USA > Kansas > Atchison County > History of Atchison County, Kansas > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
The following served as presiding elders during the past thirty-four years : John Wuerth, Henry Mattill, J. F. Schreiber, Albert Brunner, C. F. Erffmeyer, W. F. Wothensen and C. F. Iwig. The Evangelical Association
254
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
was organized as a denomination in 1800, with Jacob Allbright as its founder.
Originally, the language used was German, but in the past half cen- tury the German language was rapidly superseded by the English language. At this time there are very few congregations in the denomination that wor- ship in the German language exclusively. The services in the Evangelical church in this city for the past few years are conducted in English.
This society maintains a well organized Sunday school, with weekly sessions every Sunday at 10 o'clock a. m. G. W. Bradley is superintendent ; a Young People's Alliance, E. B. Breithaupt, president, and a Woman's Missionary Society, Mrs. Samuel Breithaupt, president. This organization maintains free pews and extends an invitation to strangers when in the city to worship with them.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL ZION CHURCH.
In the summer of 1893 a number of men, among them Rev. Nestel, of St. Joseph, Mo., who had received a special invitation, met at the home of August Manglesdorf, Sr., and organized a German Evangelical congregation. It was decided to have services in Odd Fellows hall. Rev. Nestel came over from St. Joe from time to time and conducted the services. In January, 1894. Rev. C. Stork, of Concordia, Mo., took charge of the congregation as their first own pastor. In 1894 two lots of land, at the northwest corner of Ninth and Santa Fe streets, were bought, upon which the church was built. In 1895 the congregation became a member of the German Evangelical Synod of North America. In the same year the parsonage was erected, and in. 1908 a school building was added to the church. Besides Rev. Stork, the following ministers served the congregation: H. Limper, 1897 to 1901; C. Bechtold, 1901 to 1905; P. Stoerker, from 1905 to 1909, and Emil Vogt, the present pastor. Besides the annual donations for their own church, the members have spent $2,000 for home and foreign missions. The church has a Sun- day school, a teachers' training course, a choir, a Young People's Society, and a Ladies' Aid Society.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST.
Mrs. Henrietta E. Graybill, of Milwaukee, might properly be called the founder of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Atchison. She was the original first reader when she came to Atchison from Kansas City in 1894.
255
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
In March, 1895, she began a class in instruction at the Byram Hotel. This was the beginning of the local church. On September 7, 1895, the followers met in temporary quarters in the Ingalls' building, at Seventh and Com- mercial streets, seven being present. The church was organized April 9, 1895, with seven charter members. The first testimonial meeting was held January 3, 1896, and January 15, 1896, the first Sunday school was organ- ized, with seven children in attendance. Before the end of 1896 the church was moved to more commodious quarters, at the southeast corner of Fourth and Commercial streets. These quarters were soon outgrown, and in March,
First Church of Christ Scientist , Atchison, Kan.
1897, the German Methodist church at Ninth and Santa Fe streets was pur- chased and the first services held there were on July 4, 1897. This church was dedicated in April, 1900, by Mrs. G. W. Pennell, who had become first reader, and from the start had been a constant and enthusiastic worker. Ten years later, March 28, 1910, lots at the northwest corner of Fourth and Santa Fe streets were purchased, as a site for the permanent church. Land was secured and the foundation started September II, 1911; corner stone
256
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
was laid July 7, 1912, and first services held in the Sunday school room May 25, 1913. First services were held in the auditorium September 7, 1913, and the church dedicated October 19, 1913. Among the permanent members of the church are Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Pennell, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Orr, L. H. Munson, Miss N. S. Donald and Miss Emma Maage, the first reader, and D. W. Rowe.
The present church edifice was erected largely through the liberality of Mr. Pennell, at a cost of $50,000, and is pronounced an architectural gem.
ST. PATRICK'S, MT. PLEASANT.
St. Patrick's congregation, near Mt. Pleasant, was founded in the early fall of 1857, by the Rev. Father Augustine Wirth, O. S. B. He came from Doniphan, Kan., over the prairies and through dense timber on foot, not hav- ing the means to buy a horse or secure any kind of a conveyance, in the sum- mer of 1857. The Benedictine Fathers had been sent west by an American founder, Rt. Rev. Boniface Wimmer, O. S. B., to establish a priory in the eastern part of Kansas. They settled in the hills of Doniphan, and from this county they founded and attended missions in Atchison, Brown, Nemaha and Jefferson counties. Among the first parishes established by these priests was one near Mt. Pleasant. Mt. Pleasant at that time was quite a commercial center, owing largely to the overland freighting outfits that passed through there on their way to Denver and the Pacific coast. Patrick Durkin, who is a resident of Walnut township in 1916, and the late John Delaney were teamsters on this route, and had many interesting experiences and struggles with Indians and Jayhawkers. Following the first visit of Father Augustine, after he had told the few Catholic settlers how he had traveled on foot from Doniphan, a small congregation collected enough money to pay for a horse, saddle and bridle, and presented it to him.
Father Augustine attended to the spiritual demands of the early Cath- olic settlers in the Mt. Pleasant district about once a month during the period of his services there. There was no church edifice during that period, and divine services were held in the humble log cabins of the Catholic settlers, usually at the homes of John Knowles, Owen Grady, Ned Cotter, Bernard Lee and James McArdle. Mary Honorah Clare was the first child bap- tized at St. Patrick's parish, September 28, 1857. The first marriage was that of James Barry to Catherine Hennesy, May 9, 1857, at the home of Ed- ward Cotter. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. Augustine Wirth. In
257
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
the fall of 1857 the first church was built, which was a small affair, con- structed out of native timber. It was poorly constructed and was of short duration, as it was blown down by a strong wind one cold winter day, and wrecked beyond repair. Following the destruction of the first church, the members concluded to build a more substantial edifice of stone, and in the spring of 1866 the walls were built. The stone work was done by the late Nicholas Greiner, a German stone mason, who came to Summer in the late fifties, and subsequently died, one of the wealthiest farmers of Walnut town- ship. The church was dedicated December 8, 1866.
In addition to the church proper, the Catholic settlers of Walnut town- ship, near Mt. Pleasant, have also erected a commodious parish house for their priest, and a hall for public meetings.
The following is a list of the priests in charge of St. Patrick's Church since it was established :
Irregular pastors .- Rev. Augustine Wirth, O. S. B., September, 1857, to November, 1859; died, December 20, 1901. Rev. Edmund Langenfelder, O. S. B., November, 1857. to December, 1860; died, April 18, 1885. Rev. Philip Vogt, O. S. B., February, 1860, to January, 1861 ; date of death not known. Rev. Emanuel Hartig, O. S. B., December, 1860, to June, 1861 ; died, September 1, 1910. Rev. Thomas Bartel, O. S. B., April, 1862, to August, 1867; died, November 30, 1885.
Regular pastors .- Rev. Timothy Luber, O. S. B., January, 1864, to March, 1871. Rev. Placidus Mckeever, O. S. B., March, 1871, to August, 1873; died, September 22, 1896. Rev. Maurice Lynch, O. S. B., August, 1873. to August, 1875; died, December 13, 1887. Rev. Eugene Bode, O. S. B., August, 1875, to April. 1880. Rev. Raymond Danial, O. S. B., April. 1880, to September, 1880; died, September 25, 1910. Rev. Peter Kassens, O. S B., September, 1880, to April, 1881. Rev. Adolph Wesseling, O. S. B., April, 1881; to April, 1883 ; died, September 24, 1891. Rev. Urban Tracy, O. S. B., April, 1883, to April, 1885; died, May 13, 1915. Rev. Timothy Luber, O. S. B., April, 1885, to April, 1890; died, March 29, 1901. Rev. Augustine Baker, O. S. B., April, 1890, to December, 1893 ; died, June 23, 1909. Rev. Thomas Burk, O. S. B., December, 1893, to December, 1897. Rev. Columban Meaney, O. S. B., December, 1897. to December, 1910; died. January 8, 1911. Rev. Ignatius Stein, O. S. B., January, 1911, to September, 1912. Rev. Lawrence Theis, O. S. B., September, 1912, to September, 1913 Rev. Robert Salmon, O. S. B., September, 1913, to September, 1914. Rev Lawrence Theis, O. S. B., September, 1914; still in charge (1916).
17
258
ILISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
TRINITY CHURCH, EPISCOPAL.
This church was organized November 3, 1857, as St. Mary Magdalene's Church, by Rev. Lewis R. Staudenmayer, John H. Stringfellow, Joseph P. Carr, G. W. Bowman, William O. Gould, John M. Maury, James W. String- fellow and Daniel Adams. The Rev. L. R. Staudenmayer, a German, of middle age, was the first pastor, and the first property owned by the parish was at the northeast corner of Kansas avenue and Ninth street, where a small rectory was built in 1859. The first vestry was as follows: Richard C. Mackall, A. Hanson Weightman, James L. McClure, Philipp Link, John M. Maury and Joseph P. Carr, and in October, 1859, a committee from the vestry was authorized to procure estimates for building a church on its prop- erty upon Kansas avenue at a cost of $1.500. The foundation for this edi- fice was laid and some money expended, but the resignation of Mr. Stauden- mayer in January, 1860, and his removal from the city, brought to a stand- still the construction of the edifice. The court house and Price's Hall were used as places of worship for ten years. The Rev. Faber Byllsby succeeded Ar. Staudenmayer, and in 1863 the Rev. John E. Ryan succeeded Mr. Bylls- by. After Mr. Ryan's resignation, in September, 1864, Bishop Thomas H. Vail was made rector of the church, and notwithstanding the manifold duties which pressed upon him as bishop of the diocese, he gave much of his time to his work here, with the assistance of his son-in-law, Rev. John Bakewell. who proved to be a very successful rector. It was during his rectorship that agitation for a new church building was started, and due to the efforts of Mr. Bakewell, Col. William Osborne, Richard A. Park, Judge Otis and E. S. Wills, the present church edifice at the corner of Utah avenue and Fifth street was erected, at a cost of $20,000. It is built of stone, in the carly Eng- lish style of Gothic architecture, slate roof and interior finished in black walnut and pine, and stands today one of the ornaments of Atchison. In 1871 Mr. Bakewell resigned and was succeeded by Rev. P. Nelson Meade in January, 1872, and continued in charge until April, 1874, when he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Thomas G. Garver, who resigned in September, 1875. Rev. Frank O. Osborne became rector in February, 1876, and was succeeded by Rev. Abiel Leonard. Rev. M. Leonard found a congregation of 150 com- municants, who in May, 1882, erected a two-story brick rectory on T street for him. It was during the Rev. Mr. Leonard's rectorship that St. Andrew's Mission, on west Commercial street, was built. Mr. Leonard was succeeded by the Rev. Francis K. Brooke, who in turn was succeeded by the Rev. John
259
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
Henry Hopkins, who built a parish house adjoining the church, winch was opened for use in 1905. Upon the resignation of Mr. Hopkins, Rev. John E. Sulger became rector, but he remained only a short time, and was suc- ceeded by the Rev. John Henry Molineux. Rev. William R. Cross suc- ceeded Mr. Molineux, and then came the Rev. Francis S. White, who re- mained in the parish until 1911, and was succeeded by the Rev. Otis E. Gray.
The present vestry of the church is composed as follows: E. A. Mize, senior warden; Dr. W. G. Beitzel, junior warden and clerk, and W. W. Hetherington, T. L. Lawrence, Clyde Hastings, J. W. Barlow, W. J. Brown- son, Henry Diegel and Sheffield Ingalls.
ST. MARK'S ENGLISH LUTHERAN.
The history of English Lutheranism in Atchison is interesting. The work of establishing St. Mark's was fraught with hardship and discourage- ment. Several of the early efforts failed. But the battle was renewed and success at last achieved. Early in 1867 J. H. Talbott, through the Lutheran Observer, called attention to Atchison as a point for a Lutheran mission. By correspondence he secured the interest of Rev. Morris Officer, then secretary of the general synod's home mission board. At the convention of the gen- eral synod at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1868, the Rev. Officer persuaded the Rev. M. G. Boyer, then pastor at Marklesburg, Pa., to become a missionary to Atchison. Rev. Boyer and his young wife arrived here June 30, that year. Price's Hall, South Fourth street, between Main and Commercial, was rented and fitted up as a meeting place. Services were begun and a Sunday school organized. On September 20, 1868, the congregation was organized with twenty-five members. The first church council consisted of C. Weber and H. Gehrett, elders: J. H. Talbott, J. Beamer, H. Snyder and F. Brendt, cleacons.
In the spring' of 1869 the board of church extension granted the con- gregation a loan of $500, which amount was invested in the purchase of an excellent lot on Kansas avenue. There were bright hopes of having a chapel soon, but these hopes were scattered when an aged minister advised delay on account of the financial stringency of the times, and the numerical weak- ness of the church. Among the members at this time was the Rev. A. W. Wagnalls, afterward one of the founders of the publishing house of Funk & Wagnalls, New York City. While here he was in the real estate business. At his suggestion the congregation purchased a fifteen acre tract adjoining
260
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
the city of Atchison on the northwest, which section was platted and offered for sale with the hope of making enough profit to erect a church building. "In this the Lutherans were disappointed," says the historian, "for they sold only enough lots to pay for the land."
After that venture the congregation used the Congregational church building. About that time many English Lutherans left the city. Rev. Boyer resigned at the end of the year 1869, and for ten years the church was without a pastor. The Rev. Wagnalls supplied the pulpit now and then until his removal in 1876, but finally the congregation disbanded. The lots belong- ing to the church were sold for taxes, but were redeemed at the eleventh hour through Mr. Talbott's efforts, and deeded to the board of church extension.
In 1880 the Rev. W. I. Cutter, a returned missionary to India, with the assistance of Rev. David Earhart and his daughter, Mrs. H. E. Monroe, gathered the English Lutherans together again. Mrs. Monroe was then con- ducting a private school known as the "Atchison Institute," and she offered her school room as a place of worship. On the eighth of August the congre- gation was re-organized and the following officers elected: Elders, J. H. Berlin, W. H. Kuhns and N. D. Kistler; deacons, J. L. Heisey, E. D. Kistler, and John Fusselman; trustees, J. H. Talbott, W. H. Smith and S. J. Clark. Rev. Cutter served as pastor two years. During part of this time aid was received from the Home Mission Board. In 1882 this aid was withdrawn and Rev. Cutter resigned.
Not until 1884 did the second organization flourish. In November of that year the Rev. George S. Diven was commissioned to come to Atchison and revive the mission. New interest was taken and the rejuvenated con- gregation held its first service in the home of Henry Snell at 921 South Sev- enth street. The Odd Fellows' hall was then secured as a place of worship and a Sunday school was organized. Under the leadership of Pastor Diven this school is said to have quickly become the largest in the city. That year the pastor reported sixty members.
Atchison's boom season occurred during Rev. Diven's pastorate, and everything was rushed along at a tremendous pace. The movement for a Lutheran college for Atchison started at this time. The location of Midland College here was largely due to the efforts of Rev. Diven and his congrega- tion, supported by the public spirited citizens of the city. In February, 1885, the church was incorporated as St. Mark's English Lutheran Church. Rev. Diven resigned in 1887 and was succeeded by the Rev. W. F. Rentz, in April,
261
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
1888. Rev. Rentz set to work at once to secure a lot and erect a church building. The present location, corner of Sixth and Park streets, was pur- chased for $5,000. The southern end of the lot with the dwelling on it (now the Keith home), was sold to the pastor for $1.750. The chapel (now the Sunday school room) was erected in 1888, the cornerstone being laid August 19, and the church dedicated December 16. The building and equipment cost $4,010. Pastor Rentz served nine years, resigning in May, 1897.
The Rev. L. S. Keyser, now professor of dogmatics in Hamma Divinity School, Wittenberg College, became pastor November 7, 1897, and served most acceptably until April 7, 1903. During his pastorate the church became self-supporting, after receiving aid for fifteen years from the Home Mission Board. The Rev: R. W. Hufford, D. D., served as pastor from January 9, 1904, to November 27, 1904. After a vacancy of nine months the Rev. A. E. Renn became pastor August 18, 1905.
The outstanding achievement of Rev. Renn's pastorate was the erection of the present church building. The movement began October 21, 1907. Plans were adopted March 17, 1908, and the building committee ordered to proceed. The cornerstone was laid during the summer following. The building was erected under the supervision of A. B. Zimmerman, contractor, and cost, including organ and furnishings, about $14,000, a marvel of church financing. The opening service was held May 23, 1909, and marked an epoch in Kansas Lutheranism. During this pastorate the congregation adopted the historic Lutheran vestments for pastor and choir, and advanced in churchly worship. Rev. Renn resigned September 1, 191I.
The Rev. Howard C. Garvic was installed pastor the first Sunday in March, 1912. No pastor of St. Mark's surpassed him in zeal and energy for the upbuilding of the Lord's kingdom. Day and night he labored in per- sonal appeal and in teaching classes of adults and children. In a little more than two years 175 names were added to the church roll, constituting the largest growth of any pastorate. The death of the pastor in the prime of manhood in March, 1915, produced a profound impression upon St. Mark's and the city of Atchison. The Rev. Robert L. Patterson, D. D., became pastor October 17, 1915.
ST. BENEDICT'S ABBEY.
St. Benedict's Abbey, church and college, are conducted by the Bene- dictine Fathers. The first Benedictine father that came to Kansas was Henry Lemke, O. S. B., who arrived in Doniphan in 1855, where he laid the founda-
262
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
tion of a monastery. He was shortly followed to Kansas by a number of brother workers, who were sent here by Father Boniface Wimmer. O. S. B .. who founded the monastery of St. Vincent's, in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania. They immediately opened a Latin school with a few pupils, but Very Rev. Augustine Wirth, O. S. B., soon discovered that Atchison would surpass Doniphan, and on this account the Catholic brothers transferred their home to Atchison in about 1859. The Rev. Augustine Wirth, O. S. B., came to .Atchison from Doniphan once a month to hold religious services, which were conducted in the home of Charles Burnes, located on the southwest cor- ner of Second and L streets. The following year Father Augustine built a frame parish church in which services were held for the first time on Christmas day. In this rude structure the faithful worshipped until about 1865. when the parish, having increased to such number, it became necessary to build a larger church. Under the aggressive leadership of Father Augus- tine, the parishioners conchided to invest in this structure $25,000. Francis George Himpler, now living in New York, and for many years a partner of the late J. P. Brown, was employed as architect. The work was pushed for- ward and instead of the proposed church, a magnificent Basilica was con- ceived. and the construction of it was carried forward with great earnestness. The foundation was completed in 1866, and the cornerstone was laid in October. The Rev. John Hennessy. O. S. B., who later was archbishop of Dubuque, and one of the most eloquent orators of the church, delivered the dedication sermon. To obtain brick for the church walls, Father Augustine bought expensive machinery. and. under the supervision of the late Peter Bless, started a brickyard in East Atchison, but the undertaking proved a failure, as the bricks were not servicable for the church. Instead of using them in the construction of the church they were used to build several cot- tages and store buildings in the immediate neighborhood and, later on, when suitable bricks were obtained, the work on the church was continued, and by the summer of 1868 the walls were finished to the window sills.
Father Augustine resigned June 18. 1868, and went to Minnesota, and subsequently died while pastor at Melrose in that State. December 19, 1901, at the age of seventy-three years. He was succeeded by the Very Rev. Louis Mary Fink, O. S. B., July. 1868, and it was during his pastorate that the church was solemnly dedicated Trinity Sunday, 1860, but it was not completed at that time. and, in fact was not completed for many years there- after. The church is built in Roman style and is 152 feet long and fifty- six feet wide. Father Louis was succeeded by the Very Rev. Giles Christoph.
263
HISTORY OF VICHESUS UNESTY
1
St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Kan.
O. S. B., who was appointed prior in July, 1871. In January. 1875. Very Rev. Ouswald Moosemueller, O. S. B., became prior. Under his direction the church flourished and he is particularly remembered for his exertions in founding and building up a good library for the church and school. The members of the church had grown sufficiently large, so that the priory was promoted to an abbey April 7. 1877, and on September 29 of that year Rev. Innocent Wolf, O. S. B., was elected abbot. and still retains his place ( 1916). loved by all. Rev. Innocent Wolf's election as abbot was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies, and the Very Rev. Boniface Verheyen, O. S. B., was appointed pastor, and at that time the status of the house was as follows: Rt. Rev. Innocent Wolf. O. S. B., abbot: Very Rev. Boniface Verheyen. (). S. B., prior : Very Rev. Pirmin Kaumly, O. S. B., prior of St. Benedict's ; Rev. Augustine Wirth, O. S. B., Emanuel Horlig. O. S. B., Rev. Timothy Luber. O. S. B., Rev. Peter Kassens, O. S. B., Rev. Eugene Bode, O. S. B .. Rev. Adolph Wesseling. O. S. B., Rev. Ferdinand Wolf. O. S. B., Rev. Win- fried Schmidt, O. S. B., Rev. John Stop ler, O. S. B., and Rev. Matthew
264
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
Rt. Rev. Innocent Wolf, O. S. B., President St. Benedict's College, Atchison, Kan.
Bradley, O. S. B. Besides these there were four priests from St. Vincent's, Pa., who acted as assistants, whose names were Rev. Ambrose Huebner, O. S. B., Rev. Casimir Elsesser, O. S. B., Rev. Theodore Schmitt, O. S. B., and Rev. Anslem Soehuler, O. S. B. There were seven clerics, ten lay brothers, five candidates and ten scholastics. Rev. Charles Stoekle, O. S. B., succeeded Father Adolph as pastor of St. Benedict's Church in 1890, and remained pas- tor until 1898, when he was succeeded by Rev. Longinus New. O. S. B., who
265
HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
was one of the most beloved and active pastors of the church. He was a priest burning with zeal and he delighted in preaching. He was a powerful speaker, and his sermons were always well prepared and written out. He had a strong voice ; used plain and simple language, and spoke with such zeal and sincerity that he left a lasting impression on all of his hearers. His health failed him. however, and he was compelled to seek a southern climate, and died in a hos- pital at Birmingham, Ala., March 2, 1899, aged fifty-three years, and in the twenty-eighth year of his priesthood. He was succeeded by Rev. Girard Heinz, O. S. B., who was appointed to take his place January 1, 1899. and Father Girard remains the pastor of the church in 1916.
FIRST GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.