USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume I > Part 23
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stand, procured a large bell and made other improvements, and all was paid for. Bishop Maurice de St. Palais went on an official trip to Rome, but had selected Father Schnell to take charge of the parish before departing. He came in November, 1870, and remained until March, 1871, when he returned to his former charge at Edinburg, which parish had petitioned the bishop for his return. Following hini came Rev. H. J. Seibertz, in April, 1871, and remained till August, 1877. Du ing his administration, in 1874, he succeeded in erecting the new church and spire, added a third bell and made other improvements, though leaving the interior of the church unfinished. He was succeeded by the pres- ent pastor, Rev. Father B. H. Brueggemann. There existed a little hard feeling in the parish on account of the removal of the new church to the present site, but Father Brueggemann, by his well-known zeal and tact, has restored harmony and peace.
DUBOIS COUNTY.
St. Anthony's Church, Dubois county, has had its existence since 1864, when the Rev. U. J. Meister, from Celestine, erected a small log church-building and a log parsonage, and remained in charge until 1868, when he inet with a sudden and melancholy death by being struck by the limb of a falling tree while he was overseeing the clearing of the church ground. This lamented pas- tor was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Kauffmann, who officiated until 1870, and the succession thereafter was as follows: Rev. Eberhard Stadler until 1872; Rev. Placidus Zarn until 1875; Rev. Henry Hug until 1877; Rev. Benedict Brunet until 1879; Rev. Alphonse Leute until 1883; Rev. C. Thomas until 1885, when Rev. Basil Heusler, the present pastor, was placed in charge.
In 1882 Rev. Father Leute commenced the erection of a new church-edifice, which was completed sufficiently for divine serv- ice in 1885. Since the incumbency of Father Heusler, who came here September 1, 1885, he has put a stone floor in the church, introduced new pews, placed the bells and roofed the build- ing with tin. The large altar is of stone and the pulpit on the north side of the auditorium is of black walnut. The tower, which is 115 feet high, was also erected by Father Heusler. The new (252)
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church was blessed December 20, 1885, by Rev. C. Thomas, and the first divine services therein were conducted on the same day. September 26, 1886, the church was consecrated by Bishop Cha- tard. February 22. 1890, five new bells were received, the total weight of which is 4,000 pounds and the cost $786.80. These bells, in June, 1891. were also blessed by Bishop Chatard. June 4, 1893, ground was broken for a new parsonage. This building is of frame, is two stories high, contains twelve rooms and has attached to it an ell. It is a fine looking building, is nicely fur- nished and is a credit to the pastor as well as to the congregation.
The Sisters' residence, just north of the church-building, was erected in June, 1897, at a cost of $866.35, including work donated. The total value of St. Anthony's parish is now about $25,000. The present membership comprises about 100 families, while in 1864 it numbered but forty. The church societies are in a flour- ishing condition, and the school, which was established in 1864 by Father Meister, now has an enrolment of 166 pupils, who are in charge of three Benedictine Sisters. The parish is located seven miles east of Huntingburg and nine miles southeast of Jasper on the Air Line railroad, and the little village of St. Anthony has a population of perhaps 200.
St. Henry's Church .- In 1863 the corner-stone of St. Henry's was laid by the Very Rev. Bede O'Connor, vicar-general, O. S. B., and by him the church was dedicated. There were twenty fam- ilies in the parish at that time and the congregation was adminis- tered to by the Benedictine Fathers of St. Meinrad until Father Benedict came in December, 1865, and here remained until 1872; Father B. H. Kintrup came in 1878, and during the same year built the priest's house. In October, 1879, came Rev. Pius Boehm, O. S. B., the first resident priest, and he remained until 1885. Then Rev. William Wack came and remained until June, 1891.
During Father Pius' time of duty the Sisters' house was erected, and the school placed in charge of two Sisters. The school has been conducted by them with some interruptions since 1882. Rev. Frank X. Seegmueller succeeded Father Wack in February, 1891, but died September 20, 1892. Father Placidus
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Zarn, O. S. B., then came and remained until October, 1892; Rev. Alex Koesters came October 25, 1892, and remained until October 1, 1894. In February, 1895, Rev. Ferdinand Hundt came and remained until November, 1897, when he was succeeded - by Rev. Lawrence Fichter, who remained until March, 1897, when he was succeeded by Rev. Father Hommes, the present pastor. The parish is in a very healthy state, and but little debt rests upon it. The value of the church property of St. Henry is placed at $5,000.
DYER, LAKE COUNTY.
St. Joseph's Church at Dyer was organized by the Rev. Jacob Schmitz, who, aided by the liberal contributions of about fifty-one of the leading members of the laity, succeeded in erecting a beau- tiful church-edifice before the close of July, 1867, at a cost of $5,000. Father Schmitz was succeeded, in order, by the Rev. Fathers B. Th. Borg, B. Wiedau, King, Frund, Steurer and the Rev. Joseph Flach, the latter officiating from the spring. of 1878 until 1883, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Charles V. Stetter, D. D., who remained until 1888, when Rev. Joseph Flach was again given charge of the parish and is still the resident pastor. The congregation now comprises sixty-eight families, all German with two exceptions. The school is in charge of one secular male teacher and one Franciscan Sister of the Sacred Heart, who give instruction to eighty children.
EARL PARK, BENTON COUNTY.
St. John the Baptist Church at Earl Park was first attended as a mission of Kentland and of Fowler until 1888, when Rev. Father Vauzier became the resident priest and remained until the coming of Father Weber. The structure is of frame, is about 30x60 feet in dimensions and contains a large hall. The ceme- tery, one mile southwest, comprises two acres. As yet there is no school connected with St. John's, but one is soon to be established.
EGE, NOBLE COUNTY.
The Immaculate Conception Church at Ege (French settle- ment) was organized about 1853, coincident with the organization (254) .
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of the church at Avilla, and was attended by clergymen from the lat- ter place until the advent of Father Franzer in 1877, who remained until 1880, when Father Ege came and officiated until 1897. For a short time thereafter Father Jurascheck ministered to the spiritual needs of the parishioners, and was succeeded by Rev. F. Faust, the present pastor, whose naine closes the list of incumbents up to date.
The congregation of the Immaculate Conception church, in the beginning, comprised but seven families, but it now numbers seventy-five. The first church, a frame, 24 x 56 feet, was practi- cally built and donated by Gabriel Girardot, who also donated two acres of ground. This building was used until 1876, when Father Duehmig erected the present church, about one-half mile west of the old site, which is now used for a cemetery. The new building is 38 x 90 feet, and cost about $4,500. Later, Father Duehmig, who had attended from Avilla from 1867 until 1877, moved the old church to close proximity with the new, and converted it into a combined school-house, Sisters' house, and priest's residence, but this structure was destroyed by fire, and Father Ege erected a fine new building for the same uses. The school is attended by sixty- five pupils, who are under the instruction of two Franciscan Sis- ters of the Sacred Heart.
ELKHART, ELKHART COUNTY.
Cathedral of St. Vincent De Paul. - May 17, 1867, Rev. A. 1 B. Oechtering, of Mishawaka, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic church of that place, assumed charge of, Elkhart as a mission, holding services in Conley's hall irregularly until March 8, 1868, when a permanent organization was effected, under the title of St. Vin- cent De Paul. A new church was immediately commenced on the lot purchased by the Rt. Rev. J. H. Luers, then the bishop of the diocese of Fort Wayne. The corner-stone was laid, July 12, 1868, by the bishop, assisted by Rev. A. B. Oechtering, pastor, and Rev. D. Duehmig, of Avilla, the size being 28 x 56 feet, and on the 25th of October following the church was opened for divine services, although in an unfinished state, not completed and dedi- cated until October 25, 1870. Up to November 27, 1869, Rev. A. B. Oechtering was in charge, after which Rev. John Oechtering
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was the spiritual head until November, 1870, when Rev. A. B. Oechtering again returned and filled the pulpit to November, 1871, when the Rev. J. H. Quinlan was appointed; he was the first resi- dent pastor and remained so until October, 1875, when Rev. M. F. Noll took his place and remained pastor to May, 1880, when he was removed and his place filled by the Rev. Kroeger, May 12, 1880. Among the prominent members of the church were Vincent Voisinett, Joseph Ludwig, August Ludwig, Dennis Brophy, John Singer, and by the financial aid of Mr. Voisinett especially, the church was completed, as he not only attended to its erection in person, but advanced money when needed. July 5, 1878, the Rev. Kroeger purchased the site of the present cathedral, and July 5, 1881, the school was erected, and occupied in September following. March 2, 1887, ground was broken for the new edi- fice, and the corner-stone laid May 2, 1887, by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, D. D., of Fort Wayne, assisted by Rev. Kroeger, Rev. A. B. Oechtering, of Mishawaka, Rev. Kirch, C. S. C., of Notre Dame, and Rev. J. A. Kroeger, of Goshen, Ind. In length it is 125 feet, in width 50 feet, and from the ground to the top of the gold bronze cross on the spire is a height of 143 feet, the spire alone being 75 feet high. The distance from the floor to the ceil- ing is 363 feet, and the brick work has a height of 29 feet. The ceiling is groined Gothic in architecture, and is remarkably hand- some. The sanctuary has a space of 29 feet in depth, 21 feet in width, and is appropriately furnished with symbols. The choir, which is situated over the main entrance, is also very spacious and finely constructed.
The stained glass windows were presented by the various societies of the church and by individuals as follows: The large central window over the entrance, by Mrs. Martin Jordan, Mrs. Joseph Foy and Charlie Foy. The north and south front windows, by Rev. William Kroeger, C. H. Wagner, Joseph Ludwig, August Ludwig, Louis Westerman, William Nopper and Frank Karasch. The first windows on the north and south of the lower part of the house were also presented by the foregoing gentlemen, making four in all that were contributed by them; the second window on the north is a gift of the first communion classes of 1886 and 1888. (256)
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The third is the gift of Anthony Roy and Louis Luelke. The fourth and fifth came from the Blessed Virgin Mary's sodality. The second window on the south is presented by the Indiana council, No. 81, C. B. L., the third by C. H. Wagner, and the fourth and fifth by Rosary sodality. The carpet for the sanctuary is presented by the married ladies of the Rosary sodality, and the matting by the young ladies of the Blessed Virgin's sodality.
The inside of the church is very fine, the frescoing having been done by a Munich student, Mr. Henry Meeker, of Logans- port, Ind. There is a main entrance at the front of the build- ing, and a doorway on each side of the entrance. The lighting is done by two large gas reflectors, and furnaces afford heat. The present pastor is the Rev. Henry Aloysius Boeckelmann, who was placed in charge December 30, 1891. The seating capacity is about 1,000 and 1, 200 can be taken care of if necessary.
ELWOOD, MADISON COUNTY.
St. Joseph's Church, of Elwood, was organized by Rev. Father Malone and was later attended, in succession, by Rev- erends Fitzpatrick, McMahon, Crawley and Wiechmann, until Father Biegel came. Under Father Crawley a small brick church, 25 X 40 feet, was erected, but this was remodeled and enlarged by Father Biegel in 1891, and now has a seating capacity for about 400 people. But the energy of Father Biegel was by no means exhausted by the execution of this work, beneficial as it was. In 1889 he built the residence now occupied by the Sisters, which served temporarily as a parsonage, and in 1896 erected a hand- some two-story parochial residence, costing $3,000. He also laid out a beautiful cemetery of five acres, one inile south of the city, which is within easy access of the church. The church grounds are 300 feet front by 240 feet deep, on which, beside the church building, the parsonage and the Sisters' house, there is a school- · building, 26 x 66 feet, and two stories high, containing four con- venient school-rooms. The school is in charge of five Sisters from St. Joseph's convent, with Sister M. de Sales as directress, and the attendance numbers 272 pupils. The property on the coming of Father Biegel comprised two lots only, the additional real
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estate having been purchased by him at a cost of about $1,000, while 'the total value of the property now owned by the congrega- tion is placed at $15,000. These figures speak well for the zeal and devotion of Father Biegel, and have won for him the devotion and love of his congregation, who esteem him not alone for the temporal work he has done in their behalf, but for his labors for their spiritual welfare.
It is the intention of the congregation to build a handsome new church in the very near future, when the old one will be con- verted into school-rooms, etc.
ENOCHSBURG, FRANKLIN COUNTY.
St John's Parish .- The records of this parish date from 1862 ·only, as all its previous history was destroyed by fire some years ago. Father Oesterling, a Franciscan priest, had charge of the parish in 1862, and was followed by Father Heck, who remained until 1879; he was succeeded by Rev. J. Stolz, who remained but a few months, and he by Rev. P. Richardus, a Fran- ciscan, who had charge but a short time. He was succeeded by Father Kemper, who remained until 1882, when he was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. James Pfeiffer, who has been the pastor during the past seventeen years and has made many valuable improvements in the church and property, among which are new fences, stone walks, stained glass windows, new pews, a new organ (costing $1,100), matting for the aisles, a new altar, and new carpets for the altar, twelve statues, a new slate roof for the church, and a rector's home. He has paid $1, 300 debt on the parish, and has expended about $5,000 on the property.
The church is erected of stone, and has a spire about 135 feet in height with three bells; the membership in families is ninety, and the number of souls, 270. The school is under the guidance of a layman teacher, under the charge of the priest, and has an enrolment of sixty-five pupils. St. John's is ten miles east of Greensburg, and six miles northwest of Batesville, Decatur county.
EVANSVILLE, VANDERBURG COUNTY.
Assumption Parish, Evansville, was the first Catholic congrega- tion organized south of Vincennes. It, of course, included all the .(258)
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Catholics of Evansville at one time. In the year 1836 this could easily have been the case, for the Catholic population then con- sisted of but two families, that of Mr. Linck and that of the late John Walsh. The Assumption remained the sole church until 1851. when the Holy Trinity parish was organized for German- speaking Catholics.
In 1837 Rev. Father Deydier became Evansville's first resident pastor, and in 1839 a lot on Second street upon which to build Assumption church was secured for the sum of $1,200. In 1840, August 5, the corner-stone was laid by the French bishop of Nancy, Monseigneur Forbin Jeanson, who was then on a visit to the diocese of Vincennes. Rev. Stephen Badin, the first priest ordained in the United States, preached the sermon on the occasion. In that year Rev. Roman Weinzoepfel, just ordained at Vincennes, was sent as assistant to Father Deydier. In 1849 Rev. Patrick McDermott became the assistant priest of Assumption parish. He celebrated his first mass in Evansville Christmas day, 1849. He 1
became pastor in 1859, when Father Deydier retired to Highland, near Vincennes, where he died February 11, 1864.
The church property on Second street, through the instru- mentality of Capt. F. P. Carson, was sold for $50,000, $5,000 of which was due the bishop and paid to him; and in April, 1871, the present site of Assumption church, corner Seventh and Vine streets, was purchased. Work on the present church began in 1872, and on the 7th of July of that year the corner-stone was laid by Bishop de St. Palais. Very Rev. Bede O'Connor was the orator. Father McDermott built the church on the grand scale in which we see it. He labored with zeal and saintly ardor until 1879, when, much to the regret of his parishioners, he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's church, Indianapolis, where he died September 13, 1882. From the date of removal of Father McDermott until the appointment of the present very reverend pastor, about five months, Rev. John Gueguen, then chaplain of St. Mary's hospital, had charge of Assumption church. Very Rev. Eugene F. McBarron took charge November 7, 1879. Under his administration we can take a more favorable view of the parish grounds and buildings, for lie has made many additions and
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improvements. Among these are a fine hall and school-building, a pastoral residence, the repairing and frescoing of the church and the purchase of twenty feet of additional ground. These repre- sent an outlay of nearly $20, 000.
The parish grounds extend 200 feet on Seventh street and 1 50 feet on Vine street. All the buildings front on the former street. On the corner stands the pastoral residence, a tastefully con- structed and happily arranged house, costing upward of $4,000. About the center of the grounds stands the stately and massive Assumption church, which cost $73,000. The next building is the Sisters' house, representing $2,000; and lastly the Assumption hall and school building, which is worth over $7,000. These buildings, improvements, grounds, furniture and other parish property are worth the large sum of $123,000. The debt is only $13,000.
Assumption church is cruciform and of Romanesque style of architecture. It is sixty feet wide, ninety feet in the transept, fifty-two feet to ceiling and 149 feet long. It is built of brick, with stone trimmings, and is reputed as one of the most substan- tial and beautiful church edifices in the west. Its interior, espe- cially since it has been frescoed and ornamented with a grand thirty-light candelabrum, which cost $700, reminds the artist and the man of travel of Roman style, Roman richness and good taste. This obtains as well in the architecture as in the frescoing and decorations, which latter are kept as much as possible in the same order. The exceptions are the scattering here and there of a little of the more modern, just enough to satisfy the taste that inclines to brighter coloring-the semi-gay as distinct from the grand. The sanctuary is on the order of the Carthusian monaster , the Cer- tosa of Pavia, which is the best sample of Italian renaissance in existence, and whose cloister is the only one in the world that has ever been decorated. The arches of the side altars are of the Roman style of the thirteenth century, while the basso-relievo angels are kept more in the style of Michael Angelo, as seen at St. Peter's. The ornaments around the windows are designed after fragments in the church of St. Maria del Popolo in Rome, while the ceiling is very much like that of St. Paul's at Rome before the (260)-
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licking flames destroyed its admirable works of art. Altogether, the interior of the church of the Assumption, as it now stands fresh from the artist's brush, cannot fail to impress all beholders who have seen Rome with the majestic and imposing relics of Italian art in the Eternal city. These spectators will be generous in awarding a large meed of praise to the present pastors and peo- ple of Assumption parish, and to the Lebor Bros., of Louisville, who executed the work. Rt. Rev. Bishop Chatard, whose twenty years' residence amid such scenes in Rome, has made him a con- noisseur of art, declares in favor of the excellence of the interior appearance of Assumption church.
The Assumption schools consist of four rooms, with an enrol- ment of about 240 pupils, who are taught by four Sisters of Provi- dence, who live in the adjoining residence, and one lay teacher. The building is of brick; is 44x 84 feet, two stories, with the upper Hoor in use as the Assumption hall. It was erected in 1881. The building committee, which materially aided the very reverend pastor: and richly deserved the thanks of the congregation, was composed of the following gentlemen : Patrick Raleigh, M. Gor- man, Joseph Dillon and T. W. Venemann.
The church societies are as follows in name: Ladies' Altar society, Young Ladies' sodality of the Sacred Heart, Children of Mary, Boys' St. Joseph society, St. Joseph's Aid society for Men; Branch 46, of the Catholic Knights, composed of members from the Assumption and Holy Trinity parishes, was organized in 1879 by Hon. C. J. Murphy.
Holy Trinity Parish, at Evansville, was not regarded as a separate congregation until 1851, when the new church of that name was solemnly blessed in the presence of the right reverend bishop, and thereafter used exclusively by the German-speaking Catholics. Previously, Catholics of all nationalities attended at the Assumption church. For several years separate services were con- tinued to be held there for the Germans, and Rev. Fathers Charles Oppermann, Martin Stahl, Conrad Schneiderjans and Roman Weinzoepfel succeeded each other in charge of the Germans and as assistants to Father Deydier. The first resident pastor for
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the Germans was Rev. Francis X. Kutassy, who arrived in 1848. It was he who organized Holy Trinity parish and built the church.
In the work of building the new church he was ably assisted by the following gentlemen, who composed his first building com- mittee: B. Nurre, H. Ahlerding, H. Hermann, M. Nies, .Fr. Zie- genhagen and H. Rechtin. In 1849 the corner-stone was laid by Bishop de St. Palais, but on account of the ravages of the cholera the work was not completed until 1851. In 1855 a parsonage was built at a cost of $1,500. In 1866 Rev. J. Ferd. Viefhaus was sent as assistant to Father Kutassy. Stained glass windows were put in in 1867 at a cost of $2,700. In 1868 two large ves- try rooms were built as an addition to the church, at a cost of $3,000. In 1873 the front of the church was built newly, and a grand tower and spire erected. The edifice was then of these dimensions: Length 147 feet, width seventy feet, height to ceil- ing thirty-five feet. The spire stands 202 feet. In the tower is a chime of nine bells, which cost $5,000. In 1872 Rev. Charles Loescher became the assistant priest, Rev. Father Viefhaus having undertaken the work of building up St. Mary's parish. In 1873. Rev. James Merckl became assistant. On the 11th of October, 1874, the golden jubilee of the noble pastor, Rev. F. X. Kutassy, was celebrated with pomp, and as a sort of finish to his labors, for he died on the 27th of that month, assisted in his last hours by his dear friend, Father McDermott, who administered to him the last sacraments. He was buried in the new St. Joseph's ceme- tery, the first priest there interred, and a grand monument was erected to his memory in 1875. Rev. Father Merckl was in charge for seven months, or until the arrival of Rev. P. J. J. Duddenhausen as pastor, May 19, 1875, to whom was given Rev. A. Oster, as his assistant, in July of that year. Father Dudden- hausen began many reforms in the congregation, adopted business methods and celebrated the public service of the church with pomp and solemnity. He was given Rev. Wm. Bultmann, as his assist- ant, July, 1877, and in 1880 Father F. B. Luebberman became his assistant, taking Father Bultmann's place, that reverend gen- tleman having undertaken the work of organizing St. Boniface's parish.
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Attention was paid to the matter of education as early as 1851, when, with the organization of Holy Trinity parish, its first little brick school-house was built. In 1853 the Sisters of Providence came to teach the children of the parish. In 1860 a school was built especially for female children, and in 1863 a residence was built for the Sisters. A grand clearing out of all the old buildings took place in 1869, when the present grand school-building was erected. It is 58 x 105 feet, three stories, with the upper floor used a hall. The pupils, to the number of 506, are taught by four Sisters of Providence and one lay teacher.
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