USA > Missouri > St Charles County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 34
USA > Missouri > Montgomery County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 34
USA > Missouri > Warren County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 34
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In connection with the lives of these two pioneers of the Catholic religion in St. Charles, it will be appropriate to present the histories of the Academy of the Sacred Heart and Church of St. Charles Borro- meo, which were prepared expressly for this work,1 the first by the secre- tary of the academy, and the second by Rev. John Roes, pastor of the church. These histories will be the more interesting because the two institutions to which they relate date back to the very infancy of the town in which they are situated, and no public history of them has ever been published before.
ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART.
This was the first foundation made by the religious of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in America. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart, in the year 1818, after a perilous voyage of 100 days, Madame Duchesne, one of the first companions of the Venerated Mother Madeline Sophie Barrat, founder of the society, landed in New Orleans. For long years Madame Duchesne burned with the desire of devoting her life for the salvation of the Indians. Now she had the realization of all her hopes; a wide field lay opened before her, but one thickly strewn with difficulties. A severe illness compelled her to prolong her stay in New Orleans, yet her ardent soul sighed to begin the work. Scarcely convalescent, she proceeded with her co-laborers, Madames Eugenie Ande, Octavie Berthold and two co-adjuting sisters, Catharine and Margaret, and arrived at St. Louis the same year. While remaining in this city Madame Duchesne
1 Pioneer Families of Missouri.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
received the approbation of the Right Reverend Bishop Dubourg, whose pastoral cares extended over the two Louisianas, to lay the foundation. The present site at St. Charles was selected as the most desirable spot. The cure of the village, the celebrated and Rev. Gabriel Richard, who was also elected member of Congress, installed the little colony in their humble dwelling, a log hut containing two rooms ; it stood in the midst of two acres of barren soil. Here and there might be seen the cabin of the Sioux. By an authentic act, the bishop renewed his approbation, and the sovereign pontiff blessed from afar the new mission of the Sacred Heart. Too soon their lit- tle resources failed them, and extreme poverty menaced them on all sides. Incapable of supporting so rude a trial, sufficient to cause the stoutest heart to recoil, the little colony returned to St. Louis, in September, 1819 ; but their destined home was St. Ferdinand, Floris- sant. On Christmas eve they took possession of their new residence, and at midnight they had the happiness of assisting at mass, with the five pupils who had followed them from St. Charles.
At St. Ferdinand the prospects were very favorable, and brightened each year. Auxiliaries were received from the mother house in France ; new colonists were sent out, and houses established in St. Louis, Grand Chouteau, and St. Michael. Madame Duchesne gov- erned all in quality of provincial, but made St. Louis her home.
Since the departure from St. Charles all hopes were not extin- guished in renewing their efforts to plant the standard of the Sacred Heart in that city. Encouraged by their success at St. Ferdinand, Madame Duchesne once more looked toward St. Charles to recom- mence the foundation. So on the morning of October 10, 1828, the little caravan consisting of Madames Duchesne, Octavie, Lucille and O'Connor, set out from St. Ferdinand. The Right Reverend Bishop Rosatti, nine Jesuit Fathers, and three secular priests accompanied them. His lordship was mounted on a humble courser, while the fathers walked at his side; the ladies occupied a carriage, and, consequently, arrived sooner. Their presence was announced, and the inhabitants, who were now increased by one-half, testified their joy on the return of the religious. They were conducted to their house, which consisted of boards; underneath was a cellar, the receptacle for all the animals of the village; the odor arising from this assemblage of sheep, pigs and rats was almost intolerable, but in a short time they were freed from these interlopers. A chapel adjoining the house was hastily constructed, and here nine masses were celebrated in one day.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
On the 14th Madames Lucille and O'Connor were left the sole occupants. Before departing for St. Ferdinand, Madame Duchesne installed Madame Lucille as Superior of the household, assisted by Madame O'Connor. They immediately went to work to fulfill the functions of carpenters, painters, masons, etc., and by dint of indus- try in 15 days the house was beyond recognition.
The 29th of October the classes of the day school were opened, composed of five pupils ; in November there were 12; in December, 16, and in a few months more the number amounted to 50. During the first six years 120 pupils received instructions, and many of them became excellent mothers of families.
In March of 1829, re-enforcements arrived; among them was Sister Mary Layton, the first American novice. In 1832 Sister Ann Egarty, and in 1833 Madame Guillot were sent to give their assist- ance. Amid this seeming prosperity privations were gathering, and some pecuniary want was on the point of forcing them to abandon once more the work; but a Divine Providence, who never forsakes those who place their confidence in Him, rescued them in this pain- ful dilemma; and in 1838 they were enabled to begin and com- plete the new building contiguous to the church belonging to the Jesuit Fathers. Madame Lucille retained her office until 1840. About this time Bishop Rosatti demanded a colony of the religious of the Sacred Heart for Sugar Creek, which was peopled by the Potta- watomies. Obedience called Madame Lucille to take charge of the new mission. Here she endeared herself to the hearts of the Indians by her unwearied cares, making herself their common mother. It was the ardent desire of this devoted soul to live and die among her sav- age children. St. Mary's also witnessed her labors and there she passed the remainder of her days accomplishing the wish of her heart. It was only in January of 1875 that this admirable religious went to receive her reward, at the advanced age of 81 years.
For some years previous to the foundation at Sugar Creek, Madame Duchesne had been released from the burden of Superiority; her declining years requiring rest, she withdrew into her solitude at St. Charles, where she continued her prayers and sufferings for her dear Indians.
In 1840 Madame Regis Hamilton, now assistant superior in Chicago, replaced Madame Lucille ; she was succeeded in 1844 by Madame St. Cyr, who governed seven years. During this time a purchase was made from Rev. Father Verhægen, pastor of the church, and the grounds were considerably enlarged.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
In 1851 Madame Hamilton resumed the charge for the space of one year. Her presence was a solace to the Worthy Mother Duchesne, whom Providence had preserved until this time ; but now her days were numbered, and soon her holy soul was to wing its flight toward its eternal home. Until her last she submissively obeyed the most trivial order with child-like simplicity and resignation. It was at 10 o'clock on the morning of the 18th of November, 1852, that this ven- erated Mother, surrounded by her sorrowing family, passed from a sweet slumber to the presence of the Master, whom she had so long and so generously served. She was aged 84 years, 34 of which were passed in the missions of America.
Madame Aloysia Jacquet relieved Madame Hamilton for a few months. She was then recalled to superintend the Community at St. Louis. In 1853 Madame Boullion was appointed superior, but in December of the same year she was sent to the Southern province, and Madame Aloysia returned to her former charge.
In 1854 the increase of the pupils was so rapid that extensive altera- tions were obliged to be made in the building. The new addition con- sisted of a large and commodious study hall, 45x35 feet, a class room, a refectory and play room beneath, with a dormitory and an infirmary above, and a spacious upper division. In 1855 the parish school was built upon the convent grounds. Here yearly about 50 or 60 children, mostly of the poorer class, are instructed in their religion and in the principles of education fitted to their station.
Madame Aloysia had made a vow to erect a shrine in honor of " Our Lady of the Pillar," if a favor she so earnestly sought for would be granted her. Heaven being propitious to her request, the chapel was constructed and the statue placed upon a pedestal over the altar. The Rev. Father De Smet blessed the first stone. This little sanctuary, now hallowed by the souvenirs connected with it, stands in the front yard, facing the right of the convent. Immediately after the completion of the work the precious remains of the beloved founder of the society in America were transferred from their former resting place and de- posited in the vault. The base of the altar bears this inscription : " Pray for the Conversion of the Indians."
In 1856 Madame Tucker directed the Community, but in 1558 she was summoned to St. Louis to receive again the charge of superiority. Since then she has governed some of the houses of the East. In 1870 she was named Superior Vicar of the Western Province, which com- prised the houses of St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Joseph, Chicago, St. Mary's Mission and Maryville.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
In 1858 Madames Jouve and Ludovica Boudreaux successively gov- erned, and in 1860 Madame Miller was appointed superior. She en- deared herself, like her predecessors, to all hearts by her devotedness to her Community.
In 1865 Madame Wall attached herself, with untiring zeal, to the new charge which was placed upon her ; but in 1868 obedience called her to St. Joseph.
Then Madame Bourke assumed the care of government ; she held her office five years. At the expiration of this time she was removed to Chicago, to continue her labors as superior.
In the spring of 1870 the church of the Jesuits, adjacent to the con- vent, was torn down, and the land on which it was built was purchased from the Fathers ; it now forms part of the garden which surrounds the house.
In September of 1873 Madame Niederkorn, the present superior, was nominated. Since that period many improvements have been made on the convent and its surroundings. But in November, 1875, a fire, originated by a spark from the flue, broke out in the upper story of the middle building, and threatened destruction to the entire place. Evidently the flames had been playing for some hours between the roof and the timbers before the inmates were aware of their danger, but as soon as the alarm was made public, the kind-hearted citizens of St. Charles flocked to their assistance. To their indefatigable efforts and the interposition of a Divine Providence may be attributed the saving of the house, at a moment when all hopes were renounced. Unable to make the necessary repairs during the winter season, the religious waited for the coming spring ; but a temporary roof pre- vented their being exposed to the inclemency of the weather. In February, 1876, the fearful tornado which almost devastated the city, augmented the damages caused by the fire. Nearly every pane of glass on the east side of the house was shattered into fragments ; the fences and grape arbors were thrown down, trees uprooted and trans- ported with the wind, and immense rocks which supported the lower wall facing the street were hurled from their places - thus adding an expense of several hundred dollars.
In March the carpenters began their work, and notwithstanding the many interruptions, the results of the heavy rain and snow storms, in a few weeks the burnt-out attic was transformed into large and ele- gant apartments.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
CHURCH OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO.
The first church in the town of St. Charles was built by"the Roman Catholics, the year and day not known by the people now living. Pio- neer French priests visited these Western wilds at a very early day. The church was an humble log house, with its timbers standing up- right, which consequently soon rotted down. Gov. Blanchette replaced it by a neat frame building on Second, near Jackson street, on the north-western part of block 28. This must have been before 1793, as Gov. Blanchette is reported to have died that year, as we gather from tradition, and to have been interred along the walls of the church. The records kept at the church of St. Charles Borromeo date from 1792, and indicate sufficiently the approximate date of the erection of the latter building. The first baptism recorded is that of Peter Beland, on the 21st of July, 1792 ; it was administered by Rev. Peter Joseph Didier, a Benedictine of the Congregation of St. Maus, of the Royal Abbey of St. Dennis, at Paris, then the acting, although not resident pastor. Father Didier was succeeded in 1798 by Rev. Father L. Lusson, a Recollect Priest. Father Lusson's name disappears from the records after October, 1804, and after that time several priests, some of whom were Trappists, ministered to the spiritual wants of the congregation ; some for a longer, some for a shorter period of time. These came either from St. Louis or Portage, where priests resided at a much earlier date than at St. Charles. One of these, long remembered, was the Rev. Joseph Mary Dunand, a Trappist, who acted as pastor at St. Charles from the year 1809 to the year 1815. In 1814 Bishop Flaget, of Louisville, is reported to have visited St. Charles while Father Dunand was pastor.
In 1823 the Jesuits settled in the Florissant valley, on what is now generally known as the Priest's Farm. Solicited by Bishop Dubourg, they undertook the care of the missionary stations across the Missouri in St. Charles county, but had for some time no permanent residence in any of them. The first Jesuits who visited St. Charles were Father Van Quickenborn, the Superior of the Missions, and Father Timmer- mans.
In 1827 Father Van Quickenborn bought a new frame building on Main street, near Lewis, and the fathers took up their residence there. In 1827, also, they began the building of the stone church, corner of Second and Decatur. Completed in the fall of 1827, by the indomi- table energy of the pastors, and the corresponding courage of the
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
parishioners, it was solemnly consecrated by Bishop Rosatti on the 12th of October. On that grand occasion, Father Van Quickenborn acted as assistant priest, Fathers DeTheux and Dusosey as deacons of honors, and Fathers Smedts and DeSmet as deacon and sub- deacon. Gladly would we give here a short sketch of the fathers who in turn acted as superiors of the St. Charles Residence and as pas- tors of the congregation, but this would exceed the limits of the in- tended sketch, and would be difficult to do, for one who has not the necessary dates at command; thus, however, we must say that they were all men who knew how to make generous sacrifices for the interest of religion and education ; nay, even for the temporal welfare of St. Charles. They were all men of zeal and of indomitable energy, most of them, too, were men of talent and superior education.
Before passing on there is one name, however, which is so familiar still to all the people of St. Charles that we cannot pass it over in silence ; it may seem invidious, but we cannot withstand giving it with a brief sketch of his life. We mean the Rev. P. J. Verhagen, whose name has left a deep impression on the Protestants as well as on the Catholics :
Born in Belgium on the 21st of June, 1800, he came to Missouri in 1821, as one of the little band of Jesuit missionaries whom Bishop Dubourg had succeeded in drawing to his vast diocese, which stood so sadly in need of clergymen to break the word of life to them. Before his ordination he had already visited St. Charles to instruct the people and to gather them together on Sunday. Ordained in 1826, he he_ came the regular pastor and superior, and remained until August, 1828. Incredibly hard and laborious was his position, especially dur- ing the building of the stone church, at which he worked almost as a day laborer. In 1828 he was succeeded by Father J. B. Smedts as pastor and superior of St. Charles, and Father Felix Verreydt as missionary to the surrounding country.
Father Verhagen, transferred to the St. Louis University, acted there as its president, later as superior of the missions, and later again as vicar general and administrator of the diocese of St. Louis. Relieved of these arduous duties he returned to St. Charles in 1843, to leave it again in 1844 to become Provincial of the Jesuits in Mary- land. Having there completed his term of office he returned to the West and became the first President of the College of St. Joseph at Bardstown, which the Bishop of Louisville confided to the Society in 1848. 1n 1851 he returned once more to St. Charles to leave it only for one year, that is the year 1857-58, which he spent at the St.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
Louis University to teach theology to the young scholastics, and to give the Sunday evening lectures at St. Xavier's Church ; returning to St. Charles, which was the place of his choice, he acted as superior of the residence, and as first pastor until his death, and in that double capacity, he endeared himself more and more with the people of the city. In 1808 his health began visibly to give way, and after a few days of serious illness he died at the pastoral residence on Third street, on the 21st of July, regretted by all ; on the 28th his mortal remains were followed to their last resting place at the Novitiate near Florissant, by many of his sorrowing spiritual children.
Father Verhægen was a man of superior mind, of profound knowl- edge and of genial manners ; he was the friend of all who knew him, ever cheerful, and with a kind word for all who came near him. Dur- ing his long career of usefulness in the high positions he so success- fully filled as rector of colleges, as superior of the missions, as pro- vincial of order and as administrator of the diocese of St. Louis he gained what he did not seek, a great name, and an extensive popular- ity, and promoted what was the sole object of his ambition, the good of religion and education and the greater glory of God.
On the 29th of July, 1868, he was succeeded by the Rev. J. Roes as superior of the residence and as first pastor, who holds the same office still.
A month after his appointment it was found necessary, on account of the constantly increasing number of the parishioners, to secure as soon as possible, a larger church edifice, and on the last Sunday of August, a spirited meeting of the congregation was held in the old school-house on Third street, now known as the Franklin School, at which it was determined to begin at once the new church. Permis- sion was obtained from his grace Archbishop Kenrick and from the provincial of the Society, and soon several thousand dollars were sub- scribed ; the foundations were begun in October, the corner stone however was only laid on the 9th of May, 1869, by his grace the Archbishop, in the midst of an immense concourse of people who had flocked together from St. Louis and from the neighborhood ; they were addressed by Rev. Father Tschieder, of St. Joseph's, in St. Louis, their former pastor, in German, and Rev. Father O'Reilly, now, as then, pastor of the Immaculate Conception, St. Louis, in English. After four years of persevering sacrifices, on the part of the people, and of struggle and toil on the part of the pastors, the splendid edifice was completed. In the beginning of October, 1872, and on the 13th of that month it was solemnly consecrated by Rt. Rev. P. J. Ryan,
16
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
Coadjutor Bishop of St. Louis, assisted by a great number of clergymen from St. Louis and St. Charles counties. The crowd assisting at the beautiful and grand ceremony of consecration was very large; it was addressed by Rev. J. DeBleick, S. J., of the St. Louis University, in English, and by Rev. P. J. Tschieder of St. Joseph's, in German ; both sermons were masterly pieces. The consecration was followed by a solemn high mass ; Father Van Assche, of Florissant, one of the original founders of the Missouri Province, was the celebrant, and was assisted by Father J. Van Mierlo and Van Leert as deacon and sub- deacon. On the 29th of March, 1873, the church was permanently opened for divine service by a very successful mission preached by Rev. J. Coghlan, S. J., from St. Mary's, Kas., assisted by Rev. Kuhlman, S. J., from the Novitiate. The present pastors are Father J. Roes assisted by Father W. B. V. Heyden and H. Van Mierlo.
The financial crash of 1872 put the congregation to great trouble and sacrifice; but it is to be hoped this will now soon end, and with the available property sold on even reasonably low figures, the congregation will find an end to their troubles and will be able to boast of their fine church and school and pastoral residence, and leave a glorious legacy to their children.
ST. CHARLES BRIDGE.
This magnificent structure was built under the superintendence of C. Shaler Smith, chief engineer, and president of the Baltimore Bridge Company. It is the longest iron bridge in the country, con- sisting of three " through spans " on the Fink plan, four " Fink sus- pension " spans, and the iron viaduct approaches, making a total length of iron bridge, 6,535 feet. The seven river spans vary in length from 305 to 321 feet. There were eight river foundations - most of them presenting new and extraordinary difficulties in con- struction - varying from 54 to 76 feet in depth, the caissons for which had to be carried down through alternate strata of quicksand, large boulders, and tangled masses of drift logs. Add to these sub- marine difficulties the facts that at the bridge site the Missouri river rises and falls 40 feet ; that its flood speed is 91/2 miles per hour ; and that drift islands drawing 20 feet of water, and which are more than 300 feet in diameter, are not unfrequently carried past in the heavier freshets, and an adequate idea may be formed of the character of the work.
The Fink deck spans are proportioned to carry 2,250 pounds per foot, with the following stresses, per pound per inch, on the various
1 Pioneer Families of Missouri.
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
parts : cast-iron chord, 12,000; wrought-iron chain, 12,000 ; quar- ter chain, 11,000; eighth and sixteenth chains, 10,000; posts (Phœnix column), 6,500 ; laterals (of these there is a double system ), 8,000.
The trellis spans are completely pin-jointed throughout, having both the rocker and roller action at the feet of end posts, and all the posts and ties are pin-jointed, in the upper chord as well as lower. There are no adjustments in the web or chord systems. All the points are exact as to length. The posts, which are key- stone columns, have wrought-iron heads and feet, webbed out so as to distribute the weight over two and one half feet in length of the pins on which they rest.
The truss itself is a " double triangular girder," with inclined end posts, and no connection between the systems. The counter-brace action is secured by stiffening the middle ties and giving the braces a tensile connection. The floor-beams are composed of 12-inch channel iron, sandwiched with and forming part of the lower chord - the cross-ties being laid directly on these, without the interposition of a stringer. These girders are proportioned in the same manner as in the Fink, but to a working load of 2,400 pounds per foot. The weight of each Fink span is 680,000 pounds, of each trellis span, 788,000 pounds.
The cast-iron of the bridge has been replaced by wrought-iron.
The cost of the entire structure is understood to have been about $1,750,000, and stands as a monument of engineering skill, and we hope will so stand for ages to come.
It was formally opened for regular business July 4, 1871, since which time it has been in constant use.
THE BRIDGE DISASTER.
On Saturday evening, November 8, 1879, at about half past eight o'clock, a span of the St. Charles bridge gave way, and precipitated a freight train, consisting of 17 cars of live stock and a caboose, into the river. At the time of the accident there were in the caboose and on the train the following persons who went down with the wreck : Josiah Wearin, Jordan W. Hyde, Fred. Davis, John Somers (all of whom were from Malvern, Mills county, Iowa), Joseph Bernhart, of Moberly, and Charles Irving, of Mount Vernon, O. (the two latter brakemen). Wearin, Hyde and Bernhart were found dead. Irving died about noon on Sunday following, and Somers died the next morning -on Monday. J. M. Strahan, who
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HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
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