USA > Indiana > Pike County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 52
USA > Indiana > Dubois County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 52
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The following table shows the number of schoolhouses, teach- ers and number of pupils in attendance at the county superinten- dent's last visit, in each township in the county :
TOWNSHIPS.
No. of Houses.
No. of Teach'rs.
No. of Pupils.
Total
Male.
Female. . Pupils.
Columbia.
7
7
107
91
198
Harbison.
9
9
100
75
175
Boone.
8
8
147
140
287
Madison
8
9
122
131
253
Bainbridge.
8
8
117
100
217
Marion.
7
7
103
83
186
Hall.
8
9
100
148
248
Jefferson.
9
10
165
150
815
Jackson.
6
136
94
230
Patoka.
8
8
102
97
199
Cass. .
8
10
154
155
309
Ferdinand.
6
9
151
169
320
Jasper.
3
5
60
126
186
Huntingburgh
1
5
169
193
362
Totals.
96
111
1,783
1,752
3,485
572
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
The above shows the number actually present at the time of the superintendent's visit. The enumeration is considerably in excess of this, that for Jasper being 425 and Huntingburgh 525.
The schoolhouses of the county are generally good, but are only moderately supplied with the school furniture and appli- ances of the day. The Ireland school is one of the best town- ship graded schools in the county. Miss Dora Hope is the prin- cipal and Mrs M. L. MeSwane is assistant. The Celestine school has been graded for about ten years. The house is a frame, valued at about $600. Henry Schnell and John Kenney are the teachers. Since the incorporation of Birdseye, the school there is improving. The house is a frame, and preparations are being made for a better one; two teachers are required. The Schnell- ville school is also graded, and is presided over by two of the Catholic Sisters. The frame building is valued at about $700. On a par with this is the St. Anthony school, the two teachers of which are Sisters. Holland has a good two-story frame school- house, costing $1,800 in 1879. The school is graded and has W. H. Clark for its principal teacher. For the past six years the school at St. Henry has been graded, and two of the Sisters are now teaching it. It is a frame building. Perhaps the most prosperous school in the county is the one at Ferdinand. It is entirely under the control of the Catholics, and is conducted in an energetic and useful manner. The teachers are four, three of whom are females.
In February, 1872, the school trustees of the town of Jasper made application to the town board for the building of a new schoolhouse. The trustees were then R. M. Welman, S. Kuebler and J. W. Bretz. In March following the contract was offered to the lowest bidder, but the lowest bid being $6,600 the board thought that too high and the contract was not let. A few days later, March 27, E. A. Hochgesang was given the contract for the masonry for $2,725, and the balance of the building to John Ber- ger for $3,135, making a total contract price of $5,858. This was considered a good bargain for the town, and Joseph Egg was ap- pointed to superintend the work on behalf of the board. The building was completed and first occupied by the school on the 27th of January, 1873. Bazil L. Greene was then the teacher in charge, and his successors have been: James H. Keenan, A. M.
573
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
Sweeney, George C. Cooper, John Daniel, F. L. Mulkey, J. H. Logan and the present one, F. S. Morgenthaler. Soon after the completion of the new building a difficulty arose in the town, con- cerning the conduct of the schools. This grew largely out of the fact that the Catholics were in the majority and insisted that the schools should conform to their methods. In fact, this question has never been entirely settled, and at the present time consider- able agitation is going on in regard to it. From 1843 to the adop- tion of the new constitution, John McCausland had served in the capacity of school examiner. In 1853, after the adoption of the new constitution, Rev. Joseph Kundeck, A. J. Strain and George W Fallon were appointed county school examiners, and continued to act as such until 1857, when S. J. Cramer took the place of Fal- lon, the others still continuing. In 1858 they were A. J. Strain, Stephen Jerger and S. J. Cramer; 1859, A. J. Strain, William Hays and Jen B. Beckwerment; 1861, William Hays, J. B. Beckwerment and Mr. Holthouse. These last were appointed early in 1861, but the law was soon after changed and only one examiner was required for the county. To this place Rev. A. J. Strain was appointed, and he continued to serve as such until 1873. when the office was abolished and that of county superintendent established in its stead. Ernst R. Brundick was the first to be appointed to that office, and he was succeeded in 1879 by George C. Cooper. In 1881 the present incumbent, A. M. Sweeney, was chosen to officiate.
CHAPTER VIII.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, COMPRISING SKETCHES OF THE EARLIEST SOCIETIES, AND OF THE PIONEER MODES OF WORSHIP, AND GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF LATER CLASSES, THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, THE NAMES OF MEMBERS AND MINISTERS, AND THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE CHURCHES.
F YOR several years prior to the admission of Indiana into the Union, some devout and Christian families moved from Ken- tucky and other portions of the South, and settled in this locality. The forests were then almost unbroken, and the people were in small and detached settlements. The privileges of religious meet-
574
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
ings were rarely enjoyed. A few would write back to their former homes and earnestly solicit some one to come and preach to them. But that was a matter more easy to ask than to per- form. The distance and hardships were great, but the preachers at last came.
Among the first denominations to appear upon this frontier was the Cumberland Presbyterian. As early as the year 1818, perhaps before then, meetings were held in the county by this denomination of Christians. They had been holding meetings in several of the adjoining counties before then, but it is certain that they began to hold religious services in Dubois County in 1818. The first was probably at Shiloh, or what was more com- monly known as Alexander's Camping Ground, in what is now Madison Township. It is quite likely that the second organized church in the State, of this denomination, was here at Shiloh. Among the men who were foremost in this portion of the State at that time, as Cumberland Presbyterians, were William Harris. Alexander Chapman, John and William Barnett, Finis Ewing, Dr. James Johnson, John M. Berry, Aaron Shelby. David Lowry, Henry Delany, Hiram A. Hunter, William Lynn, Thomas Porter, William C .. Long, and Alexander Downey. Of these the first six seldom came except at the camp-meetings, but the others came more frequently. It is said that the first circuit preacher was Rev. David Lowry, and he preached in Vanderburgh, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, Daviess and Knox Counties. After him came Messrs. Hunter, Downey and Lynn, in the order named. Under them the circuit was, considerably enlarged, and embraced Terre Haute. The men who "rode the circuit," or visited the country only occasionally, were constant and untiring in their labors. They preached almost daily, and in the absence of church houses the services were usually held at the residence of some good man in the neighborhood. Thus a private house would come to be recognized as the preaching place of the community. Among the leaders in the church during its pioneer days, in Dubois County, may be mentioned Ashbury Alexander, who was an elder in the Shiloh organization, and one of the best then, and for many years after, in the State. James Ritchey, Sr., was an elder in the same congregation, formerly a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church; Joseph I. Kelso and John Niblack were also
577
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
elders. The last was father of Hon. William E. Niblack, of the State Supreme Court, and a liberal supporter of the church.
The Presbytery for Indiana was organized at Portersville, in Dubois County, Tuesday, April 18, 1826. There were present nearly all the prominent men of the church in the State. The fourth meeting of the Presbytery was held at Shiloh Church, Oc- tober 2, 1827. In 1833 the Presbytery did away with itineracy, and each church was requested to make a selection of a man that it would support as minister. For Shiloh and Union Churches, in Dubois County, Rev. James Ritchey was chosen. A few years later Shiloh Church had for its pastor Rev. H. A. Hunter. He was afterward pastor at Portersville, and there conducted a school for some time.
Soon after the location of the county seat at Jasper, the Cumber- land Presbyterians organized a church there. The first church was of logs, but it was replaced by a frame after a few years. The latter stood for many years and was used by all denominations. The most prominent minister of the Protestant faith that has ever been located in Dubois County was perhaps the Rev A. J. Strain. He was at Jasper for nearly a third of a century and during all that time was one of the leaders in every public and patriotic enterprise worthy of support. More than any other man he was instrumental in putting the schools of the county in good order.
The Methodists were not far behind other denominations in the early days, and the Baptists were also in the van-guard of pioneer religions. At the present day Protestantism is confined mostly to the northwestern part of the county. In the neighbor- hood of Ireland the prevailing denominations are the Cumberland Presbyterians and the Methodists. Of the latter, Bethel Church, in the northwestern part of Madison Township, is one of the lead- ing. The house was built about the year 1870 at a cost of $1,200. Another at Ireland was built about two years before that and is a good frame building. The Presbyterians are now building a fine church edifice at that town.
The following sketch of the Methodist Episcopal Church among the Germans of Dubois County, was contributed by Rev. J. Bookstahler, of Huntingburgh. In 1835, Dr. William Nast was sent out as the first German missionary to preach among
21
578
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
the Germans at Cincinnati, Ohio. In October, 1843, the German missionaries made their first appearance in Dubois County. They were the Revs. Henry Koneke and Conrad Muth, who came from Evansville, and traveled over the whole southwestern part of the State. They were first admitted to the house of H. H. Vennemann, four miles southwest of Huntingburgh. About the same time, they began preaching at the Pike County line, in the house of Herman W. Katterjohn. In 1844, Rev. H. Köneke was assisted by Rev. E. Peters. In 1845, H. W. Katterjohn united with the church, and was soon followed by his sons Will- iam and Adolph. They were the first members of the present Zoars Church at the Pike County line. From the fall of 1845, to 1846, this charge was supplied by the Rev. M. Mulfinger and John Hoppen, from 1846 to 1847, by G. M. Busch; from 1847 to 1848, by Father Heller. At that time this charge was inde- pendent of the Evansville charge, and embraced the following appointments: Boonville, Huntingburgh, with Central and Zoars Churches, Bretz settlement, Haysville, Jasper, Troy and Rome. From 1848 to 1849, Revs. Frederick Heller and C. F. Heidmeyer were on this charge, and from 1849 to 1850, Christian Wytten- bach and Charles Derking. About this time the Zoars' Church was built of hewed logs, by Adolph Katterjohn, for the sum of $27.50, and his father donated two acres of land. The members assisted in the building of the house. In 1862. a beautiful camp ground was laid out, and several board tents erected. 'In 1871, the society built a brick church 40x60 feet, about 100 yards from the old building. Be-
fore the new church was completed, the old one and the camp dwellings were destroyed by fire. It was supposed to be the work of an incendiary. During the years 1850 and 1851, there was a little frame church built at Huntingburgh, 22x30 feet. The members then were Adolph Katterhenry and wife, Adam Arensman and wife, William Lukemeyer, now a local preacher at Louisville, E. J. Blemker and wife, Jacob and Rudolph Blemker and John Brandenstein and wife. In the fall of 1851, the Huntingburgh charge was separated from Boonville, and put in charge of Rev. John H. Lukemeyer.
In 1860, the members in the vicinity of H. H. Vennemans united in building a neat brick church 30x40 feet. This was 'un-
579
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
der the administration of Rev. John Ficker, and the first members were H. H. Feldwisch, H. H. Vennemanns and wife, William Kuck, Henry Schroer, and others. The Huntingburgh society built in 1864, a good substantial brick church 38x58 feet. At Holland, the Central Church built a frame house, but it was de- stroyed in a storm in the fall of 1883. The members at once be- gan the erection of a second one which was completed at a cost of about $2,000. These three churches now constitute the whole of German Methodism in Dubois County, and they have an ag- gregate property valued at about $10,000. The membership now is composed of 100 families, or 330 persons. The leading official members at Huntingburgh are John Brandenstein, Sr., Henry Schroer, H. H. Iglemann, Adolph Katterhenry, E. J. Blemker, Henry Winkenhoefer, Daniel Rutepohler and Christopher Kess- ner. At Holland: F. Rothert, F. Steinkamp, William Rothert, John Rothert, A. J. Launners, E. Werremeyer, John Vennemann and H. W. Henimer. At Zoars: Henry Henimer, H. H. Hilde- brand, W. H. Stork, H. Deerhake, H. Christopher and Louis Tellejohn. At each place there is a flourishing Sunday-school, and the sessions are held the year around. The membership consists of sixty-five officers and 270 scholars.
. Catholic Churches of Dubois County .- The history of the Ro- man Catholic churches of the county has been largely compiled from the "History of the Diocese of Vincennes." In the year 1834 only two or three Catholics were found at Jasper, but sev- eral Catholic families settled here soon after. Rev. Maurice de St. Palais, located at St. Mary's, Daviess County, visited the small congregation for the first time. A small log house answered for a church and it stood in the western part of the town not far from Patoka River. Father de St. Palais commended the young con- gregation to the special care of the bishop, who gave it its first resident pastor in the person of the Rev. Joseph Kundeck. He was born in Johannich, Croatia, on the 24th day of August, 1810. He finished his studies in Agram, was ordained, and was made assistant priest of the place. In the spring of 1837 he immigrated to Indiana, and in the following year was installed at Jasper. The congregation then numbered fifteen families. During 1840 and 1841 he built a large brick church with hardly any money, but by donations of labor and material. During the Easter sea-
580
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
sons, Father Kundeck extended his labors to Madison and into Illinois. He also visited regularly the congregations of Ferdi- nand, Troy, Celestine, Fulda and Mclaughlin in Warrick County. In 1843, to restore his health, Father Kundeck took a trip to New Orleans, and in that city built the first German Cath- olic Church. Returning in 1844, he built the stone church at Ferdinand with the money brought from New Orleans. The same year he introduced the Sisters of Providence at Jasper, and later built the court house at a cost of $6,000. In the autumn of 1851 Father Kundeck went to France, and about the same time was appointed Vicar-General. During his trip to Europe he vis- ited Einsiedeln, the great Benedictine abbey, and did all in his power to induce the abbot to send a colony of the Benedictines to the diocese of Vincennes. He returned to Jasper in 1853 and labored most zealously until 1857. After nine months of intense suffering he died on the 4th of December, 1857. Father Kun- deck was a most remarkable man, and his labors seem almost su- perhuman. His memory in Jasper and the surrounding country will remain forever in benediction. St. Joseph is the patron saint of the church in Jasper, and the following Benedictine Fathers have succeeded Father Kundeck: Rev. P. Bede O'Con- nor from January 23, 1858, to November 20, 1860; Rev. P. Ulrich Christian, November 20, 1860, to February 22, 1865; Rev. P. Wolfgang Schlumpf, from February 22, 1865, to July 25 same year; Rev. P. Fidelis Maute, from July 25, 1865, to the present time. The congregation now numbers 3,000 souls and has 470 children at school. Father Maute commenced the building of a new church, for which the corner-stone was laid by Bishop de St. Palais September 14, 1871. The church is of stone, 194 feet long, 84 feet wide and 90 feet high. It was built slowly, and only as the means were supplied, without incurring debt. The church is a magnificent and solid structure that will stand as a monument long after the death of the builder, when other churches of a later date will have disappeared. Four Sisters of Providence and two laymen are employed in the schools, which have been organized ever since 1840.
Rev. P. Bede O'Connor said mass at Huntingburgh for the first time October 20, 1859. In August, 1860, the corner- stone of the new church was laid by Rev. P. Isidor Hobi. The
581
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
Church of Visitation of the B. V. M. was visited by the pastor of Ferdinand in 1865 and 1866, and also from 1873 to 1876. In 1868 it was attended from Jasper twice each month, and after that year to 1873, from St. Meinrad. In 1869 the triduan was preached by Fathers Matthias and Rainer of Tautopolis, IIL Under the present pastor this church is growing rapidly, a large and beautiful church is being erected of brick, and the congrega- tion is increasing. The church is to cost several thousand dollars.
The Congregation at Ferdinand was founded by the Rev. Jo- seph Kundeck, the rector of the Roman Catholic congregation of Jasper. The first divine service was held by the same priest on the 22d of April, 1840, eleven families then forming the congre- gation. A small log church was built, but being too small, in the following year, 1841, another log church was erected, which was used for divine service. The corner-stone of the new stone church was laid by the Rev. Father Kundeck, May 30, 1847. The building was completed in the following year. During the years 1839-53 Ferdinand was attended by secular priests, Father Kundeck himself and his assistant priests residing at Ferdinand, viz .: Rev. Charles Opperman, Rev. Meinkmann, Rev. F. T. Fischer, Rev. W. Doyle, Rev. Toh. Contin, Rev. Peters and Rev. H. Stapf. In 1853 the congregation of Ferdinand was entrusted to the care of the Fathers of the order of H. Benedict. Rev. P. Ulrich Christen, Rev. P. Isidor Hobi, Rev. P. Wolfgang Schlumpf and Rev. P. Chrysostome Foffa, all members of the said order, have been rectors of the congregation. Since 1871 the present pastor, the Rev. P. Eberhard Stadler, O. S. B., has the care of the spiritual wants of the Catholic people of Ferdinand, assisted by different fathers of the Benedictine abbey, at St. Meinrad, Spencer Co., Ind.
Rev. P. Eberhard Stadler was born February 1, 1830, at Welfensberg, Switzerland; educated in the college connected with the famous abbey of Maria Einsiedeln in Switzerland; he was ordained priest in 1857, and came to this country in December, 1869. His first mission was St. Anthony's, Dubois County, from September, 1870 to October, 1871. In 1871 he took charge of Ferdinand.
During the administration of Rev. Foffa the church was enlarged, and the tower was added; the bells have been procured at different times. Rev. Christen erected the parsonage.
582
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
During the administration of Rev. Eberhard, St. Mary's Chapel, on the Mount of Calvary, was built and blessed in 1877. The cemetery was decorated by the same reverend pastor, with a very beautiful cross made by Mr. Zuckriegel,at Rockport, Spencer County, from native sandstone, in 1880. Since then the debts of the church have been paid.
Rev. Eberhard is, at the same time, chaplain of the convent of the Benedictine Sisters at Ferdinand. This community was founded in 1867, during the rectorship of Rev. P. Chr. Foffa, and the first brick-stone building was completed in 1870. But the continuous increase of the community being very great, it became necessary in 1884 to undertake the erection of new buildings near St. Mary's Chapel. The corner-stone of the new convent chapel was laid on the 30th of May, 1885, by Rt .- Rev. Bishop Chatard, of Vincennes. At present the community numbers fifty-six sisters. The sisters direct the schools in different places in Spencer and Dubois Counties, and in 1886 will establish an academy for young ladies connected with the convent.
The congregation of Ferdinand numbers about 350 families. with 1,600 members. The youth are educated in several schools, partly conducted by the sisters of the convent. The principal of the boys' school in the town of Ferdinand, Mr. T. B. Müller, is director of the choir at the church of Ferdinand.
The church of Ferdinand is a substantial stone building, with a sanctuary and four chapels, two of which are occupied by altars. the remaining two by confessionals. The principal ornaments of the church are the altar paintings from the hand of the celebrated artist of Switzerland, M. P. Deschwanden, on the high altar. The church is well furnished with all the sacred vestments and vessels necessary for the Catholic culse. The church was solemnly dedi- cated on the 19th of June, 1870, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Luers, of Fort Wayne.
The Benedictine Sisters .- The foundation of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception, at Ferdinand, dates back to the year 1867, and like all other convents of the Benedictine Order in the United States, it owes its existence to the first colony of Bene- dictine Sisters established by Rt. Rev. Boniface Wimmer at St. Mary's, Elk County, Penn. At the request of the Benedictine Fathers, four sisters were sent from St. Walburg's Convent at Covington, Ky., to found a convent at Ferdinand and take charge
583
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
of the schools. They arrived August 20, 1867. Sister Bene- dieta was appointed first superior until the community should be sufficiently numerous to hold an election. The other sisters who formed this community were Sisters M. Xavier, M. Rose and M. Clara. The little dwelling of the sisters consisted of but three rooms, but in the fall an addition of two rooms and a chapel was made, in which holy mass was said for the first time Decem- ber . The community at first endured many privations and hardships. Several postulants soon petitioned for admittance. The constitution for the government of the community was drawn by Rev. Martin Marty and an order of the day was written out. At the first election held June 1. 1972. according to the new con- -titution. Ven. Sister Benedicta was chosen prioress. She was re-elected July 7. 1875. In 1978 Mother Agatha was chosen to condnet the affairs of the community which she has done with success and ability. In the course of three years the brick con- vent was completed. By 1872 this was paid for, and sixty-four acres of land were bought adjoining the convent grounds. A neat frame house was erected and placed under the charge of two sis- ters. Orphans, and the aged and infirm are admitted, and receive every attention which Christian charity can bestow. The com- munity has prospered, and now has eight branches in Indiana, Arkansas and Dakota. During its first sixteen years, 60 were received into the convent, of these 5 had died. 22 were out on missions, and the remaining 33 were employed at home. A new convent is being erected that will be one of the largest in the State. A school for young ladies is to be kept, that will give instruction in all the higher branches.
The congregation at Celestine was organized in 1842 and the patron saint is St. Celestine. From 1544 to IS53. it was at- tended by the pastor residing at Jasper. Rev. Joseph Neuber, 1954; Rev. Joseph Wurtz. 1855 and 1856. For three years it was again visited from Jasper. Rev. Joseph Meister. 1860 to 1864; in 1865 attended from St. Anthony: Rev. B. Bruning from 1×66 to 1877; vacant in 1878 and 1979; Rev. Alexander Kcesters since ISSO. The congregation worshiped in a log church until 1864. In that year the present brick church was erected. At the laying of the corner-stone Rev. P. Fidelis Maute preached the sermon. The membership here is large and consists of about
584
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
1,300 souls The school has 320 children taught by Ursuline Sisters and a lay teacher.
The Catholic congregation at St. Anthony was formed from members who formerly belonged to Ferdinand, Jasper and Celes- tine. It was organized in 1864 by Rev. Joseph Meister. A log church and parsonage were erected and continued in use for twenty years. A new stone church 50x106 feet has recently been finished. Father Meister was killed in 1868 by a falling tree. Rev. Joseph Kaufmann was pastor from July, 1868 to December, 1869. Since that the Benedictine Fathers have been in charge with the following pastors: Eberhardt Stradler from September, 1870 to October, 1871; Placidus Zaon to January, 1875; Con- rad Ackermann to July, 1875; Manvus Helferich to August, 1875; Henry Hug to September, 1877: Benedict Brunet to March, 1879; and Father Alphonse Lente. The congregation at present num - bers about seventy-five families and the schools are in charge of the Benedictine Sisters.
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