USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume II > Part 51
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The church was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, D. D., on the third Sunday of Advent, 1887, who also preached the sermon. Rt. Rev. Bishop Rademacher, of Nashville, sang Pontifical mass on the occasion, and was attended by a goodly number of priests from far and near, who had come to rejoice with their reverend friend, upon the com- pletion of his new church. This was a day of great joy to the pastors and congregation of St Mary's church, and their sacrifices in the erection of this beautiful house of worship are worthy of the good and noble people.
St. Mary's church, St. Paul's church and St. Vincent's orphanage were built in the same year, and the Catholics of Fort Wayne, together with many of their non-Catholic friends, came to the aid of all these three great and costly institutions.
There remains the comparatively small debt of about $29,000 on the new structure, the dimensions of which are 190x72 feet. Additional ground was purchased from Michael Kelly, for a pastoral residence, the old house having been taken away to make room for the new church in its greatly increased dimensions over the old church. The boys' school building and the (male) teachers' residence were erected in 1860 and 1877, respectively, at a total cost of $12,000. The girl's school is taught by six sisters, known as the school sisters of Notre Dame, whose mother house is in Milwaukee. There are nearly 500 pupils attending the two schools attached to this church. There are 450 families in this congre- gation, and about 2,400 souls.
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Hon. Henry Monning .- In the narrative devoted to old St. Mary's: occurs the name of one who gave much of his time in aiding the pastor to gather funds toward paying the debt of the church. He gave the same earnest and disinterested services to the present rector of the- church, both as to time and means, in rearing the stately edifice that. to-day is the pride of St. Mary's congregation. Indeed, it can be truth -. fully said of Henry Monning, that he was ever interested in building up the church and parish, and to every pastor of St. Mary's he was loyal: and ready to aid him. The above sketch of St. Mary's had just been completed when the news became current through the city that Mr. Monning, who had gone to Europe three short months before, was expected to land in New York. Preparations were being made to give him a reception of welcome and a joyous entry to his home and friends. But the result was far different. The telegram announcing his arrival also announced his death, which occurred twenty-four hours after landing. To people who knew Mr. Monning it is unnecessary to say what wide- spread sorrow this information cast upon the community. We do well to chronicle the life and death of such men as Henry Monning. His example should be borne to posterity, for his life was noble; his aim and objects were pure; his faith strong; his trust in God was firm and never wavered; his abiding profession of his religious tenets made him, esteemed of men. It is but fitting that his sketch enter into the history of the congregation with which he was so long identified and whose growth and prosperity were his solicitude, his joy and his comfort. The following is from the Fort Wayne fournal :
"Mr. Monning was born at Osnabrueck, Westphalia, sixty-two years ago last April. He came to this country and located at Cincin- nati, where in 1851 he was married to the lady who survives him. In 1852 he came to Fort Wayne, and has since been identified with its best. interests, aiding not a little in its growth and contributing largely to its prosperity. His first business venture was in a soap manufactory with the late John Trentinan. He next engaged in the grocery business on the site of Mr. Fred Eckert's meat market, and later conducted a book store. He held various offices of trust, and some time in 1858 was chosen market master. He served in the council from 1863 until 1866, when he resigned to accept a nomination for county treasurer on the democratic ticket. His election followed, and he left the place of trust as becomes a good and faithful servant. He was one of the original members of the board of water-works trustees, and, after serving his. term, was appointed oil inspector for this district. He was a member of the board of water-works trustees at the time of his death. He next was chosen one of the directors of the prison north by the legislature, and occupied the place for four years, serving the last two as president of the board. He was widely known throughout the state, and exerted considerable influence in the councils of his party at home and abroad, for he was one of the democratic leaders and he always had a seat of honor at the banquets of the Iroquois club at Chicago. In the mean-
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time he had, with A. C. Trentman and his son, J. B. Monning, estab- lished the coffee and spice mill on Main street, and four years ago Mr. Trentman and he disposed of their interest to Henry Monning, jr., the youngest son of the deceased. Mr. Monning was an ardent Catholic, and was one of the founders of the St. Joseph hospital. He was always amiable, and no man stood higher in the community than Hon. Henry Monning. As husband, father and friend he was true to a fault, and about him were the traits of nobility. He has gone to his reward leav- ing a memory that will live after him for the good he has done, and such a monument is not made of marble or gold."
The press of the city, without exception, was quite pronounced in its eulogy of the subject of this sketch. An extract is herewith given from the Daily News, touching upon the funeral rites of August 2, 1889:
" Immediately following were ex-Mayor Randall, Mayor Harding and all the city officers, the council included. Then came the floral conveyance, which was literally filled with a downy bed of roses; a re- minder of the gentle manner and amiable disposition of the deceased. The last of the procession had not started when the head stopped in front of the church. The police force marched up the steps of the church and were arranged in a line on each side of the door, facing each other, and extending from the entrance of the church to the side- walk. The city council and officers were arranged in the same manner next to the policemen. The casket containing the remains was lowered from the hearse. It was almost encased in a bed of rare, richly perfumed and vari-colored roses. The pall-bearers, with their precious burden, entered the sacred precincts of the church that was the pride of the later years of Henry Monning and whose tenets he had so faithfully kept for so many years. To the sad-hearted living it was the most important period of their remembrance of a faithful disciple of the teachings of the Catholic church, and as the last remains of what was once Henry Monning were borne silently between the long ranks of respectful friends, every head was uncovered and every brow was bent in kindly reverence and respect. Spacious as is this noble edifice of public wor- ship, it was filled to overflowing in an incredibly short space of time, and many turned away on account of the lack of room."
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Another Fort Wayne daily which had devoted two columns to eulo- gizing the subject of this sketch ends as follows in its " closing tributes, to the honored life of the late Henry Monning": "The funeral of the late Henry Monning occurred yesterday morning from his home on East Wayne street and the cortege was one of the longest seen in years. The city officers were all in line doing honor to their colleague, and be- sides this there were ninety-nine carriages. At St. Mary's church the services were solemn and impressive, for the Catholic church has great regard for the dead. The rector, Rev. J. H. Oechtering, preached the funeral sermon in the German tongue. His words paid golden tribute to the life and citizenship of Mr. Monning, and tender, indeed, was the testimony he bore of his worth in Christian paths."
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The following resolutions adopted by the Fort Wayne board of un derwriters, of which Mr. Monning was a member, are deemed a fitting close to this sketch.
"Resolved, That in his death this board has lost one of its most honored and distinguished members, our city one of its most worthy and cherished citizens, and his family a kind, amiable and indulgent father and com- panion. In his several relations in life he enjoyed that respect of this community to which the excellence of his character so eminently entitled him. His simplicity of manners, his honesty of purpose, his kindness of disposition never failed to surround him, with a host of true and ardent friends in life, and left him without a single enemy in death. Inflexible integrity was one of his most prominent traits of character. In his inter- course with the world the justice, propriety and benevolence of his con- duct rendered him a model worthy of imitation. Kind and forbearing himself he had a sedulous regard to the feelings of others. His practi- cal good sense enabled him to meet any emergency with calmness and self control. The loss of such a man is not alone to relations and friends, but equally so to the city and community in which most of his active life has been spent. Thousands of our citizens feel their loss and their hearts are full of sorrow that the hand of death has laid low one of the purest and best of men.
" F. P. RANDALL, " A. H. CARRIER, " S. C. LUMBARD, " C. NEIREITER, " Committee. "C. E. GRAVES, " Secretary."
Rev. C. M. Romer, assistant priest at St. Mary's church, was born June 9, 1856, in Würtemburg. He studied classics at Einsiedeln, and philosophy at Lucerne, Switzerland. He came to America at the age of seventeen and entered St. Francis seminary, Milwaukee, for philos- ophy. He studied theology at Mt. St. Mary's seminary, Cincinnati, and was ordained for the diocese of Fort Wayne, June 21, 1879, by Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, D. D. For three years he was at St. Mary's church, Michigan City, after which time he was appointed to his present position.
Rev. J. H. Oechtering, the rector of St. Mary's church, was born December 23, 1845, in Lingen, Hanover. He visited the schools of his native city until twelve years of age, after which he spent one year at the gymnasium, a school for the higher branches of literature and sci- ence, in the same city of Lingen. In 1858 he was sent to college in Münster and remained seven years, after which he spent two years at the university in the same city. In 1867 he entered the American col- lege of Louvain, Belgium, as a candidate for the priesthood. He was ordained for the diocese of Fort Wayne, by the coadjutor archbishop of Malines, May 21, 1869. Father Oechtering came to America the same
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year, and was assigned to Elkhart, residing, however, at Mishawaka. He had charge of Elkhart one year, when he was transferred to St. Joseph's church at La Porte, where he remained ten years. July 14, ISSo, he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's church, Fort Wayne. In ISSS he was named "Immovable Rector," of the same church. During his pastorate in Fort Wayne, Father Oechtering published a pamphlet on capital and labor which attracted favorable attention throughout the United States and in Europe.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
During the winter of 1864 some thirty-five German-speaking Cath- olics gathered at the residence of the Rekers Brothers, and after some deliberation set to work in erecting a church in the west end of the city. These same Rekers Brothers had been managing a general home for orphans and aged people which was supported by private charity, county funds, and church aid, from 1847 till about 1864, when the orphan- age was opened at Rensselaer, and the St. Joseph hospital was estab- lished in the hotel property known as the Rockhill House. The institution above referred to was known as the St. Vincent's orphan asylum and the St. Joseph hospital, the same names given to the new homes in a later day. The Rekers asylum has long since made way for the ele- gant residence now occupied by A. C. Trentman.
Property for the new church was purchased adjoining the corner lot on the southeast crossing of Griffith and Jefferson streets, and a frame church erected upon it; the lot cost $1,100, and the building cost $3,700. The corner lot upon which the present brick school-house stands was secured several years later. This edifice was erected about 1870. Two lots had been bought on the northwest corner and a frame school-house erected. (These lots were sold a few years since.) Later on, the northeast corner was purchased and a commodious pastoral residence erected on the lot adjoining the corner, costing about $7,000. In 1886 the new church, which graces the northeast corner at the intersec- tion of Griffith and Jefferson streets, was begun and the corner stone was laid the same year by Rt. Rev. Bishop Rademacher, of Nashville, and dedicated. The church was dedicated on the first Sunday of No- vember, 1887, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Dwenger. The cost of the church is about $30,000. There is some debt upon the building, which in the course of a few years will be completely liquidated. St. Paul's numbers 152 families. The schools are taught by one man, and two sisters of the community of Poor Handmaids. There are about 200 children attending the schools. The congregation is composed of a thrifty and prosperous class of people.
Rev. E. Koenig, the pastor of St. Paul's church, was born in Westpha- lia, September 1, 1827. He graduated in theology in the seminary at Münster and was ordained to the priesthood in 1852, by Rt. Rev. Fran- cis Drepper, D. D., Bishop of Paderborn. After serving in a parish a
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short while he was appointed chaplain of an asylum for insane people, where he labored for ten years. He came to Fort Wayne in Decem- ber, 1865, was appointed pastor of St. Paul's congregation, where he still labors with energy and zeal. Mention of Father Koenig's name occurs in the sketch devoted to the St. Joseph hospital of this city.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
In 1872 a few dozen families living in the southeast part of Fort Wayne, most of whom had worshiped in St. Mary's church, formed themselves into a congregation. They began the erection of a large brick structure, divided into two stories. On the lower floors are four commodious school-rooms, whilst the second floor serves as a house of worship. The corner stone was laid in the spring and the church was dedicated December 29, 1872, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Dwenger. The ap- proximate cost of the building was $8,000. Rev. J. Wemhoff was appointed pastor of the new church, which he faithfully served for eight years, until the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1880. The schools were opened in 1873. Eight years afterward sisters from Milwaukee were secured to teach. They belong to a community known as "School Sisters of Notre Dame." They have at present writing 275 pupils in the schools attached to St. Peter's church. In 1882 the con- gregation purchased a house and three additional lots for a pastoral res- idence. The property belonging to this church is known as "St. Peter's Square." It runs from Warsaw street west to Hanna, containing the entire strip between DeWald and Martin streets. I ISS7 a two-story brick building was erected for a sister's residence. The entire property is without any incumbrance, and there is a good amount of cash on hand as the beginning of a building fund toward the erection of a new church which will probably be commenced in the near future.
The present pastor, Rev. A. Messman, is the successor of the lamented Father Wemhoff. Father Messman came to America from northern Germany, when a boy, and located at Cincinnati. After some years he began his studies for the priesthood. He graduated at Mt. St. Mary's seminary, Cincinnati, and was ordained priest for the diocese of Fort Wayne by Rt. Rev. Bishop Luers. Immediately after his or- dination, which took place Jannary 6th, 1870, he was appointed first resident pastor of Kentland, Newton county, Ind. He remained there . until called to his present pastorate, in December, 1880.
Rt. Rev. Julian Benoit, Vicar General, was born in France, in the year 1808. Having completed his studies he received deacon's orders. Being too young to receive the order of priesthood, he accepted a posi- tion as private tutor, and wrote for a journal in the city of Lyons. He came to America for the diocese of Vincennes in June, 1836, remained a short while at St. Mary's seminary, Baltimore, and was ordained in 1837. After laboring three years in southern Indiana, excepting a short period of which he spent in Chicago, Ill., he came to Fort Wayne in
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1840. Father Benoit secured valuable church property while here; he also brought the sisters of Providence to open schools as early as 1845. He made some purchases of real estate which in the course of time, showed that his prudence was well directed. He acquired quite a little wealth in this manner during his lifetime, but he carefully distributed every dollar among charitable and educational institutions, so that shortly before his death he had not enough left to buy a cheap coffin. Father Benoit visited Europe in 1841. In 1848 he accompanied the Indians from Allen county to their new government reservation in Missouri.
RT. REV. JULIAN BENOIT, First Vicar General of the Diocese of Fort Wayne.
When the diocese of Fort Wayne was established in 1857, Rev. Julian Benoit was appointed his vicar general by the new bishop, Rt. Rev. J. H. Luers, D. D. In 1865 he again visited Europe, and was absent thirteen months, four and a half of which he spent in Rome; and in 1874 he visited Europe as a member of the First American pilgrim- age. He attended the four provincial councils of Cincinnati. In 1866 he accompanied Bishop Luers to the Second National council of Balti- more. After the death of Bishop Luers, until the appointment of Bishop Dwenger, he was administrator of the diocese, and upon the arrival of the new bishop, he was again appointed vicar general. In June, 1883, Father Benoit was named by Pope Leo XIII. to the office of
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Papal Prelate, giving him the purple and the title of Monseigneur. His labors among the early settlers, the Indians and the white people, his persevering attention to the scattered missions for miles and miles, riding horseback as far as Columbia City and Warsaw, to South Bend, to LaGro and Wabash, to Decatur, to the French settlements, in Noble county, to the south again as far as Muncie, and his constant care for those near at home, are placed to his credit as to a faithful and heroic servant of God and of the people. He was esteemed and beloved by citizens of all denominations. He took great interest also in building up the young and growing village in which he had made his home. He was a man of wonderful benevolence, and his charity to the needy was one of his characteristic and predominant features. He was greatly esteemed by his fellow citizens as appears from the following extract from a tribute that appeared in the Fort Wayne Sentinel, following his death, which occurred December 26, 1886:
" Monseigneur Benoit died last night at 8:15 at the Episcopal residence. This simple announcement will moisten the eyes of thousands and grieve a legion of hearts attached to the venerable prelate by all the ties that are good, noble, holy and true. Coming here when Fort Wayne was in its infancy, the people grew up with and about this priest to love and revere him. . To the poor Indians he was priest, counsellor and friend. He taught them the way of the righteous, guarded them against the wily " traders," and watched over them with a fatherly care. It is not to be wondered at that he softened their savage hearts and enjoyed their devotion, for he knew not deceit. The Protestants esteemed Father Julian for his rare virtues, Christian fortitude and princely char- acteristics. So ardent was their admiration that his every effort met with their warmest approval and received their most substantial assist- ance for they knew his energies and that every moment of his life would be devoted to the glory of God and the best interests of mankind. In his own church he was honored and renowned. No pen can describe the degree of affection between him and his flock, neither can time efface it, for it will go down from generation to generation as a rare jewel that brightens and beatifies with age. Among the clergy and ecclesiastics of the church of Rome, Father Benoit was venerated for his virtues, extolled for his grand work and elevated for his learning. In the pulpit he was earnest, sensible and brilliant. At the vatican he was listened to with respect and honored for his manly conduct. In his death Fort Wayne loses one of its founders, as well as one of its greatest and grandest citizens. When this city had no inviting prospects Father Benoit was the nucleus about which the pioneers and substantial people gathered. He encour- aged every one to build up the city and led the work himself by erect- ing the most magnificent church edifice in the west. All through his life Monseigneur Benoit enjoyed the best of health and Almighty God seemed to especially bless him for the holy work of his long clerical career. A few months ago symptoms of cancer manifested themselves and the disease increased in severity until pyæmia added its deadly fangs
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to its fatal predecessor. Up to within the past few days his mind was clear and his faculties retained their vigor, but as the blood poison per- meated the system his reason flitted on its throne. Only one endowed with indomitable will power and almost superhuman nerve could have battled so long against disease in so malignant a form."
Rt. Rev. J. H. Luers, first bishop of Fort Wayne, was born near Munster, Germany, September 29th, 1819. He came to the United States with his parents in 1833, and settled near Minster, Ohio, and shortly afterward engaged as clerk in a store in Piqua. Incidentally meeting with Bishop Purcell, the young clerk made known to him his desire of entering the priesthood and was accepted as a student for the diocese of Cincinnati. He completed his studies at the seminary of St. Francis Xavier, in Brown county, Ohio, and was ordained a priest in 1846. The young clergyman was stationed at St. Joseph's church, Cin- cinnati, where he completed the half-finished church edifice and erected a substantial school-house. When, in 1857, the See of Fort Wayne was established, Rev. J. H. Luers was chosen the first bishop, and was con- secrated January roth, 1858. In a day or two afterward Bishop Luers departed for his new home; he lost no time in taking possession of his See, and in commencing the arduous work before him. He gave his early attention to the erection of a cathedral, for which Rev. Julian Benoit had already matured the plans, and in the spring of 1859, the present metropolitan church was begun. Bishop Luers attended the provincial councils of Cincinnati and the second plenary council of Bal- timore. He was excused by the pope from attending the ŒEcumenical council held in the Eternal city. In the year 1866 the bishop intended to erect an orphan asylum on a piece of land in the suburbs of Fort Wayne, but delays occurred. In the meantime he learned of a large tract of land, 933 acres, in Jasper county, known as the Spitler farm, which he bought for $18,000. There was a frame house upon it which served as an orphan asylum for a number of years. In the visitations of his diocese, and in the labors among his flock, Bishop Luers was untiring. He visited town and village to instruct the people, administer confirmation, dedicate new churches and establish new parishes and schools. The bishop was noted for his charity to the poor, and to the orphans he was a kind and provident father. In June, 1871, Rt. Rev. Bishop Luers, went to Cleveland to administer holy orders. When his task had been completed he started for the railway station, but had scarcely turned away when he fell upon the sidewalk, a victim to apoplexy. He was carried back to the house and expired twenty minutes afterward. The Bishop's remains were carried to Fort Wayne in a funeral train draped in mourning, escorted by clergymen and laymen from both dioceses; other delegations joined the sad cortege at various points along the way, and on arriving at Fort Wayne, every honor which veneration, love, and religion could suggest, was paid to his memory. His funeral took place in the cathedral of Fort Wayne, July 4, 1871, and was attended by Archbishop Purcell, Bishops De St.
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Palais, O'Hara, McCloskey, Toebbe, and Borgess, and a large delega- tion of clergy and laity. His remains were deposited in a vault under the cathedral sanctuary. The age of Bishop Luers was fifty-one years and nine months.
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