History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume I, Part 31

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 964

USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume I > Part 31

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Church of St. Anthony. The Austrian settlers in the township of Krain were visited as early as 1869 by Prior Benedict Haindl, O. S. B., of St. Louis Abbey ; he is said to have held services there several times between May, 1869, and May, 1872. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Buh, who, in turn, was suc- ceeded in 1873 by Father Bernard (later Abbot) Locnikar. At his suggestion the people built a log and frame church, costing about $1,500, which was dedi-

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cated June 14, 1874. In August, 1877, Father Vincent Schiffrer, O. S. B., was appointed as successor to Father Bernard, and continued to attend the place until 1888. His successor was Father Cyril Zupan, O. S. B., from April, 1888, to 1893, when the Benedictines were replaced by secular priests.

Pastors since 1893: Revs. Ignatius Lager, February to October, 1893; William Gumper, who attended from Long Prairie, to August 1, 1894; John B. Brender, also from Long Prairie, to 1895. The first resident pastor was Rev. Joseph P. Altendorf, September, 1895, to October, 1896; he was followed by Revs. Charles Pfeiffer, 1896, to December, 1900; Joseph A. Stephan, Janu- ary, 1901, to April, 1910; M. N. Brommenschenkel, 1910-1911; the present pas- tor is Rev. Ignatius Tomazin, since August, 1911.

The present church was built in 1900 by Rev. Charles Pfeiffer, and fur- nished by his successor.

In 1876 the number of families was 24; in 1908, 120.

Societies : St. Anthony's Society, organized June 13, 1887, with 29 mem- bers; present membership, 64. Officers: President, Henry Welters; treasurer, Herman Vorgert ; secretary, John Knops.

A Benevolent Society organized 1898. President, Henry Welters; secre- tary, Joseph Menth.

LAKE GEORGE.

Church of SS. Peter and Paul. Although one of the oldest settlements in the county, Lake George was without a church for many years. The present church is situated near the east line of section 21 in Lake George township. The Catholic settlers in these parts were visited by Benedictine Fathers from St. Joseph between 1857 and 1859, and subsequently were attached to the parish of Spring Hill. The first steps toward organization were taken in December, 1889, when a delegation waited upon Bishop Zardetti at St. Cloud and were permitted to proceed. In 1891 the first frame church was built, and dedicated in honor of SS. Peter and Paul by Monsignor Joseph P. Bauer, July 12, 1892. At first services were held once a month by Rev. Charles A. Gunkel, the pastor of Spring Hill. Subsequently it was visited by the priest stationed at Belgrade. On November 1, 1896, Rev. Hubert Gundermann was appointed the first resident pastor. He was followed in August, 1897, by the present pastor, Rev. Norbert Groth.

The first Catholic settler (1856) was Gerard Stalberger, and the second John Felling. The first marriage in the town was that of Gerard Stalberger and Anna Mayer, in 1857. Their eldest child was also the first birth in the town, in the fall of 1859, and was also the first death, the infant dying at the age of three months. (Hist. Upper Miss. Vall. p. 424.)

Number of families in 1890, 50; in 1908, 60.

LAKE HENRY.

Church of St. Margaret. St. Margaret's Church stands in section 14 of the township of Lake Henry. According to the statement of an early settler the first mass was celebrated in the house of Xavier Poepping by Rev. Francis Pirz in 1855. For several years the settlement was visited by priests from St.

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Cloud and St. Joseph. Later the Catholics of the township were members of either the church at Spring Hill or of that at St. Martin.

In the winter of 1880 a number of settlers in Lake Henry met at the house of George Kraemer to discuss the organization of a separate parish. It was due chiefly to the untiring efforts of Michael Kraemer that permission was secured to build a church and form a congregation. The first church was a frame structure, 36 by 50, and its cost was about $1,500. It was begun in the spring of 1882 and dedicated July 20, of the same year, by Bishop Seiden- busch. The sum of $325 was expended for furnishing the church, of this $250 was the gift of Michael Kraemer, the founder. In 1884, under the pastorate of Rev. Anthony Capser, the church was extended 12 feet and a steeple 75 feet high was built at an expense of $1,500.

The first parsonage was built in 1887 at a cost of about $1,700.

Number of families in 1913, 63; 375 souls, all Germans.

Pastors: The Benedictine Fathers-Stanislaus Preiser, who resided at St. Martin, 1881-83; Anthony Capser, 1883-1885; Leo Winter, who at first visited from Farming, but was appointed resident pastor, July 1, 1886, and remained until 1894, when the Benedictines withdrew. Secular priests : Revs. William Lange, 1894-1899; Isidore Hengarten, 1899-1901; John Gratz, 1901- 1903; Joseph Mayrhofer, February, 1903, to September, 1910; the present pastor, Rev. William Lange, since September, 1910.

LUXEMBURG.

Church of St. Wendelin. The settlement ealled Luxemburg is in the west- ern part of the township of St. Augusta, and about eight miles from St. Cloud. A congregation was organized April 11, 1859, by Father Clement Staub, who on this day for the first time officiated in the house of Henry Reding. It was also the only time that Father Clement officiated in the settlement. He called a mecting of the settlers, at which a place for a church, and also a titular for it were selected. The first church was a frame building. From this time the mission was visited from St. Augusta. The visiting fathers lodged with Red- ing, Diedrich and Moos families. For some years services were held only once a month. (Notes of Abbot A. Edelbrock.) The first church was 24 by 35 and was built on section 19 in the township of St. Augusta.

Father Valentine Stimmler drew the plans and supervised the erection of the present church. Its dimensions are 58 by 112, and the material used is granite boulders. "In the spring of 1872 work was commenced and the corner stone was laid by Abbot Seidenbush, July 28, 1872. The walls were raised about 6 feet that year when funds ran out. Operations were resumed in the spring, 1873, and that year the church was completed, except the tower and plastering. On Christmas day Father Valentine celebrated the first mass in it. In the spring of 1874 the church was plastered." (St. Cloud Times, Octo- ber 20, 1897.) It was dedicated by Bishop Seidenbusch July 4, 1875. The tower was finished in 1888.

The present parsonage was built in 1875 by the first resident pastor, Father Ignatius Wesseling, at a cost of about $2,400.

St. Wendelin's was visited by priests from St. Cloud and St. Augusta until

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1875. From 1858-1870 it was visited by Fathers Benedict Haindl, Anschar Frauendorfer, Cornelius Wittmann and other Benedictine Fathers from the abbey (now St. John's). Until 1909 the respective pastors also attended the mission of Pearl Lake.

Number of families in 1913, 64.

Pastors since 1871: The Benedictine Fathers-Valentine Stimmler, March, 1871, to November, 1875; Ignatius Wesseling, the first resident priest, No- vember, 1875, to October, 1877; Willibrord Mahowald, to 1878; Meinulph Stu- kenkemper, 1879-1880; Pancratius Maehren, February, 1881 to May 26, 1882; Andrew Straub, to February 1, 1883; Benedict Haindl, to January 13, 1885; Louis Salzeder, May, 1886, to February 20, 1888; Stephen Koefler, August, 1888, to May 22, 1889; Wolfgang Steinkogler, to August, 1892; Paul Retten- maier, to April, 1894, when the Benedictines retired. Secular priests : Revs. Isidore Hengarten, 1894-1896; John Wernich, 1896 to May, 1908; the present pastor, Rev. Hubert Gundermann, since May 28, 1908.

The principal society in the parish is the St. Wendelin Benevolent Society, organized November 3, 1895, by the pastor, Rev. I. Hengarten. Original mem- bership, 18; present membership, 38. President, Henry Hansen; vice-president, Stephen Schaefer; secretary, John B. Otto; treasurer, Paul Bach.

Church of St. Nicholas. Fifty years ago the settlers living in the town- ship of Luxemburg attended divine service at either Richmond, Jacob's Prairie or at St. Wendel in the township of St. Augusta. A number of Catholic set- tlers came here first in 1855. Father Clement Staub, O. S. B., who was sta- tioned at St. Joseph, visited the settlement in 1857 or 1858 and said mass for the first time in the house of John Theisen. Subsequently Fathers Bruno Riss and Matthew Stuerenberg officiated in a school house. In 1866 the number of families had grown so great that it was necessary to build a church. The late Nicholas Schmit, a member of the congregation, donated forty acres of land for the church, on condition that it be called the church of St. Nicholas. It was built near the northern line of section two, about three miles south of Cold Spring. From the year 1866, when the church was built, till 1881, the mission was visited by priests from St. James or from Richmond. A parsonage was built in 1881 and since that time the parish has had a resident pastor.

About 1888 the church was no longer large enough for the congregation and the erection of a new church was discussed; the numerous parishioners who lived in the southern sections of the township insisted that it be built in the center, while others favored the original site for which land had been donated. As the episcopal see of St. Cloud was at the time vacant, the ques- tion remained undecided until the arrival of Bishop Zardetti, who sustained the view of the majority and authorized the building of a new church about three and a half miles farther south. As a result a number of families living in the northern sections joined the Cold Spring congregation.

The contract for building the new church was let September 8, 1890, to John Heimann of St. Cloud; it was to be a frame church, and to be at some later date venecred with brick. The dimensions were 52 by 149 and the cost $8,275. Bishop Zardetti dedicated it in 1891. The Benedictine Fathers, who had served for thirty-five years, withdrew in September, 1892, when a secular

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priest, Rev. Joseph Bastian, was placed in charge. He had the church ve- neered with brick at a cost of $3,880. The church was incorporated in 1895. On May 24 of the present year it was destroyed by fire.

Pastors : The Benedictine Fathers-Clement Staub, Bruno Riss and Mat- thew Stuerenberg, who visited the mission from St. Joseph from 1857-66; Anschar Frauendorfer, from Richmond, 1866-71; Joseph Vill, from the abbey, to 1872; Simplicius Wimmer, July to September, 1873; Vincent Schiffrer, from Jacob's Prairie, 1873-77; Leo Winter, 187 to November, 1879; Joseph Vill, resident, to July, 1882; Conrad Glatzmaier, May 3, 1883, to January 22, 1885; Paul Rettenmaier, to August, 1885; Simplicius Wimmer, 1885, to September, 1890; Jerome Heider, to March, 1892. Secular Priests-Revs. Joseph Bastian, from August 14, 1892, to February, 1895; Anthony Arzt, 1895-1896; Isidore Hengarten, May, 1896, to December, 1897; John B. Brender, January to Au- gust, 1898; Nicholas Peiffer, from St. Cloud, August to December, 1898; Thomas Fassbind, January 1, 1899, to the day of his death, February 17, 1911; Herman J. Klein, from March, 1911, to June, 1914; the present rector, Rev. Gebhard Schollenberger, since June of the present year.

The principal society connected with the church is the St. Nicholas So- ciety, organized Dec. 6, 1892, with 35 members. Present membership, 100, of which 38 have joined the state association. President, John Theisen; vice- president, Mat. Biessener; secretary, Peter Schwartz; treasurer, Theodore Schreiner.

MAPLES.

Church of St. Columbkille. In the northwestern part of the township of St. Wendel there was a little settlement of Irish Catholics as early as 1867. They requested the abbot of St. Louis-on-the-Lake, some eight miles distant, to send them a priest, and were so fortunate as to secure one that perfectly understood their language and their needs, Father Augustine Burns, O. S. B., The place was visited once a month at first, and more frequently later on by Benedictines until 1890, when it was attended from Brockway, by the priest residing there. Subsequently it was in charge of the secular priest stationed at Avon or at Holdingford.

The following Benedictine Fathers attended the mission: Fathers Au- gustine Burns, 1867-1870; Wolfgang Northman, 1870-1873; Ulric Northman, 1873-1876; Francis Mershman, February, 1876, to September, 1879; Anthony Capser, 1879, to November 26, 1883; Xavier White, January 27, 1884, to March, 1890.

In 1906 a resident priest was appointed in the person of Rev. Michael Cau- ley, who died May 22, 1910. He was temporarily succeeded by Father Benno Ferstl, O. S. B., from June to August of the same year. The place has not had a resident priest since.

The first church was built in 1877, on section 6; it was a frame building 50 by 36.

MEIRE GROVE.

Church of St. John the Baptist. The village takes its name from one of the earliest Catholic settlers in the township of Grove, Henry Meyer. The first

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Catholic settlers came in 1857. During the first year they were so far from a church that they met at the house of Henry Meyer on Sundays where they recited prayers and listened to devout readings by one of their number. Upon Mr. Meyer's invitation Father Clement Staub, O. S. B., for the first time visited the settlement in the fall of 1858 and celebrated mass on a carpenter's work bench fitted up as an altar, in the house of Henry Schaefer. After Father Clement Father Bruno Riss, O. S. B., visited the place several times. His suc- cessor, Father Matthew Stuerenberg, O. S. B., (1862-1864) built the first church near the lake in 1864. The church property-ten acres-was donated by Henry and Herman Meyer.

The log church soon proved too small for the growing parish, and in 1871, Father Anschar Frauendorfer, who visited the mission from 1864-1872, built a frame church 80 by 30 near the present cemetery. From 1872-1874 the pastor was Father Meinulph Stukenkemper, who attended twice a month from New Munich, five miles distant. During all this time the Fathers, when they came to the settlement for services, were hospitably entertained at the house of Henry Meyer. Father Simplicius Wimmer in 1874 built a small frame par- sonage and in the fall of that year the parish received its first resident pastor, Father Burkard Bauernschubert, who in 1875 returned to Europe, where he died several years ago. His successor was Father Wolfgang Northman, who from this point also attended Sauk Centre and Rooney's Settlement. His useful career was cut short by his sudden death on February 8, 1876. Father Anselm Sauthner was pastor for the short space of only four months; he was followed by Father Pancratius Maehren, May, 1876, to February 2, 1881. For a second time Father Meinulph Stukenkemper was appointed pastor. During 1858-1886 the present stately church was built and dedicated July 20, 1886. After presiding over the parish for twenty-five years and three months he was appointed pastor of St. Martin, May 6, 1906, and was followed by the present pastor, Father Martin Schmitt. All the priests stationed at Meire Grove have been Benedictines.

The present parsonage is built of brick; it dates from the days of Father Pancratius (1876-1881), but a large addition was built by his successor in 1898. Two years ago Father Martin renovated the basement of the church.

Societies : St. Joseph Society, organized June 2, 1872, with 35 members; re-organized by Father Meinulph in 1882 with 95 members; present member- ship, 80. President, Richard Nathe; vice-president, George Leukamp; secre- tary, Joseph Imdieke ; treasurer, Herman Meyer, Sr.

St. John's Society, organized 1904. Present officers: President, Bernard Wehlage ; secretary, Henry G. Meyer; treasurer, John Caspers. 45 members.

MELROSE.

Church of St. Boniface. In 1878 twelve German families separated from St. Patrick's, the first Catholic parish in Melrose, and formed the St. Boniface congregation under the direction of Father Paul Rettenmaier, O. S. B. A frame church, 30 by 90 and costing about $3,000 was built on the northwest corner of block 33 of the original townsite in 1879. A parochial school was built on the same block while Father William Eversmann, O. S. B., was pastor,

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and a parsonage was built in 1889 at the cost of $1500. The number of families in 1891 was 130 and about 300 ehildren attended the parochial school.

An extension was built to the church in 1895 but in 1897 work was com- menced on the present stately church which is the largest in the county. It is built of red brick with granite facings; its dimensions are 65 by 184, and the east front is flanked by two towers. The cost of this church exclusive of fur- niture was about $50,000. On May 1, 1898 the corner stone was laid, and the dedication took place on June 7, 1899, Bishop Trobec officiating. A chime of five bells was bought in 1903 and a large pipe organ in 1905. In 1912 the church was decorated by the Associated Artists of Milwaukee.

The present parsonage is built of red brick and was erected in the year 1907.

The old frame school was destroyed by fire January 5, 1910; for the rest of the year the school was conducted in the basement of the church. In the meantime the present school was built opposite the church. The material used is red brick. In the basement is a gymnasium and a hall. The school rooms which are capable of accommodating 450 children are 30 by 27, and 12 feet high. Its cost was $45,000. It was opened in January, 1911.

Pastors: The Benedictine Fathers-Paul Rettenmaier, 1878-1880; Mein- rad Leuthard, who died of small pox contracted while visiting one of his par- ishioners, November 28, 1881, and was buried at Melrose; William Eversmann, November, 1881, to July 12, 1891; Lawrence Steinkogler, to April, 1894, when the Benedictines withdrew.

Secular Priests-Rt. Rev. Msgr. Bernard Richter took charge in June, 1894; he was made an irremovable rector in May, 1911, and in the following year was created a domestic prelate to Pope Piux X. Since 1895 the pastor has had an assistant, who also had charge of St. Patrick's Church, until it received a resident pastor two years ago. (See St. Patrick's.) Since 1910 the assistant at St. Boniface confines his labors to this parislı. The first as- sistant was Rev. Eugene Scheuer, from July, 1910, to July, 1913; present assistant, Rev. S. Sehirmers, July, 1913, to date.

Societies: St. Joseph Society, organized 1887 with 44 members, among whom were Joseph Kraker, Joseph Trisko, Henry H. Hinnenkamp, Gerhard Richter and Henry Borgerding. Present membership, 165. Officers: Presi- dent, Henry Hinnenkamp; vice-president, Henry Niehaus; treasurer, Joseph J. Hilt; secretary, Gerhard Richter.

St. Bernard Benevolent Society, founded June 5, 1905, with 18 members. Present membership, 114.

Young Men's Sodality ; Catholie Order of Foresters; Knights of Columbus.

St. Patrick's Church. "The first priests who visited this place held mass in the houses of William Chambers and Samuel Brown, but the date cannot be ascertained. The first priest who made regular visits was Rev. Augustin Burns, O. S. B. The present church was built in 1872 and dedicated by Right Rev. Abbot Seidenbuseh. When the church was organized, there were but four or five families, now there are over forty families encircled within its fold. A parish house for the priest has also just been completed." (History Upper Mississippi Valley, 1881, p. 434.)

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While Father Augustine attended Melrose, it was, at least since 1871, the terminus of the St. Vincent division of the St. Paul & Pacific Railway; he visited this and other settlements in the western part of the county. Subse- quently the Benedictine Fathers stationed at Meire Grove held services here. in 1880. After his transfer in 1884 it was in charge of the pastor of St. Boni- to form a new congregation, which built St. Boniface Church. St. Patrick's Church received a resident pastor in the person of Rev. Clement V. Gamache in 1880. After his transfer in 1884 it was in charge of the pastor of St. Boni- face Church until 1895. From that time to 1910 it was attended by the assist- ant priest of St. Boniface Church. A resident pastor has been connected with the church since the summer of 1910.

Pastors since 1895: Revs. Richard Zoller, 1895-1898; Herman J. Klein, 1898; James Walcher, 1899-1902; William Scheiner, 1902; Vincent Weigand, 1902 to 1905; George Rauch, 1905-1908; James Walcher, 1908 to October, 1911 (resident at St. Patrick's since 1910) ; Rev. Francis Welp, 1911 to June, 1914; Rev. Joseph Killian, since June of the present year.

MILLWOOD.

Church of St. Rose. In 1898 Father Pancratius Maehren, O. S. B., pastor of the church of the Sacred Heart at Freeport, organized the congregation of St. Rose in the township of Millwood, the membership being made up of families that had belonged to the church at Freeport. A brick-veneer church was built in 1901. The first services were held in it November 22 of the same year by Father Ambrose Lethert, O. S. B., then pastor of Freeport, and regular services have been held ever since that time.

The following priests visited St. Rose from St. John's Abbey: Fathers Alto Walter, May, 1902-June, 1903; Bonaventure Hansen, to October, 1904. Father Agatho Gehret, O. S. B., is resident pastor since 1904.

Societies : St. Joseph Society, organized May 10, 1908; Society of Chris- tian Mothers, organized January 6, 1904.

NEW MUNICH.

Church of the Immaculate Conception. New Munich is the oldest settle- ment in the township of Oak. The settlers were visited for the first time by Father Clement Staub, O. S. B., in 1857, and a congregation was organized that year. In 1858 Father Clement baptized the first child born in the settle- ment, Christina Hoppe, daughter of Henry Hoppe. A small church was built in 1862 by Father Pius Bayer; it was a log house like all the rest. Ten years passed before it was replaced by a frame building, 100 by 45, which was dedi- cated June 17, 1873, by Bishop Thomas L. Grace, of St. Paul, in whose diocese New Munich was in those days. An extension was later built to it, and a tall steeple erected in 1882.

The present church, an imposing edifice in the Romanesque style of archi- tecture, with two towers, was begun in June, 1910, and was consecrated by Bishop Trobec, December 14, 1911. The foundation is built of granite found in the township; the material of the superstructure is brick of the best quality.

REV. LUKE FINK

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH

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There are three marble altars, imported from Italy, and all the windows are of stained glass. The latest improvement in the church was the installation of a pipe organ during the fall of the present year.

The first resident priest had built a small frame house in 1864; a larger frame house was built in 1874, which has been replaced by one of brick. It was built in 1911. In 1892 the congregation consisted of 138 families. A number of them joined the Freeport congregation, and the present number of families is only about 130, almost all German.

First marriage in the township, Hubert Rieland and Anna Thelen, June 24, 1864, Rev. Matthew Stuerenberg officiating. First death, Herman Uhlen- kott. Confirmation was administered here for the first time by Bishop Grace in 1863. The first church choir was organized by Henry Duerr.

From notes by one of the pastors, we learn that during the Indian troubles a sod fort was built around the old church (in 1862) ; traces of the fort were still visible in 1891.

Pastors: The Benedictine Fathers-Clement Staub, 1857-1861; Pius Bayer, 1861-1862; Bruno Riss, 1862-1864; the first resident priest Matthew Stuerenberg, 1864-1867; Anschiar Frauendorfer, 1867-1872; Meinulph Stuken- kemper, 1872 to November, 1874; Benedict Haindl, to November, 1875; No- vember 5, 1875, to March, 1880; Augustine Brockmeyer, May, 1880, to January 22, 1885; Conrad Glatzmeier, to August 10, 1888; Severin Gross, to September, 1890; Timothy Vaeth, to September 2, 1894; Leo Winter, to September 14, 1904; Ludger Ehrens, to 1906; Alfred Mayer, to 1907; William Eversmann to September, 1909; the present pastor, Father Luke Fink, since September, 1909.

The principal societies in the parish are: St. Joseph's Society, organized 1875. Present membership, 105, of which number 62 have joined the state association. Officers: President, Joseph G. Wieber; secretary, Joseph Rie- land, Jr .; treasurer, Henry Schaffer.

Society of Our Lady of Good Counsel; 51 members. President, Mrs. Eliza- beth Humbert ; secretary, Anna Klapprich ; treasurer, Emma Rose.

NEW PAYNESVILLE.

Church of St. Louis. This mission was attended from Eden Valley, 1898 to 1905, and for a number of years from Belgrade. In April, 1899, "nearly $1,000 was raised among the business men and others interested for the pur- pose of aiding in the establishment of a Catholic mission at New Paynesville." -St. Cloud Times, April 27, 1899. A church was built that summer and dedi- cated by Bishop Trobec, September 13, of the same year. The pastor at the time was Rev. Isidore Hengarten of Eden Valley. Among the organizers of the parish were J. L. McGenty, John G. Leyendecker, Archie Pelkey and others.

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History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume I, Part 31

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 964

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 964