterling, a Franciscan priest, became the first resident pastor.
As early as 1853 the church had built a small stone school building, thirty by thirty-five feet in size. Immediately after this was completed it was decided to erect a stone church and it was completed and dedicated in 1856. The church is built of dressed gray limestone and is fifty by one hundred and five feet. It has a spire one hundred and thirty-five feet in height and in the tower are three bells. Many improvements have been made in the church since it was erected and especially during the pastorate of Father Pfeiffer (1882-99), who frescoed the church, installed new altars, purchased new statues, put a slate roof on the church, installed an organ and made many extensive improvements in the grounds surrounding the church property.
Following Father Oesterling, in 1868, was Rev. Michael Heck, who remained until 1879. During his pastorate a brick residence of eight rooms was erected and in 1872 he had the satisfaction of dedicating a school build- ing for the children of the parish. He secured the Venerable Sisters of
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