USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume I > Part 42
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Father Merz died in March, 1896, and was succeeded by Rev. Meinrad Fleischmann, the present pastor. The congregation num- bers about 500 families and the large church-building is filled sev- (470)
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eral times on Sundays and holy days. In addition to the church- building a very large and substantial brick building for the parochial school is erected, and this is attended by at least 200 pupils. There is. also erected on the church square a very fine brick pastoral resi- dence. The church square rises some ten feet above the level of the sidewalk, and is surrounded on three sides by massive stone walls. Taken all in all, St. John's German church of Vincennes is one of the largest, richest and most flourishing congregations in the state of Indiana.
WABASH, WABASH COUNTY.
St. Bernard's Parish, of Wabash, was first attended as a mis- sion by Rev. John Ryan and others from LaGro, Ind., until the fall of 1870, and then by Rev. F. C. Wiechmann, assistant at Peru, until 1871, when he became the first resident priest and remained until 1879. when he was succeeded by Rev. M. M. Hal- linan, D. D., who officiated until December, 1881, when Rev. John H. Bathe became the pastor and remained until May 16, 1898, when he was followed by the Very Rev. P. J. Crosson, the present incumbent.
St. Bernard's church-building was begun under the adminis- tration of Father Ryan, was completed by Rev. B. Kroeger, and was dedicated by Bishop Luers. The building is of brick, is 33x60 feet, and has a seating capacity for 200 persons. The present attendance includes 120 families, mostly English-speaking, and the auditorium is consequently well filled during divine serv- ices. During Father Wiechmann's pastorate an effort was made to establish a school, but was not successful, and since then no vigorous endeavor has been made in that direction. The present value of the church property is estimated at $7,000, and the con- gregation is mostly composed of people who came here when the Wabash & Erie canal, and also the Wabash railroad, were in course of construction, or their descendants.
WANATAH, LAPORTE COUNTY.
The Church of the Most Precious Blood, at Wanatah, was organized in 1887 by Rev. Dominic Schunk, there being then in the parish about forty-five families, of German and Irish nationality.
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Father Schunk officiated until 1897, and during his stay erected a frame church-edifice, 80 x 35 feet, with a seating capacity for about 300 souls, at a cost of $5,000.
Rev. Dominic Schunk also built a commodious school, to which is connected a residence for Sisters and spacious room for boarders (boys and girls). The expenses incurred on the school and Sisters' residence amount to about $2,500. Persons wishing to place their children in said institution should communicate with the Sister Superior of the Precious Blood, Wanatah, Ind. The school was built in 1888, and in the same year Rev. Father Dominic Schunk built the parsonage at a cost of about $1,200. Rev. Dominic Schunk deserves credit for his untiring zeal, as do also the good peo- ple on account of their liberal contributions. Father Schunk, at the time of building in Wanatah, had charge of ten or eleven missions. This may give some idea of his indomitable courage.
After February 7, 1897, Rev. Edward Jacob officiated at Wan- atah until September, when he was succeeded by Rev. Raymond Vernimont, C. PP. S., who also has charge of the mission of the Holy Cross, at Hamlet, in Starke county; the mission of St. Mar- tin, at LaCrosse, in Laporte county, and the mission of St. Pat- rick, at Walkerton, St. Joseph county.
The church property comprises forty acres of land, which land was donated by a Mr. Tucker for the use of the church society and its orphans as well as for school purposes. The school is under charge of three Sisters of the Precious Blood, who give excellent instruction to twenty-four pupils. There are some debts yet rest- ing on this place; still, with the present good will of the people, hope can be entertained of soon wiping the debt out, although Father Edward, for his short stay at Wanatah, did remarkably well in putting accounts on a good financial basis. Father Verni- mont, the present pastor, has also been very active in this particu- lar, as well as in the performance of his spiritual duties.
WARRICK COUNTY.
St. John's Church .- The initiatory steps toward the erection of this church were taken in 1868 by a few German settlers in the western part of the county, who, previous to that time, attended
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services at St. Patrick's church in Vanderburg county. The cor- ner-stone was laid by Rev. Charles Exel, of St. Wendel, Novem- ber 9, 1868, who also, on the completion of the building, dedicated it during the early part of 1869. From that time the congregation was attended successively by the above Rev. Exel, Rev. Ferd Vief- haus and Rev. F. X. Girolt, from Evansville, until 1875, when it received its first resident pastor in the person of Rev. Alex Koesters. The most important event of the latter's administration was the organization of a school and of the building of a parsonage. Upon his appointment to another charge, during the latter portion of 1877, St. John's was administered to by Rev. John McCabe from February 17 to October 13, 1878, when the rector, Rev. Clement J. Conrad, took charge of the parish. He remained from October 13, 1878, to November 5, 1887; was succeeded by Rev. Theodore Mesher, from April 15, 1888, to July, 1888; then Rev. Charles Stricker came and remained from August 5, 1888, to June 15, 1890. During his residence in this parish he introduced the Benedictine Sisters and erected the first school-house in 1889, and also attended to outside mission work. Following Father Stricker came Rev. Edmond J. Schmitt, who remained from August 3, 1890, until February 1, 1896. During his pastorate he erected the beau- tiful and imposing brick and stone church, which is a high model in architecture. It commands a splendid view of the surrounding country and it is a credit to the taste of the pastor and is the pride of the parishioners. The corner-stone was laid by Rev. Father Dickmann, of Evansville, December 19, 1894, and was dedicated, by Bishop Chatard, May 25, 1895. The number of families is about sixty-five. There are two Benedictine Sisters in charge of the school, which is under the direct guidance and care of the res- ident priest. The enrolment of pupils is about thirty-three. On account of failing health Father Schmitt was obliged to relinquish his work in the parish, and Rev. G. H. Moss assumed charge on Ash Monday, February 19, 1896, and is the present pastor.
WASHINGTON, DAVIESS COUNTY.
St. Simon's Church, Washington, is noted as one of the oldest, strongest and wealthiest Catholic organizations in the state. This
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influential society had its inception near the beginning of the cen- tury, when, in the year 1819, a few Catholic families, who had settled in the vicinity, were visited by Bishop Flaget and united in a body for divine worship. The parish was sparse and scat- tered, and religious services intermittent and irregular. Ten years later, in 1829, the spiritual impulses of the scattered members of the Catholic society were accentuated and given a new vigor by the visit of Father John Abell, from the diocese of Bardstown, Ky., now Louisville, who, in June of that year, preached the jubi- lee in Washington. During this time and until 1837 the Catho- lics of this vicinity attended services at St. Peter's, Montgomery, Daviess county. In this latter year the little society was placed under the spiritual control of Rev. Simon P. Lalumiere, and the next year, 1838, a house of worship built. This old church was in constant use for nearly half a century and was torn down a few years ago to give place for the present magnificent church-edifice at Washington. The early years of this church were years of strug- gle. In 1840 twelve pews accommodated the worshipers. The growth of the church was slow but constant, and was swelled year by year by the addition of new families, until to-day the congre- gation of St. Simons numbers more than 300 families, among whom are many representatives of the wealth, culture and refine- ment of the city, and the church organization is not only very strong financially but is a power for good in the community, exerting a great and constantly increasing influence in the society of the city.
Following faithfully in the footsteps of the pioneer missionary, Father Lalumiere, the following pastors have served this congrega- tion: Revs. Anthony Parrott, H. Dupontavice, John McDermott, P. Hyland, J. B. Chassé, John Gueguen, Hugo Peythieu and John W. Doyle.
St. Simon's church is situated on the northwest corner of Hefron and Third streets, its main facade and entrance being on the former street. Near the front, on Third street, is a side entrance. In point of architecture the edifice is a pleasing com- bination of the Gothic and the Circle, the roof having the distinct- ive lines of the former and the windows and arches a graceful (474)
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blending of the two, constructed from plans by James J. Egan, of Chicago. The ground space of the church is 130 feet four inches by fifty-five feet ten inches. On the southeast corner is the mass- ive tower, with an elevation of 115 feet and surmounted by a golden cross. On the east side is the vestry, 18 x 22 feet, and on the west the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 18 x 34 feet. The sanctuary is 25 x 18 feet. The interior of the church presents a noble and harmonious appearance, and the plan is such as to create the impression of greater size than a view of the exterior would suggest. The first appearance upon entering is one of much effect- iveness, and the eye is charmed and soothed by the noble per- spective, which is beautifully strengthened and softened by the sub- dued light from the magnificent windows. The harmonious effect of these windows is particularly striking, creating at once upon the beholder a feeling of proper reverence for the holy spot. The first windows noticeable upon entering the vestibule are dedi- cated to St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin. On the right side of the hall the first window is a gift of Wm. M. Hayes; second, memorial of Mrs. Anna Cabel; third, gift of James McMullen; fourth, gift of Alice Maher; fifth, gift of the sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary; sixth, gift of Miss Alice Foster; seventh, gift of Mrs. Harriet Murphy; eighth, gift of Anna Donita Wells. Lighting the altar, and rendering especially conspicuous the rear of the church, is a magnificent window, 7x 16 feet, the gift of Rev. Hugo Pey- thieu, a former pastor of St. Simon's. On the left, the windows are inscribed as follows: Jacob Zinkan, Hugh McKernan, Ernest A. Crosson, Altar society, memorial to Wm. McTegart, Sr., memorial to William McTegart, Jr., St. Simon's T. A. society, William Brady. The tower windows were donated by M. F. Burke, Mrs. Thomas Dean, Thomas Dean, Michael Doyle, Mollie Flynn, Rev. Thos. Mclaughlin, Rev. Patrick Rower, Joseph B. Graham, and Robt. C. Graham. Over the principal entrance are two large windows, memorials to the late James Campbell and Sarah Campbell. Father Doyle furnished the windows for the vestry and the chapel.
St. Simon's church contains 160 pews and has a seating capac- ity of 700. The building was completed in 1886 at a cost of
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$25,000. The dedicatory services were presided over by Bishop Chatard and attended by clergy from all parts of the state, and instructive lectures were delivered by Chancellor Dennis O'Don- aghue and others. The parish owns considerable valuable prop- erty adjacent to the church, comprising the pastor's residence, the parochial school and the school of the Sisters of Providence.
St. Mary's Church (or the German church of the Immaculate Conception), at Washington, dates its formation from about 1874. For several years prior to that year it had been evident that the German Catholics of the town required a church-building of their own, but it was not until the year named that active steps were taken for the erection of such an edifice. Forty German families then formed themselves into a congregation and raised a suitable structure of brick, at a cost of $13,000. The erection began in the spring, and, although unfinished, was used for divine service the following December. In January, 1872, the congregation was fully organized by the Rev. John P. Sassel, who also started a German school. He labored with heroic self-denial for the wel- fare of his little flock until his lamented death, August 10, 1879, and to his earnest work the church is indebted for its permanent prosperity.
Father Sassel was succeeded by the Rev. L. M. S. Burk- hardt in September, 1879, and this worthy priest 'erected the school-building in 1881, at a cost of $4,000, and a parsonage, in 1885-86, at a cost of $3,000. This building is of brick, is two stories high, and contains eight rooms. Father Burkhardt was followed, in October, 1889, by Rev. William Bultmann, in whose time the interior of the church was frescoed, and a new organ introduced. Father Bultmann expired February 14, 1893, and April 3, of the same year, the present worthy incumbent, Rev. Francis Torbeck, was appointed to the pastorate. Father Tor- beck has also labored effectively for the good of the congregation, and has placed a furnace in the church and the parsonage, and inclosed the grounds with an iron-rail fence. He has also enlarged the school to three rooms, which are in charge of three Sisters of Providence, who give instruction to about 160 pupils. The con-
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gregation of the church numbers at present about 160 families, and the church is practically out of debt.
St. John's cemetery, one mile north of the city, is owned jointly by the congregations of St. Mary and St. Simon, comprises forty acres, ten of which were dedicated by Bishop Chatard Sep- tember 15, 1895, and is free from debt.
WHITING, LAKE COUNTY.
Sacred Heart Church. - The history of this congregation may be briefly narrated as follows: The first congregation of the Sa- cred Heart church at Whiting was gathered together by Father Kroll, of Chestertown, Ind., in the fall of 1890, and January 26th, 1891, the present pastor, Rev. M. J. Byrne, arrived from the cur- acy of the cathedral at Fort Wayne to take charge of this scat- tered settlement; services were held every other Sunday at various places-at one time in the old school building in Oklahoma, at an- other in the only hall in Whiting, over Green's saloon. At that time there were only nineteen houses in the town. Property was secured in the little grove on Center street, then a picnic ground, for the erection of a church; this property was increased to the amount of 250 feet front, and, under the direction of Father Byrne, on March 19, 1891, ground was broken for the present edifice, which was completed for dedication on May 24th of the same year. The church committee consisted of Thomas Moylan, John Bucz- kowski and Matt Keirans. The day of dedication was one long to be remembered, as the great concourse of people attending from neighboring towns significantly testified. The church was ble sed by Vicar-General Brammer, of Fort Wayne, and was given on that occasion the name of Sacred Heart. The membership of the church and its surroundings grew very rapidly under the able man- agement of Father Byrne. A set of new altars were at once added, a fine bell was procured and hung in the belfry and services were held there every Sunday.
Orient hall was built as a place of convenience for the people to hold fairs, meetings and exercises in, and old settlers still well remember the enjoyment had at the first fair, at which was realized $2,600.
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The old hall was destroyed by fire April 1, 1897, but a new hall was immediately erected at a cost of $3,500. This building is of brick, and is two stories high-the second or upper floor con- stituting a hall, and the first or lower floor being divided into three rooms for school purposes, under the name of St. Michael's school.
In 1894 the lots were graded and filled, an iron fencing was put in, sidewalks were laid and the pastoral residence was built. The congregation grew with the town in size and importance. The present number of families is 110, the total number of souls 750. In his seven years' service Father Byrne has had seventy converts and 434 baptismns. St. Michael's school has an enrolment of 213 chil- dren under six Sisters of Providence. Six different church societies are thriving, and doing good both spiritually and charitably. The first child baptized in the new church was the little daughter of John Buczkowski, Helen Wanda. The first wedding was that of William Hoctor and Eliza McKeiver; the first funeral was that of Thomas O'Neil. The first choir was a children's choir-Mrs. John Neville organist; the choir afterward was given over to the young ladies, with Miss Kitty Garvin organist, Father Byrne, the first pastor, who is still with the congregation, having been foremost in every good work that has led to the upbuilding of the people and the church entrusted to his care.
However, on June 1, 1897, the parish was divided, the Slavs and Bohemians going to the new congregation, leaving the present membership of the Sacred Heart at 110 families, with 213 school children and six teachers, as mentioned above.
WINAMAC, PULASKI COUNTY.
St. Peter's Church, at Winamac, was erected in 1861, under the advice of Rev. Father Hamilton, of Logansport. Prior to that year, possibly as far back as 1850, mass had been said by vis- iting clergymen from Logansport at the home of Mark D. Falvey, whose family, together with three others-those of James Mulva- ney, John Hoff, August Kratz and Michael Falvey, constituted the Catholic population of Winamac. About 1860 Mark D. Falvey began soliciting funds with which to erect a Catholic church- building, and succeeded in collecting about $400 from the residents (478)
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of the place, the Catholics, of course, subscribing as liberally as their means permitted. A trip up the railroad as far as LaCrosse, made by Rev. Hamilton and Mr. Falvey, resulted in securing $40 addi- tional. Two lots were then purchased and another was donated and a small frame church was erected. When services were first held in this modest frame structure, it was not plastered and the seats were simply boards or planks, but the congregation was out of debt, and as circumstances permitted the diminutive edifice was completed.
No proper records of the work of the church were made until 1867, when Rev. Henricus Koenig was installed as pastor, and from that date forward full data of the affairs of the church have been placed on record. Father Koenig was succeeded by Rev. A. Reichert, and- he in turn by Rev. T. Wittmer, who erected the school-building. In October, 1876, came Rev. Theobald Schoch, who was succeeded in December, 1880, by Rev. Christian Nigsch, under whose auspices was erected the present brick church, at a cost of $10,000 to $12,000, one fair alone, given for the purpose of raising funds in aid of this commendable project, realizing a net profit of $2,300. Rev. Kilian Schill followed Father Nigsch in December, 1885, and continued in charge until December, 1887, and he, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. Joseph O. Missler, and he by Rev. Joseph Uphaus in 1897.
YANKEETOWN, WARRICK COUNTY.
St. Rupert's Parish was for some years in charge of the Bene- dictines of St. Meinrad, and the following roster, gleaned from the record of the parish, gives the succession of the pastors who attended: Revs. Henry Hug, 1864; Chrysostome Foffa, 1866; Fintan Mundwiler, from 1866 to May, 1867; Revs. Martin and Kintrup, a short time each, from 1868 to 1869; Rev. Henry Hug, again, from 1870 to 1871; Revs. Fred Mueller, 1871 to 1873; J. W. Book, 1874 to 1886, who made great improvements in the parish; next in charge were Revs. T. S. Mesker, 1886 to 1888; Geo. J. Loesch, 1888; Joseph Villinger, 1888; Mundwiler and J. M. Zogl- mann, 1888 to 1891; J. Hildebrand, 1891; Edwin J. P. Schmitt, 1892 to 1893; Charles J. Wagner, 1893 to the present time, 1898.
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The Rev. Henry Hug, O. S. B., the first visiting pastor to the thirteen Catholic families living in Yankeetown, said mass in 1864 in private houses, as opportunity offered. St. Rupert's church, 40 x 26 feet, a frame building, was erected in 1865, and was blessed by the Rev. Chrysostome Foffa, O. S. B., January 2, 1866. In 1880, the congregation having grown too large for the building, the church was considerably enlarged by Rev. J. W. Book, who then had charge of the mission. The families in the parish at present number thirty, or 150 souls. The priest's home was erected in 1893 and the school was built in 1894 under Rev. Charles Wag- ner's administration, and the fair cash value of the Catholic prop- erty of St. Rupert's parish is placed at $4,000.
The mission at Newburg is eight miles distant from St. Rupert's parish, and there Father Wagner has charge of twenty-five fam- ilies. The church property there is valued at $3, 500. The Boon- ville mission has a membership of twelve families, and the value of the church property is placed at $7,000. The patron saint is St. Clements, while the patron saint of Newburg mission is St. John the Baptist.
YORKVILLE, DEARBORN COUNTY.
St. Martin's Parish. - The records of this parish date from 1852, and here Father Martin Stahl was the first pastor to admin- ister to the people. The first church, which is of brick, was erected in 1851 and is still in use.
This parish was a mission of St. Paul's at New Alsace, Ind., and also of Dover. In 1853, Father Andrew Bennett acted as priest for a short time, and then Father Stapf came and officiated until 1854. From June, 1854, until August, 1856, the Rev. Jos. Neuber officiated; then Father A. Pinkers from August, 1856, to April 26, 1858. Father Henry Koering was pastor for a short time, or until July, 1858, and Father Weinzoepfel from August, 1858, to January, 1866; the next priest was Father Duddenhausen, from April, 1866, to September, 1870; the next attendant was Rev. Peter Siebmann, from October, 1870, to November 20, 1870. His successor was Rev. Victor Schnell, who remained from November 29, 1870, to March 25, 1871; next came Rev. H. J.
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Seibertz, who built the present commodious school in 1872. (Father Benns, O. S. B., had charge during the summer of 1875, when Father Seibertz was in Europe.) Father Seibertz returned in November, 1875, and remained until June, 1877. Father Schoentrup was then in charge, but only for a short time. The next priest who had the care of the people was Rev. B. H. Brueggemann, of St. John's parish at Dover, who attended from September, 1877, to July, 1886. He was followed by the Rev. A. Daenhoffer, the first resident pastor, who remained till February, 20, 1892, and who erected the priest's home at a cost of $2, 500, in 1888. Then came the present able priest, Rev. John H. Boer- sig, who has since had charge of the parish.
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CHAPTER XIV.
BISHOP BRUTE, THE FATHER OF FREE-SCHOOL EDUCATION IN INDIANA -CATHOLIC EDUCATION AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.
T "HE honor and credit of inaugurating and establishing free- school education in Indiana belong to the Catholic church; and the church dignitary who was personally and zealously active in bringing it about was Rt. Rev. Wm. G. Bruté, the first bishop of the old diocese of Vincennes.
This great and good man, among the most discouraging sur- roundings, and against the opinion and advice of his co-religionists," and also against the expressed judgment of his non-Catholic neigh- bors and acquaintances, practically gave rise to the system by making, in 1834, the schools which he had just established at Vin- cennes free to all-whether Catholic or non-Catholic; absolutely free-without any reservation whatsoever.
This start for free education was made, it should be remem- bered, more than twenty years before the present system of free public schools was established in Indiana.
A bishop of the Catholic church in Indiana leading in a work of this character constitutes a picture strangely in contrast with the bold assumptions and false charges of some non-Catholic and sectarian writers and ministers, who declare that the Catholic church can not bear the light, and that therefore it is opposed to all education and enlightenment among the masses as dangerous to its schemes, to the success of which dense ignorance is a prime essential. Nothing could possibly be more unfounded or injurious than such false witness borne against an institution which alone has the credit of having kept burning throughout the long centuries of threatened barbaric ascendency the lamp of intellectual enlight- enment and christian culture.
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