USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume I > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
August 3. 1895, Rev. Jos. Sennefeld took charge of St. Michael's church as the fourth resident priest at Bradford, Father (228)
-
IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
Schaaf, after six years of incessant labor, having been transferred to Poseyville, Posey county, with headquarters at St. Mary's church, Evansville. Rev. Jos. Sennefeld collected for the pipe organ placed in the church $150, and zealously watched over the flock entrusted to his care till the spring of 1898, when he was transferred to a new field of labor, St. Thomas, Knox county, and the Rev. Chas. Cluever took charge of Bradford, and with great zeal took up the work entrusted to him. He is the present pastor, the fifth resident priest of Bradford, and stands high in the estima- tion of the inembers of St. Michael's church. The congregation numbers eighty families and the attendance at the school is eighty. The indebtedness of the church is now quite small.
BRAZIL, CLAY COUNTY.
The Church of the Annunciation at Brazil was founded about the year 1866, when mass was occasionally read to a small assem- blage of devotees in private houses in the rural districts and in Brazil itself by visiting priests from Terre Haute and elsewhere, the parish being then in its incipiency. Rev. Fathers O'Connor and Fenton are remembered by the earlier members of the embry- onic congregation as being among the pioneer spiritual laborers. The priest who was most prominently instrumental in promoting the establishment of the first church in Brazil was Rev. Meinrad McCarty, who came from St. Mary's of the Wood, Vigo county. Religious services continued to be held in private houses, and for a time at Dr. Knight's hall, until the spring of 1869, when the Presbyterian church-building, at the corner of Jackson and Walnut streets, was purchased and removed to lots Nos. 22 and 23, Shat- tuck's second addition to Brazil. The building was enlarged and improved and used for church purposes until the present com- modious brick structure, on lots adjoining, was occupied in 1881. In the interval, however, Father Meinrad McCarty was succeeded by his assistant, Father Benedict, and he by Father Mousette, who officiated from 1877 until 1880.
When Father H. Pierrard, the present pastor, took charge in 1880, what is now the school-building was utilized for church pur- poses. The foundation of the present church-edifice had been laid
1
(229)
A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
and was so far advanced as to be utilized in 1.881, but the church was not fully completed until September, 1883, Father Pierrard strenuously laboring toward the attainment of this object. Sep- tember 3, the house was dedicated to the worship of God by Bishop Chatard.
In this parish, which includes the whole of Clay county, were also established two missions by Father Meinrad McCarty-one at Knightsville and one at Carbon, but the former was vacated for some years, although it is now attended by Rev. A. Bohn, while the latter is administered to by Father Pierrard, whose biography will be found in Vol. II of this work. The parochial school, in the old church-building, has been in charge of Sisters from Olden- burg, Ind., since 1882, and the growth of the school, as well as that of the church, has kept abreast with the growth of the popu- lation. The Catholic orders in the parish include the Ancient Order of Hibernians with its ladies' auxiliary society, the Altar society, the Young Ladies' sodality, the Society of the Children of Mary, and the Guardian Angel society.
BREMEN, MARSHALL COUNTY.
St. Dominic's Church, at Bremen, was built in 1880 by Rev. Father Duehmig, is a frame structure, 28 x56 feet, and cost $2,200. In course of building the church was struck by lightning and great damage done. Shortly after completion lightning struck it a second time, and it cost about $700 to repair it. The congre- gation then numbered ten families, of four different nationalities, and the number is about the same at the present time. Father Duehmig attended this church with fostering care until 1894, when it passed to the charge of St. Hedwig's church at South Bend.
BRIGHTWOOD, MARION COUNTY.
St. Francis de Sales' Church, at Brightwood, a suburb of Indianapolis, was established by Bishop Chatard in April, 1881, the congregation being composed of members of St. Joseph's church, in the Capital city, four or more miles distant. The pas- tor of St. Joseph's continued in charge of the new congregation until July, 1881, when Rev. Charles Curran was appointed pastor. (230)
1
IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
This reverend gentleman was born at Seneca Falls, N. Y., Octo- ber 22, 1858, was ordained priest at St. Meinrad, June 11, 1881, by Bishop Chatard, and was given his appointment at Brightwood immediately afterward. The Brightwood congregation at once. petitioned the bishop for leave to erect a church-building, which permission was readily granted and a considerable sum was sub- scribed for that purpose, but it was deemed more wisely not to. build, but to purchase an edifice which had been vacated by a Protestant denomination and was offered for sale at a reasonable price. The purchase was made, and the church was consecrated to the Catholic faith by Bishop Chatard July 3, 1881, and placed under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales, with Father Curran as pastor, as noted above. The property cost about $3,300, of which amount the zealous pastor, seeking assistance wherever he could find it, succeeded in paying $1,700.
Father Curran held the pastorate until 1883, when Rev. Rudolph Horstmann, O. F. M., was appointed. Father Rudolph stayed only for a few years. He was succeeded by Rev. Father Alexius Bernard, Father Quirinus Stuecker and Father Fulgentius Eich. In 1892 Rev. Roger Middendorf was put in charge of the parish.
Rev. Roger Middendorf was born in Quincy, Ill., and was educated in St. Francis Solanus college, of that city. In 1884 he entered the order of St. Francis, and after the completion of his studies was placed in charge of St. Francis church at Brightwood, and during the four years of his pastorate labored zealously to improve the condition of the parish in every way possible. He established the Young Ladies' sodality, which at present has twenty-one members; the Knights of St. John, numbering twenty- five, and the St. Ann's Altar society, which has a membership of twenty-nine. During the first two years of his incumbency he saved $700, and from this sum built an addition to the priest's room at a cost of $600. At the close of four years he was returned to Quincy, Ill., as a teacher in his alma mater, and was succeeded at Brightwood by Rev. Simon Schwartz, who officiated one year, when he was transferred to Keshina, Wis., and St. Francis' con- gregation placed in charge of Rev. P. Matthew Schmitz, O. F. M.,
(231)
-
/
1
A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
August 29, 1897. The congregation now numbers eighty families, whose spiritual and worldly affairs are the constant care of the pious and capable pastor.
BROOKVILLE, FRANKLIN COUNTY.
St. Michael's Church, at Brookville, had its incipiency, prob- ably, as far back as 1838, when missionaries occasionally visited Catholics who were then laboring in the construction of the canal, and also others, scattered along the banks of the Whitewater river, Rev. Joseph Ferneding being the chief visitor. About 1849, Rev. William Engeln began visiting the Catholic families regularly each month, and divine services were held in private houses, that of Michael Schrank, in the bottom to the south of Brookville, serving frequently for this purpose. In 1854, Father Engeln was succeeded in his pastoral charge by Rev. H. Koering, who found but fifteen families at Brookville. He raised small contributions of money from all quarters-Catholic and non-Catholic-with which he purchased a lot with a small brick building thereon, and this he fitted up as the first church, at a total cost of $600.
In the spring of 1857, Rev. Januarius Weissenberger took charge of St. Michael's, and also of St. Mary's of the Rocks. Fired with an indomitable zeal for religion, he undertook to build two large brick churches at the same time-one at Brookville and the other at St. Mary's, on Pipe creek. At this time, Brookville numbered about forty Catholic families, in very moderate circum- stances, and to build a church at a cost of $10,000 was no small undertaking, but, as the congregation continued to increase, he eventually met with success, aided largely by Melchior Witt, who settled in Brookville in 1840 and there died in 1867.
From 1859 until 1863 St. Michael's was attended by Rev. Leo Osredkar, and in the latter year Rev. G. H. Ostlangenberg became the first resident pastor. In 1868 Rev. M. Fleischmann took charge, and in 1869 purchased three acres of ground in the north end of the town for use as a cemetery. In the fall of the same year were purchased two lots near the church, on which, in 1873, an imposing school house was erected. The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis bought a lot and residence near by and (232)
1
IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
assumed charge of the parochial school, which is attended by 200 pupils. The parsonage cost over $4,000, and September 10, 1897, Rev. A. A. Schenk was placed in charge of the parish.
BROWNSBURG, HENDRICKS COUNTY.
St. Malachy's Church. - The records of this parish really date back to only 1867, but mass was said earlier than this date in some of the homes of the parishioners. Possibly Thomas Malloney's home was the one where mass was said more than any other.
Father McMullen was the first priest who gave any baptismal record. He was followed in 1868 and 1869 by Father Brassast. The first part of the church was erected by Father Brassast in 1869. He remained in charge of the congregation until 1870 and was followed by Father O'Donovan, who remained from May, 1870, to 1874, and he was followed by Father Logan, who built an addition to the church and who remained until 1877. Father O'Donovan returned in 1878 and remained up to 1881. Next was Father E. J. Spelman, who administered to the parish from 1881 to July, 1885, when he was succeeded by the present and efficient pastor, Father M. J. Power, who has been the shepherd of the parish for almost fourteen years. When he came to the parish there were, good, bad and indifferent, about seventy-two families, or about 450 souls. At present there are sixty good families in the parish, and a . fair cash value of the Catholic property of St. Malachy's parish is placed at $3, 500.
CAMBRIDGE CITY, WAYNE COUNTY.
St. Elizabeth's Church at Cambridge City was founded about 1842 by Rev. Vincent Bacquelin, who visited the locality occasion- ally for two years, and his visits were followed by those of Rev. Michael O'Rourke. Rev. John Ryan succeeded and he was followed byRev. William Doyle, who visited until 1853, and after him came Rev. Henry Peters. This priest built an addition to the small frame church already on the ground, and bought an adjoining lot with a small house thereon, which served for many years as the priest's house. Father Peters was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Villars, who remained until about 1863.
14
(233)
1
-
A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
The first resident priest at Cambridge City was Rev. Joseph O'Reilly, who, in May, 1864, built the second church on the founda- tion which had been laid by Father Villars, and remained until 1869, when he was succeeded by Rev. Vincent de Vilas, the second resident pastor, who remained until April, 1871. From October 22, 1871, Rev. D. J. McMullen, of Rushville, attended until August, 1874, when the Rev. H. Alerding was appointed and found a demoralized congregation, deep in debt. The debt was canceled, but on his departure, in the fall of 1874, a debt of $1,000 still existed, incurred by the purchase of ground in a more desirable location for a new church. Father John B. Kelly succeeded Rev. H. Alerding, and under his pastorate the congregation prospered financially and spiritually. A neat church and parsonage were erected, and at his departure, in October, 1881, the indebtedness was only $3,000 on the new and improved property. Rev. Andrew Oster took charge in October, 1881, and July 2, 1885, was suc- ceeded by the present pastor, Rev. Edward J. Spelman, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 28, 1850, a son of John and Anne (Smyth) Spelman, natives of Ireland. Rev. E. J. Spelman has filled his position with zeal and industry and good work, and has officiated at St. Elizabeth's longer than any of his predecessors and is greatly beloved by his congregation for his piety and faith- ful labors in its behalf.
The first church, a frame structure. was removed from its original site and is now occupied as a dwelling by Patrick Shirkey; the second church is now the passenger and freight depot of the Big Four railroad. To. the erection of the present church Rev. John B. Kelly contributed $600 of his own money, and he is still dear to the hearts of the congregation of St. Elizabeth. The cost "of the present church was about $8,000, the cost of the residence was $1, 800 and the congregation numbers about forty-two families.
CANNELTON, PERRY COUNTY.
St. Michael's Church, at Cannelton, originated with St. Pat- rick's congregation, the church for which was built about 1852 by Rev. Aug. Bessonies, who then had his residence at Leopold, in the same county. The Rev. Bede O'Connor, O. S. B., was pas- (234)
IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
tor of St. Patrick's from January, 1854, until April, 1855, and on Low Sunday of the latter year Rev. Michael Marendt took charge, visiting, also, the following-named missions: Tell City, Troy, Rockport, St. Mark's and St. Peter's. Father Marendt, in addi- tion to much other good work, built a parsonage at Cannelton, but this is not now used by the rector. The following entry is pre- served in the church records :
At a meeting of the Catholics of Cannelton, held on Sunday evening, Feb- ruary 28, 1858, in the school-room, and presided over by the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Vincennes, it was agreed : First, That the English-speaking portion of the con- gregation should keep for their own use and benefit the church of St. Patrick and the lot on which it was built. Second, That the Germans with their own means and voluntary donations of St. Patrick's congregation should erect a new church for their exclusive use and benefit. Third, That the actual parish constructions to be paid for by both portions of the present congregation should always remain common property, either as a residence for the clergymen having charge of the congregations or as a school-house for both English and German children. The foregoing agreement was approved, and it is to be kept in the records of the church.
MAURICE, Bishop of Vincennes. CANNELTON, IND., March 2, 1858.
The above agreement was recorded according to the order of the Rt. Rev. Bishop, by M. MARENDT, Pastor of Cannelton.
In accordance with the above, St. Michael's church was erected on the corner of Washington and Richardson streets, the congregation numbering seventy-four German and four French families, or about 315 souls. The corner-stone was laid June 13, 1858, by Rev. Chrysostome Foffa, O. S. B., assisted by the Revs. William Doyle and M. Marendt, and June 19, 1859 (Trinity Sun- day), the fine Gothic structure was blessed by Rev. Bede O'Con- nor. The first bell, weighing 1,060 pounds, was blessed January 29, 1860, by Father Chrysostome, who also, on September 20, blessed the cross, which the same day was planted on the pinnacle of the tower, 156 feet high, The trustees of the church, up to October, 1860, were J. H. Spicker, Nicholas Kasper, P. Clemens and Jacob Weis.
March 13, 1861, Father Marendt, being financially embar- rassed, departed on a collecting tour to South America, remained in Chili and Peru until April 4, 1866. when he set sail on his return to his beloved parish, and arrived, via New York city, in
(235)
-
A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
Cannelton, May 17. having met with abundant success. During the absence of this zealous priest, the parish was ministered to by the Benedictine Fathers of St. Meinrad's and by Revs. Johr Dion, Paul Wagner, and others, as resident priests.
In 1869 the church was plastered and frescoed, and the base- ment divided into school-rooms, and the pupils were placed in charge of three Franciscan Sisters, who also used this part of the church-building a's a residence. The larger boys, however, were taught by Xavier Marendt, a brother of the reverend pastor. March 13, 1870, three bells were added to the one already men- tioned, and were blessed by Father Marendt himself. The minis- terial career of this venerated clergyman began with the day of his ordination to the priesthood, March 24, 1855, and closed only with his lamented death, January 13, 1871.
Rev. Edward M. Faller came to Cannelton in March, 1871, and officiated as pastor' of both congregations until 1878. He erected a very handsome parsonage and made other valuable improvements about the church, and largely at the sacrifice of his own means. He was succeeded, in October, 1878, by Rev. Michael L. Guthneck, who was appointed pastor of both St. Pat- rick's and St. Michael's churches. In November, 1881, a lot was purchased, and August 13, 1882, the corner-stone of the new St. Patrick's church was laid by Father Faller, assisted by Rev. Chry- sostome Foffa, O. S. B., and Conrad Ackermann, and the building completed in 1883. The congregation of St. Patrick's is now ministered to by the clergy of St. Michael's. Following Father Guthneck came Rev. F. B. Luebbermann, who remained a short time only, and he was succeeded by Rev. F. W. Pepersack, and he by Rev. Aloysius Dannenhoffer, and he, in turn, by the present able pastor, Rev. John W. Book, who has just completed the twelfth year of his pastorate, and of whom further mention is made in a biographical notice on another page. [NOTE .- Rev. John W. Book passed to his reward in the fall of 1898.
CEDAR GROVE, FRANKLIN COUNTY.
The Church of the Holy Guardian Angel, at Cedar Grove, was organized in 1872. Up to that date the twenty Catholic families (236)
1
IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
living in or near Cedar Grove attended at St. Joseph's, St. Peter's and Brookville. The people were anxious to form a congregation and petitioned Bishop de St. Palais to that effect. The good bishop readily consented and charged Rev. M. Fleischmann, of Brookville, with the task of gathering the scattering families into one flock and erecting a suitable church. Mass was said for the first time in the house of Philip Eschenbach, in November, 1872, after which a ineeting was held and a building committee appointed. Despite opposition, three acres of land were bought and a brick church, 30 x60 feet, was built. The corner-stone was laid by Rev. Scheideler, assisted by the Rev. H. Siebertz and the pastor, on Sunday, September 28, 1873. On the 3d of January, 1874, divine services were held in the new church for the first time. The number of families at that time was thirty.
The roster of priests who have had charge of the parish is as follows: Rev. Joseph Fleischmann, who was in charge of Brook- ville, took charge of Cedar Grove in 1874; he remained nine years and under his prudent administration the parish was able to build a school in 1877. He was succeeded by Rev. Herman Tegeder, June 24, 1883, but who died at Cedar Grove, November 24, 1886, and his successors were Revs. Joseph and Stenger, both O. S. B. Rev. Fr. Koesters was pastor a short time in 1887, and the next priest was Rev. Geo. Loesch, who was the rector until the appoint- ment of Rev. T. S. Mesker, the present live and energetic priest, who was appointed August 15, 1888, and he has labored assidu- ously with his congregation until the present.
CELESTINE, DUBOIS COUNTY.
St. Peter's Cælestin Church, at Celestine, Ind., dates its history back to 1844, when a rude log structure was erected, 30 x 55 feet, and was dedicated October 6, the congregation then numbering about forty families, and Rev. Father Kundeck, of Jasper, being the founder. This good priest continued his visits until 1849, when Rev. Matthias Leutner became the first resident pastor and remained from February 25. of that year, until 1850. Father Kundeck again officiated until April, 1851, when he inade a trip to Europe and a substitute was furnished in the person of Rev. John Merl, who
(237)
T
A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
remained until July 10, 1850, when Father Kundeck returned, relieved his substitute and remained until September 15. From October 2, 1853, Rev. Joseph Neuber administered to the needs of the congregation until May 28, 1854; then Father Kundeck again officiated until June, when he was succeeded by Father-Wirz, who remained until October 7, 1855, when he was substituted by Father Chrysostome; Father Kundeck next returned and filled out a short term until February, 1857; then came a substitute, Father Isidor, from St. Meinrad's, who remained from May 10 until September 27, 1857 ; then Father Ulrich, who visited several times; next Fathers Chrysostome and Isidor; then Father O'Conner had charge from February 4, 1858, until August 4, 1859; then Father Meister, from August 31, 1859, until October 24, 1864, and during this pastorate the second church was built. Father Wolfgang officiated from March 16 to May 19, 1865, when Father Bruning (whose remains now lie interred in the cemetery at Celestine) had charge from June 25, 1865, until November 9, 1877. Father Koesters was the resi- dent priest from January 18, 1878, until June 6, 1883, and he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Fleischmann, who served from June 10, 1883, until February 4, 1891, when he was succeeded by the pres- ent able pastor, Rev. Charles F. Bilger, whose labors in this par- ish are fully treated of in his life-sketch in Vol. II.
In June, 1895, the manufacture of brick for a new edifice was begun: August 18, 1896, the corner-stone was laid by the Very Rev. John W. Book, of Cannelton, and October 17, 1897, the building was dedicated by Bishop Chatard. This edifice stands on an eminence in the southeastern part of the village, is of modern architecture and of magnificent proportions and appearance. The auditorium is 88 x 42 feet, the transept 71 × 42 feet, the vestibule 19 x 19 feet, and the spire, which is surmounted by a gilded cross, rises to a height of 126 feet from its base, and is furnished with three bells. The roof is of slate and the interior handsomely dec- orated, the cost of all reaching $20,000.
The parochial school-building measures 60 x 32 feet, contains two stories and an attic and stands just east of the church edifice. The school has an enrolment of about 147 pupils, under the instruc- tion of three Benedictine Sisters and a lay teacher. The Sisters (238)
-
IN THE STATE OF INDIANA.
occupy five rooms in the school-building. The lay teacher lives in a cozy residence. That Father Bilger is one of the most energetic and zealous of the Catholic clergy of the southern diocese of Indi- ana is shown by the fact that, within the few years he has had charge of St. Peter's Cœlestin's, he has not only released it from debt, but has placed it in a most flourishing condition, the value of its property, including twenty acres of land, being not less than $30,000.
COLUMBUS, BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY.
St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church. - The first Catholic serv- ice at Columbus, Ind., of which we have any knowledge, was held about the year 1822, before a congregation composed of probably one-half dozen persons. Later Father Lalumiere, an itinerant priest, visited Columbus occasionally and said mass at the houses of the Catholic families alternately.
For many years the congregation was without a church-build- ing and services were held by the visiting priests at some member's house. Finally, in the late 'thirties, the first Catholic church in central Indiana was built in Columbus on the ground now occupied by the Rebennack building. The church was dedicated to the services of God, under the patronage of St. Bartholomew, one of the apostles of our Lord. Father Vincent Bacquelin became re - ident priest.
From this time the congregation increased in numbers, and in 1855 the Sisters of Providence established the St. Bartholomew school, which prospered for several years, being discontinued at the breaking out of the war.
The congregation in 1861 numbered fifty families and was in a fairly prosperous condition. The war seriously crippled the con- gregation, as most of its men responded to their country's call and enlisted in the Union army. Out of the fifty families composing the congregation, sixty-five men, more than one for each family, volunteered. This speaks well for the patriotism of St. Barthol- omew's congregation. The names of these men are on record. They served either in the command's of Capts. Keith, Gaffney, McGrayel or Harrington. As early as 1848, during the Mexican
(239)
-
HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
war, Columbus furnished one captain and five privates, who were members of the St. Bartholomew's church. '
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.