History of Posey County, Indiana, Part 14

Author: Leffel, John C., b. 1850. cn
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Standard Publ. Co.
Number of Pages: 456


USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana > Part 14


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Rev. John Schrader, a Methodist preacher who traveled extensively in this State, Illinois and Missouri, came in 1814. He was one of the first preachers to locate in Robb township and was regarded as a powerful preacher. He died in 1880, at the age of ninety.


Among the early ministry of Robb township were Revs. Scrip, Hol- liday and Thomas Davis. Among the pioneer Baptist preachers were Elders James Martin, Benny Keith, Charles Whiting, Ezekiel Sanders, Louis Williams, Joel Hume, Elijah and William Goodwin. The Elders Goodwin denounced unequivocally the use of the "mourners' bench" and the doctrine that people could and did "get religion." They declared that the mourners' bench was without precedent in the Bible and that religion consisted in doing good works and obeying the commands of the Scriptures to the letter.


Rev. Joseph Wasson, dissenting from those views, organized a fac- tion and withdrew from the church. This was about the year 1816. Henceforth the followers of Rev. Wasson were called Wassonites, but called themselves the Christians. They built a log church at a place · called Liberty in Smith township and several years later, through the benevolence of "Uncle" Isaiah Wilkinson, a neat frame building was erected on the old site and the Wassonites continued to "hold the fort" at the same old stand. About the year 1821 they built a large log church and laid out a camp ground, in the form of a hollow square, at Mt. Pleasant, also in Smith township. A large number of log huts were built all around the outer edge of the square for the accommodation of campers. Here the people flocked in great numbers to attend the camp meetings and revivals. Some of the greatest revivals of the time occurred at this camp ground. Thomas Smiley, 'Squire James Wilson, "Uncle" Tommy Wilson, and "Uncle" Johnnie Shelton were prominent in camp meeting days. At times the excitement became very intense and the penitent sinners were seized with strange hallucinations, declar- ing that they could see the Savior or the devil; smell the burning of brimstone in hell, etc.


The pulpit in their church was very different from those of the present


THE OLD RAPPITE CHURCH New Harmony


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day but was modeled after the design common in most churches of that day and would be quite a curiosity to church-goers of today. The floor was about four feet above the main floor. It was six feet wide and twelve feet long and was enclosed or boxed up all around to a height of about four feet, with the exception of a small opening on each side for doors, which were approached by stairways.


The first church in New Harmony was the old frame church of the Rappites. In 1842 the St. Stevens Episcopal Church was built. For many years this had a large membership, had a large Sunday school, supported an able minister and was in a flourishing condition, but in later years it ceased to maintain a minister. The first Methodist min- isters to preach in New Harmony were Revs. Meek and Burkitt, who were in the town in community days. They organized the first Meth- odist class in 1846 at the house of Mrs. Anderson. A Sunday school was organized in the same year with John R. Hugo as superintendent and Mrs. Heaton as assistant. The Methodists built a camp ground at Beech Grove in Lynn township in 1843 and in 1870 the General Baptists built a church at that place which they called Bethsada, a church organ- ization having existed there for several years previously. The trustees of the church were John G. Donaldson, B. S. Aldrich and William York.


The General Baptists built the first church in Center township in 1876 on land in section 26, which was formerly owned by John R. Skelton. The first trustees were Weston Lewis, Robert Willis and Francis M. Tennison. The church has a very large membership at present.


Greathouse Church in Point township was built in 1872, at a cost of approximately $1,500. The ground on which it was built was given by Henry Stripe on condition that the house should be called and retain the name of Greathouse Church. It was a Methodist institution. Pre- vious to its erection the Methodists, as well as the Baptists and Chris- tians, worshipped in the Stripe school house, which was a log building, the first school house built in the township.


In 1843 Zion's Evangelical Church was organized with sixteen fam- ilies, and a log building was erected in the southern part of Robinson township. In 1856 they erected a new frame house at a cost of $2,200, and a $600 pipe organ was installed.


In 1815 the Baptists built a small log house in Bethel township and worshipped here for many years before they became strong enough to build a more commodious frame building. Jerry Cash, Louis Williams and Peter Saltzman were their earliest preachers. After the Baptists built their new church the Disciples preached in their old log church till they also grew stronger and built a new frame house.


Today, beautiful, commodious and up-to-date church buildings are to be found in every hamlet, village and town in Posey county, represent- ing the Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, Christians, Presbyterians, Epis-


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copalians, and several churches belonging to the German Lutheran and German Methodist denominations.


ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, MT. VERNON.


When this part of the country was practically a wilderness and the forests primeval still surrounded the locality now occupied by the city of Mt. Vernon there was already a thriving town beautifully situated on the banks of the Ohio river known then as McFaddin's Bluff. As the river trade brought with it an increasing population, the missionary would come along also to look after the spiritual wants of his people. The only means of travel the missionary had in those days was on horse back along the trail in the woods, unless he could glide for a time along the streams in a little boat or skiff. As early as 1840 the Rev. E. J. Durbin, a zealous and well known priest from St. Vincents, Ky., came to Mt. Vernon on his trips through southern Indiana and Illinois, visiting the Catholic people, attending to the sick and dying and occa- sionally stopping to hold services for the little flock at Mt. Vernon. Father Durbin was a typical Kentuckian. He was noted for his kind- ness to everyone, also for his bravery when called upon to face danger in the exercise of his duties. One stormy night there was a man walk- ing up and down the banks at Uniontown looking for some one to to take him across. The river was too wild for the most expert oars- man to venture rowing a skiff across, when the man spied a fisherman and said, "If you will let me have a skiff, I'll go myself." The man gave him the boat but said, in amazement, "You are either a crazy man or else you are Father Durbin." "Well," he said, "I am Father Durbin." He was on his way to a dying man across the river. He was a welcome guest in any company on account of his wit and democratic manners. He dedicated the first church at Mt. Vernon. Doing services in Ken- tucky for many years he lived to a ripe old age and died revered by all. In 1844 the Rev. A. Deydier, the first resident priest at Evansville, came occasionally, but the Rev. Roman Weinzoepfel was the first priest to pay Mt. Vernon regular visits, holding services in the parlors of the hotel then owned by the Schenk brothers. In 1857 a lot 140 x 140 was bought from Hiram P. Casselberry for $660.00. Father Weinzoepfel received substantial encouragement from the citizens in general and soon let the contract for a church building 40 x 22 to be built of brick. The church was dedicated in October, 1857, by the Rev. E. J. Durbin and named after St. Matthew, the apostle. Father Weinzoepfel visited Mt. Vernon for the last time in 1858, attended New Alsace, Ind., for sev- eral years, but spent the decline of his life in the quiet cloister of Mein- rad, Ind., where he died about twelve years ago. He was held in high veneration, being the martyr priest during the early know-nothing


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times, when bigotry ran high. He was persecuted for several years, until the tide turned, principally through the intervention of President Polk and Governor Whitcomb, of Indiana. The congregation of Mt. Vernon was now attended by priests from St. Wendel, Evansville and Vincennes, until 1865, when the Rev. H. J. Diestel, residing at St. Philip, visited Mt. Vernon once a month. He took a great interest in the con- gregation and built a spacious one-story frame school house and par- sonage. Father Diestel was beloved by everybody on account of his genial disposition and kindly manner. He could make himself at home in the court house, swapping yarns with the county officers, or on the business streets shaking hands and saying a kind word to everybody. After remaining at St. Philip for twenty-two years he became pastor of Trinity Church, Evansville. He died October 27, 1907.


In 1868 St. Matthew's Church received its first resident pastor, in the person of Rev. J. F. Sondermann, who remained until May, 1874. From now on the little congregation made rapid progress. Father Sonder- mann made many improvements in the church, also bought the ground for a Catholic cemetery. Being of a gentle disposition and conscien- tious in his work he soon won the favor of all classes of people, went through the sieges of cholera and smallpox and came very nearly dying of smallpox himself. After being pastor at Evansville for a while he was promoted to take charge of a church at Lawrenceburg, where he has endeared himself to his flock and is the pastor to this very day.


St. Matthew's parish has always believed in a good school. From the very beginning a parochial school was established and a competent teacher secured in the person of Jacob Weiss, who taught for fifteen years. The school was very popular from the start and many of our most prominent business men received their education in St. Matthew's school. Fifty or sixty years ago our schools through the country were mostly subscription schools, the people of a neighborhood subscribing for a teacher, whom they hired for as many months as they could af- ford. Up to 1820 all our public schools were denominationl schools under the supervision of the clergy. In our present school system much has been done for education, but religion was entirely abolished from the schools. Catholics, believing that morality is based on religion, make it a matter of conscience that education is complete only when religion is taught along with the secular branches, and since the State school cannot teach religion without violating the law, they maintain their own parochial schools, carrying their own burden and saving thereby a great amount of money to the town and State. At the pres- ent day many of our most prominent educators and sociologists main- tain strongly that we must come back to a system in which religion is taught in our schools if we care for the welfare of our country. The parochial school is not inimical to the public school; on the contrary, its attitude has always been that of friendly relationship.


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In 1900 a large substantial brick building was erected for a school house with an entertainment hall on the second floor, on the corner of Fifth and Mulberry streets. The school building is modern in every way, with high ceilings, is well lighted and ventilated and heated by steam. The equipment of the school is up to date in every particular, has its sanitary drinking fountains, all the latest maps, charts, globes, and whatever belongs to the educational system. At this time the Servite Sisters, of London, England, were induced to come and take charge of the school. These ladies are members of a religious commu- nity that stands high in the ranks of educators. They have prominent schools in Paris and London. They devote themselves entirely to teach- ing and have the traditions of centuries in their order to profit from. They established a separate kindergarten on scientific principles and taught it for eight years to the great delight of the parents as well as the little one who attended. The curriculum of St. Matthew's school includes the usual eight grades of the public school, and a graduate is fit to enter the city high school. Manual training, drawing, sewing and physical exercises have always been part of the school work. At pres- ent the Sisters of St. Benedict have charge of the school. Besides striving for efficiency in school work they conduct a music academy, where an able teacher gives lessons in both vocal and instrumental mu- sic. The school is in a flourishing condition.


After Father Sondermann left, the Rev. Mathias A. Gillig was pastor until July, 1877, when the Rev. J. J. Schoentrup took charge of St. Matthew's parish. The church was now entirely too small for the ac- commodation of the rapidly increasing congregation and the necessity of building a new and larger church became evident. Father Schoen- trup, then a young and energetic man with pleasant manners, went to work with a will and was generously supported by all the people. There never was any religious bigotry in Mt. Vernon, the people believing in religious liberty and living happily together in perfect harmony. They were glad to see a new and beautiful church edifice being erected that would be a credit to the city. The building was begun in the sum- mer of 1879 and was completed in 1880. The building is Roman style, II2 x 50 feet. The steeple is 146 feet high. Bishop Chatard dedicated the church October 10, 1880. The cost of the building was $10,000, the interior furnishings $1,700. The congregation has always kept on im- proving the interior of the church by adding new artistic furniture and church furnishings. The whole interior of the church is beautifully dec- orated in fresco, done by three artists from Italy. The columns are in onyx. The ceiling reprents heaven with clusters of angels, natural as life, in the alcoves. The facade of the sanctuary shows our Lord inviting us to pray ; on each side is a recording angel. The ceiling, of the sanctuary shows the representation of the Holy Spirit hovering


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over the altar. The whole scene is very inspiring and devotional. The roof of the church was changed and covered with the very best ma- terial-the fire-proof asbestos slate. The other buildings are covered with the same material. In 1893 the first church building, one of the old landmarks, was removed and a priest's residence built on the north side of the church, corner Fifth and Walnut streets, which greatly im- proved this place. Rev. J. J. Schoentrup worked faithfully for the wel- fare of the church during six years of his pastorship and was then called to take charge of the church at Aurora, Ind. He died March 14, 1891. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. Koesters, a brilliant man and great orator, who remained until December, 1883, when he resigned to take up literary work. At his request the Rt. Rev. Bishop Chatard, D. D., appointed the present pastor, the Rev. F. B. Luebbermann, who officiated at St. Matthew's Church for the first time on December 8, 1883. During his administration the church has grown to be a large congregation, which became a factor in the history of Posey county. It numbers over a thousand souls and in its fold are some of our most prominent business men and most substantial farmers. The congrega- · tion, always progressive, has steadily improved its church property, which today is an ornament to the city. In 1912 the parish built a new and modern priest's residence facing Mulberry street on the old Mc- Arthur property, which was purchased some years before. The build- ing is made of vitrified brick with asbestos slate roof. This part of the property being shaped up is a great improvement to that part of the city and a credit to the congregation.


THE TOWN CLOCK.


About twenty years ago there was a general desire of the citizens of Mt. Vernon to have a town clock that could be heard all over the city, and besides its practical use would be like music and poetry to the people. It was a luxury that few cities of the size of Mt. Vernon would dream of. The city was not in the position to get one. The only way, therefore, to secure it was by popular subscription. This was done, Frederick P. 'Leonard heading the list with fifty dollars. The natural place for it would have been on the city or county building, but the subscribers wanted it on a place where it would surely be well cared for, and decided in favor of the tower of St. Matthew's Church. The clock is a fine piece of mechanism, built by the M. Schwalbach Company, of Milwaukee, Wis., and has done service all these years, and having been overhauled lately is as good as new. It strikes the quarters on two bells and the hour on the largest bell. The city pays the nominal sum of fifty dollars a year for taking care of it. It is wound up every day and the weights are from 400 to 600 pounds. The


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people are so well pleased with it and have become so accustomed to it, they could not do without it.


St. Matthew's Church now has a cluster of substantial and up-to-date buildings on the half block it owns, which, with the grounds all neatly trimmed, are a credit to the city and in keeping with the city's progress. What adds mostly to the neat appearance of the city of Mt. Vernon is its improved streets, clean-cut curbings and concrete sidewalks. St. Matthew's parish put down the first concrete sidewalk in the city of Mt. Vernon, twenty years ago. The work was watched by all the peo- ple with keen interest and has now stood the test of time, for, though made in large blocks, it is as good today as it was at first, not showing even the sign of a crack.


The history of St. Matthew's Church would be incomplete without mentioning its religious services and its singing choir. The church itself, being consecrated to the worship of God, is never used for any- thing else but Divine worship. The services in the Catholic church, if rightly understood, are beautiful and elevating. The Latin language is used only in its ritual and it shows that the church is not national but universal, being the same all the world over. The people, however, have the vernacular translation of it all in their prayer books. The ser- mons in the St. Matthew's church are always in the English language. Anybody is welcome to any and all of its services. At certain times a course of lectures is given to non-Catholics, explaining in all charity the doctrine, customs and the history of the Catholic church. Although the church advocates congregational singing of popular hymns by the people it always maintains a select choir of superior voices for the more difficult chant. Miss Mary Munchoff and Miss Olga Joest, two star singers of the world, were members of the St. Matthew's choir and re- ceived their first instructions in its rehearsals. The music is taken from the masterpieces of the greatest composers of the world, who found their inspirations in the solemn services of the Catholic church, and if properly rendered is always inspiring and devotional. The St. Matthew's choir has always kept up its record for efficiency in high- class church music.


St. Matthew's congregation is a model for harmony. There is never any friction or antagonism among its members. The people work in harmony with their pastor and the pastor is devoted to his flock. The pastor had many calls to higher places in larger cities, but when the people found it out they always petitioned against it, and he was willing to stay with them. The priest is naturally kind to everybody, irrespect- ive of creed, and is everybody's friend. The people of St. Matthew's congregation always believed in the proverb, "United we stand," and to this united work and sentiment is probably due in a large measure the success of St. Matthew's church.


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THE CATHOLIC CHAPEL IN POINT TOWNSHIP.


Through the munificences of Hovey and Menzies, each of whom gave forty acres of timber land, it was made possible to start a church in Point township. The pretty little frame church, 72 x 35, was built in 1900 and dedicated with great solemnity in October, 1902. It is attended to once a month from Mt. Vernon, Ind. A church, wherever established, becomes not only an educational and moral factor in the community, but also a great help in the material progress and pros- perity of the country. When this church was to be built a half-mile stretch of the road was yet in timber and had to be cleared. It is now a continuous, much traveled road, the longest and straightest in Posey county. The improvements about the church stimulated the farmers and everyone began to improve and progress, so that the general verdict of the people was that nothing ever contributed as much for the devel- opment of Point township as the building of this church. Other sub- stantial farmers, seeing the fertile soil and the possibilities for the future, bought land and settled down. The prices of land have more than doubled and quite a transformation took place in that section with- in the last ten years. With thrift and energy on the part of the pro- gressive farmers, with improved roads and proper drainage, Point township is destined to be the garden spot of Posey county. The church has also provided for the social enjoyment of the people. In the rear of the church building is a beautiful grove, where large gatherings have their amusements in summer time, in an orderly way, and are pro- tected from ruffianism of any sort. The church is free and open to all and admits non-Catholics as well as Catholics to all of its services. The congregation is steadily growing and in the course of time will be a substantial country parish.


ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH.


Prior to 1846 Catholics living in this vicinity were attended by the Rev. Fathers Czackert, C. S. S. R., A. Deydier, C. Schniederzans and Charles Oppermann, who celebrated mass in private houses. During the year 1843 a log chapel was raised, but not completed. The place, selected by Rev. Schniederzans, was located a quarter of a mile east of the present church site. Not proving satisfactory, the work was aban- doned until the arrival of Rev. Roman Weinzapfel, who took charge of the mission in 1846. By order of Rt. Rev. Bishop De La Hailandiere the chapel was to be erected on a piece of land near the West Franklin road. The chapel was rebuilt near the present site of church and com- pleted in 1846. Mass was celebrated for the first time September 12, 1847, and the chapel was dedicated to St. Philip, the apostle. In the


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year 1857 Rev. Weinzapfel made preliminary arrangement for the build- ing of a large brick church 50x100 feet. This work was completed in 1860 by Rev. F. Wagner, of St. Wendel's, who had charge after the resignation of Rev. Weinzapfel. From 1861 to 1865 Rev. J. B. Merl had charge of the mission. On the fifteenth of January, 1865, Rev. H. T. Diestel arrived at St. Philip's and became the first resident pastor. He remained until his promotion to Holy Trinity church, Evansville, In- diana. During the twenty-one years of his pastorate a substantial brick parsonage and a school building were erected. The church steeple was replaced by a new and beautiful chime of four bells placed therein. Mrs. E. Deig donated a costly high altar. Later on a pipe organ was obtained by general contribution, the organ costing $1,700. Other im- provements were made, all of which rendered St. Philip's congregation a most desirable and flourishing congregation. Rev. W. Kemper was in charge eighteen months. He was obliged to resign on account of fail- ing health.


On the seventh day of August, 1888, Rev. George T. Loesch received the appointment as pastor of St. Philip's church. The congregation at that time numbered ninety-three families, with an average school at- tendance of fifty to sixty children.


George Schenk, an uncle of Rev. Loesch, taught school, with only one year's interruption (1865), for a term of forty years. George Loesch, father of the Reverend Loesch, and A. T. Alles also taught school for short periods very successfully. Since 1896 three Benedictive sisters have had charge of the school; ninty-five pupils are now enrolled and the sisters' work is duly appreciated. One of the pleasing and useful features of the school is the industrial work, which is taught to the girls by the sisters one day each week.


The congregation owns eighteen acres of land, moreover two ceme- teries, each having many beautiful and costly monuments. The congre- gation now numbers 100 families, of whom many are rich and pros- perous farmers.


Rev. Father Loesch has had charge of St. Philip's Church twenty-five years. Two other events worthy of mention were the silver jubilee of the ordination of the pastor of St. Philip's on Decoration day, May 30, 1910, and in October, 1910, the golden jubilee of the church, built in 1860. At both celebrations hundreds of friends and visitors from Mt. Vernon and Posey county were present and entertained.




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