USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume I > Part 31
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inlaid with silver figures on a background of green. The side pan- els above the drapery show the Sacred Hearts surrounded by emblematic figures. In the spaces above the arches between the pillars are the following emblems, done in exquisite coloring: The cross, with other instruments of the Lord's passion; emblems of the sacraments, such as the lamb, the pelican; the symbols of the Evangelists; Faith, Hope, and Charity. The three Gothic altars are resplendent in chaste white, richly inlaid with gold. The floor of the sanctuary is covered with a choice velvet carpet. The cost of the whole improvement amounted to about $3,000.
On Sunday, December 28th, 1890, the congregation solemnly celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary, or silver jubilee, of the dedication of the present church. The Franciscan provincial, Father Jerome Kilgestein, of Cincinnati, celebrated solemn high mass, assisted by Rev. Ubaldus Webersinke, O. S. F., Rev. J. H. Guendling and Rev. Rudolph Bonner, O. S. F. The sermon was delivered by Father Pius Niehaus, O. S. F., and was explanatory of the emblems employed in the decoration. The choir, assisted by a full orchestra, rendered Schubert's Mass. At the offertory an envelope collection was taken up, which resulted in $825.
In 1892 Rev. Hilary Hoelscher, O. S. F., succeeded Father Ubaldus. In 1894 he replaced the former windows by a series of fine artistic glass paintings, their subjects being as follows: On the Gospel side: 1. St. John the Baptist, donated by John Wag- ner, Sr .; 2. St. Ann, Guardian Angel, donated by the Children's Guardian Angel society; 3. The Holy Family, donated by Leopold Niermann; 4. SS. Peter and Paul, donated by the Knights of St. Paul; 5. The Prodigal Son, donated by St. Boniface's congrega- tion. On the Epistle side: 1. St. Elizabeth, in. memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Wagner, deceased; 2. St. Veronica and St. Vincent de Paul, donated by Joseph Kress; 3. Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, donated by Gerard Moenning; 4. SS. Cecilia and Boni- face of the Blessed Virgin, donated by St. Boniface's Men's soci- ety; 5. The Good Shepherd, donated by St. Joseph's society.
Other improvements made during the pastorate of Father Hilary Hoelscher are: Two exquisite statues of the Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph, for the side altars, the gift of the (342)
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Misses Wagner, who selected them during their trip through Europe in Mayer's Art institute, Munich; two new confessionals, of carved oak, with gilt ornamentation (1895); a new communion railing, with richly gilt emblems and marble top (1896).
Father Hilary Hoelscher was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Lucas Gottbehoede, O. S. F., on August 11, 1897. He was born January 22d, 1837, at Damme, grand duchy of Oldenburg, Germany. When nineteen years of age he came to America, and having decided to devote his life to the church, entered the Fran- ciscan college at Cincinnati, where he completed his education in the classics and theology. On November 7, 1862, he was ordained priest by Archbishop Purcell. Thenceforth he was successfully engaged in his sacred calling in Louisville, Ky., Hamilton, O., and Cincinnati, O. In 1879 he was elected provincial of the Francis- cans. At the conclusion of his first term in this responsible office he was re-elected for a second term. This he served out, and, declining a further election, took charge as superior of a western missionary district comprising thirteen congregations, with head- quarters at Emporia, Kans. After three years of arduous mission- ary duty, he joined the first American pilgrimage to the Holy Land, visiting the places made sacred by the Savior's presence. After his return he was appointed guardian of the convent of the Holy Family, at Oldenburg, Ind. His next charge was St. Boni- face's church, Louisville, Ky., where he was well known and beloved by old and young. There he labored for the welfare of his congregation until, after over five years of a most successful ministry, he was called to take charge of St. Boniface's church, LaFayette, Ind. His administrative talent has already shown gratifying results, and will, no doubt, advance the material and spiritual progress of the congregation.
St. Ann's Church .- St. Ann's congregation dates its organiza- tion back to 1870. At that time Father Hamilton, seeing that the Catholics in the southern part of the city, many of whom were aged and feeble, lived at a too great distance from their parish church, built St. Ann's chapel, on the corner of Wabash avenue and Smith street, at a cost of $5,000. It is a two-story brick
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building arranged for church and school purposes, and services have been held there since then every Sunday by one of the Fathers at St. Mary's.
In September, 1884, when Father Walters was rector of St. Mary's church, he advised Bishop Dwenger to erect St. Ann's into a separate and distinct parish. which was done. Father John Dempsey was appointed its first resident pastor, and at once directed all his energies to place it on a permanent basis. He built a well appointed pastoral residence, and was just entering upon the work of preparing for the building of a new church when he was sert to Valparaiso, Ind., to take the place of the deceased pastor of that city.
He was succeeded by the Rev. P. F. Roche, the present pas- tor, who continues the work done by his predecessor. Under his fostering care the congregation thrived beyond all expectations. Success, however, was no signal for a rest from labor for Father Roche. So he faithfully continued on, striving each day to accomplish additional good. He met with discouragements, for his field was narrowed rather than broadened by circumstances beyond his control. At one time the part of the city in which his charge is located was a busy territory, alive with labor, noisy with the buzz of machinery and the signal blasts of whistles of prosper- ous factories. But this all changed, and to-day, due to various conditions, the First ward is all but deserted by manufacturing industries, and many families have sought residence elsewhere.
Despite these encouragements, and although the congregation at present numbers only about 140 families, it was decided to build a new church, the ground for which had been bought about seven years ago. A meeting of the principal members of the church was held, and the enthusiasm was so great that steps were at once taken to secure suitable plans for a fitting edifice. Work was begun on the structure in May, 1896, and before the close of the year the foundation was completed. Here a cessation of oper- ations was necessary, as available funds had been exhausted, and Father Roche cared not to create a burdening debt. The means secured had been by voluntary contributions and receipts from entertainments planned by the ladies of the congregation. Dur- (344)
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ing the spring and summer of this year the building fund was some- what reimbursed, and in the latter part of July work was resumed and continued until the new structure was finished.
The church is built of brick and stone, 115 x 60 feet, with a seating capacity of about 500. On the northeast corner rises a tower of IIO feet in height, in which on the first floor will be located the baptistry. The entrance to the auditorium is through a double arch in the center of the building. The structure cost about $20,000; for the building proper, $16,000, and for its fur- nishings $4,000.
On Sunday, September 12, 1897, the corner-stone was placed 1 in position with elaborate ceremonies by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Rad- emacher, of Fort Wayne, assisted by a number of clergy of LaFayette and from abroad. Catholic societies and delegations from Peru, Logansport, Delphi, Attica, Danville, Muncie, Tipton, Kokomo, Rankin and Indianapolis formed into a grand parade at 2 P. M. and marched to the site of the new building, where at least 3,000 persons gathered to witness the ceremonies. After laying the corner-stone, the right reverend bishop addressed the people, and congratulated them on the success they had so far achieved. He dwelt eloquently on the benefits that would accrue to them and their children in their new house of worship, and encouraged them to persevere in the faith.
Rev. P. F. Roche, the pastor of St. Ann's, is a native of New York, and was born in Rochester in 1852. At an early age he removed with his parents to Scranton, Pa., and from that city he went to attend school at St. Charles' college, near Baltimore. Here he finished his classics, after which he pursued his course of philosophy and theology in the Franciscan seminary, Allegany, N. Y. Having become a subject of the Fort Wayne diocese, he was ordained to the priesthood in that city by Rt. Rev. Bishop Dwen- ger in 1881. His first ministerial duties were performed in Fort Wayne, in which city he remained about six months. He was then transferred to LaFayette, serving here as an assistant to Rt. Rev. Joseph Rademacher, then pastor of St. Mary's church. His first appointment as a pastor was over the parish at LaGro, from which place he came again to this city to assume charge of St.
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Ann's, where his devoted congregation hopes he will remain for many years to come.
St. Lawrence's Chapel and School .- The growth of LaFayette made necessary the foundation of a new parish composed of Cath- olic families, English and German, living in the northeastern part of the city. At the suggestion of the Right Rev. Bishop Rade- macher, the needs of the district were carefully examined with the result that he charged the Franciscan Fathers, established in La- Fayette since 1866, with the ministry in the new congregation. Accordingly the Franciscan provincial, Very Rev. Peter B. Englert, looked over the grounds, and on the 19th of November, 1895, selected a valuable piece of property, consisting of nine lots, 275 x 412 feet, well located and fronting on two streets, as the site of the future parish buildings. The deed was conveyed to the right reverend bishop on January 17th, 1896. Rev. Father Mathias Sasse, O. S. F., of St. Boniface's church, was commissioned to superintend the erection of a substantial building, which was to serve as chapel, school and residence, until such a time as the congregation should be able to build a large and handsome church.
Ground was broken for the new building on April 6th, and the work progressed favorably during the summer and fall. The building rises on a stone foundation, two stories of brick, the lower containing a spacious entrance hall and three large school-rooms, the upper the well appointed chapel, entrance to which is from the west front. The south wing contains one inore large school-room and a well appointed residence with separate. entrance. The dimensions of the whole building are ninety by eighty feet. Including pews, school and house furniture, etc., the cost amounts to about $20,000.
On Sunday, November 8, 1896, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Rade- macher solemnly blessed the building, dedicating it to the glorious martyr St. Lawrence. The Very Rev. Provincial Peter B. Eng .. lert celebrated a solemn high mass, and Rev. Father Chrysostem Theobald, O. S. F., of Cincinnati, Ohio, eloquently addressed the audience in English and German. A feature of the day was a grand parade of visiting and local societies, which formed at 2 P. (346)
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M. and assisted at vespers, when the right reverend bishop deliv- ered a most interesting and eloquent discourse.
On the day of dedication the Rev. Father Theodore Stephan was appointed pastor of the new congregation; but owing to ill health he was compelled to resign the charge after a few weeks, and in December Rev. Richard Wurth, O. S. F., succeeded him.
Under his efficient management the parish prospers visibly. The chapel was furnished with various requisites, the sanctuary tastefully ornamented and many improvements made-all in the course of a few months. In September, 1897, a suitable parochial residence was finished, so as to enable the Sisters of St. Francis, who have charge of the school, to dwell in the residence portion of the chapel building, as was originally intended. The prospects are encouraging, and if no untoward circum tances interfere, the new parish will be a prosperous and numerous one.
LAGRO, WABASH COUNTY.
St. Patrick's Parish .- In 1837 the Wabash and Erie canal was opened for general traffic, the little village of LaGro became the chief emporium for wheat, corn and other crops, and the place with its surrounding country became an attraction for many fam- ilies from the east, of whom quite a number were Catholics.
Their spiritual wants called upon the attention of several missionary priests; and although no church records had been pre- served in LaGro before the year 1846, nevertheless the place had been visited occasionally by some pioneer priests-mostly French -at least during the ten preceding years.
With the year of 1846 opens the list of the clergymen that had charge of LaGro for the fifty-two years following, viz: to 1898. First, in 1846, came Rev. Patrick McDermott, who in all probability erected the first little frame church which was in later years enlarged and used for school purposes; 1847, Rev. Michael C. O'Flannigan; from 1847 to 1865, Rev. John Ryan, who built an addition to the little frame church in 1861 and supplied it with a bell, still in use; from January, 1866, to September, Rev. Ber- nard Kroeger, now pastor of St. Bridget's, Logansport, attended LaGro from Peru; in 1866 and 1867, Rev. Joseph A. Winter offici-
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ated; in 1867-68, Rev. George Steiner, who opened the first school in a frame house; from August, 1868, until September, 1873, Rev. (now Very Rev.) Matthew E. Campion, at present pastor of St. Vincent's, Logansport, was in charge of LaGro and erected the present beautiful brick church, 126 x 60 feet in size, at a cost of $20,000; from October, 1873, until March, 1882, the pastor was the Rev. John Grogan, who at present is in St. Joseph's hospital, Denver, Colo .; from August, 1882, until November, 1883, the pastor was Michael F. Kelly, who died in St. Elizabeth's hospital at LaFayette; from 1884 to 1887 Rev. Patrick F. Roche, now pastor of St. Ann's, LaFayette, was in charge; from August until October, 1887, Rev. Adam Buchheit, now pastor at Wanatah, . attended LaGro from Huntington; from November, 1887, until December, 1890, Rev. Anthony Kroeger was the pastor, and re-opened the school in the old frame church and engaged Sisters of St. Francis in LaFayette as teachers, and also built the pres- ent little brick church in Andrews, which place has since been attached to LaGro as a mission; then followed, in January, 1891, to July, Rev. Jerry Quinlan; July, 1891, to August, Rev. John Tremmel; September, 1891, to July, 1894, Rev. Julius Becker; July, 1894, to November, 1895, Rev. G. M. Kelly; from Novem- ber, 1895, to December, Rev. J. H. Bathe, at present chancelor and secretary of the bishop, attended LaGro from Wabash; from December, 1895, to January, 1898, Rev. Michael Hanly held the pastorate, and in January, 1898, came the Rev. Peter Quinn, the present pastor.
By the abandonment of the use of the Wabash and Erie canal for commercial purposes, LaGro lost her traffic. The new rail- road, built along the Wabash in 1856 and 1857, brought new places into existence, which drew a good many people away from LaGro to Fort Wayne, Huntington, Wabash, Peru, Logans- port, Delphi and LaFayette. Many farmer children preferred city life to the hard labors in the field; old people sold their places; others died and their farms passed into the hands of non-Cath- olics. All this accounts for the decrease of the parish from over 120 to about sixty families. The following comparison of the church records of 1870, when LaGro was in a most flourishing (348)
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condition, with those of 1897, may illustrate the decrease: There were baptisms, in 1870, thirty-five; in 1897, seven; marriages, in 1870, fourteen; in 1897, none; deaths, in 1870, eighteen; in 1897, four. The present pastor is a very able priest and ranks in energy with the best of his predecessors. The congregation has no debts. The necessary buildings are in good condition, and there is reason enough for hopes of a return to its former flourishing condition as soon as fresh inducements are given to workingmen to settle in the village.
LAPORTE, LAPORTE COUNTY.
St. Joseph's Congregation at Laporte was organized in 1859 by the late Father Scherer, who was succeeded by Father Koontz, and he by Rev. S. Bartosz; Father Oechtering came in 1870, and in 1880 was followed by Father Nussbaum, who here passed the remainder of his days, dying in December, 1895; Rev. J. Becks then officiated about six months, and July 9, 1896, Rev. Anthony Messmann, the present pastor, was placed in charge. At the beginning, St. Joseph's congregation was very weakly, but it grad- ually increased in strength and numbers, until, in 1870, it numbered 100 families or more, but for various causes, an exodus occurred a few years later and at present it numbers about sixty-five fami- lies, or 350 souls-all Germans. The church-edifice was erected by Rev. M. Scherer, and is in size 40x75 feet, has a seating capacity for 250 persons, with an addition of ten feet for the sanc- tuary. , The parochial residence, 30 x 40 feet, was erected by Father Oechtering, is of brick, and the school-room, as also the church, are brick buildings, and the valuation of the whole is probably about $20,000. The school-room, 30x 40 feet in size, has a seat- ing capacity for 150, and is attended by about eighty pupils, who are presided over by three Sisters of the Precious Blood, who have labored for the little ones of the parish for two years with very sat- isfactory results. May God be their great reward.
Sr. Peter's Church, at Laporte, under the pastorate of Rev. George M. Schramm, is 80 x40 feet in dimensions, has a seating capacity for 500 persons, and is attended by about 100 families,
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chiefly of Irish nativity. There is no school attached to the church, but the children of the parish, who live sufficiently near St. Rose's academy, attend that institution.
LAUD, WHITLEY COUNTY.
St. Catherine's Church, Washington township, Whitley county, Ind., was organized as a mission from Arcola, by Rev. Fåther Vanderpoel, and in 1882 Rev. W. C. Miller, now of Oxford, Ind., became the first resident priest. In 1883, Rev. Miller was suc- ceeded by Rev. F. J. Lambert, and he by Rev. Philip Guethoff, who remained from 1884 until 1889, when Rev. E. Boccard was placed in charge and officiated until 1895, when the present zealous divine, Rev. Bruno Soengen, became pastor. The congregation comprises thirty-six families, all German; the church property con- sists of five acres, and the church-edifice is of brick, as is also the priest's house. The school is attended by about forty-five pupils, who are instructed by a lay teacher.
Rev. Bruno Soengen was born in Mentz, on the river Rhine, Germany, in August, 1856, and is a son of John B. and Caroline (Knehny) Soengen, the former of whom was a druggist. Rev. Soengen was ordained in Triest, Austria, April 14, 1879, by Bishop John Haller, now a cardinal. Father Soengen officiated in his holy calling in Austria until 1884, and was then a missionary to the East Indies until 1895, when he came to the United States, united with the diocese of Fort Wayne, and was appointed as an assistant to Rev. J. H. Hueser, at Huntington, Ind., where he remained until December, 1895, when he was appointed to his present charge of St. Catherine's. His zealous labors here have been rewarded with excellent results, and have been well and faithfully performed, as he has spared no pains in improving the condition of his flock in all respects.
St. Joseph's Church, at Roanoke, a mission of St. Catherine's, was organized by Father Miller, has a congregation of twenty fam- ilies, of mixed Irish and German nationalities, and is under the immediate care of Father Soengen. The church edifices at both places (Roanoke and Nix Settlement, St. Catherine) were erected (350)
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by Protestant congregations, but were purchased by the Catholics for their own use, at a moderate cost.
LAWRENCEBURG, DEARBORN COUNTY.
The Catholic Congregation of Lawrenceburg was organized in 1840, and consisted at that time of about fifteen families, among which George Huschart, Peter Werst, Michael Lang, Anthony Schwarz, John Kimmel, Jacob Meier and Louis Crusart were prominent.
Divine services were first held in that part of Lawrenceburg generally known as Newtown, in a house rented for that purpose, then in the house of George Huschart, and at times, also, in that of Michael Lang.
The corner-stone of the first church, a stone structure, 60 x 40 feet, was laid in 1841 on the west side of Walnut street, one square south of the present church, but the building was not completed until 1847, when it was dedicated to divine service. Lawrence- burg was attended by priests of neighboring congregations until I866.
Rev. Jos. Ferneding, of New Alsace, visited the place from 1840 to 1841; Rev. F. O'Rourke, of Dover (Kelso township), from 1841 to 1844, when he returned to Ireland; Rev. Andrew Bennett, also from Dover, from 1844 to 1850; Rev. M. Stahl, of New Alsace, during the first part of 1850; Rev. A. Carius, of Madison, during the latter part of 1850; the Revs. Franciscan Fathers G. Unterthiner, Sigismund and Anselm Koch, of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, had charge from 1851 to 1859; Rev. Ig. F. Klein, of St. Nicholas, Pipe Creek, from 1859 to 1866. The congrega- tion had greatly increased in numbers by this time, and Rev. I. F. Klein, seeing the necessity of building a new and more spacious church, made preparations to do so. But wishing to build the church in Newtown, where it would have been on much higher ground and not in danger of floods, he met with a great deal of opposition from those who lived in the old part of town, around the church; the work was therefore discontinued.
On January 6, 1866, Rev. Clement Scheve became the first resident pastor of Lawrenceburg. In the spring of 1866 Rev.
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Scheve purchased of Rudolf Walter outlot No. 51, on the east side of Walnut street, and commenced the erection of the present beautiful St. Lawrence's church. The church is of brick, I20 X 50 feet, with a large basement of stone, which was first used for school purposes, but since has been converted into a chapel and meeting-rooms for societies. The church was completed in May, 1867, and on the 2d day of June, the same year, was sol- emnly dedicated to the service of Almighty God, by the Rt. Rev. Maurice de St. Palais, bishop of Vincennes. After the solemn blessing of the church, the right reverend bishop celebrated a sol- emn pontifical high mass, assisted by Revs. Anthony Scheideler and John P. Gillig as deacons of honor, and Revs. Roman Wein- zoepfel and Frederic W. Pepersack, as deacon and subdeacon of mass. Very Rev. Bede O'Connor, O. S. B., chancelor of the diocese, preached the English and Rev. Nicholas Wachter, O. S. F., the German sermon. There were also present on the occasion Revs. J. H. F. J. Duddenhausen, of Dover; Rev. Ignace Klein, of Aurora; Rev. Theo. J. Antoni, of Napoleon, and the reverend pastor of the church, Clement Scheve.
Father Scheve also built a pastor's residence in 1867, a spacious brick building, consisting of basement and one story.
In 1869 the St. Lawrence's congregation donated to the Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg, Ind., a piece of ground adjoin- ing the church, being part of outlot No. 51, on which they erected a large three-story school-house of brick.
Rev. Scheve was born on October 4, 1828, in Luesche, Old- enburg, emigrated to America in 1848, and was ordained March 19, 1859. Loss of health compelled him to resign his charge at Lawrenceburg in August, 1870. He went to Minnesota, where he died in the spring of 1875. Rev. Julius H. F. J. Duddenhausen was appointed pastor of Lawrenceburg October 1, 1870, and administered the temporalities and spiritualities of the congrega- tion very successfully until May 15, 1875, when he was transferred to Holy Trinity church, Evansville.
Rev. J. F. Sondermann, the present pastor, took charge May 15, 1875. He was born near Attendorn, Prussia, December 2, 1844, came to America, 1847. He began his studies at St. Mein-
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rad, Spencer county, Ind, in the fall of 1857, studied at Vin- cennes from 1859, at St. Thomas, Nelson county, Ky., from September, 1859, to July, 1860, returned again to St. Meinrad in the fall of 1860 and completed his studies there in 1868 and was ordained in the same place by the Rt. Rev. Maurice de St. Palais, as follows: Tonsure and minor orders, September 18, 1865 ; sub- deacon, June 17, 1867; deacon, June 21, 1867; priest, September 22, 1868. His first mission was Mount Vernon, Posey county, Ind., of which he was first resident priest until May 15, 1874, when he replaced Rev. Ferd Viefhaus, during his absence, at St. Mary's church, Evansville, until October, 1874.
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