USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume I > Part 32
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When Rev. Sondermann took charge of Mount Vernon the congregation consisted of about forty families, many of whom were negroes. There was a debt on the church of nearly $2,000, and this was only a temporary church, very poorly furnished in every way. During his stay there, an altar was donated by the school brothers of Dayton, Ohio. A pipe organ and a cemetery of three acres were purchased and paid for, also the old church debt was paid off. In the summer of 1873 Mount Vernon suffered very much by a cholera epidemic.
Rev. Sondermann next became pastor of St. Joseph's, Vander- burg county, from October 29, 1874, until May, 1875, when he was transferred to Lawrenceburg.
The first parish school at Lawrenceburg was opened in 1844 in a room rented for that purpose. The first church was also used for school purposes for some years; later a frame building was. erected. The school at present has an average attendance of over 200. The congregation numbers nearly 300 families. Church property is valued at $60,000.
The disastrous floods of 1883 and 1884 damaged the church property to the extent of many thousand dollars, and also im- poverished the people, who suffered great losses to their homes. The floods necessitated the rebuilding of the pastor's residence and. adding another story to the same, at a cost of $3,000, putting new floor into church, remodeling pews, repairing altars, confessional, the fresco, and a new furnace and basement of the church (the
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water stood seven feet ten inches on the church floor in 1884 and five feet in 1883).
The debt of the church May 15, 1875, was $26,000; in January, 1882, $22,000; in 1884, after the floods, $27,000, and in 1898, $6,000.
The church was frescoed in 1880, a sixteen-stop (16 sets of pipes) pipe organ was bought and paid for in 1894, and a new beautiful main altar was donated to the church by Mrs. John B. Garnier in May, 1898, costing $1,000.
Since the flood of 1884 the city of Lawrenceburg has been secured against inundations by a good substantial levee, and has not suffered since from high waters.
LEBANON, BOONE COUNTY.
St. Joachim's Church, at Lebanon, was organized by the rev- erend clergy of LaFayette, Tippecanoe county, and by them was attended as a mission until 1874, when Rev. Thomas Cahill came. here as first resident pastor and remained until May, 1875, when he was consecutively succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. T. Ryan until December, 1878; Rev. L. A. Moench, now of Plymouth, Marshall county, until 1882; Rev. John Dempsey, until October, 1884; Rev. D. J. Mulcahey, until November, 1885; Rev. M. F. Kelly, until August, 1893, and then by the, Rev. Henry A. Hell- hake, who had charge until August, 1898, when he was succeeded by Rev. William S. Hogan, from Logansport. The membership of St. Joachim's comprises sixty families from the surrounding rural districts and are English-speaking. The church property comprises five lots, and the foundations of a new church, 40 x 80 feet, have already been laid. The missions attached to St. Joachim include that of St. Rose of Lima, at Clark's Hill, Tippecanoe county, which was organized by the clergy of St. Mary's, of LaFayette, and attended by them until 1875, when it was trans- ferred to the charge of St. Joachim; the church-building of this mission is of frame, is 20 x 50 feet, and the membership numbers fifteen families, chiefly English farming people; St. George's mission at Colfax, which has about the same history as that of Clark's (354)
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Hill, has also an edifice 20 x 50 feet, and is attended by eight families.
LEOPOLD, PERRY COUNTY.
St. Augustine's Church, at Leopold, was built by Rev. Aug. Bessonies in 1843, and t e present edifice was begun by Rev. Philip Ducroux, who had charge of the parish from August until December, 1866; the work of erection was continued by Rev. J. L. Brassart and was concluded by Rev. Philip Doyle, whose pas- torate extended from 1869 until 1872, and the value of the church, in 1880, when the population of the parish numbered but 100, was placed at $12,000. The list of pastors who have had St. Augustine's in charge from 1840 to 1882 is as follows: Rev. Julian Benoit, from 1837 to 1840, who, it appears, resided at Derby; Rev. Aug. Bessonies, from 1840 to February 20, 1853; Rev. John P. Dion, until March 3, 1859; Rev. Clatus. Urcun, until 1861; Rev. J. P. Dion, until 1866; Rev. Philip Ducroux, from August to December, 1866; Rev. John P. Dion, from December, 1866, to July, 1867; Rev. J. L. Brassart, until March, 1869; Rev. Philip Doyle, until January 4, 1872; Rev. J. B. Unverzagt, until July, II, 1877; Rev. Hippolite Pierrard, until August, 1880; Rev. F. M. Mousset, until April, 1882, and on September 16, 1882, Father Brassart again returned.
Father Pierrard upon his arrival addresed a petition to the Ladies of Perpetual Adoration, at Bruxelle, Belgium, for donations of vest -. ments, etc. These ladies showed the letter to King Leopold II, who at once sent vestments and sacred vessels to the value of $1, 500, as a donation to Leopold, in Perry county.
Since the last-named date the succession has been as follows: Rev. Brassart, September 16, 1882, until February 1, 1895; Rev. Joseph T. Semefeld, February 1, 1895; to March 10, 1895; Rev. J. Berger, February 10, 1895, to January 1, 1896; Rev. C. P. Barm and Rev. P. Hommes, alternately, from January 1, 1896, to July 24, 1896, and Rev. J. F. Mattingly, July 24, 1896, to the present time.
LIGONIER, NOBLE COUNTY.
St. Patrick's Church, at Ligonier, was organized, about 1860, by Rev. Father Schaefer, then resident priest at Avilla, who here
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built a small church and attended until 1863, his congregation con- sisting of fifteen families, mostly Irish. Later, the congregation were ministered to by visiting clergymen from Goshen until 1866, when Father Oechtering, of Avilla, attended about sixteen months, when he was succeeded by Rev. D. Duehmig, who ministered to the congregation until 1873, when it passed again under the clergy of Goshen, who officiated until 1877. This year, Father Duehmig again took charge and greatly enlarged the church-building, or, rather, rebuilt it, making it a neat frame of about 28 x 56 feet, and ending his services in 1882, when the congregation was again placed in charge of the clergy of Goshen, and so remained until Septem- ber, 1897, when Rev. George Lauer became resident pastor. The congregation now numbers twenty-five families, and Father Lauer has, beside, charge of the Immaculate Conception mission at Ken- dallville, Noble county, and St. Henry's mission at Millersburg, Elkhart county.
LOGANSPORT, CASS COUNTY.
St. Vincent De Paul Church. - During the two years preceding 1838 the members of the Catholic church in Logansport became very numerous in consequence of the great influx of laborers engaged in the construction of the Wabash & Erie canal through this portion of the county, a large majority of whom were either members of that church or from childhood had been reared under the influence of its teachings, and were frequently visited by travel- ing clergymen looking after the interests of the church in new and uncultivated fields, and who, mingling with this people, exerted an influence in favor of establishing a place of worship where their ancient faith might be renewed at stated intervals in coming years. The first work of this character, so far as is now disclosed by the records extant, was performed by Rev. John Claudius Francis (or Francois, as it was then written), who, about the beginning of the year 1838, purchased of Harvey Heth and wife a tract of five acres in the northwest corner of lot No. 2, of the subdivision of three sections of land reserved to the children of Joseph Barron by the treaty with the Pottawattomies in October, 1826, the convey- ance bearing date February 27 of the first-named year. Subse- (356)
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quently, within that and the following year, other purchases were made by him from the same parties and immediately adjoining the first-named tract, making in the aggregate twenty and thirteen-hun- dredths acres. On the tract first purchased, and a few rods south- ward of the south bank of the canal, he erected a small frame building, a story and a half high, suited to the purposes of a resi- dence and a temporary place of meeting for the members of his flock, prior to the erection of a more permanent church-edifice. In this unpretentious domicilian retreat, away from the bustle of the outside world, this venerable father frequently, in that early day, celebrated mass, and otherwise administered to the spiritual wants of his congregation. For nearly a quarter of a century afterward the building was popularly known as the "priest's house. "
Shortly after the consummation of the work just noticed, Father Francis set himself about the further work of erecting a small, but sufficiently large, stone church on Duret street, and a little to the westward from Knowlton & Dolan's machine shops, and this suf- ficed to meet the wants of his congregation for many years. This church was first used some time in the year 1839, and continued to be so used until the summer of 1860, when the increased mem- bership made the construction of a church-house of greatly enlarged proportions a necessity. The new building was put under contract under the supervision of Father Hamilton, and the work so far progressed that in August, 1860, the corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. About one year from the date the stately edifice near the southwest corner of Ninth and Spencer streets was dedicated to the worship of God, in due form.
Since the dedication of the new church the old one is no longer used for the purposes of its original construction. The pro- jection of the new building, and its subse quent completion, are chiefly due to the untiring energy and zealous labor of Rev. Geo. A. Hamilton, deceased. Other extensive and much needed improvements were made afterward, in the erection and comple- tion of a substantial and comfortable brick pastoral residence immediately east of and adjacent to the church.
The following priests have officiated as pastors of the congre-
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gation worshiping in this church since the date of organizing: Rev. Father Francis, from 1839 to 1841; Father Martin, 1841 to 1844; Rev. Michael Clark, in 1844; Rev. Maurice de St. Palais, in 1845; Rev. F. Fischer, from 1846 to 1848; Rev. P. Murphy, from 1848 to 1850; Rev. Patrick McDermott, in 1850; Rev. F. O'Con- nell, in 1852; Rev. Fr. A. Carius, from' 1852 to 1855; Rev. Will- iam Doyle, from 1855 to 1857; Rev. Charles Zucker, from May, 1857, to August, 1859; Rev. George A. Hamilton, from August, 1859, to January, 1864; Rev. Bernard J. Force, from January, 1864, to April, 1868; Rev .. M. E. Campion from April, 1868, to January, 1869; Rev. F. Mayer, from January, 1869, to July, 1871; Rev. Fr. Lawler, from July, 1871; to May, 1878; Rev. E. P. Waters, from May, 1878, to June, 1883, and Very Rev. M. E. Campion, from June, 1883, to the present time. Of those early priests, Father Martin was afterward a bishop. in the south, and Father de St. Palais was afterward bishop of Vincennes. Father de St. Palais' connection with the pastorate in Logansport is a his- torical incident worthy of especial mention.
On the occasion of his visit to Paris, in 1845, he was presented with a bell to be placed in his church at Logansport. It was of excellent tone, unique in design and of superior workmanship, the metal of which it was composed containing an unusually large pro- portion of silver, made, so it was said, under the especial super- vision of the donor and for the proper use of the church of St. Vincent de Paul, in Logansport. In due time it was received here and put in its place with the most solemn ceremony. When the old church ceased to be used for its original and legitimate purpose, ' this souvenir bell was transferred to and now occupies a position in state, in the new St. Vincent's boys' school-building. The new church is now entirely out of debt, Father Campion, during his present administration, having reinoved the last vestige. The whole church property is valued at not less than $75,000, and about 300 families now compose the membership. 1
St. Joseph's Church, at Logansport, is an offshoot from St. Vincent de Paul, a considerable proportion of its original member- ship coming from that congregation. The first building of brick, (358)
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on Second street, near Market street, was erected some time in the the latter part of 1869, and mass was first celebrated it in by the first pastor, Rev. Jacob Meyer, on the 2d of February, 1870. Father Meyer was succeeded by Rev. Von Schwedeler, who in turn was succeeded by Father Widau, and he by Father Meili. The present pastor, the Rev. Henry Koehne, assumed charge August 24, 1872. There were about sixty families in the congregation when Father Koehne came, and about $6,000 of debts. These debts were paid off in about two years under his careful manage- ment. Subsequently, other and valuable improvements were made. The school was originally small, and secular teachers were placed in charge. In September, 1877, the Sisters of Notre Dame came from Milwaukee, Wis., and took charge of the school, after which time it continued to prosper until there was not room enough to accommodate all the children who desired to attend, and a new school-building became a necessity, and of this further mention will be made in a future paragraph.
In 1885 a new church on Market street, near Second street, was put under contract, and was dedicated in 1888, its cost being about $65,000, all of which has long since been paid in full. The dimensions of this new building are 165 by 63 feet; the seating capacity is adequate for 1, 000 persons, and the interior is elegantly, if not gorgeously, decorated, while the exterior is chaste in archi- tectural finish, and the tall spire, surmounted by a magnificent cross of gold, is the cynosure of all eyes, even at a great distance. About 700,000 brick were used in the construction of this vast tem- ple of God, and it may be said that to Father Koehne is due the credit of originating and carrying through to completion this gigan- tic enterprise, but it must be added that the congregation of that day greatly encouraged him in the task.
In January, 1892, the new parochial school, east of the church and facing on Second street, was completed at a cost of $25,000. This building is 60 x 80 feet, is of brick, three stories high, with a basement, contains six class-rooms, a chapel, two music rooms and a reception room, beside the magnificent hall on the third floor, which contains a stage 26 x 22 feet and the auditorium with a seat- ing capacity for 600 persons. The entire building is heated by
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natural gas, and the plumbing and gas work comprise over 2,000 feet of pipe. The present school enrolment is about 300, the pupils being under the superintendence of ten Sisters of Notre Dame, from Milwaukee, Wis., who carry the pupils up to the eighth grade, keeping fully abreast with the curriculum of the pub- lic schools, all under the charge of the Venerable Aloysia Gonzaga.
The school ground is ample and its value is, estimated at $1, 500. The school itself, with appurtenances, is at present worth $25,000, and the old school has been remodeled into a dwelling for the teachers, at a cost of $1,000.
The present reverend director of the school is Rev. H. Kœhne.
St. Bridget's Church, of Logansport, is also an outgrowth of St. Vincent de Paul, the extensive membership of that church and the inconvenience of attending, by reason of the distance, of those living in the western portion of the city, making the question of building another church in that portion one of ready solution when the matter came up for deliberation and determination. In the early part of 1875, in order to carry out this design, the Right Rev. Bishop Dwenger, of the diocese of Fort Wayne, purchased from Judge Dykeman the entire square bounded by Wheatland street, Linden avenue, Wilkinson and Heath streets, at a cost of $5,000. The labor incident to the building of the church-edifice devolved. chiefly upon Rev. Bernard Kroeger, who, with a zeal worthy the motive which impelled him forward, wrought diligently and ear- nestly. The building was put under contract early in the year 1875, and in August following was fully completed and ready for occupancy, when, on the 15th of that month, it was formally dedi- cated to the worship of God according to the forms of the Roman Catholic church. This elegant edifice was built at a cost of about $11,000 or $12,000, while the cost of the lot ($5,000) made the total cost of the property, up to that time, $16,000 or $17,000. But since then a school-building has been erected, a fine parsonage, in 1892, at a cost of $5,000, and, later, a hall, 36 x 74 feet, for the use of societies, church festivals and entertainments, thus adding to the original cost. The grounds are handsomely laid out, with
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cement walks, shaded by a luxuriant growth of trees, and are the admiration of all beholders.
The school is in charge of four Sisters of St. Joseph, of Tip- ton, who teach the English branches only to about 100 pupils. Many Protestant children attend this school, the fee being fifty cents per month, but many of the poorer children are taught gratis. Father Kroeger has indeed worked untiringly and zealously in pro- moting the welfare of his congregation, and has succeeded in can- celing a debt of nearly $16,000 incurred by his early parishioners and their successors in bringing to completion this noble church- edifice and its accessories. The present congregation of St. Bridget's numbers about 100 families, who, though not wealthy, never fail to respond to their beloved pastor's call for material aid when required.
LOOGOOTEE, MARTIN COUNTY.
St. John's Church, at Loogootee. - Loogootee itself is a new town and the church here did not precede it. It dates its growth from the building of the O. & M. railroad, and this is a milestone, as it were, marking the change in commerce from the old to the new, for previous to the building of the O. & M. railroad, the adja- cent town, Mt. Pleasant, on White river, was the great shipping point and the means of transfer was by flat boats, while now it is by railroad from Loogootee. Judge Thomas Gootee was the founder of this city. He owned part of the land on which it was originally situated, and William Crays owned the west half of the site. Before 1857 it was little but a dreary swamp. In 1853 the O. & M. road was commenced and completed in 1857 at Loogoo- tee. So as the old kind of commerce passed away the old shipping town, Mt. Pleasant, also passed away and Loogootee, immediately on the railroad, grew and prospered. A few frame buildings were first erected. In 1857 a two-story store room was built for and occupied by Campbell & Breen, and in the upper floor of this mass was first celebrated. Later it was offered up in another frame building across the street. This was owned by a Mr. Gootee. A new number of the railroaders were among the first members of the parish, but some were. added to it from St. Mary's and St. Peter's,
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while others removed from St. Martin's. It also received a few valuable additions in the way of business men, who saw the impor- tance of the place as a trading point. Of these men, Campbell & Breen came from Washington, and Patrick Larkin and the O'Briens from Mt. Pleasant. Rev. Father John Mougin organized the new congregation and built the new church. Fr. Mougin kept his books in good order and few material facts necessary in a history of the parish are omitted. The books are dated October, 1859. The corner-stone was laid in April, 1860, and one feature of the day was the presence of the Jasper band. The church had been so far completed by the next year that a mission was given in it by Father Damen. At this time it was without floor or pews, and it is now amusing to hear those who were present tell of that mission, and the way in which boards, boxes and blocks were utilized in arranging temporary seats for the crowds that gathered.
Rev. John Mougin, who at first 'only visited from St. Mary's, now came to Loogootee and from here visited St. Mary's and St. Martin's. During 1860 and 1861, G. M. Ginnsz, then a student for the priesthood, spent his vacation with Father Mougin and interested himself in planting some young trees. Later he became pastor of the church, and these trees were there to shelter him. The work on the church was continued after the mission of 1861, and in January, 1863, the debt of the church was $750. Announc- ing this to the congregation, Father Mougin proposed to pay $300 of the debt if the congregation would pay the remaining $450. They took him at his word, and very soon the total debt was can- celed. It was he that provided the first school-room for the par- ish and brought the Sisters here. Rev. Father Mougin left in 1864, and was succeeded by Rev. L. Gueguen, who purchased the land for and established a cemetery. In 1866 he built the present substantial two-story brick residence.
In the summer of 1869, a member of the parish, James Farrell, died, and soon after his wife followed him to the grave. They bequeathed $6,200 to St. John's, and this magnificent sum put the congregation in an excellent financial condition, at least, when it was finally gotten possession of, but there was some delay
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to St. John's church, and there being no such corporation or indi- vidual, the executors could not pay the money over promptly. The matter was taken into court, and after an expenditure of about $1, 500 Father Gueguen finally secured the appointment of a trustee in whom the property could be vested for the use of the congregation. A new church was needed, and this generous gift enabled the building of one without much delay. The lots on which the present church stands were a part of the gift.
The corner-stone of the first church at Loogootee was laid by Bishop de St. Palais, and a grand sermon was preached by the elo- quent divine, P. Bede O'Connor. There was a great gathering, and it was a gala day. The corner-stone of the present church was laid in 1880 by Rt. Rev. Bishop Chatard. He also preached the sermon. Excursion trains were run on the O. & M. from both east and west, and Loogootee saw again the great crowd and the gala day of 1860. Only a few priests had the staying qualities of Father Gueguen, who for twenty-one years was the pastor. He saw many changes in that time, yet changed little himself in his quiet methods of building up the parish.
The altar in the present church is a pretty Gothic one, cost $500, and was donated by Mrs. James J. Campbell, now of New- port, Kentucky. Rev. Father Ginnsz gave the new church several finishing touches, such as stone steps and new pews, costing $500, two bells, one of which weighs 1,200 pounds and the other 450 pounds, and new fences have been put around the premises. These are minor matters, compared with Father Ginnsz's really great work while stationed here, which was the building of the substan- tial and pretty two-story brick school-house. It has three large school-rooms, handsomely furnished, and a large hall overhead, that is used for fairs, concerts, school entertainments, and as a ineeting place for the parish societies. Branch No. 63, Catholic Knights of America, was organized here May 24, 1879, and in 1887 Rev. Father Ginnsz organized a total abstinence society, but it did not last long. He was succeeded practically by Rev. Timothy O'Donaghue, although for a few months before Rev. O'Donaghue took charge Rev. W. H. Slavin and Rev. Fitzpatrick attended.
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LOWELL, LAKE COUNTY.
Lowell Parish, in Lake county, is a mission attached to St. Augustine's church, of Rensselaer, Jasper county. In 1865, divine services were first held in Lowell at the house of John Hack, a leading Catholic of the village, and the second services were held in 1868, at Sigler's hall, when Bishop Luers presided. At this time the parish was fully organized, and for a year or more wor- shiped in a brick factory-building. In 1871 the erection of a frame church-edifice was begun, but this was not finished until 1882, at a cost of $1,000. For two years after the church was closed in, services were held therein once a month, and then, for three years, there was no service held at all. After this, the congregation being re-organized and placed on a sounder basis, it was able to support services once a month, and this practice was continued until January, 1882, when arrangements were made for services to be held each fortnight, Rev. Father Ganser officiating.
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