USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > History of the city of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 38
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Rev. P. H. Fitzpatrick was toastmaster. Toasts were responded to by Fathers Lewis Guethneck, Joseph Dickman, Francis Ryves, Michael Hal- pin, and Lubberman. Others who were at the table were Fathers John McCabe, Henry Flaherty, Kilian Scott, A. Schnellenberger, Joseph Burns, Michael Seter, M. Schmitz, Wm. Jochum, George Doesch and Rev. A. Busald.
HOLY TRINITY PARISH.
This was not regarded as a separate congregation until 1851 when the new church of that name was blessed in the presence of the Right Reverend Bishops and is used exclusively by the German-speaking Catholics. Before that the Catholics of all different languages attended the Assumption church. For several years separate services continued to be held there for the Germans and Rev. Charles Oppermann, Martin Stahl, Conrad Schnie- derjans and Roman Weinzoeppel succeeded each other in charge of the Germans and as assistant to Father Deydier. The first resident pastor was Rev. Francis X. Kutassy who came here in 1848. He organized the Holy Trinity parish and built the church.
In 1849 the corner stone was laid by Bishop de St. Palais but on account of the ravages of the cholera, the work was not completed until 1851. In 1855 the parsonage was built which cost $1,500. In 1866 Rev. J. Fred Viefhaus was sent as an assistant to Father Kutassy. Stained glass win- dows were put in the new church in 1867 at the cost of $2,700. Chimes were put in the tower of the church which cost $5,000. In 1872 Rev.
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Ploescher became the assistant priest, Rev. Father Viefhaus having under- taken the work of building up St. Mary's Parish. On the IIth of October, 1874, the Golden Jubilee of the noble pastor, Rev. Father Kutassy, was celebrated and as a sort of finish to his labors, he died on the 27th of the same month. He was buried at St. Joseph's cemetery, and a beautiful monument was erected to his memory. He was the first priest interred in that cemetery.
Father Duddenhausen next took charge of the church, with Father Bultmann as his assistant, and celebrated the public services with much pomp and solemnity. Father Bultmann then took up the work of organizing St. Boniface's parish and was succeeded by Father F. B. Luebberman.
In 1853 the Sisters of Providence came to teach the children of the Holy Trinity parish and in 1860 a school was built for the girls only. In 1869 the old buildings were torn down and the present school was erected. Father Duddenhausen died in 1886 and was interred in St. Joseph's cemetery. His death was mourned by all who knew him. He was succeeded by Rev. H. John Diestel, who had been for about 25 years, pastor of St. Philip's church in Posey county. He was ordained priest by Bishop de St. Palais in 1864. His assistant was Rev. Francis Siepen, a resident of Evansville and a man of much promise.
St. Mary's parish is the third Catholic congregation formed in Evans- ville and dates back to 1866. The first work done by the pastor, Rev. John Ferdinand Viefhaus, after the purchase of the present site of the parish buildings, was the erection of a two-story brick school-house at a cost of about $5,000. This building stands at the corner of Sixth and Cherry. Next to the church stands the parish and the grounds are 240 feet by 145 feet. The church is of the Gothic style and is imposing in appearance. The cornerstone was laid by Bishop de St. Palais in 1866. Sixteen priests were present and also a great crowd of people. It was used for the first time on January Ist, 1868. The spire, which stands 175 feet, is surmounted by a golden cross and in the tower is a chime of three bells, beautiful in tone. The church cost $60,000. The church has lately been covered with stone which gives it a massive effect.
St. Boniface's parish was organized in 1880. The first move to build this church was a meeting of prominent Catholic Germans at the residence of Mr. Charles Schulte in 1878. A letter setting forth the facts was sent to the bishop, and a lot on Wabash avenue, worth $10,000 was purchased for $5,000, for the site of the parish buildings. On January 4th, 1880, Rev. Bishop Chatard visited Evansville and received the deed to the property from the gentlemen, created the St. Boniface's parish and appointed Rev. William Bultmann as pastor. At the meeting of interested Catholics $10,000 was promptly pledged in support of the new parish. Work was begun on the temporary frame church on February Ist of that year and on the follow- ing Sunday, high mass and vespers were sung in the same. After two months an addition had to be made to accommodate the people and in less
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than a year later, this building was torn down, to give room for the present grand edifice. The cornerstone of the present St. Boniface's church was laid with imposing ceremonies on September 4, 1881, by Rev. Roman Wein- zoepfel. All of the Catholics of Evansville were out and the day was a memorable one. The work on the new church was pushed rapidly that the church was dedicated on April 27th, of the following year. The church has two spires and stands 202 feet high. In 1885 a splendid school building was erected at a cost of $10,000. The first school was built by Mr. Adam Helfrich and its use donated by him for a year. This has been torn away and a beautiful building with an imposing exterior put in its stead. This church has a very large membership and is presided over by Father J. H. Hillebrand.
The Sacred Heart parish is the fifth parish organized in Evansville. Within its limits there were about 50 families who had to go more than a mile distant to attend the Assumption church. In learning the facts, the right reverend Bishop consented to a building of a church for these people, which would be for a time, a sort of chapel of ease to the Assumption church. Mr. John A. Reitz, a prominent and wealthy citizen of another parish, donated not only the ground, but also the church, he himself super- intending the construction. Rev. P. R. Fitzpatrick took charge of the par- ish on December 4th, 1887, and its independence dates from that time. The church was dedicated November 15th, 1885.
St. Anthony's parish is a new church. Its first pastor, Rev. Joseph Schuck, was appointed March 10th, 1888. It has erected a school building. It cost $10,000. St. Anthony's church stands at the corner of Second avenue and Columbia street. It is 150x250 feet and was the gift of Mrs. Magdalene Reis, a wealthy and charitable lady. Father Schuck is still the priest at this parish and is much beloved by all who know him.
The German Lutheran Trinity church was started by the Germans who came to this city on the tide of immigration that poured in about 1845, there were many who had been taught to worship God in accordance with the teachings of Martin Luther. A leader of these Christians was Rev. An- drew Saupert, who enjoyed the proud distinction of being the oldest Chris- tian minister in continuous service in Evansville. He served his congrega- tion with great zeal and devotion for more than 40 years. In 1871 the con- gregation erected the handsome church edifice now in use and which is on Illinois street between Third and Fourth avenues, at the cost of $25,000. It is Gothic in style and seats 700 persons, has a steeple 145 feet high, and a brick tower rising 82 feet. Rev. Chas. A. Frank is the present pastor, and the church has a large membership.
Of the German Lutheran St. Emanuel's church, the congregation that went to make up this church, was formerly a part of that brought to- gether by Rev. Andrew Saupert. In 1854 a commodious brick church was built on the corner of First avenue and Franklin street, which is still in use. The pastors who have served this church have been Rev. Risch, J.
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Dirksen, Chr. Young, J. A. Reidenbach, J. Bank, Henry Koenig and George Bachmann, and Rev. A. C. Kleinlein.
Zion's German Evangelical church was organized on New Year's day, 1849, with about 35 members, and Rev. Henry Toelke was its first pastor. He served the congregation for about four years and did much good while in the pastorate. The congregation is mostly all Germans and its faith is somewhat like the Presbyterians. The church is on Fifth street between Ingle and Bond and was erected at the cost of $5,000. The present pastor is Rev. J. U. Schnieder.
St. John's Evangelical Protestant church is situated at the corner of Third and Ingle streets and Second avenue, and Wm. N. Dresel is pastor.
On the first day of April, 1850, eighty-nine heads of families met to or- ganize St. John's German Evangelical Protestant church of Evansville, Vanderburg County. Prior to this occasional services were held in the mother tongue when traveling preachers visited the city, the little congre- gation meeting in the old Court House, and continuing to do so until their edifice was completed at the corner of lower Third and Ingle streets. But before the house of worship was completed a terrific wind storm arose, tearing down the walls and necessitating a reconstruction. Although the cornerstone was laid on June 1, 1851, the building was not dedicated until Nov. 28, 1852, the side walls of the original building still standing at the present writing (1910). Years afterward, another storm tore away the steeple, so that some time later (1893) the present handsome facade was erected.
Other important dates in the history of St. John's church are: 1865 --- organization of the "Frauen Verein," the Ladies' society (German) now numbering 193 members. 1867-erection of the present parsonage. 1868- erection of the parochial school building, now used as a hall and parish house by the societies. 1872 and 1881-remodeling of church, especially the interior, the erection of the galleries, and the pulpit, altar and pews of finely carved solid walnut. 1900-organization of the Young People's Society (now numbering 140). 1902-(Nov. 23) Golden Jubilee of the Dedication. 1904-dedication of the large organ, the first three-manual in- strument placed in a church in southwestern Indiana (containing 34 speak- ing stops, including a set of 37 tubular chimes, 13 couplers, 6 mechanicals, 6 pedal movements and 23 adjustable combination pistons). 105-organiza- tion of the Ladies' Aid Society (English) now numbering 215 members. 1907-remodeling of parsonage and hall. 1908 organization of the Men's Society and the Willing Workers, the former now numbering 121 and the latter 62 members.
After the abandonment of the parochial school in the early seventies, in which for a time four teachers were employed, a Sunday school was insti- tuted which has kept pace with the growth and development of the congre- gation. Presently it is known as "The School that's different," and is com- pletely organized and graded with nine departments, 14 officers, 42 teachers
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and 579 pupils-total 645 in the main school, the Cradle Roll numbering 165 and the Home Department 579, a grand total of 1,389.
Strange as it may seem, the minutes of the first years have been lost, whereas the finance books date back to 1850. The church record, or reg- ister of baptisms, marriages, etc., has been accurately kept, showing that during the sixty years ending with April 1, 1910, there had been 6,392 batpisms, 2,13 confirmations, 2,593 marriages and 3,732 burials recorded. From 89 heads of families, as charter members, the congregation has in- creased to 716 heads of families as voting members and a trifle more than 1,800 communicant members, there being 802 homes on the visiting list.
The congregation remains independent of any synodical or denomina- tional affiliation, although the present pastor is a member of the German Evangelical Synod of N. A. The congregation holds to the Evangelical doctrine and practices, observes the sacraments of baptism and Lord's Sup- per, demands catechetical instruction and practices the rite of confirm- ation, dividing its membership into constituent (with power to vote) and communicant members.
The pastors serving St. John's have been C. H. Straeter (1850-52), Theodore Klingsohr (1852-53), Rudolph Kehr (1853-54), Wm. Schmidt (1854-58), C. Kretschmar (1858-64), C. L. Chr. Runk (1864-90), J. Blass (1890-1901), Aug. Lange (1901-06), Wm. N. Dresel, since 1907.
The present officers of the congregation are: President, Mr. Philip Klein; vice president, Mr. Wm. Weintz; recording secretary, Mr. Carl Lauenstein ; financial secretary, Mr. J. H. Rohsenberger; treasurer, Mr; Philip Grill; these, together with Mr. Hy. Schminke, Mr. Wm. Bischmann, Mr. Jacob Rust and Mr. Paul Kaltofen, constituting the church council.
St. John's is noted for the splendid music rendered by the large chorus choir, and the boy choir, under the efficient leadership of the choir-master and organist, Prof. Paris R. Myers, who is also conductor of the Evans- ville Oratorio Society.
Services are conducted in the German language every Sunday morning and at night in English.
Of the Jewish Temples, the Congregation B'nai Israel was organized in 1857. Seven years later the society built a temple, at the corner of Sixth and Division, at the cost of $45,000. It is a handsome building and is Moorish Saracenic in style. William Wechsler was the rabbi. The society is intelligent and contains some of the best citizens in the community.
In 1903 a new temple was built on Washington avenue. This is made up of the members who were formerly attending the temple on Sixth street. They have the finest church in this section of the country and is in charge at present of Rabbi Meritt, a man with a very promising future and who has done much good during the time he has been with them. They have a membership of 140 families, or 450 souls, and are growing very rapidly.
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The Christian church was what was formerly called the Disciples of Christ and a small congregation who believed in that faith began to hold meetings in this city in 1868. Elder George Flower came here the next year and organized a church. He was a man of great force of character and his powers of oratory were also very good. He married the eldest daughter of Judge F. S. Buchanan. For some time the members of this, congregation worshiped in the Criminal Court building which has been referred to before as being next to the Lottie hotel. After Elder Flower was succeeded by Elder Carter, the latter resigned and Elder Alfred Flower, the father of the first pastor, took his place. The congregation, did not grow as had been expected and it was found impossible to raise enough money to erect a church and in fact, for a time the society seemed to go out of existence. But in November, 1885, a reorganization was ef- fected and this was due to the work of the late W. W. Ireland, F. W. Gibbs, J. R. Ferguson, Dr. Floyd Williams and a few others. They then held their meetings in the old Baptist church at the corner of Second and Clark streets. It was here that Rev. George Platt, the first regular min- ister, took charge and preached until 1886. The next pastor was Rev. Neal McLeod, a very hard worker and a successful pastor. He put new vitality into the society and its membership was quickly enlarged. There had been a Unitarian church in the city which had become extinct and their building at the corner of Seventh and Walnut streets was bought by the Christian denomination. In March, 1899, a movement for the erection of a new church building was started and the ground at the corner of Third street and Blackford avenue was purchased in May of the same year. The build- ing was commenced in the spring of 1900 and completed and dedicated September 16, 1900. It is a very modern church building with a seating capacity of four hundred. A handsome pipe organ has recently been in- stalled by the Ladies Aid Society. The membership is about 300 and their present pastor is the Rev. Wm. E. Sweeny. The church is in a prosperous condition and among its members are numbered some of the best families of the city.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE MAYORS OF EVANSVILLE-THE COMMON COUNCILS-COUNTY OFFICIALS -VARIOUS SERVANTS (?) OF THE PEOPLE-A COMPLETE LIST-COUNTY WORK-A MISTAKEN IDEA-SOME OF THE OLD "FAIRIES" WHOM I KNEW -PEANUT POLITICS.
It was in the year 1856 that the town corporation of Evansville which was organized in 1819, ended its existence and this place became known as the city of Evansville. The council appointed the first mayor who was James G. Jones, who took his position at the head of the council and the city on the 12th of April, 1847, but the city was incorporated in January of that year by a special act of the legislature. Mayor Jones lived in a small two-story cottage with a little lattice porch in front, which stood where the Speed Publishing Company now have their building. He had lived here for many years, having come here from Gibson county where he mar- ried a Miss Brazelton. Under him were the following councilmen :
First ward, L. L. Laycock; Second ward, Silas Stevens; Third ward, Willard Carpenter ; Fourth ward, C. M. Griffith; Fifth ward, Lewis Howes ; Sixth ward, John Hewson.
John J. Chandler was clerk, Samuel Orr, treasurer, William Bell, asses- sor, collector and marshal, William M. Walter, surveyor, James E. Blythe, attorney. Most of these men I knew afterwards. Mr. Blythe for a long time, lived where the residence of ex-mayor Goodlett now stands. Lewis Howes was of the old firm of Allis and Howes, and John Hewson lived in the two-story brick just back of the shoe factory at Second and Division. Mr. Jones served as mayor until the year 1853, when he was succeeded by John S. Hopkins. Under the old charter, the mayor's term expired after three years. In 1856, John Hewson, who had been a councilman, was ap- pointed and served for a term of three years. He then gave up to William Baker, a brother of governor Conrad Baker, who served long and faithfully until in 1868 he gave up his office to William H. Walker. On the death of Mr. Walker in 1870 Eccles G. Van Riper was appointed mayor by the coun- cil and served until the 12th of November of 1870. It was when Mr. Van- Riper, a New Yorker who came here with Fatman and Company, represent- ing tobacco interests and became identified with politics, that this town be- came acquainted with the Metropolitan way (or crooked) or rather the New York way of running politics and it is very safe to remark that it has never yet gotten over it. The seeds sown by the expert VanRiper seemed
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to fall on fruitful ground, as it would be hard to find a solitary city in America where the little game of politics is played to such a close finish or so close up to one's shirt front as it is in the city of Evansville today. There was a special election held in 1870 and William Baker was again elected. Mr. Baker, of whom the writer could only speak with the greatest of esteem and reverence, was one of the best men the Almighty ever gave the breath of life. He was absolutely honest and honorable in every sense of the word. His love for Evansville was great and he was willing at any time to sacrifice his own interests for those of the city. Like all other men he had a few enemies but he was so absolutely just when he made his de- cisions, and in everything with which he was connected, that even his most bitter enemies looked up to him with respect. When he died, Evansville lost a man whose memory will never be forgotten. He died in June, 1872, and Charles H. Butterfield, who came here and first taught in the Canal street school and later the High school of Evansville and then went into the arms where he made a most brilliant record, was elected to fill the va- cancy. He filled the office until 1874, when the democrats elected John J. Kleiner, who at that time taught the Commercial college in the old building known as the Commercial hall, which stands just across from the Echel block. Mr. Kleiner was what is known as a dark horse. He was a German by birth and was so affable in his manners and such a great mixer and quick reader of men, that he was elected to the mayor's chair without any trouble. Of course the city was then democratic as it was when Thomas C. Bridwell was elected in 1880. Mr. Bridwell served for two terms. He was a man well liked by everybody and filled the office very acceptably. At the next election in 1886 there came a complete surprise. There are few men in this city who do not know John Dannetell, or "Johnny" Dannetell as he was then called. He was first a clerk for the old firm of Vautier and Mar- connier, an old French firm, that did business for years in the old building now occupied by Mark Gross. In fact, the rear portion of this building is composed of the same material which was there at that time. Johnny Dan- netell was known as a great mixer, was familiar with the Germans and their language, full of jokes, and always with a good story to tell. When he was nominated by the republicans, the older heads in the party seemed to think that it was merely a joke but they forgot that at times young blood calls for its inning. He was elected without much trouble and served the office ac- ceptably. But in 1889 things again changed and N. M. Goodlett was elected. Mr. Goodlett was an ex-merchant who had gone out of business and who had very little thought at that time of entering politics, although he came of a family that had held high political offices. In 1892 the weather cock changed again and A. C. Hawkins was elected. He ran again 1895 and was re-elected. It was during his administration that the special charter under which the city of Evansville now works, went into effect. This was on the 3rd of March, 1893, and it was amended on the IIth of March, 1895. This charter, as amended, was the first one to make the mayor responsible for
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the administration of city affairs and he was compelled to appoint the heads of the different departments who were all responsible for their acts by him.
In 1897, after all these years of republican rule, the people clamored for a change and William M. Aiken, a splendid young man in every sense of the word, was elected by a great majority. It is but simple justice to this much loved and now departed friend, to say that he did his best to make the business of the city a business affair in all particulars. He in- troduced new means and measures and selected his assistants not with an eye to their ability to get votes, but with due regard to their business abil- ity. It is too late and a wase of time to say much about any certain ad- ministration that is past and gone, but to say that this was a distinct change from affairs as they had been in the past, is certainly telling the forcible truth.
The next mayor was Chas. G. Covert who began his career as a re- porter on the Tribune. This was his first entry into politics and without diverging from the subject, it is a fact that today he is quoted by some of the most influential men in the republican party and by this I mean men of almost national standing, as being one of the shrewdest politicians in the state of Indiana. To the writer who has known him since his boyhood, Mr. Covert is, in many respects, a wonderful character. His memory of names and little incidents is absolutely remarkable and it is a fact that today he can stand on Main street at any prominent corner and address 75 per cent of the men who pass by, by their first names, and can refer to little incidents that they supposed were long forgotten and can even go into little details about their families which they had supposed were almost unknown. Further he was a keen reader of men. A man might sit and tell him a long story about any particular political situation and Covert would agree with him on every point, looking him directly in the eye and ever and anon giving him a most approving nod. He would let this second party tell his whole story, give him a warm shake of the hand and beg him to drop in again at any time, as he would always be glad to see him, etc., etc., and then after the door was closed, turn to some friend and say, "Well, that fellow thought he was loading me up good, but he lied to me from start to finish." It was this reading of men that was almost an in- stinct with him. Adding these traits to his strong personal magnetism, his affability, his readiness to help any poor fellow who was in need and his ability to mix with any crowd, no matter of what standing, one can easily see how he has held one position after another until it seems that he will never be satisfied until he sits in the presidential chair. I for my part would not be surprised to see him there some day for I know better than a great many men his wonderful capabilities. Mr. Covert served as mayor five years and was succeeded by John W. Boehne, who was the most businesslike mayor who has ever held the chair since the days of William Baker. When Mr. Boehne made his race there were many who claimed that he could not possibly be elected, but when asked why, the ex-
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