History of Nemaha County, Kansas, Part 30

Author: Tennal, Ralph 1872-
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Lawrence, Kan., Standard Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 964

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Sick and worn out by his many and long missionary labors, good old Father Thomas, as he is still called by the old residents, retired to his monastery at Atchison, where he died November 30, 1885, at the age of fifty-five years.

The time had now come for a more rapid and more systematic de- velopment of the parish. The merit of unifying and organizing the many forces that had been created by long and hard work belongs to Rev. Suitbert Demarteu, O. S. B., who resided at Seneca from August, 1885,

STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH, SENECA, KANS.

to April, 1892. It was during the early part of his stay that the main portion of the present church was built, a grand structure for that time. which was a sign of unshaken confidence, both on the part of the people and the priest, in the great future of Sts. Peter and Paul's parish. When the church was completed, the small residence, consisting of two rooms, was moved to the north of it, and there served, for some years, both as sacristy and as residence, until a suitable dwelling was built in 1890.

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Father Suitbert was a man of strong character and great energy. He, more than any other priest before or after him, impressed his personality upon this flourishing community.

As the thunderstorm, with its refreshing rain, must be followed by the warm rays of the sun to make the crops grow and ripen, so the en- ergetic Father Suitbert was followed by the quiet and gentle Rev. Pri- mine Koumly, O. S. B., who, from the summer of 1892 until the fall of 1895, ruled the parish and enjoyed the fruits of his earlier work at Seneca. An ailment, which was due to a sick call on a cold night, whilst he was himself sick with influenza, developed to such proportions that he had to retire to his monastery. Though his health was never completely re- stored, he lived until July 27, 1904, a very active member of his com- munity to the last ..

Rev. Boniface Verheyen, O. S. B., was the successor of Father Pir- mine, from October, 1895, to midsummer, 1898. It was during his time, in May, 1896, that the cyclone struck Seneca. The church was severely damaged by the storm, but none of the other church property suffered. The loss was repaired at once, and in the year 1897, the congregation had sufficiently recovered to undertake the building of a new school. The foundation for the new school house had been laid in 1895, but, on account of the cyclone, its completion was delayed for one year. Father Boniface intended to build a school that would be large enough for all future times, and many a one, at the time, thought that the proportions of the building were extravagant. Of late years, however, it has often been regretted that the school was not built larger at that time.

Father Boniface was recalled as professor to the college at Atchison in the summer of 1898, and, after an interval of four months, during which the Rev. Winfrid Schmitt, O. S. B., was pastor, the Rev. Charles Stoeckle, O. S. B., succeeded him. The church had now become too small to hold the congregation, and Father Charles added the sanctuary, thus gaining a considerable amount of space. Father Charles was also the moving force in establishing the new parish at Kelly, thus creating an outlet for the overflow for which there was not sufficient room within the confines of the Seneca and the St. Benedict parishes. Father Charles, though always looking healthy and robust, had long been ailing. He finally submitted to an operation, which brought about his death on April 14, 1903. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Burke, O. S. B., who presided over the parish for three years. During Father Thomas' time the school made great progress, as he strained every nerve to make it accessible for every Catholic child.

In August, 1906, Father Thomas was succeeded by the Rev. Law- rence Theis, O. S. B., who came at the time when it had become neces- sary to put the finishing touch to the parish. Until this time, the second story of the school house had served as a hall for the different entertain- ments. Through Father Thomas' activity an enlargement of the school became an absolute necessity. Hence, the former hall space was par-

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titioned off into four school rooms, thus providing each grade with its own room. This caused an increase in the number of teachers, so that the old dwelling of the sisters had to be replaced by a new and modern building, which was erected in 1907. The want of an entertainment hall was soon felt and the opinion gradually prevailed that a parish like Seneca could not well thrive without an adequate place for lawful recrea'- tion. The auditorium was built in 1909 and 1910. It is a stately struc- ture and affords ample opportunity for dramatic performances and dif- ferent kinds of amusements for young and old. An addition was also built to the pastor's residence in the year 1909. The work and worry connected with the erection of these buildings nearly proved too much of a strain for Father Lawrence's nerves. His pastorship had to be in- terrupted by a rest of eight months, from January to September, 1910. After his return to the parish, Father Lawrence stayed for two more years, completing the different kinds of work which he had begun. But his failing health made it imperative in the summer of 1912 to relieve him of the heavy burden. He is now pastor of a smaller parish in At- chison county.

Father Lawrence was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Sittenauer, O. S. B. Since the parish now possesses all the necessary buildings, the task as pastor will henceforth be comparatively easy, although even the upkeeping of these buildings requires a great amount of care and watch- fulness. The ease, however, is only a comparative one. Priests who exercise the care of souls in a large parish, with a numerous school an- nexed, have no idle moments.

ST. BEDE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, KELLY.

The Kelly parish was organized in the fall of 1901, by Rev. Charles Stoeckle, O. S. B., then pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church at Seneca, and Alois Nolte, of the Seneca parish. The site for the first church was selected and the foundation laid. Rev. Father Edwin Kassens, O. S. B., of St. Benedict's College of Atchison, was appointed parish priest the following spring and held his first services on Sunday, March 16, 1902. The services were held in the district school building. Services in the school building continued until July 20, 1902, when the frame church building was completed. The original building was 24x52 feet. The first services were held in the new church August 3, 1902, and the organ from the school building was borrowed for the service. The new church was dedicated August 27, 1902, by the Rt. Rev. L. M. Fink, D.D., then bishop of the Leavenworth diocese, now deceased, assisted by Rev. P. Boniface Verheyen, O. S. B., of Atchison, and Rev. P. Charles, O. S. B., of Seneca ; Rev. Anthony Baar, O. S. B., of St. Mary's parish, at St. Benedict's, and Rev. Father Edwin, O. S. B., the parish pastor.

In the fall of 1903, the parochial school was completed and the first term began September 18, 1903, with an enrollment of twenty-seven boys

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and fourteen girls. In August, 1905, another room was added to the school, and living rooms for the parish teachers. At the present term of St. Bede's parochial school there are sixty-one boys and forty-one girls enrolled.

Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Lillis, D.D., then bishop of Leavenworth, now

ST. BEDE'S CHURCH, KELLY, KANS.

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of Kansas City, confirmed the first class of nineteen, on June 19, 1905. The first two years Father Edwin lived at the college in Atchison and made weekly trips to minister to the parish. For a time he then lived in a room of the church, but in May, 1906, at a meeting of the men of the parish, it was decided to build a parish house. Instead, a residence and lots were purchased and has since been used as a parish house.

The first mission was held beginning August 29, 1906, by Rev. Vin- cent Trost, C. F. M., of Louisville, Ky. On March 8, 1909, the Uni- versalist church building in Kelly was bought by St. Bede's parish and added to the north end of the church building, together with a ten-foot addition.

On January 12, 1913, the church building caught fire and burned to the ground, only a part of the church fixtures being saved. At a mass meeting of the parish members it was decided to build a new church edi- fice. The years of 1913 and 1914 were poor crop years and the present edifice stands, a monument to the personal sacrifice of the devout mem- bers of the parish and to the help of friends and neighbors in Nemaha county.

At the formal dedication which took place Sunday, October 10, 1915, the Rt. Rev. John Ward, D.D., bishop of Leavenworth diocese, read the dedicatory mass and delivered the sermon. Rev. Mathias Stein, O. S. B., Atchison, was celebrant at the mass, and other priests assisted.

The Kelly church is one of the most beautiful in northeast Kansas. It is of Gothic style, 54x100 feet, and from the platform as you enter the church to top of cross it is 125 feet. The church is built of matt-faced pressed brick, trimmed in Algonita stone, which harmonize beautifully in a structure that is very pleasing to the eye. The immense tower of the church rests on footings many feet below the ground, and through the basement three-foot walls support the tower. The basement is well finished, lighted and well ventilated, and nicely arranged. A roomy chapel occupies the east half, with a large seating capacity that is utilized for parish social events. Kitchen rooms are provided and every- thing is arranged for labor-saving and comfort.

The church itself is neatly finished in white, with nicely arranged sanctuary, roomy pews and choir loft. The church steeple contains a thousand-pound bell, whose musical notes call the members to worship, and on week days peals forth the hour to the countryside, morning, noon and evening.

SENECA CHURCH MEETINGS.

Catholic .- Services daily at 8:15 a. m. Sundays, 8:00, 9:00, 10:30 a. m. and 3:00 p. m. Rev. P. Joseph, O. S. B.

Congregational .- Sunday school, 10:00 a. m. Midweek prayer meet- ing, Wednesday, and C. E. meeting, Thursdays at 8:00 p. m.

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First Church of Christ Scientist .- Sunday services, 11:00 a. m. Wed- nesday evening testimonial service, 8 p. m. Free reading room, church edifice ; open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2 to 4 p. m.

Methodist .-- Morning service, 11:00; evening, 7:30. Sunday school, 9:45 a. m .; Epworth League devotional meeting, 6:30 p. m. Rev. I. Mc- Murray, pastor.

Universalist .- Sunday school, 10:00 a. m .; Junior Y. P. C. U., 2:30 p. m .; Senior Y. P. C. U., 7:00 p m .; teachers' meeting, 8 p. m. Wed- nesday.

St. Titus Episcopal .- Morning prayer and sermon, first and third Sundays each month at 11:00 a. m .; Sunday school each Sunday at 10:00 a. m. Rev. William B. Guion, rector.

Of late years Seneca has had a Christian Science Church and fort- nightly services of an Episcopal membership. Rev. Guion divides his rectorship between Seneca and Hiawatha, making his home in the latter place. Seneca is the most progressive of any Nemaha county town in its church movement. A great interest has been taken in the Community church movement in Seneca for the past two years. Its success is un- deniable. Minor disagreements are forgotten in the matter of church belief, the teachings of Christ and the betterment of the community, spiritually and civically, being the matter of importance. Rev. C. A. Richards has been the pastor at the head of the movement, which is be- lieved by many to be the life saving of the church of today.

SABETHA CHURCHES.

The Congregationalists claim the first regularly organized church of Sabetha, and by the method of considering Albany the mother of Sa- betha, their claims are correct if they could not substantiate their claim otherwise. The founders of Sabetha were the founders of Albany. The founders of the Congregational Church of Albany moved to Sabetha and moved their church with them. The Congregational Church of Albany was organized September 26, 1859. The Rev. R. D. Parker was the first pastor, and there were eighteen charter members of the church: Elihu Whittenhall and his family, George Graham, John E. Graham, John Van- Tuyl, Edwin Miller, B. H. Job and their wives; Mrs. Rising, Mrs. Archer, William B. Slosson, Thomas Robbins and John B. Shumway. These names, or those of their descendants, have been identified with the Congregational Church in its history to date. Services had been held for over a year before the actual organization of the church under God's canopy and beneath a tree in the Albany yard of Edwin Miller, whenever the weather permitted. It is scarcely surprising that with such a beginning the church has been nothing but successful from its inception. The Congregational Church was moved to Sabetha from Albany in the summer of 1871, during the pastorate of Rev. Thomas.

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Rev. Parker, the original pastor of the church, later became editor of the Manhattan "Telephone," a newspaper long since passed on.

Several of the pastors of the church in Sabetha have become noted. Perhaps the best known is one of the latest incumbents. Rev. C. L. Fisk, who is now head of the Congregational Sunday School Associa- tion in Ohio, and his wife, Mrs. Marion Ballou Fisk, who shared with him the labors in the Sabetha field, filling the pulpit during his absences, is a brilliant cartoonist in the Chautauqua and Lyceum field. Mrs. Fisk is the one woman who has kept up chautauqua work whose time has been engaged completely throughout the year. She has appeared in every State in the Union. Her chautauqua work began in Sabetha under the Horner-Redpath people. Their work in Sabetha is still bear- ing fruit. During Mr. Fisk's pastorate a cigarette was unknown in the town. He built a gymnasium, which all boys, regardless of church affiliations, were welcome to use freely. Their entertainments for church improvement and civic improvement were so unique that city editors sent men to Sabetha to write up the affairs for their metropolitan newspapers. A presentation of Alice Hegan Rice's "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" attracted such widespread attention that Liebler & Company, who owned the copyright of the plan, sent to the little Ne- maha county town to see if their rights had been infringed.

Another interesting pastor of the Congregational Church preceding the Fisks by twenty-five years was A. G. Hogbin. His wife was a co- worker with him. In their effort to build up Sabetha they bought and conducted the Sabetha "Herald" for several years in connection with their church work. Mrs. Hogbin was a daughter of Rev. M. B. Preston, of Centralia. Rev. and Mrs. Hogbin have been retired for several years and are living in Italy. Rev. Charles Beaver is the pastor of the Con- gregational Church today.

The Methodist Church of Sabetha was organized in 1868 in the Sabetha school house by Rev. F. W. Meyer. It is a church of wealth and ambition and enthusiasm, pursuing modern methods of entertain- ment and interest for its youthful members. The first church building was erected by Archibald Webb, which, within the past twenty years, has been replaced by a handsome edifice containing theater seats and a fine pipe organ. Several prominent divines have been its pastors, nota- bly, Rev. E. Gill, foster-father of the Rt. Rev. Bishop William A. Quayle, and Rev. Biddison and Rev. C. W. Shaw. Of Rev Biddison the following tale is told by men who were the mischievous boys in his day. The Rev. Biddison owned two dun ponies that were the envy of all the boys in town. He would lariat them at night out in the open, and it was no rare thing for a boy to borrow a pony for a night ride. One time, Adam Cramer, who was a boy about ten years old, now a con- tractor with gray hair, borrowed one of the ponies for such a ride. He had done it often before, but this night the enormity of his crime seemed to weigh heavily upon him. When he was three or four miles from

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town he became obsessed with the idea that Rev. Biddison was after him on the other pony. He turned for home and rode with a madness surpassing that of Ichabod Crane or Paul Revere. When he reached town he found the other pony peacefully grazing on the lot. He vowed on the spot that he would steal no more rides, and he didn't. No one ever knew whether Mr. Biddison knew of these stolen rides or not. Rev. Biddison filled several pulpits in Nemaha county and if he knew of the pranks of the Sabetha boys he never told it elsewhere. Adam Cramer has been a Methodist in good standing in the church for many years, and has expiated his horseback jaunts long since ..

Rev. I. C. Paugh is the pastor of the Methodist Church at Sabetha. His daughter, Miss Delight, stood highest in her class of over 1,000 graduates at Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., this spring, and is a brilliant daughter of a scholarly father.

M. J. Boomer, who celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday a few years ago by a post card shower, the surprise being arranged by his daughter, tells of the origin of the Baptist Church. He mentioned Mrs. Mary E. Black as still living. She has since died. Mr. Boomer's post card shower aroused memories.

"One of the letters was from Clara Barton, who for many years was president of the Red Cross Society, and who is known all over the world. Miss Barton was Mr. Boomer's school teacher at Oxford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, over sixty-six years ago. Another letter was from Mrs. A. S. Tower, who was a schoolmate of Mr. Boomer sixty- seven years ago. Mrs. Tower now lives at La Crosse, Wis.

Mr. Boomer came to Sabetha in 1873. He helped pay for the orig- inal Baptist Church, which, by the way, was the first church building erected in Sabetha. Mr. Boomer says Mrs. Mary L. Black, of Sabetha, is the only one of the original members of the Baptist Church left. This church was organized in 1871, and Mr. Boomer did not come here until two years later. The bell now being used in the Sabetha school house was used on the original Baptist Church in Sabetha. Mr. Boomer was twenty years superintendent of the Baptist Sunday school.

Mr. Boomer says when he first came to Sabetha the old or eastern part of the town was contending with the present business section for the mastery. Campbell Tarr, father of the late Hamilton Tarr, had a store in the eastern or old part of Sabetha. On the store front he had a sign which announced that the store was located in "Sabetha proper." The old hotel was located where John Lanning's residence is now. Mr. Boomer has always lived at Fairview. He owns a farm near there. But he has for many years visited Sabetha regularly and is known here by nearly everybody.

Mr. Boomer was for many years a member of the board of trustees of Ottawa University at Ottawa, Kans. He was a member of the Bap- tist State Mission Board fourteen years. For ten years he was a member of the board of trustees of the Hiawatha Academy.

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Of the pastors of the Baptist Church, it is possible the most beloved was Rev. Biggart, who was almost a missionary pastor in many of the pioneer towns of northeast Kansas. He died a few years ago, and his children, remembering with affection their life in Sabetha, have been planning to go back there to live. The Sabetha Baptists have a pretty church edifice and a parsonage which is one of the pleasantest homes in the city. The present pastor is Rev. Robert Church, who is an excellent architect as well as pastor.

Two churches of interest and with modest aspirations are the United Brethren, with Rev. George Krebs as pastor, and the Church of the Brethren, with Rev. Yoder as pastor. The Church of the Brethren has a sister church in the Rock Creek neighborhood. Retired from active service, but occasionally taking the pulpit, is Rev. Ephraim Cober, of Sabetha.

Rev. Yoder, on September 10, 1915, announced in the church the nineteenth birthday anniversary of Rev. Ephraim Cober, of Sabetha, who celebrated his natal day, September 5, by preaching to the con- gregation of the Rock Creek Brethren Church. Like the Great Teacher, Mr. Cober was also a carpenter, and with his own hands he built the Rock Creek Church twenty-eight years ago, dedicating it and preaching on the site it occupied continuously for thirty-five years. A birthday party was given at the John Zug home in honor of Mr. Cober's birthday. Only a few relatives and neighbors were in attendance. Mr. Cober came to Kansas the year of the centennial for Mrs. Cober's health, as she was thought to be suffering from consumption. Mrs. Cober is living, healthy and happy, and they will celebrate their sixty-eighth wedding anniver- sary in November on her eighty-third birthday. Their son, the late Jacob Cober, a former editor of the "Courier-Democrat," died in Kansas City a few years ago, and his widow, Mrs. Laura Cober, lives near his parents in a home that Grandfather Cober built. Mrs. Ham Wasmund, of Sabetha, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cober.

The Church of the Brethren, with Rev. R. A. Yoder as pastor, is one of the most successful churches of the county. A series of lectures given by the churches of Sabetha and Rock Creek have geen gratefully appreciated the past year. It is progressive, with a fine membership.

As the Community Church of Seneca is one of the most interesting in these progressive days, so is the Amish or German Apostolic Chris- tian Church of Sabetha the most interesting in the eastern part of Ne- maha county. The members of the church dress simply, as do the Men- nonites of western Kansas. They are the kindliest and gentlest of German people, whose brotherly love, help and intercourse is a matter of great admiration to their more worldly neighbors.

The Amish are well-to-do and successful as a result of industry. thrift, right living and unfailing faith in their religious belief. If there is a better belief or one of truer Christianity than that professed by the Amish, it has never come to light. The Amish people believe that one

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should never buy an article for which he can not pay upon instant demand. A debt is against the theory of honesty. They teach that so long as he has health, one should work, regardless of his worldly wel- fare. The theory is borne out by the fact that Satan finds work for idle hands, and that in good, honest industry lies the only real happiness. They believe absolutely in the simple life as to dress. This is so that those families who are financially able may not dress in so elaborate a manner as to arouse jealousy and envy in the hearts of those less fer- tunate. These are a few of the good ideas taught by the Amish or Apostolic Christian Church. The Amish Church is really very much like a big family. They go to church early in the morning on Sundays. They remain there and eat their lunch, have church again in the after- noon and then go home. The Sunday lunch consists usually of bread. butter, coffee and preserves. Around the church are well built sheds. All the horses are unharnessed, turned into their stalls and fed and rested while their owners are at church. If any visitors come to Sabetha to visit the Amish folk, there is immediately held a church service, that everyone may become acquainted. Every few weeks a part of the Amish people from Sabetha go to visit their Amish friends in Illinois, Indiana, Wabaunsee county, Kansas, and other parts of Kansas and different States. In Northern Iowa there is a big colony of Amish. . In most of the Middle Western States there are colonies of Amish. And every community which contains them is to be congratulated. There is a difference in the Amish and Mennonite beliefs. The Mennonite re- sembles the Lutheran teachings, whereas the Amish profess the faith of the Christian Church. The Amish throughout this section of Nemaha county are Swiss and German. The Mennonites in Kansas are chiefly Russians. The Amish here came in great part from Baden and that section of Germany. The German Mennonites came more from the northeastern section of Germany and from Holland. In many things the two beliefs are similar. They are both industrious, thrifty, fair and live simply. But there is no scrimping. Sabetha merchants say that the Amish people are among their best customers. None but the best will do for them, with nothing flashy. Their trade is always cash. The Amish never forget their relatives in the old country. Every few weeks someone sends over to his native land for some relative left behind. They are brought to America to taste the joy of farming a hundred acres of land-when in Germany they farmed one acre. When the arrive the entire Amish community gathers in the church to welcome them, and · give thanks for their safe arrival. Sometimes, when it is impossible to gather at the church, the little services are held at the homes in town. There seems to be a spirit to take the Lord intimately and affectionately and reverently into all their rejoicings and social gatherings. It is a beautiful faith. Their little cemetery adjoins the country church, where headstones of simple white wood are painted with the names of the dead, no preference being shown. The Amish preachers serve without

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History of Nemaha County, Kansas, Part 30

Author: Tennal, Ralph 1872- Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Lawrence, Kan., Standard Publishing Company Number of Pages: 964

Author: Tennal, Ralph 1872-
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Lawrence, Kan., Standard Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 964