History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume I, Part 33

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 33

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Father Pierz, who was seventy years of age, when St. Cloud was born, welcomed the arrival of younger forces to take part of the burden from his shoulders. In May, 1856, three Benedictine Fathers came from St. Vincent's Abbey in Pennsylvania to devote themselves to missionary labor among the German Catholic settlers of the territory of Minnesota. Father Pierz was not in the county at the time of their arrival, but had left a note for them at Sauk Rapids, turning over to them the little log chapel at that place and a few altar appurtenances. The Fathers concluded not to remain at Sank Rapids and settled on the other side of the Mississippi river a few weeks after their arrival.

Father Cornelius Wittmann, who had been ordained May 17, 1856, was appointed pastor of St. Cloud in June. With the energy and zeal of a youth-

242

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

ful priest he pushed the completion of the church begun at the instance of Father Pirz; in the meantime he officiated in the house of Joseph Edelbrock. In the fall of the same year he opened a school in a small building placed at his disposal by Mr. Edelbrock, and personally taught his pupils the "three R's" and the catechism. Shortly, however, his missionary duties claimed so much of his time that he could not continue to act as a school-master. On June 20, 1857, several Benedictine Sisters from St. Mary's, Elk county, Pa., came, upon his invitation, to teach the school.

The first official publication read before the parishioners was the follow- ing, on June 30, 1856: "Henceforth there will be vespers and religious in- struction at 3 o'clock on Sundays and holy days of obligation. Next Friday, the Fourth of July, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, high mass will be celebrated at 9 a. m." From July 13-20, Rev. F. X. Weninger, S. J., conducted a mission in the parish. In a printed account of the exer- cises we are told that when at the close he had erected a mission cross and delivered a sermon in English for the benefit of the "Americans" present, the latter presented him an address of thanks.

In 1857 Joseph Niehaus donated ten acres for a cemetery, and a bell was bought for $200. From 1858-1862 St. Cloud had no regular Sunday serv- ices. Priests from the college south of the village, officiated at different times, the name of Prior Benedict Haindl is frequently met with. So strong had been the stream of immigration that the number of settlements was far in excess of that of priests.

A glimpse of church life of those days is given us in a letter written by a French priest traveling to Pembina with a Red River caravan. Father Mestre, O. M. I., writes as follows of his visit to St. Cloud : "Sunday, August 1, 1861, about 6 o'clock in the morning, we crossed the Mississippi, a short distance above the Rapids des Sacs (Sauk rapids) and half an hour later we stopped at the little village of St. Cloud near a small Catholic chapel in which a Benedictine Father officiates. We met the Rev. pastor himself. When he recognized us as priests, he bade us a cordial welcome and permitted me and my companion, Father Moulin, to say mass; he gave us his best altar plate and even served me during the function, which edified me exceedingly. How we would have been pleased to spend the day with him! but our traveling companions would not stay, as they were anxious to reach the sixty carts that were waiting for us." (Ann. Prop. of the Faith. XXIX, 462.) A foot-note states that the congregation of "St. Claudius" consisted of 120 families.

From 1861-1863 the mission of St. Cloud was visited by Father Clement Staub, who made preparations to build a large church, but his transfer to St. Paul left the work for other hands. St. Cloud saw days of excitement during the Indian outbreak of 1862. The settlers fled from their farms into town and although no hostile Indians showed themselves, the pastor had his hands full endeavoring to calm the fears of the fugitives.

Father Clement's successor was Father Meinulph Stukenkemper, who im- mediately took up the work begun by his predecessor and built the present church of the Immaculate Conception, which is to this day one of the most imposing churches in the county. In 1864 a fair was held in the court house

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCHI

ST. MARY'S SCHOOL

REV. ALFRED MAYER

243

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

and the proceeds, $600, were donated to the building fund. The corner stone was laid July 10, 1864, by Bishop Grace, of St. Paul, and the same prelate dedicated the church on December 10, 1865. It stands at the corner of St. Germain street and Ninth avenue; its dimensions are 145 by 64 and the style is Gothic. The foundation is built of boulders and the superstructure of red brick. The contract for the briek work was awarded to Fuchs & Co., of St. Joseph. The whole cost of building was about $20,000. It was impossible to raise such a sum at St. Cloud in those days; hence Father Meinulph made a tour of the Eastern states to solicit contributions. In July, 1867, the steeple was completed.

The present parsonage was built by Father Meinulph in 1868. It is a brick structure 46 by 65, two stories high, and was at the time one of the fin- est residences in the city. It was finished in 1869 and cost about $8,000.

On February 2, 1868, Rev. Gustave Mockenhanpt, son of one of the first members of the parish, celebrated his first mass in this church. He had studied with the Benedictine Fathers near St. Cloud, had finished his theological studies at St. Francis seminary, near Milwaukee, Wis., and had been ordained a priest on January 3, 1868. His edifying career was very short, for he died the same year, September 26, at Centralia, Illinois, at the age of 31 years.

The church had already been furnished with a large organ, built by S. Stoeckling at St. Cloud. Daniel Huhn, the first school teacher, was also the organist. The very first organ had been bought many years before from a per- son in Sank Rapids, for $300, which sum John Tenvoorde collected in the parish in a single day.

In June, 1872, Father Meinnlph was appointed pastor of New Munich and was succeeded at St. Cloud by Father Benedict Haindl, whose venerable appearance and unaffected piety made him respected and beloved by all. Dur- ing this time there were generally three priests at St. Cloud; two of them were missionaries, who visited the missions and stations in the southern part of Stearns and in the northern part of Meeker county. On April 26, 1874, Father Benedict celebrated the silver jubilee, or twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination. For this occasion the church was in festive attire; the soci- eties and school children escorted the jubilarian to the sanctuary, where his religious superior, Rt. Rev. Abbot Rupert Seidenbusch, and a number of his brethren in the priesthood had assembled to assist at the celebration. In November, 1874, he was transferred to New Munieh and received a successor in the person of Father Alphonse Kuisle.

Father Alphonse was a man of considerable ability and energy, but his health was poor, and he generally required the services of an assistant. On May 30, 1875, Bishop Rupert Seidenbusch was consecrated in this church and resided at the parsonage for a year, until he purchased an episcopal residence. Five months later Abbot Alexius Edelbrock received abbatial benedietion in the same church. The preparations for all these great functions engaged much of the pastor's time. Early in 1876 he organized a society for the support of the church. It was called the St. Joseph Church Society and its first officers were: President, Xavier Braun; vice-president, J. H. Billig; treasurer, F. Battenburg; secretary, G. Hagedorn. In August of the same

244

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

year, the pastor visited Europe and returned towards the end of the year. In the meantime his superior had transferred him to Richmond and had ap- pointed as his successor, Father Severin Gross, who assumed charge in Octo- ber, 1876.

On July 31, 1878, Father Severin celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination. In March, 1879, he bought two bells, which were conse- crated by Bishop Seidenbusch, on the thirtieth of the same month. In Octo- ber of the same year he bought a tower clock, which, to this day is the only clock of its kind in the city. By the organization of the Cathedral parish in 1884, the congregation lost a number of families, but it was, and still is, a large parish. As the original cemetery was no longer large enough and the city was growing up around it, the two parishes jointly purchased fifteen acres on a hill, south of the city, for a new cemetery, and the old one was discontinued. The congregation lamented the loss of four families which perished in the cyclone of April 14, 1886.

A parochial school was built in 1887; it was a very modest frame struc- ture, one story high, with accommodations for about 180 children. When it was opened in the fall, 113 children were enrolled, and three Benedictine Sisters were employed as teachers. In the same year Father Severin founded a school society, the object of which was to raise a fund for educating poor children who could not pay the school money.

Father Severin was transferred to New Munich in 1888, after twelve years of devoted labor and was succeeded by Father Gregory Steil, who, for sixteen years conducted the parish in the spirit of his exemplary predecessors. During his pastorate the church debt was completely paid off, a chapel was built in Calvary cemetery in 1889; in 1893 the interior of the church was deco- rated by George F. Satory, and the plain windows replaced by stained glass. His principal monument is the parochial school building, which was erected at the cost of $26,000 and was dedicated October 18, 1896. It is a fine brick building, three stories high with a basement, and has accommodations for 650 children.

In 1904 Father Gregory was promoted to the office of sub-prior at St. John's Abbey and Father William Eversmann was appointed pastor in his place. The new pastor found everything in good order both in the church and in the school. He walked faithfully in the footsteps of his predecessors and took great interest in the progress of the school and in the development of the societies. In 1908 the parish celebrated the golden jubilee of its exist- ence. Early in 1907 Father William was transferred to New Munich and was succeeded by Father Alfred Mayer. During his pastorate the congregation has been incorporated, and a council of twelve parishioners organized to assist the pastor in administering the temporal concerns of the parish. A hand- some residence was built for the Benedictine Sisters employed as teachers in the parochial school. Three years ago the church was redecorated and im- portant changes made in the sanctuary. The parsonage and the grounds were improved. The most recent achievement of the parish is the establishment of St. Mary's hall, a Catholic club house. It is a one-story brick building, with a basement, and contains an auditorium, a gymnasium, bowling alleys, read-

ST. MARY'S CONVENT AND HALL

245

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

ing room, etc. The building was dedicated by Bishop Trobec, November 30, 1911.

Since 1872 the pastor has been assisted by one or more priests, among them were Fathers Boniface Moll, 1872-1874; Paul Rettenmaier, 1880-1881 ; Ildephonse Molitor, 1881-1882; Leo Winter, 1883-1885; Wolfgang Steinkogler, 1885-1886; Francis Mershman, from the Abbey, 1888-90; Herman Bergbann, from the Abbey, 1891-95; Martin Schmitt, 1896-98; Leonard Kapsner, 1898- 1899; Meinard Seifermann, 1899-1902; Werner Schneppenheim, to whom great credit is due in connection with the building of St. Mary's hall, 1902-1912, and Eugene Woerdehoff, October, 1913, to spring, 1914.

The present pastor is Rev. Father Gerard Spielmann, who succeeded Father Alfred, September 1, 1914. He is supported by Fathers Vincent Schif- frer, Hildebrand Eichhoff, since 1912, and Alto Walter, since September of 1914.

Societies: St. Joseph's benevolent society, organized 1856; in 1887 it joined the R. C. Benevolent Union ; St. Mary's Court, No. 744, C. O. F., organ- ized 1897; membership abont 130; St. Margaret branch society of the R. C. Benevolent Union organized 1899; has about 300 active members; St. Anne's Sodality, organized 1856, about 200 members; St. Gertrude's Sodality, organ- ized 1858, about 185 members; Sodalities of SS. Benedict and Scholastica, for children; the Catholic club, founded 1910; corps of cadets, organized by Father Hildebrand in 1913.

Church of St. John Cantius. The earliest attempt to organize a congre- gation among the Polish Catholics of St. Cloud dates back to August, 1887, when Rev. John Sroka, with permission of the bishop, called a meeting and collected $500 towards a building fund. In April, 1893, Rev. A. J. Kitowski was authorized to organize a parish, but nothing decisive was done before October, 1900, when a congregation was formed by Rev. August Gospodar, pastor of North Prairie. At first services were held in a hall near the present church.

The corner-stone for the present church was laid by Bishop Trobec, on July 7, 1901, and the church was dedicated December 27, 1901, by the same prelate. The cost of construction was about $9,000; the dimensions are 44 by 104, the material, granite and red brick. It stands at the corner of Third street and Sixteenth avenue North. In 1902 a parsonage costing $6,000 and a parochial school were built. A chime of three bells was placed in the belfry in 1904.

Pastors: Revs. August Gospodar, of North Prairie, 1901-1904; Leo Stein, of Duelm, resident at St. Cloud, from January to June, 1905; August Plachta, 1905-1906; Stephen Plaza, 1906-1907; John Kromolicki, 1907-1911, the present pastor, Rev. Vincent Wotzka, since 1911.

ST. JOSEPH.

Church of St. Joseph. A congregation was organized among the settlers on St. Joseph's prairie, by Rev. F. Pierz, of Crow Wing, on January 21, 1855. He is said to have celebrated the first mass in the house of Martin Fiedler, in November, 1854. Subsequently he also officiated in other private houses,

246

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

and for some time in a school house that stood near the present church. In the spring, 1856, a log church, 20 by 32, was built. Here Rev. F. X. Weninger, S. J., held mission services in August of the same year, and from the sixteenth of that month the Benedictines, who had come to Stearns county in May, took charge of the congregation. Father Bruno Riss, O. S. B., was the first resident pastor, and besides holding regular Sunday services at St. Joseph, also vis- ited the congregations at Jacobs' Prairie and at Richmond.

The log church, with some slight alterations, served as a church for four- teen years. The present church was commenced in 1869. Bishop Thomas L. Grace blessed the corner stone on June 5 of that year, and consecrated the church June 29, 1871. It was the first church consecrated in the state of Minnesota. Its dimensions are 66 by 150, the material, granite boulders, and its cost was about $28,000. In 1874, the present parsonage, 36 by 44, was built of the same material, and the tower of the church was completed in 1884. In 1885 there was still a debt of $10,000 on the church and parsonage, but the greater part of it was paid off by the pastors between 1886 and 1892. In 1888 a stone winter chapel was built between the church and the parson- age. The church was decorated and many needed repairs and improvements made in 1895. About this time, too, the church debt was entirely wiped out. In June, 1899, the old pipe organ was replaced by a larger one that cost about $3,000. Four new bells were bought in 1902 and the old ones were dis- posed of; a tower clock was installed in 1905. The present pastor remodelled the interior of the church and supplied it with a steam-heating plant. The church was re-decorated after being remodelled.

During the first and second year of the existence of the congregation and again in 1877 this region was devastated by grasshoppers. Since that time it has been the custom of the parish to hold processions annually on June 5, the feast of St. Boniface, and on September 6, the feast of St. Magnus. The first procession of the kind was held in 1857, when the congregations of St. Cloud, St. Joseph and Jacobs' Prairie took part.

The first school was opened near the church September 1, 1856, and the first teacher was John Daxacher, who subsequently became a priest, and after serving for many years in the diocese of Omaha, died November 18, 1904. The first marriage was that of Mr. and Mrs. Nic. Jacoby, and a daughter of Bal- thasar Fuchs was the first person baptized in St. Joseph.

Some of the earliest settlers who arrived in 1854 were, Peter Loso, Peter Kraemer, Math. Orth, John H. Linnemann, Nicholas Rassier, Martin Fiedler and Balthasar Fuchs.

Pastors : The Benedictine Fathers Bruno Riss, 1856 to May, 1859; Clement Staub, to December, 1861; Bruno Riss, to December, 1862; Benedict Haindl, Othmar Wirz, Wolfgang Northman to June, 1867; Anthony Capser, July, 1867, to July, 1868; Cornelius Wittmann, who built the church and par- sonage, July, 1868, to May, 1875; Severin Gross, to October, 1876; Simplicius Wimmer, to February, 1877; Clement Staub, to April 23, 1886, the day of his death ; Edward Ginther, who had been administrator of the parish since 1885, became pastor after the death of Father Clement and remained till May 16, 1887; Valentine Stimmler, 1887 to September, 1892; Ludger Ehrens, Sep-

247

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

tember, 1892, to August, 1900; William Eversmann, to September, 1904; Leo Winter, to September, 1907; the present pastor, Father Ludger Ehrens, since September, 1907.

Since 1911 the pastor is assisted on Sundays by Father Joseph Kreuter, of St. John's Abbey. The chaplain of St. Benedict's convent, Father Henry Borgerding, has been residing in the parsonage of St. Joseph's church ever since his appointment to that position in 1890.

The St. Joseph society was founded in November, 1861, after a mission held by Father Wendelin Mayer, O. S. B. Statutes were not drawn up for it until two years later. It joined the state association in 1895. Members, 100.

St. Aloysius Young Men's society, restored by the present pastor in March, 1899, with 70 members.

Young Ladies' Sodality, which also supports a circulating library.

St. Anne's society.

ST. MARTIN.

Church of St. Martin. This church is situated in the village of St. Martin, near the southern line of section 35 of the township bearing the same name. Among the earliest settlers were Henry Ley, J. C. Noll, Peter Hahn, Peter Frevel and Peter Kuhl, who came in 1857. The locality was known as Ley's settlement, and for a time as Holy Cross. In the absence of written records, it is impossible to say when and by whom the first services were held. Revs. Clement Staub and Bruno Riss are claimed as the pioneer clergymen and one of them is said to have celebrated the first mass in 1857 or 1858 in the house of Mr. Ley, who was always hospitable to the missionaries. At all events, Father Clement named the settlement and church.

The first church, 24 by 37, was built in the fall of 1860, under the direc- tion of Rev. Pius Bayer. At this time the congregation was composed of only nine families. An addition 24 by 24 was built to the church by Father Anschar Frauendorfer about 1870. Since November, 1872, the church has had a resident pastor, who, however, could hold services here on only two Sundays of the month, as he was required to visit a number of missions. Previ- ous to this time St. Martin had been visited once a month from Richmond.

In 1875 a parsonage was built, costing $4,000. The church was lengthened by another addition 24 by 30, in 1877, and now presented an appearance far from handsome. Early in the eighties a building fund was organized ; a large brick church was commenced in 1886. The corner stone was laid June 15 of that year, and the church was dedicated by Bishop Seidenbusch on June 14, 1887. Its dimensions are 135 by 50; the material used is red brick; the cost was about $20,000.

The present parsonage is built of brick and was erected in 1899. The old church was destroyed by fire in 1900.

In 1908 the number of families belonging to the congregation was 125.

Pastors: The Benedictine Fathers Clement Staub and Bruno Riss, 1857- 1859; Eberhard Gahr, 1860; Pius Bayer, to 1862; Bruno Riss, to 1863; Matthew Stuerenberg, to 1864; Anschar Frauendorfer, 1865-1872; Joseph Vill, to No- vember, 1872. These priests, with the exception of the first two, visited St.

248

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

Martin from Richmond, about eight miles distant. Resident pastors: Sim- plicius Wimmer, November, 1872, to October, 1876; Bruno Riss, for a short time in 1876; Hilary Remlein and Stanislaus Preiser, 1877; Benedict Haindl, 1877 to 1880; Leo Winter, 1880; Ludger Ehrens, September, 1880, to August 20, 1885; Placidus Wingerter, who built the present church, 1885 to August 20, 1888; Paulin Wiesner, November, 1888, to July, 1891; Ambrose Lethert, September, 1891, to April, 1895; Edward Ginther, who built the present par- sonage, to July, 1901; Martin Schmitt, to May, 1906; the present pastor, Father Meinulph Stukenkemper, since May 6, 1906. In July, 1911, he cele- brated the golden jubilee, or fiftieth anniversary of his ordination, and is at present the oldest priest in active service in the diocese.

Societies : St. Joseph society, organized 1873. Present membership, 100. President, John Fleischhacker ; secretary, George Ehresmann; treasurer, John Mondloch.

Young Men's Sodality: 76 members. President, John Blonigen; seere- tary, John Stang; treasurer, Henry Haehn.

A society of married women, and a court of the Catholic Order of For- esters.

SAUK CENTRE.

Church of St. Paul. One of the first settlers of Sauk Centre was Joseph Capser, who arrived in 1864, and was shortly followed by Anthony Miller, Frederick Borgmann, Joseph Ebensteiner, Henry Kalkmann and others. The first religious services were held at the house of Joseph Capser in the fall of 1864, by Father Matthew Stuerenberg, O. S. B., who was active in the Stearns county missions for a few years. He was followed by Rev. Joseph Buh, in 1865, and the Benedictine Fathers Anschar Frauendorfer, 1866; An- thony Capser, 1867-1868; Augustine Burns and Simplicius Wimmer. "In 1870 Joseph Capser, Ferdinand Borgmann, Joseph Ebensteiner, Henry Kalkmann, George Gruber and Anthony Miller bought a piece of ground on which to build a church. The sum of $475 was paid, Mr. Capser paying $300. A church was erected on the spot the next year and dedicated by Father Valentine on June 30, 1871. The first confirmation took place in September, 1875, by Bishop Seidenbusch." (Hist. Upp. Miss. Valley, p. 464.)

A parochial school was built 1896-1897, it was opened February 18, 1897, with an attendance of 50 children taught by two Benedictine Sisters.

In 1902 the contract for erecting the foundation for a new church was let to Paul Koschiol, of St. Cloud. On April 10, 1904, Bishop Trobec laid the corner-stone of the new church and on April 25, 1906, the new St. Paul's was dedicated by the same prelate. The cost of the new structure is approxi- mately $40,000.

In 1908 the congregation consisted of 106 families, all German.

Pastors since 1875: Rev. John Schenk, from Long Prairie, 1875-1877; Rev. Paul Rettenmaier, O. S. B., from Melrose, 1878-1880; Meinrad Leuthard, O. S. B., from Melrose, to November, 1881; William Eversmann, O. S. B., from Melrose, to December, 1883. Resident secular priests: Revs. William Lange, 1884; J. B. Boever, 1885-1887; Charles A. Gunkel, to 1890; Gregory Goebel, 1891-1893; Joseph A. Stephan, 1894-1895; Emil Steinach, 1895-1899; the pres-

249

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

ent pastor, since 1899, Rev. Anthony Arzt, was made an irremovable rector in 1911.

The principal society existing in the parish is the St. Joseph's Society, founded 1893. Present officers: President, Peter Robischon; vice-president, John Kutschner, treasurer, Jacob Botz; secretary, J. B. Schoenhoff.

Church of Our Lady of Angels. For the English speaking Catholics of Sauk Centre a church was organized about 1883 and served by the clergyman stationed at St. Paul's Church. Rev. William Lange was the first pastor. In 1886 the pastor was Rev. F. O'Reilly, who in 1888 was followed by Rev. D. J. Cogan, who died as pastor January 16, 1889. Both these reverend gentlemen were resident at the church. For the next six years the pastors of St. Paul's were in charge.

Pastors since 1895: Revs. John Fitzgerald, 1895; Julius Lemmer, 1896; Hubert Gundermann, 1897; Francis O'Connor, 1898-1911; Frederick Hinnen- kamp, August, 1911, to date.

The church is located at the corner of Ash and Seventh streets. It was renovated in 1891.

SPRING HILL.

Church of St. Michael. This church is located in section 28 of the town- ship of Spring Hill. As far as can be ascertained from old settlers, the first services were held here in a private house by Father Clement Staub in 1858. A log church was built in 1864, and a frame church in 1871. The mission was visited by the priests stationed at Richmond, St. Martin and Meire Grove. Among the missionary rectors were Fathers Anthony Capser, in 1868; Sim- plicius Wimmer, 1873-1876; Alphonse Kuisle, 1876; Benedict Haindl, 1877; Stanislaus Preiser, September 29, 1878, to March 4, 1879; Pancratins Maehren, 1879.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume I, Part 33

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