USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume I > Part 37
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Father John completed the building and dedicated it to St. John. This church-edifice was constructed at a cost of $1, 600.
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This seemed a large sum for the congregation then at Remington to bear, but, led by an ingenious pastor, they devised means to reduce the debt, and laid plans by which it would finally be paid. Rev. Shrader in 1876 gave up his pastorate to Rev. Guido Stallow. His successor was Rev. John Wellinghoff. During his pastorate the congregation grew too large for its building. In 1878 he built an addition of fifteen feet to the original building. This addition
is occupied by the altar and two vestry rooms. His successor, Rev. Widerin, took charge in 1879. Father Widerin immediately after coming saw the need of a new parsonage, and called on the congregation to build one. Plans were soon perfected and work begun and in 1880 a parsonage costing $1,200 was ready for use. Father Widerin's health failed him and he soon had to give up his charge.
The next pastor who came to take charge of the congregation was Rev. Hellhake. He was a large, portly man, with a smile and a kind word for every one. His entire pastorate was marked with earnestness and energy. He was replaced in 1893 by Rev. M. Kelly, who remained but three months. He died in the hospital in LaFayette.
The vacancy left by Father Kelly's death was filled by Rev. John B. Berg, the present pastor. The congregation has three societies, St. Mary's, St. Joseph's and Sacred Heart society, and all three have for their object to contribute and beautify the inte- rior of the church. A society of the Catholic Order of Foresters was organized in 1895. This is a mutual aid and insurance society.
Under Father Berg's charge the congregation has once more grown too large for the old building and it is his intention and the desire of all to build a $10,000 brick church in the near future.
RENSSELAER, JASPER COUNTY.
St. Augustine Church. - Bishop Luers purchased a site on which to build a church in Rensselaer, and in 1882 Bishop Dwen- ger donated the same for the said purpose. Prior to this time services were held in the orphan asylum, Rev. Matthias Zumbuelte at that time having charge. January 22, 1882, he called a meet-
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ing of the congregation and a building committee was elected, con- sisting of Peter Lordemann, Michael Folloran and Sylvester Fal- ley. Work was begun on the building July 17, 1882, but much trouble was experienced during the construction. The foundation was faulty and had to be replaced; funds became exhausted, and so the building was not completed until 1885, and was dedicated January 21. Bishop Dwenger was sick at the time, so the church was blessed by Rev. John Guendling, of LaFayette, and Rev. C. P. Walters preached the sermon. The church cost $5,000, in size is 37 x 80 feet, and is well furnished.
In 1888, Rev. Anthony Dick succeeded Rev. Zumbuelte; next Rev. Stanislaus Neiberg, who made some improvements in the church, and Mrs. E. P. Hammond deserves special mention for her liberal contributions; the resources of the parish were consid- erably augmented by a very successful church fair held in 1894. In 1897 Rev. Bernard Dickmann took charge, and in 1898 Rev. Edward Jakob. Ninety families comprise the congregation, most of whom live in the country, and some at a long distance from the church. The congregation is out of debt and has a surplus, but as yet there is no priest's residence nor school. St. Joseph's cem- etery is located two miles south of town.
Rev. Edward Jakob, C. PP. S., was born in Minster, Auglaize county, Ohio, in 1859. He was educated in St. Charles seminary, C. PP. S., Ohio, and was ordained at Covington, Ky., in July, 1883, by Bishop Toebbe. He was then six years in Missouri, being located at Montrose, Henry county, and also had charge of several other missions in other counties. At Montrose he built a church and residence, also built some small mission churches in that district. He next went to Lawrenceburg, Tenn., where he completed a church. Two years later he went to New Riegel, Seneca county, Ohio, and had charge of St. Boniface church, and after four years came to Rensselaer and took charge of St. Augustine.
REYNOLDS, WHITE COUNTY.
St. Joseph's Parish, of Reynolds, was organized in 1865 by the Rev. Joseph Winters, who was at that time assistant pastor of
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St. Mary's church at LaFayette. As early as 1856, however, Catholic clergymen had visited Reynolds and had baptized several children, and mass had been read by visiting priests at the dwell- ings of the Catholic residents, who, each in turn, gladly welcomed the honor of having mass said in his house. The first church, the erection of which took place in 1865, was a small frame building, 20 X 45 feet, and now stands at the rear of the new edifice. A little over three acres of ground was purchased from John Britton by the Rev. Father Hamilton for his assistant, Father Winters, and the church-building cost about $975, a portion of which sum was contributed by a few Protestants, there being then only fifteen Catholic families in the parish. About an acre was laid out for a cemetery and the first burial therein was of the remains of Mrs. Mary Eva Grissmer, in November, 1868.
The mission of St. Joseph's, at Reynolds, was attended by visiting clergymen from LaFayette until the appointment of the first resident priest, Rev. John McMahon, in 1872. He erected a pastoral residence and officiated until his death in April, 1873, his remains being interred at LaFayette. The Franciscan Fathers of LaFayette then took charge of the parish and stationed here the Rev. Dominic Meyers as their first resident pastor. He erected the present church, which is a brick edifice, 42 x 96 feet, and cost about $5,000, but as many of the congregation performed much of the labor, the outlay of cash was materially restricted, although the membership numbered twenty-seven families only. The build- ing was dedicated in 1877 by Right Rev. Bishop Dwenger.
The succession of officiating clergymen has been as follows: Rev. Dominic Meyers, in 1879, by Rev. Peter Paul; in July, 1880, Rev. C. Steinkamp; in July, 1882, Rev. Ignatius M. Wilken; in 1884, Rev. John B. Schræder; in 1885, Rev. Augustine Bayer; in 1886, Rev. Peter Welling, who paid off all debts; in 1887, Rev. Francis S. Schæfer. In 1888 the Order of St. Francis transferred the church to the bishop of Fort Wayne, and Rev. Matthias Zum- buelte was appointed pastor; in 1890, Rev. John B. Berg took charge, and during his incumbency the church was reshingled and the interior frescoed. In 1893, Rev. George Schramm was placed in charge; in 1895, Rev. John Blum, and in November, 1896, the
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present able young pastor, Rev. John F. Kubacki, assumed the pastorate. He has placed a new furnace under the church and has also built a brick pastoral residence of nine rooms, with all modern improvements, at a cost of nearly $2,000, to which small amount it was held down by the contribution of considerable gratuitous labor by members of the congregation. The membership now includes forty-five families, and is out of debt. The people are very devoted to their church and are almost proverbially liberal, not only to their parochial interest, but also to all diocesan chari- ties. Among the most prominent for this reason are the families of Geo. Ruppert, Michael Owens, Michael Martin, and Bernard Vogel, John and Mrs .. V. Emge, Patrick Mangan, John Boon and John Graftema.
St. Joseph's has now no school, although in the time of Rev. Clements Steinkamp a school-house was erected at a cost of $475, and the pupils placed under the charge of the Sisters of St. Fran- cis, who taught until the expiration of Father Steinkamp's minis- trations.
The resident priests at Reynolds have always attended other missions, principally Francesville and Medaryville. These are comparatively old missions, as there are some traces of priests as early as the '50s, though the first definite name on record is that of Father Steiner, assistant cure of St. Mary's of LaFayette, who in 1862 occasionally visited the missions and said mass in the houses of the Catholics, principally in those of Messrs. Kilroy, Hearl and Hacket at Francesville and Mr. Nicoles at Medaryville. Father Steiner bade the missions a touching farewell on August 16, 1864, and was succeeded by Father Becks, of Michigan City, who in turn was succeeded by Father Burns in 1865, assistant to Father Hamilton at LaFayette. Father Burns it was that in 1866 built small frame churches, 20x45, in each mission, and they were dedi- cated by the Right Rev. Bishop Dwenger that same year. In 1867, the missions were assigned to Father King, of Winamac and Pulaski, until in 1869, when they were attached to Rensselaer, where Father Stefan was chaplain of the Orphans' home. He attended these and other missions until 1877, having in the meantime moved to San Pierren, and in that year the two missions were attached to
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Reynolds and the history of the succession of their pastors is identical with that of the latter congregation. The mission of Francesville bids fair to become in time a prosperous congrega- tion. Its membership has well been doubled in the last two years by prosperous immigrant farmers, especially from Illinois, all of whom take a lively interest in the parish. Their aspirations are now for a larger church and a resident pastor, which will undoubt- edly be realized in the near future, as each has a membership of about twenty-five families and the latter especially is on the increase.
At Monticello, also, there is a small church and four lots, donated by Martin Witz (now a fallen-off Catholic), but no serv- ices are held there, as the people worship at St. Joseph's at Rey- nolds, although interest is being promoted by Hon. State Senator Thomas O'Connor, of that place, in favor of a more suitable loca - tion and a new church. May God bless all such endeavors.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP, BENTON COUNTY.
St. Anthony's Parish, in Richland township, Benton county, was organized in 1872, by a body of Catholics who were then attending divine services at Kentland, in Newton county, Anthony Dehner donating land for a church site and being one of the prin- cipal and most active members of the new organization. The young congregation was attended for some time from Kentland, but now has its resident priest, in the person of the Rev. Joseph Bilstein, who also ministers to the small congregation of St. Peter and Paul's, at Goodland, in Newton county. The congregation of St. Anthony's are mostly Germans, are thrifty, have kept the church free from debt, and this year, 1898, are making many improvements.
RICHMOND, WAYNE COUNTY.
The first St. Andrew's church at Richmond, Ind., was erected in 1846, and its first pastor was Rev. Father Ryan. In May, 1849, Rev. William Doyle became its second pastor, and in August, 1853, he was succeeded by Rev. John B. Merl, who remained until June, 1858. In the meantime, about 1854, the church was (414)
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dedicated by Bishop de la Hailandiere, who had donated $500 on condition that the church be built of brick. There were present on this occasion, Rev. Andrew Bennett, of Dover, Dearborn county, and Rev. James F. Wood, later archbishop of Philadel- phia. The congregation was next under the charge of Rev. Henry Peters, who remained until March, 1859, and from that date to December, 1859, the congregation was visited by Rev. G. H. Ostlangenberg from Brookville. December 25, 1859, Rev. J. B. H. Seepe was appointed resident pastor and remained until Sep- tember, 1868. This worthy priest, the year after his coming, erected the present church-edifice, 120 x 60 feet, and in 1865 built a new school-house, and in 1867 bought twelve acres for ceme- tery purposes. From November, 1868, until 1877, Rev. Ferdi- nand Hundt became pastor. During his incumbency the church tower was finished in 1870, and the cemetery ground improved and a beautiful crucifixion group erected. The number of pupils now attending the school, under instruction of a lay teacher and five Sisters of St. Francis, reaches 300. The present pastor of St. Andrew's is the Rev. J. J. Macke.
St. Mary's Church .- In 1860, the English-speaking Catholics of Richmond separated from their German-speaking brethren, with whom they had been worshiping in St. Andrew's church, and bought a church property, that had been used by English Luther- ans, of Louis Burke, for $8,000, to be paid in installments of $1,000 a year, and this church soon began to look like a Catholic church.
For a short time previously St. Mary's church was visited by Rev. John Contin, and after him by Rev. John Gueguen. In October, 1860, a resident pastor was appointed in the person of Rev. Aug. Merz, who from there also attended Centerville, Washington and Hagerstown, in Wayne county, and New Castle and Middletown, in Henry county. He remained until September, 1863, when Rev. J. M. Villers succeeded him. The next pastor was the Rev. Francis Moitrier, who resigned in October, 1872, when Rev. D. J. McMullen succeeded. . ·
When Rev. Father McMullen assumed charge of St. Mary's
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congregation in October, 1872, it was heavily burdened with debt, but his superior administrative abilities enabled him to soon set affairs in order. He united the people in one line of thought and in one purpose; canceled the pecuniary obligations, and, beside, has since purchased $8,000 worth of property. In 1891 he bought the land at the corner of Seventh and North Ninth streets, where the present church-edifice stands, 120 x45 feet, and through his instrumentality the congregation contributed the funds to pay for the land and improvements. The rest of the square he himself purchased, in order to preserve the integrity of the church grounds, and on this part of the square stands the school-house, with a frontage of 240 feet on Seventh street. The congregation now numbers over 200 families and the school attendance 208 pupils, and this prosperous condition is almost entirely the result of the earnest pastor's untiring zeal and labor. Beside caring for the spiritual and temporal welfare of St. Mary's congregation, Father McMullen attends the missions at Fountain City, north, and Cen- terville, west of Richmond, at each of which stations a few Cath- olic families reside.
RIPLEY COUNTY.
St. Magdalen's congregation, in Ripley county, was organized about 1846, but in 1844, 1845 and 1846 it was visited as a station from Indianapolis, Madison and Scipio. In 1847 Rev. Alphonse Munschina had charge, and it was really he who solidified the infant congregation, and attended for five years. In 1855-56 St. Magdalen's was visited from Madison, then for three years from St. Ann's, Rev. J. M. Missi coming from the latter place. The first resident pastor was the Rev. H. J. Seibertz, who took charge in 1865 or 1866, and labored faithfully until 1871, and the second resident priest, Rev. J. P. Gillig, also labored zealously and with great success for six years. The present and third resident pastor, Rev. Andrew Michael, was placed in charge in 1878. He was born February 18, 1832, and was ordained priest December 8, 1859, since which time he has been an ardent servant of the church.
The congregation of St. Magdalen's now numbers 124 families, (416)
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and the number of children attending the parochial school averages ninety-six.
ROCKVILLE, PARKE COUNTY.
St. Joseph's Church. - Rev. L. Lalumiere, at one time, was the only priest Bishop Bruté had in his entire diocese, which in- cluded the whole of Indiana and a portion of the state of Illinois, and in 1842 Father Lalumiere was the first to attend to the spiritual needs of the scattered Catholics of Parke county. Rev. Father Ryan, of Illinois, also made ministerial visits at an early day. Father Lalumiere, however, was the first to read mass in Rockville, and this service was performed, in 1854, in an old log house, the property of Martin Ryan. The same year services were also held by him in what was Rockville's first school-house-a little log hut on John Sillman's place. At that time John Broderick, a railroad contractor, was at work on the old Evansville & Craw- fordsville railway, and this mass was attended by him and crew, and so numerous were the persons present, both Catholic and Protestant, that the good father was compelled to erect his altar outside the little school-house and hold the service in open air. In 1855 services were held at Leatherwood, in the house of a Mr. Weldon, on what was called Butler's place. In 1856 Father Highland officiated in the bakery of a Mr. Hannigan-a small brick building on the site of the present Tribune printing office. As late as 1861, Father Highland, who had his charge at Green- castle, celebrated mass in the house of John Barry, not far from the present Christian church, and for a long time mass was read at various private residences, such as those of James Kinney, Mr. Raggett and Patrick Reardon, Father Highland remaining about a week at a time. At Montezuma he held services in the old log house of James Reardon, which is still standing. From 1861 to 1869 Rockville and Montezuma were ministered to by Benedictine Fathers-Right Rev. Fintan Mundwiler, O. S. B., late abbot at St. Meinrad, Ind., Rev. Chrysostome Foffa, O. S. B., and Rev. Bede O'Connor, O. S. B.
In 1867 Rev. Meinrad McCarty, O. S. B., known as the "Church Builder," from St. Mary's of the Woods, Vigo county,
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officiated every sixth week, and succeeded in effecting a permanent church organization. He purchased lot No. 4, in the West addition to Rockville, from a Mr. Blackledge, on which was a carpenter shop, and the frame work of a house, used in the construction of a church in Montezuma, the consideration being $1,000. The church at Rockville was dedicated as the church of the Immaculate Con- ception; that at Montezuma was named in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From 1869 to 1878 Terre Haute sup- plied the clergyman-notably, Rev. H. Alerding, then assistant pastor of St. Joseph's, Terre Haute, and now pastor of St. Joseph's, Indianapolis. In 1872 the Franciscan Fathers (O. M. C.) assumed charge of St. Joseph's at Terre Haute, and from these fathers came the ministers to Rockville and Montezuma until 1876 or 1877, and about the latter year Father Quinlan took the initial steps toward settling a resident priest in these missions by building a parsonage of four rooms at Montezuma, and here begins the history of St. Joseph parish proper.
February 1, 1878, Rev. T. O'Donaghue was appointed the first resident priest at Montezuma, and zealously discharged his duties until October 16, 1879, when he was succeeded by Revs. Riehle and McBarron, of St. Mary's of the Woods, Vigo county, who, in December of the same year, were succeeded by Rev. Father Kintrup, who erected a belfry and secured a bell for the Montezuma church; but an unhappy fate attended this holy man, which must briefly be narrated. The night of March 30, 1882, when crossing the railroad bridge over the Wabash river, for which no provision had been made for foot-passengers, he was overtaken by a train of cars, and in his effort to avoid it, missed his foothold and perished in the stream beneath. His body was found next morning about two miles above Clinton, and interred in the ceme- tery at Armiesburg. After this sad event the pulpit at Montezuma was supplied by a line of pious and worthy priests, including Revs. Fathers Pierrard, Joseph, Bœver, D. Swagers, McEvoy, T. W. Cosgrove, and again by McEvoy and Joseph (O. M. C.), John Cof- fey and P. Nix, up to 1886, when the church at Rockville was erected. Of these reverend fathers it may be mentioned, in pass- ing, that the incumbency of Father Cosgrove was very brief, as he (418)
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assumed his charge in March, 1884, and was suddenly summoned to the home of the blessed, from the home of Martin Ryan, after a pastorate of ninety days only.
In the fall of 1886 the energetic and zealous Father Nix erected the present church edifice in Rockville, at a cost of nearly $2,000. In July, 1887, this building was consecrated to God and named in honor of St. Joseph, by the Right Rev. Msgnr. Besso- nies. Father Nix, the first pastor, was soon thereafter transferred to Bodie, Cal., and died in San Francisco in July, 1893. Revs. Fathers McEvoy and Joseph, O. M. C., next ministered at Rock- ville and Montezuma until July, 1889, when the Rev. Joseph T. Bauer, then living at St. Mary's, was placed in spiritual charge of the Catholic popula ion of the counties of Parke and Vermillion and the extreme northeastern portion of Vigo county. Beside the parsonage this reverend and faithful pastor erected in 1891, he organized a permanent and thriving Sunday-school, a choir and the usual church societies, all of which are in prosperous condi- tion. The congregation is now attended by priests from Clinton.
ROME CITY, NOBLE COUNTY.
St. Peter's Church at Rome City is a mission of the church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin at Avilla, and was organized in 1893 by Rev. D. Duehmig; the church building, 36 x 40 feet, was dedicated Sunday, October 3, 1893, by Bishop Richter, of Grand Rapids, Mich., Father Brammer, of Fort Wayne, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The cost of the building was about $2, - 300. It is a neat little structure-almost a miniature of St. Peter's, at Rome, Italy. This mission is attended only in summer season, or on especial occasions, the place being a beautiful resort, where many prominent Catholics have cottages, and during this time of year the attendance is quite large.
RUSHVILLE, RUSH COUNTY.
The Church of Mary Immaculate at Rushville has a strong and progressive parish whose spiritual needs are carefully guarded and preserved by Rev. Father T. X. Logan, who has erected one of the most handsome and costly new houses of worship in the
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state. The early history of this church was one of struggle and difficulty, but out of its primitive vicissitudes it emerged grandly, all the stronger for the conflict, and more effectually equipped for the duties of a permanent establishment.
About the year 1850, the early missionaries visited this section and established a mission chapel in the western part of the town. Here intermittent mission services were held until the year 1868, when Rev. Father McMullen, now of Richmond, Ind., was installed as the first regular pastor. Father Peters had caused to be erected in 1857 a small frame church near the spot occupied by the pres- ent house of worship, and, under his spiritual direction, the welfare of the church advanced largely. In the latter part of the year 1868 came Rev. Father D. J. McMullen, who was the first resident pastor, the church having by that time grown in numerical impor- tance to a point that the constant and personal services of a resi- dent priest were required. For four years he ministered to the spiritual needs of this congregation, and was succeeded October I, 1872, by Rev. Father Leo Adams, whose ministry continued until January, 1875. Then came Rev. Father E. J. Spelman, now of Cambridge City, Ind., who continued here until June, 1880. Under his pastorate the present parochial residence was built, and the affairs of the church materially advanced. Father Spelman was succeeded by Rev. J. J. Macke, of Aurora, Ind., who remained here until in February, 1888. It was under his direction that the excel- lent parochial school and Sister's home were erected. He was succeeded by the present beloved pastor, Rev. Father T. X. Logan.
ST. JOHN, LAKE COUNTY.
St. John the Evangelist Parish, at St. John, was for many years a mission, with no house of worship, but in 1842 the con- gregation erected a small frame church building about one-half mile southeast of the site of the present church-edifice. The parish was properly organized, in 1846, by Father Fisher, and a large log church was erected to accommodate the rapidly increas- ing membership, and the small frame building was converted into a school-house. In 1855 the membership had increased to IIO families, and it was found necessary to demolish the log church,
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which was done in 1857, and a handsome structure erected in its stead.
Father Fisher was succeeded at St. John's, at unrecorded dates, by Rev. Francis Antonio Carius, and he by the Holy Cross Fathers of Notre Dame-Cointet and Schilling. They were followed by Rev. Bernard E. Vours, in 1854; Rev. Andrew Tusch, in 1858; then came Rev. Jacob Mayer, who was succeeded by Rev. B. Rachor, who remained twelve years and was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Anthony Heitmann, who was born in Olden- burg, Germany, September 19, 1832, was there educated, but was ordained at Fort Wayne, Ind., by Bishop Luers, March 25, 1865. For five and a half years, Father Heitmann was assistant at St. Mary's church, and in October, 1870, was placed in his pres- ent position of pastor of St. John's. Here he has labored most zealously and has greatly advanced the prosperity of his church and congregation. The present valuation of the church property is placed at $23,000, the parsonage costing $10,000; and the grounds belonging to the congregation comprise about six acres, the cemetery being at the side of the church-edifice. The school, attended by 140 pupils, is in charge of four lay teachers.
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