History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 64

Author: Warner, George E; Foote, Charles M., joint author; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893. Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota. 1n; Williams, J. Fletcher (John Fletcher), 1834-1895. Outlines of the history of Minnesota
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Minneapolis, North Star Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 684

USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 64

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This church edifice fronted on Bench street and was built on one of the lots of what is now called the Catholic block.

On the 25th of May, 1844, Father Galtier severed his connection with the church at St. Paul. The Cathedral register shows that the number of baptisms performed by Father Galtier while in the North-west, were as follows: In 1840, forty; in 1841, thirty-five; in 1842, thirty-five; in 1843, twenty-seven. "His flock was small, but dispersed as they were, themselves strangers to material comfort, it required no small degree of courage and self-denial in a clergyman to labor among them."

From the departure of Father Galtier, to 1851, except brief intervals of absence, the Very Rev. A. Ravoux resided alternately at Mendota and St. Paul, preaching every Sunday in the French and English languages, though the latter did not become necessary in St. Paul before 1848 or 1849, as up to that time all his white hearers spoke French.

In 1847, an addition was made to the chapel of St. Paul, being the small chapel used by Sisters of St. Joseph's, till their removal to St. Joseph's academy. In 1849 the chapel was again too small, the Sunday services being attended not only by those living in St. Paul, but by many from Little Canada, St. Anthony, Mendota, &c. In 1847, the Catholics became more populous in St. Paul than in Mendota, and in 1849, their numbers still continuing to increase, Father Ravoux decided to spend two Sundays in St. Paul and one in Mendota. For seven years this worthy priest continued to labor in this missionary field without the aid or companionship of a brother priest.

On the 26th of January, 1851, Rev. Joseph Cretin was consecrated the first bishop of St. Paul, " a man who, by zeal, piety, incessant labor, and patience in sufferings," walked in the footsteps of his master. He arrived in St. Paul the second of 24

July following. In the meantime, Father Ravoux, seeing the importance of securing lots for a cathe- dral, and other purposes, bought of Mr. Vetal Guerin twenty-one lots for eight hundred dollars, and for one hundred dollars the lot on which the cathedral now stands. The latter lot was bought of another person, who purchased it on time of Mr. Guerin, for sixty dollars, and received a bonus of forty dollars for his bargain. The purchase of these twenty-one lots was a good investment for the church, and also a good transaction for Mr. Guerin, it being understood that the property would be improved, and thereby add to the value of the adjacent lands. Bishop Cretin subsequently paid the purchase price, and received the deed.

In July, 1851, the heart of Father Ravoux was made glad by the arrival of Bishop Cretin, whom he met and accompanied to the Episcopal palace, "a building one story and a half high, about seventeen or eighteen feet square." The cathed- ral was the log church erected by Father Galtier. It should be stated in this connection, that the Bishop brought with him "two priests and three seminarians." .

In less than five months from his arrival in St. Paul, the Bishop had erected on block 7, in St. Paul proper, a brick building eighty-four feet long, by forty-four wide, and three and a half stories high, including the basement, which im- mediately became the cathedral of St. Paul, and also the residence of the Bishop and his assist- ants.

In 1853, he built the hospital, contributing thereto from his own funds. The same year he bought the property where St. Joseph's Academy now stands, for a Catholic cemetery, but it was only used two or three years for that purpose. In 1856, he purchased forty acres for a cemetery, which was blessed the 2d of November, the same. year.

In 1855, the German Catholics commenced building a church which was occupied the follow- ing year.

Excavation for the present cathedral was com- menced in July, 1854, and in 1856 the corner stone was blessed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Buf- falo, Mgr. Timon, and on the last day of October the walls were up to the water table. Bishop Cretin feared to incur debt, and the work pro- ceeded slowly. Though the Catholic population

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was large, with few exceptions, they were poor, and could help but little. The price of labor and material was very high. The amount of money collected from July 1854, till February 1857, did not exceed four thousand dollars, though in that time seven thousand dollars was expended on the cathedral, when the work was interrupted by the death of the Bishop, and the work was still further delayed by the crisis of '57.

Bishop Cretin died February 22d, 1857, after a long and painful illness. He was born in France in 1800, came to America in 1838, by invitation of Bishop Loras of Dubuque, spent some twelve years as a missionary in Iowa and western Wis- consin, and in 1850, was appointed to the newly created see of St. Paul, where he arrived July 2d, 1851. Though his time in St. Paul was short, Bishop Cretin has left among his people an ineffaceable memory. It was Bishop Cretin who selected Rt. Rev. John Ireland for the Christian ministry, and sent him abroad to prose- cute his studies. Bishop Cretin was remarkable in a high degree for genuine piety and unbounded zeal for the interests of religion. His early de- mise was no doubt hastened by ceaseless labors in his sacred calling. He was a man, too, of much wisdom and forethought. He laid the plans for the growth of the church in Minnesota, and his successors in the field have very seldom found reason to deviate from the paths he had traced out or suggested.

Again the management of Catholic interests in St. Paul devolved on Father Ravoux. "On the 14th of June, 1857, work on the present cathedral was resumed and did not cease until it was under roof, and on the 13th of June, 1858, though un- finished and not plastered, was opened for divine service, The collections on that day amounted to $428.

"In the summer of 1858 the basement was plastered, and used for worship the following winter, and was sometimes crowded. On Christ- mas night there were not less than 2,000 persons at mass and about 500 presented themselves at the holy table for communion."

Up to 1860 the cathedral had cost $33,647. Since then about $7,000 more has been spent on it, making the total cost $40,674. .

Rt. Rev. Thomas L. Grace, the worthy succes- sor of Bishop Cretin, was consecrated Bishop of

St. Paul, July 24th, 1859. December 21, 1875, Rev. John Ireland was consecrated Bishop of Maronea in partibus and coadjutor of Rt. Rev. Thomas L. Grace with right of succession.

During the last few years, very largely through the influence of Bishop Ireland, a reformation has been wrought in the cause of temperance which has the applause and admiration of all classes.

The history of different parishes of the Catho- lic church in this city is given elsewhere in this work.

On the first of January, 1881, partly by actual enumeration and partly by approximation esti- mating five members to a family, the Catholic population of St. Paul was found to be 16,000.

The Catholic church of this city, through its bishops and clergy "commands the most profound respect for its learning, religious culture, benefi- cient enterprises, courtesy and public spirit."

The French Church of St. Louis. The city of St. Paul owes its name to the little chapel of St. Paul, built for the French Catholics, on the site of what is now called the Catholic block, by the Rev. Lucian Galtier, a zealous missionary, who came to the city in 1840, and has deservedly been called its founder. When the rapid increase of the population made a larger building necessary, the Cathedral was built, and the French congre- gation, for many years, worshipped in that church, certain hours being assigned specially for their use, on Sundays. In 1868, it was found necessary to organize a new parish, and the French congre- gation erected the frame church, 70x33 feet, on the lot situated corner of Tenth and Cedar streets. Rev. G. A. Schmirer was the first pastor, and continued so until his death, in 1873. The Oblate fathers, Fathers Lauzen, Gauvin and Therien, had charge of the parish from 1873 to 1877, and were succeeded by Rev. P. C. Hubert.

The priest's residence, adjoining the church. was built in 1870.

The St. Louis school, on the lot opposite, was opened in the fall of 1873, under the direction of two sisters, from St. Joseph's Academy; now has 120 pupils.

Rev. A. Payette, the present priest, has been in charge of this church for three years, and he, as well as his parishioners, has felt for some time that the fast increasing numbers of the congrega- tion called for larger accommodations. This has

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been most happily obtained, in March, 1881, by buying the stone church built for the Universalist society, corner of Exchange and Wabasha streets, one of the most beautiful in St. Paul, at the very low figure of $15,500. It has been partly refitted inside, to adapt it to the exigences of the Catho- lic worship, and on Low Sunday, the 24th of April, 1881, in the presence of the congregation, the French national societies, and a large number of visitors, it was solemenly dedicated, with the prescribed ceremonies of the church, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Ireland, of this city.

ASSUMPTION CHURCH.

In the year 1854, Rev. Witzfield organized the congregation of German Catholics of St. Paul. The congregation at that time attended divine service at the cathedral. In the year 1855, Rev. G. Keller, who had been appointed pastor, per- fected arrangements for the erection of a church suited to the wants of the congregation. The ceremony of laying the corner stone took place August 15th, 1855, and in June of the following year, the church was ready for occupancy. The same year a parochial school was opened with an attendance of twenty-five pupils. The parish record from June, 1856, to January, 1857, shows fifty-two entries of baptisms and thirty-seven marriages. During the year, 1857, one hundred and two baptisms and forty-two marriages were recorded. The Fathers of the order of Saint Benedict took charge of the congregation Janu- ary 1st, 1858. Rev. Demetrias de Marogua, O. S. B., was duly installed as pastor, on the same day, and labored zealoulsy and successfully to advance the spiritual and temporal welfare of the congregation, until failing health compelled him to resign his charge into the hands of Rev. Clement Staub, O. S. B. in 1863. A few years later, owing to the rapid growth of the congre- gation, the want of a larger building was seri- ously felt. Steps were accordingly taken for the erection of the present imposing structure. Ground was broken, the foundation walls built in the summer of 1870. June 4th, 1871, the corner stone was laid, and the work vigorously prose- cuted until its completion in 1874. On the 18th of October, 1874, the church was solemnly con- secrated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Thos. L. Grace, assisted by a large number of the clergy. The

style of architecture is the Roman, the mate- rial of construction stone, the dimensions of the building are, length one hundred and eighty-five feet, width eighty-five feet, height of the nave, sixty feet, height of the aisle, in proportion to the height of the nave. The church in design and exterior finish, is unsurpassed in the North-west. It is an eloquent tribute to the zeal and liberality of the congregation, to the energy and devoted- ness of Rev. Clement Staub, under whose pastor- ship it was erected. In the year 1875, Rev. Clem- ent Staub was succeeded by Rev. Valentine Stimmler, O. S. B. under whose management the congregation prospered in every respect. To give an idea of the unparalleled growth of the parish, attention is called to the following facts. At the time of its organization in 1854, it numbered thirty families, now eight hundred families be- long to it. The parochial school opened with an at- tendance of twenty-five pupils, now has an en- rollment of six hundred pupils, in charge of eight teachers, four Christian brothers and four Sisters of St. Joseph. Several flourishing societies are connected with the congregation. St. Peter's Mutual Assistance Society was established in 1856. The St. Clement Young Mens' Mutual Aid Society was formed in 1875. Through the efforts of these societies, the German Roman Catholic Life Insurance Association of Minnesota was organized a few years ago, and at the present time has a membership of one thousand. Other so- cieties, as St. Ann's, Young Ladies' Society une der the protection of St. Rose, St. Aloysius So- ciety of Young Men, the society. of the Child- hood of Mary, were established in 1856. In the year 1876, the Altar society was founded, the ob- ject of this society is to instruct and train boys to serve at divine worship. In 1878, a reading society under the patronage of the Infant Jesus, was organized for the purpose of furnishing wholesome and instructive reading to the young people of the congregation. All the societies are doing well, and the expectations of their founders have been fully realized. St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, an institution owing its existence to members of the parish, deserves especial mention. It was built under the auspices of the German Catholic Orphan . Association, the origin of whichi dates back to the year 1869; the objects are to provide for the education and maintenance of

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orphans of German descent, not only of the con- gregation, but also of other parts of the diocese. In 1879, the services of the Sisters of St. Bene- dict were secured, and the orphans placed in their charge. The temporary building soon became inadequate to the wants of orphans, arrange- ments were made for the erection of a new build- ing. A site for a building was secured, ground broken in the summer of 1880, the corner stone laid June 20th, same year, and in October, 1880, the new asylum was completed. The building is a commodious and substantial structure, sup- plied with all modern conveniences; twenty-six orphans are taken care of at the present time.

Such in a few words is the history of the As- sumption church, and of the congregation of German Catholics of St. Paul. The growth and progress of the congregation has been wonderful; this was due in great measures to the thrift, en- ergy and perseverance of the people, and in a still greater measure to the able and energetic management of the Benedictine Fathers.

Saint Mary's church, is located on Ninthi street, corner of Locust; organized in 1867. Membership about two thousand; Rev. L. Caillet pastor. The corner stone was laid in 1866 and in 1867 the church was dedicated, In 1869 a paro- chial school, attached to the church, was opened with one hundred and twenty scholars and three teachers, and ' has now six teachers and three hundred and fifty pupils. September, 1873, oc- curred the opening of the Academy of the Sisters of the Visitation, for the education of young ladies, with about forty-five pupils and seven teachers. The following are the charitable socie- ties connected with St. Mary's church: Confer- ence of St. Vincent de Paul, organized July, 1867, for the relief of the poor; membership about fifty. Ladies' Society of the Rosary, for the relief of the poor, was instituted in 1867, and has a member- ship of about one hundred and fifty. Catholic orphan asylum, located corner Olive and Grove streets.

Saint Michael's Church, St. Paul, was es- tablished in 1868, and dedicated on the feast of St. Michael in the same year. For many years the church was served by priests from the Cathed- ral. At the time of its establishment there were about fifty families. The church is located in the Sixth ward, West St. Paul. The location is

one of the finest in the city being on a rise of ground overlooking the whole city. There is a good, comfortable brick parsonage adjoining the church. In February, 1879, the present pastor, Rev. P. J. Gallagher was appointed permanent pastor. The church has a membership of over one hundred and fifty families at present. A Sunday school with an average attendance of one hundred and twenty-five children is connected with the church. There is a confraternity in honor of the blessed Virgin, connected with the church. The Rosary society, composed of married ladies, and the Sodality society, composed of young ladies, are religious institutions which are con- nected with the church. The Society St. Vincent de Panl, for the benefit of the poor, and St. Michael's Total Abstinence society are also con- nected with St. Michael's church. The Temper- ance society has fifty-four members.

Saint Stanislaus Church was built in 1871, by the Catholic Poles and Bohemians, and has served the two nationalities up to the present time, 1881, at which time they separated. The Bohemians retaining the old church, with a membership of one hundred and seventy-five families. The Poles, having a membership of about one hundred families, will build a new church on a lot which they have secured on Rice street, which will be completed some time during this season. It is to be built of wood, and will be an ornament to the locality in which it is situated. St. Stanislaus church is located on Western avenue corner of Goodhue.

St. Joseph's Church, located corner of Carroll street and Virginia avenue. This parish, cut off from the Cathedral, was organized in 1875 and Rev. L. Lebret appointed its first pastor. The erection of a church was begun in the fall of the same year, and so energetically was the work pushed forward that mass was said in it on the Christmas day following. The church is wood, veneered with brick, is forty-five feet in width by ninety in length, has a large basement consisting of four rooms, in which are the school and society halls. The church cost ten thousand dollars. There are two schools connected with the church, male and female, taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph; the pupils at present number one hund- red and twenty-five. A large temperance society and a conference of the society of St. Vincent de

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Paul are attached to the church, together with confraternities, sodalities, etc. Rev. L. Lebret continued pastor of St. Joseph's church until June, 1877. In March, 1878, Rev. Joseph O. Keefe became its pastor, and was succeeded in August, 1880, by Rev. J. W. Nealis, its present pastor. There are one hundred and forty fami- lies in the parish.

METHODISM IN ST. PAUL.

In 1844 St. Paul became an appointment in the St. Croix Mission of the Wisconsin conference. Rev. Mr. Hurlbut was appointed to the mission, but as his field embraced all the settlements on both sides of the river from the head of Lake Pe- pin to St. Croix Falls, and as St. Paul was just then coming into being, it could not have received a very large share of attention. Mr. Hurlburt was suceeded in 1846 by J. W. Putnam, and he in 1848 by Benjamin Close. In the mean- time several Methodist families had settled in St. Paul, and the town itself was beginning to as- sume importance in the new territory; and on the last day of the year 1848, a Methodist church was organized by Rev. Benj. Close. It consisted of eighteen members, and is the first Protestant church organized in St. Paul, if not the first in Minnesota.

During the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Putnam, in 1847-48, a small frame structure was erected on Jackson street, and in the spring of 1849 a quarterly meeting was held in it by Rev. Henry Summers, presiding elder. This was the first ever held in St. Paul; but the first quarterly con- ference was held by Rev. Chauncey Hobart on the 26th of the following November. For some reason this house was never finished, and was soon relinquished to the owner of the ground on which it was built. But during the year 1849 a small brick church was commenced on Market street, which, enlarged and otherwise improved, was occupied until November, 1873, when the congregation moved into the handsome and com- modious building on St. Anthony street in which they now worship. It is said to have been the first Protestant house of worship erected in Min- nesota. It is still standing and is now occupied by the Swedenborgians.

The grounds on which this church was built extended to Fifth street, and a small brick dwel-

ling waserected on the corner, designed for a par- sonage. It was afterwards sold with the lot on which it stood to pay off a small debt upon the church property, This sale was very much re- gretted when too late. When the adjoining lots were built upon, the church was so hemmed in as to make it necessary to dispose of the whole property.

Of the original eighteen members in St. Paul, only one, Mrs. Julia Bevans, of Red Wing, is known to be now living, and not one in St. Paul. Benjamin F. Hoyt was the first class leader. IIe and his wife, Jonathan Frost and wife, perhaps some others, were long and favorably known here; quite a number of well known families were added to the little band soon afterwards, a few of whom still remain.

In June of 1851, the Minnesota district of the Wisconsin conference was organized, and Chaun- cey IIobart was appointed presiding elder, and pastor of the church in St. Paul. The first quar- terly conference was held at his house November 26th, 1849,composed of Benj. F. Hoyt, N. McLean, J. A. Wakefield, and himself. The next year Mr. Hobart was employed wholly on the district, which extended from Prairie du Chien to Sandy lake, a 'distance by the routes then traveled of some 700 miles. He was succeeded in St. Paul by Leonard Dickens, who in 1851 was followed by Thomas M. Fullerton. In 1853 David Brooks was appointed presiding elder of this district, and John Kerns was stationed at St. Paul. He was succeeded in 1855 by John Penman, with James Peet as city missionary. Up to this date all the ministers connected with the work were men of sterling integrity, and some of them men of decided ability. Mr. Penman was a man of talent, but his antecedents somewhat questiona- ble, and he afterwards forfeited his ministerial and Christian standing, and finally left in dis- grace. He had an excellent but deeply injured wife, who found a home with her friends in the East.

During the year 1855-'6, the Jackson street church was erected, on the corner of Jackson and Ninth streets; at the first session of the Minnesota conference in 1856, E. J. Kinney was appointed pastor.

In 1857, an arrangement was entered into, by which the two churches were united in one pas-

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toral charge, and Cyrus Brooks was transferred from the Cincinnati conference, and appointed in charge of what was called St. Paul station. He was assisted by a talented young minister from Baltimore, William S. Edwards. At the same time Sias Bolles was appointed presiding elder of St. Paul district.

In the spring of 1858, by common consent, the two churches were separated into independent pastoral charges. Mr. Brooks was retained at Jackson street charge, and Mr. Edwards at Mar- ket street. Thenceforward they have remained separate, and each charge has its own independ- ent history.

FIRST CHURCH.

When this church became a separate pastoral charge, in April, 1858, it numbered about forty members. In the next eight years the number had a little more than doubled. But then, in consequence of deaths and removals, the numbers fell off, until in 1870 there were reported but forty-four members. The next year there were fifty, and since then there has been a pretty steady growth, until now there is a membership of about one hundred and sixty.

It had been felt for some time that a change of location was necessary, and after much delibera- tion the change was determined upon, and the present site was selected. Of course the old name, Market Street church, was no longer ap- propriate, and the present name was assumed. The society was small, and by the time the church was ready for occupancy a debt was contracted which looked very formidable. Besides, the la- mented death of Mr. John Nicols, the wealthiest member of the church, was very depressing; and for the next five years the church was weighed down with a burden that threatened to crush it.

In the summer of 1878, Bishop Foster visited St. Paul, and succeeded in so inspiring the strug- gling church, that responsible parties assumed the indebtedness, and relieved the corporation.

The ministers who have served the church as pastors, were appointed as follows: 1858, Wil- liam S. Edwards; 1859, Edward Eggleston; 1860, William H. St. Claire; 1861-2, Justus O. Rich; 1863, Andrew J. Nelson; 1864, Chauncy Hobart; 1865-6, John W. Martin; 1867, E. S. Chase; 1868,- '69 and '70, Cyrus Brooks; 1871-2, H. P. Satch- well; 1873, S. A. Winsor; 1874-5-6, J. II. Phil-

lips. But early in the third year Mr. Phillips was transferred to Kansas, and his place was supplied by S. W. Lloyd, who was continued. 1877, S. W. Lloyd; 1878, Merritt Huburd; 1879- 80, Samuel G. Smith, the present pastor.

The presiding elders of the St. Paul district up to this time were: Sias Bolles, to 1860; Cyrus Brooks, from 1860 to 1864; James F. Chaffee, from 1864 to 1867; John Quigley, from 1867 to 1870; Chauncey Hobart, from 1870 to 1874; Dan- iel Cobb, from 1874 to 1876; Thomas M. Gossard, from 1876 to 1878; Cyrus Brooks, from 1878, still in the office.

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