USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 29
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At the end of the year 1896 the diocese of St. Cloud contained 45 secular priests, 35 Benedictine priests; 55 churches with a resident priest; 30 missions with churches, 12 chapels, and the Catholic population was estimated at 40,000.
During the vacancy of the see, Manager Joseph P. Baner was, for a second time, its administrator.
Bishop James Trobec. The third bishop of St. Cloud, the Right Rev. James Trobec, was born in southern Austria, in the province of Krain, in the village of Billichgratz, July 10, 1838, of parents who made their living off a small farm and perhaps never even dreamed that this child of the hills should ever wield a bishop's crosier in distant America sixty years later. After attending the schools of his native village, he entered the third class of the normal school at Laybach, the capital of the province, and subsequently graduated from the gymnasium of that city. He then entered the ecclesi- astical seminary at the same place, studied theology for some time and early in 1864 left his home with several class-mates to consecrate himself to the American mission. After a voyage of forty days in a sailing vessel, he ar- rived at New York, April 4, 1864, and at once entered St. Vincent's seminary, at Beatty, Pennsylvania, where he finished his studies in 1865. In August of that year, he was in Minnesota and on September 8 was ordained a priest by Bishop Thomas L. Grace, at St. Paul. Immediately after his ordination he was appointed assistant at Belle Prairie, Morrison county, where his cc 1 man, Father Pirz, had organized a congregation composed of French and
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RT. REV. BISHOP JAMES TROBEC
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
Indians, several years before. But for his knowledge of German, Father Trobec might have remained at Belle Prairie and eventually become an Indian missionary-he had a fair knowledge of French, which was a very useful accomplishment in those days. As it was, he was transferred to Wa- basha in 1866. A congregation had been organized there by the late Father Tissot in 1858.
Father Trobec entered upon his new charge, St. Felix's, as the congre- gation at Wabasha was called, in October, 1866. "At the beginning of his pastorate his charge included Wabasha, West Albany, Pell (now called Oak- wood), Highland, Snake Creek and Minneiska. After three years of unceas- ing toil and for the purpose of giving the parishes of Lake City and Wabasha more regular services, such as those growing missions sorely needed, a resi- dent pastor was appointed for St. Mary's parish of Lake City, in the year 1869, with West Albany attached thereto as a mission. . .
. During the first year of his pastorate he succeeded in building churches in several of his missions. In 1867 he built the church of Minneiska and later on enlarged the church of Highland." (Jub. St. Fel. Parish, 1908.)
For more than five years he lived on the ground floor of the church; in 1872 he built a parsonage aside of the church and turned the lower floor of the latter into school rooms for a parochial school. Two years later he be- gan to replace the old frame church by a more substantial edifice of brick, which was dedicated July 18, 1875. Its cost was about $20,000. By far the largest contribution to the building fund was made by the pastor himself, who contributed $3,500; and we are told he paid about $1,500 towards the enlargement of the school building. St. Felix's was decorated at a cost of about $1,400 in the summer of 1887 and on October 2 of the same year Father Trobec, after serving for more than two decades at Wabasha, was called to St. Paul.
The task set before him here was the organization of the St. Agnes parish composed of a great number of German families, chiefly of the labor- ing class. From October, 1887 to August 15, 1888, services were held in the neighboring church of St. Adelbert. In November, 1887, work was begun on a spacious school building, the upper floor of which served as a church for nearly ten years. In April, 1897, the congregation resolved to build a church, and as the parishioners were not wealthy people, it was deemed ad- visable to proceed slowly. Hence only a basement was decided upon for the present ; the superstructure to be reared at some more favorable timc. Work was begun April 20, 1897, but three months later, July 28, Father Trobec was notified that he had been appointed bishop of St. Cloud.
His consecration took place in the old cathedral at St. Paul on the feast of St. Matthew, September 21, 1897, the consecrator being Archbishop John Ireland, of St. Paul, assisted by Archbishop F. X. Katzer, of Milwaukee, and Bishop John Vertin, of Marquette. One week later he was installed in his see in the presence of all the bishops of the province of St. Paul, and of a gath- ering of clergy and laity as it is rarely the privilege of St. Cloud to witness.
Nearly seventeen years have passed since that memorable day. The venerable Bishop's life has been one of unceasing, quiet labor, in the interests
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of his flock. Twice he visited Rome to report on the condition of his diocese -in 1900 and in 1909. He has visited every part of his diocese several times and studied the needs of the smallest mission. His administration will be memorable for the great number of churches and schools built or rebuilt in more substantial form. Owing to age and infirmity Bishop Trobec resigned last summer and retired as titular bishop of Lycopolis, but continues to gov- ern the diocese as administrator until his successor has been appointed.
Diocesan Officials.
The staff, or official family of the Vicar Apostolic was very small. There was a bishop's council since 1878, composed of Abbot Alexius Edelbrock, O. S. B., Rev. Joseph Buh, and Rev. Severin Gross, O. S. B. A fourth member was added in 1886 in the person of Rev. F. X. A. Stemper.
The first vicar general was the late Very Rev. Severin Gross, O. S. B., who held the office from 1882-1888 (+December 3, 1893) ; his successor was Rev. F. X. A. Stemper, who had been the Bishop's secretary since 1883. When the vicariate became extinet, he left Minnesota and is at present stationed in the diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Since the erection of the diocese there have been only two vicar generals : Manager Joseph P. Bauer was born July 30, 1842, at Niederbronn, Alsace. His father was a Protestant, and brought up his son in his own faith; but the boy eventually became a convert to Catholicity, the faith of his mother. At the age of eighteen he left his home for Algiers, Africa, intending to devote himself to the African mission as so many of his countrymen were doing. After finishing his theology at the mission seminary, he was ordained a priest June 29, 1865, by Bishop Pavy and served in the missions for fifteen years as a member of the congregation of the Peres Blancs, or White Fathers, as they are called on account of their garb. In 1867 he had occasion to travel through Austria, France and Italy, soliciting alms for the famine-stricken Africans. The African climate did not agree with him and he found himself compelled to renounce his earlier ambition. In 1880 he left Africa and en- tered the diocese of London, Ontario, where he served for seven years and established a college at Stony Point. This venture did not prove successful and he came to the United States in 1887. The late Bishop Marty appointed him pastor of Jefferson, South Dakota, where he remained until Bishop Zar- detti selected him for his vicar general late in 1889. Father Bauer arrived in St. Cloud December 13 of the same year.
Failing eye-sight compelled him to seek for some relief in his manifold duties; in July, 1893, he was appointed pastor of the church at St. Augusta, but at the Bishop's request retained the offices of vicar general and chancel- lor of the diocese. On April 15, 1894, he was invested with the insignia of a domestic prelate to His Holiness Leo XIII. When Archbishop Zardetti left St. Cloud for his Roumanian see May 16, 1894, Monsignor Bauer was ap- pointed administrator of the diocese, pending the appointment of a new bishop. Bishop Martin Marty retained him as vicar general. After that pre- late's death, September, 1896, he again became administrator of the see, until the arrival of Bishop James Trobec. While pastor of St. Augusta he suffered
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a stroke of paralysis in April, 1898, from which he never fully recovered. He died at St. Raphael's hospital, St. Cloud, November 20, 1899, and was buried in Calvary cemetery.
Manager Edward J. Nagl, the second vicar general of the diocese of St. Cloud, was born at Landskron, in Bohemia, November 19, 1849. Leaving his native land in 1868, he came to the United States, continued his ecclesiastical studies at St. Vincent's seminary, Beatty, Pa., and finished them at St. John's seminary at Collegeville. On September 29, 1876, he was ordained a priest at St. Cloud, by Bishop Rupert Seiderbusch. He is the first priest ordained for the Vicariate of northern Minnesota. For the next seventeen years he was stationed at North Prairie, from which place he also visited Elindale, Brock- way and Swan River. At North Prairie he built a church and a parsonage; also at Brockway; and churches at the other two missions. In 1893 he was transferred to Pierz, where he built a parochial school. Bishop Zardetti in 1893 appointed him his vicar general for the Polish parishes of the diocese. Bishop Trobec appointed him viear general for the whole diocese in March, 1898; transferred him from Pierz to St. Augusta in the same year, and on September 29, 1902, the twenty-fifth anniversary of Father Nagl's ordination, invested him with the insignia of a domestic prelate to Pope Pius X. He with- drew from active parish service and is at present chaplain and spiritual director in the convent of the Franciscan Sisters at Little Falls, but still oc- cupies the position of vicar general.
Other Officials.
The bishop is supported in the administration of the diocese by a number of officials and boards :
1. The board of consultors advise the bishop in matters of importance and have a voice in the election of a bishop for the see. The following have held the office of consultor since the organization of the diocese in 1889: Right Rev. Mgr. Joseph P. Bauer, 1890-1898; Right Rev. Mgr. Edward J. Nagl, 1890 to date; Rev. Gregory Steil, O. S. B., 1893-1903; Rev. Gregory Goebel, 1893-1901; Rev. Ignatius Tomazin, 1898-1904, and 1909 to date; Rev. William Lange, 1898-1904, and 1909 to date; Right Rev. Mgr. Bernard Rich- ter, 1902 to date; Rev. William Eversmann, O. S. B., 1904-1908; Rev. John G. Stiegler, 1905 to date; Rev. Arthur Lamothe, 1905-1912; Rev. John A. Kitow- ski, 1905 to date; Very Rev. Herman Bergmann, O. S. B., 1911 to date.
2. Deans: Right Rev. Edward J. Nagl, 1890-1893; Rev. Valentine Stimmler, O. S. B., 1890-1892; Rev. William Lange, 1890-1892, and 1905-1907; Rev. Ignatius Tomazin, 1893-1901; Rev. Ludger Ehrens, O. S. B., 1893-1899, and 1902-1903; Right Rev. Bernard Richter, 1895-1901; Rev. John G. Stiegler, 1902-1904; Rev. Arthur Lamothe, 1902-1904; Rev. Gregory Steil, 1904-1908; Rev. William Eversmann, O. S. B., 1908; Rev. Gregory Goebel, 1890-1912; Rev. August Gospodar, 1902 to date; Rev. P. J. Altendorf, 1905 to date; Rev. Edward Jones, 1905 to date; Rev. Meinulph Stukenkemper, O. S. B., 1909 to date.
3. Examiners of the Clergy: Right Rev. Abbot Bernard Loonikar, O. S. B., 1890-1894; Right Rev. Joseph P. Bauer, 1890-1897; Right Rev. Edward
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
J. Nagl, 1890-1897; Rev. Arthur Lamothe, 1898-1904. The present board con- sists of Rev. Francis Mersliman, O. S. B., D. D., and the board of consultors.
4. Procurator Fiscalis, i. e., the official diocesan prosecutor : Right Rev. Edward Nagl, 1891-1897; Rev. George Gaskell, 1898-1900; Rev. Edward Jones, 1901 to date.
5. Defensor Matrimonii, i. e., defender of the matrimonial tie in suits in which the nullity or validity of the bond is involved: Rev. Gregory Steil, O. S. B., 1890-1892; Rev. Arthur Lamothe, 1893-1894; Rev. Conrad Glatz- meier, O. S. B., 1895-1903 ; Rev. Francis Mershman, O. S. B., D. D., 1904 to date.
6. The following, among others, have held the office of secretary to the bishop: Revs. Arthur Lamothe, 1889; John Wernich, 1895 and 1896; Rev. John J. Kicken, 1900; Rev. George Arenth, 1903-1905; Rev. Matthias Hoffmann, 1907; Rev. William Scheiner, 1908; Rev. Joseph M. Buscher, 1909; Rev. Joseph Willenbrink, 1910.
7. Diocesan School Board for regulation of parochial schools: Rev. Wolfgang Steinkogler, O. S. B., 1891-1892; Rev. Aloys Raster, 1891-1900; Rev. Timothy Vaeth, O. S. B., 1893; Rev. Gregory Steil, O. S. B., 1900-1903; Rev. Peter Gans, 1904-1907; Rev. William Eversmann, O. S. B., 1904-1907; Right Rev. Bernard Richter, 1891-1897, and 1902 to date; Rev. J. P. Alten- dorf, 1901 to date; Rev. Edward Jones, 1895 to date; Rev. Anthony Arzt, 1902 to date; Rev. Francis Welp, 1902 to date; Very Rev. Alfred Mayer, O. S. B., 1908 to date.
8. Consultors regarding the removal of pastors: 1910-1912; Rev. S. Szuszynski, 1910 to date.
9. Vigilance committee : Rev. Francis Merschman, O. S. B., Rev. August Gospodar, Rev. J. P. Altendorf, Rev. Alexius Hoffmann, O. S. B .- all appointed in 1910.
PRESENT STATUS OF THE DIOCESE.
Government.
Administrator : Right Rev. James Trobec, D. D., residing at St. Cloud, Minn.
Vicar General : Right Rev. Mgr. Edward J. Nagl, Little Falls, Minn.
Consultors: the Vicar General, ex officio; Very Rev. Herman Bergman, O. S. B .; Rev. John G. Stiegler, Right Rev. Mgr. Bernard Richter, Rev. Wil- liam Lange, Rev. J. A. Kitowski.
Procurator Fiscalis: Rev. Edward Jones.
Examiners of the Clergy : Rev Francis Mershman, O. S. B., and the con- sultors.
Deans: Rev. August Gospodar, Rev. J. P. Altendorf, Rev. Edward Jones, Rev. Meinulph Stukenkemper, O. S. B.
Diocesan School Board: Right Rev. Mgr. Bernard Richter, Rev. Edward Jones, Very Rev. Alfred Mayer, O. S. B., Rev. J. P. Altendorf, Rev. Anthony Arzt, Rev. Francis Welp.
Defensor Matrimonii: Rev. Francis Mershman, O. S. B.
Censors: Very Rev. Alfred Mayer, O. S. B., Rev. Leo Gans, J. C. D.
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
Vigilance Committee : Rev. Francis Mersham, O. S. B., Rev August Gospodar, Rev. J. P. Altendorf, Rev. Alexius Hoffmann, O. S. B.
CHURCHES AND CLERGY IN 1913. Stearns County.
St. Cloud-Pro-cathedral of the Holy Angels: Rev. Leo Gans, J. C. D., pastor; Rev. Charles Mayer, and Rev. Joseph Kilian, assistants. Church of the Immaculate Conception : Rev. Gerard Spielmann, O. S. B., pastor; Revs. Vincent Schiffrer, Alto Walter, and Hildebrand Eickhoff, O. S. B., assistants. St. Joseph's Home: Rev. Willibrord Mahowald, O. S. B., chaplain. St. Raphael's Hospital: Rev. Joseph Mayrhofer, chaplain. Church of St. John Cantius : Rev. Vincent Wotzka, pastor.
Albany-Church of the Seven Dolors, Rev. Andrew Straub, O. S. B., pas- tor; Rev. Adelbert Unruhe, O. S. B., assistant.
Arban-Sacred Heart church, attended from Holdingford.
Avon-St. Benedict's church, Rev. Leonard Kapsner, O. S. B.
Belgrade-St. Francis de Sales church, Rev. F. S. Hawelka.
Brockway-St. Stephen's church, Rev. John Trobec.
Cold Spring-St. Boniface church, Rev. Maurus Ferdinand, O. S. B.
Collegeville-Church of St. John the Baptist, Rt. Rev. Peter Engel, O. S. B. Eden Valley-Church of the Assumption, Rev. N. J. A. Peiffer. Farming-St. Catherine's church, Rev. Philip Bahner, O. S. B. Freeport-Church of the Sacred Heart, Rev. Meinrad Seifermann, O. S. B. Holdingford-St. Mary's church, Rev. Eugene Scheuer.
Holdingford-St. Hedwig's church, Rev. Raymond Golkowski.
Lake George-Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Rev. Norbert Groth.
Lake Henry-Church of St. Margaret, Rev. William Lange.
Maples-Church of St. Columbkille, attended from Opole.
Meire Grove-Church of St. John the Baptist, Rev. Martin Schmitt, O. S. B.
Melrose-Church of St. Boniface, Right Mgr. Bernard Richter, pastor; Rev. Sebastian Schirmers, assistant.
Melrose-Church of St. Patrick, Rev. Joseph Killian.
New Munich-Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rev. Luke Fink, O. S. B.
Opole-Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Rev. Paul Brenny.
Padua-Church of St. Anthony, Rev. John Fuss.
Pearl Lake-Church of the Holy Cross, Rev. Henry Leuthner.
Richmond-Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Rev. Gregory Steil, O. S. B., pastor; Rev. Bede Mayenberger, O. S. B., assistant.
Roscoe-Church of St. Agnes, Rev. Benno Ferstl, O. S. B.
St Ann, town of Avon-Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rev. John A. Kitowski.
St. Anthony, town of Krain-Church of St. Anthony, Rev. Ignatius Tomazin.
St. Augusta-Church of Mary Help of Christians, Rev. James Walcher.
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St. James-Town of Wakefield, Rev. Julius Locnikar, O. S. B.
St. Joseph-Church of St. Joseph, Rev. Ludger Ehrens, O. S. B.
St. Joseph-St. Benedict's convent and academy, Rev. Henry Borgerd- ing, O. S. B., chaplain.
St. Martin-Church of St. Martin, Rev. Meinulph Stukenkemper, O. S. B. St. Nicholas, town of Luxemburg-Church of St. Nicholas, Rev. Gebhard Schollenberger.
St. Rose, town of Millwood-Church of St. Rose, Rev. Agatho Gehret, O. S. B.
St. Wendelin, town of St. Augusta-Church of St. Wendelin, Rev. Hu- bert Gunderman.
Sauk Centre-Church of St. Paul, Rev. Anthony Arzt.
Sauk Centre-Church of Our Lady of Angels, Rev. Frederik Hinnenkamp. Spring Hill-Church of St. Michael, Rev. Charles Pfeiffer.
Morrison County.
Belle Prairie-Church of the Holy Family, Rev. Michael Barras.
Bowlus-Church of St. Stanislaus, Rev. Joseph Janski.
Buckman-Church of St. Michael, Rev. John Brender.
Flensburg-Church of the Sacred Heart, Rev. Peter Krol.
Lastrop-Church of St. John Nepomucene, Rev. Herman J. Klein. Little Falls-Church of St. Francis Xavier, Rev. Arthur Lamothe.
Little Falls-Church of the Sacred Heart, Rev. J. P. Altendorf.
Little Falls-Church of St. Adalbert, Rev. T. Renkosiak.
North Prairie-Church of the Holy Cross, Rev. S. Szuszynski.
Pierz-Church of St. Joseph, Rev. John G. Stiegler, pastor; Rev. Victor Siegler, assistant.
Platte-Church of the Holy Cross, Rev. John Tokarz (pro tem.).
Royalton-Church of the Holy Trinity, Rev. August Plachta.
Ramey-Church of St. John Nepomucene, Rev. Peter Wollnik, O. S. B. Swan River-Church of St. Stanislaus, Rev. August Gospodar.
Douglas County.
Alexandria-St. Mary's church, Rev. Francis Welp.
Belle River-Church of St. Nicholas, Rev. Emil Steinach.
Millerville-Church of the Seven Dolors, Rev. Ignatius Wippich.
Osakis-Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rev. Joseph Wissendorf.
Ottertail County.
Bluffton-Church of St. John the Baptist, Rev. Frederick Wiechmann. Butler-Church of the Holy Cross, Rev. John Keyers, O. S. C. Effington-Church of the Sacred Heart, Rev. John Sand.
Elizabeth-Church of St. Elizabeth, Rev. John B. Wilkes. Fergus Falls-Church of St. Otto, Rev. George Rauch. Perham-Church of St. Henry, Rev. A. Schaut.
Perham-Church of St. Stanislaus, Rev. S. B. Knzniak.
St. Joseph-Church of St. Joseph, Rev. Vincent Weigand.
St. Lawrence-Church of St. Lawrence, Rev. Joseph Ambauen.
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
Wilkin County.
Breckenridge-Church of the Presentation, Rev. William Gumper. Kent-Church of St. Thomas, Rev. Matthias Butala.
Todd County.
Browerville-Church of St. Joseph, Rev. John Guzdek.
Browerville-Church of St. Peter, Rev. Matthias Billmayer.
Long Prairie-Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Rev. Francis Britscher.
Staples-Church of the Sacred Heart, Rev. Francis Zitur.
Ward Springs-Church of St. Matthew, Rev. Herman Schmitz (pro tem.).
West Union-Church of St. Alexius, Rev. William Scheiner.
Traverse County.
Brown's Valley-Church of St. Anthony, Rev. C. Thiebaut.
Collis-Church of St. Patrick, Rev. Lambert Haupt.
Dumont-Church of St. Peter, Rev. John A. Schritz.
Tintah-Church of St. Gall, Rev. Matthias Hoffmann.
Stevens County.
Chokio-St. Mary's church, Rev. Isidore Hengarten.
Donnelly-Church of St. Theresa, Rev. C. L. Gruenenwald.
Morris-Church of the Assumption, Rev. Edward Jones, pastor ; Rev. John Fearson, assistant.
Sherburne County.
Clear Lake-St. Mark's church, Rev. Michael Scherer.
Benton County.
Duelm-Church of St. Lawrence, Rev. John Musial.
Foley-Church of St. Bridget, Rev. Paul Kuich.
Gilman-Church of St. Adalbert, Rev. J. Dudek.
Mayhew-Church of the Annunciation, Rev. Joseph M. Buscher. Rice-Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rev. Joseph Stephan. St. Patrick's-Church of St. Patrick.
Pope County.
Villard-Church of St. Bartholomew, Rev. Francis Dvorak.
Wadena County.
Verndale-Church of St. Frederick, Rev. H. Yzermans, O. S. C. Wadena-Church of St. Ann, Rev. Francis Lenger.
Mille Lacs County.
Onemia-Church of the Holy Cross, Rev. John van der Holst, O. S. C. Princeton-Church of St. Edward, Rev. Joseph Willenbrink.
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
INSTITUTIONS.
1. St. John's Abbey of the Order of St. Benedict, Collegeville, Minn., Right Rev. Peter Engel, abbot; Very Rev. Herman Bergmann, prior; Very Rev. Michael Ott, sub-prior; Rev. Athanasius Meyer, master of novices; Fath- ers Cornelius Wittman, Francis Mershman, Stanislaus Preiser, John Katzner, Placidus Wingerter, Alexius Hoffmann, Isidore Siegler, Benedict Schmit, Kilian Heid, James Hansen, Raphael Knapp, Fridolin Tembreull, Innocent Gertken, Paul Neussendorfer, Herbert Buerscheinger, Hilary Doerfler, Severin Gertken, Daniel Bangart, David Yuenger, Polycarp Hansen, Joseph Kreuter, Norbert Gertken, Wilfrid Partika, Alphonse Sausen, Edwin Sieben, Lambert Weckwerth, Sebastian Sis; 19 clerics, 6 novices and 30 lay-brothers.
2. St. John's College (legal title : St. John's University), in connection with St. John's Abbey. Right Rev. Peter Engel, O. S. B., Ph. D., president ; Very Rev. Kilian Heid, O. S. B., rector; Rev. Benedict Schmit, O. S B., direc- tor of studies. The above named Fathers of the Abbey constitute the corps of professors.
3. St. Benedict's Convent of Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict, at St. Joseph, Stearns county-Mother Cecilia Kapsner, O. S. B., prioress.
4. St. Benedict's Academy in connection with St. Benedict's Convent.
5. Boarding School for Small Boys, conducted at St. Joseph by the Sis- ters of St. Benedict's Convent.
6. Convent of the Immaculate Conception: mother-house and novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters, at Little Falls. Mother Mary Elizabeth, superior.
7. St. Gabriel's Hospital, at Little Falls; conducted by the Franciscan Sisters.
8. St. Otto's Orphan Asylum, conducted at Little Falls by the Francis- can Sisters.
9. St. James' Hospital, conducted by the Franciscan Sisters at Perham.
10. Academy, conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis, at Belle Prairie.
11. St. Francis Hospital, conducted by the Franciscan Sisters at Breck- enridge; connected with the hospital is a training school for nurses.
12. Convent of the Franciscan Sisters at Collegeville.
13. St. Raphael's Hospital, St. Cloud, conducted by Benedictine Sisters from St. Joseph.
14. St. Joseph's Home for the Aged, St. Cloud, conducted by the Bene- dictine Sisters.
Statistics. Priests, secular, 83; priests, regular, 55; churches with resi- dent pastors, 90; missions, 29; chapels, 12; college, 1; students, 450; diocesan students, 15; academies, 3; students, 238; parochial schools, 22; orphan asy- lum, 1; orphans, 100; hospitals, 4; baptisms (1913), 2,447; deaths, 617; Catho- lic population, about 65,500.
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HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY
CHAPTER XVI.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN STEARNS COUNTY.
Story of the Organization, Growth and Progress of the Parishes-Devout Fathers Who Have Led a Worthy People Into the Higher Ways of Life -Privation and Sacrifice-Notable Results-Structures Around Which Have Centered Many of the Activities of the County-By the Rev. Alexius Hoffmann, O. S. B.
According to the Federal census of 1910 the population of Stearns county was 47,733, only three counties in the state exceeding this number. The vast majority are Catholics of different nationalities, chiefly German, Irish, Slo- venian and Polish.
The pastors of all the congregations are appointed by the bishop, who resides in St. Cloud. Whenever a community is sufficiently numerous and able to support a priest, a resident clergyman is appointed. In other cases the locality is visited by some priest in charge of a church. Localities having a church without a resident priest are called "missions;" there are very few such places in Stearns county at present.
The data for the sketches that follow were collected from parish regis- ters, reports of pastors, files of the "Nordstern," "Times" and "Journal- Press" of St. Cloud, of "Der Wanderer," of St. Paul, of "The Diocese of St. Cloud," by Bishop Zardetti, a manuscript account of the work of the benedic- tines in the missions from 1856 to 1875 by Abbot Alexius Edelbrock, and other sources. It is not claimed that the present sketches are complete in every particular; perhaps this effort will be an inducement for local pastors to fill in what is wanting and thus prepare the way for a more comprehensive history of the churches. This is the first time that a historical sketch of all the Catholic churches of the county is attempted and this fact will explain in- accuracies and omissions on the part of one who has not had an opportunity to study the records of every parish.
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