USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Catholicity in northern Ohio and in the diocese of Cleveland from 1749 to December 31, 1900, Volume II, pt1 > Part 1
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.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Gc 977.1 H81h v.2,pt.1 1648433
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
E
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02022 090 8
GEN
A HISTORY
CATHOLICITY OF
IN
NORTHERN OHIO
AND IN THE
DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND
BIOGRAPHICAL
BY
MICHAEL W .. CARR
PRESIDENT OF THE CATHOLIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY
V. 2, atil
VOLUME II
CLEVELAND PRESS OF J. B. SAVAGE 1903
T40892,422
D 40892.122 1648433
-
--
---
COPYRIGHT 1903 BY MICHAEL W. CARR CLEVELAND, OHIO
G4237
CONTENTS
Biographical Sketches and Portraits of the late Rt. Rev. Edward Fenwick, D. D., O. P., first Bishop of Ohio; the late Most Rev. John Baptist Purcell, D. D., Archbishop of Cincinnati; the late Rt. Rev. Amadeus Rappe, D. D., first Bishop of Cleveland ; the late Rt. Rev. Richard Gilmour, D. D., second Bishop of Cleveland ; and the Rt. Rev. Ignatius F. Horstmann, D. D., third and present Bishop of Cleveland.
Biographical Sketches and Portraits of pioneer and prominent priests, and of leading members of the laity, some of whom were among the early pioneers, while a large number are of the present gener- ation.
Succinct Biographical Notices of all the priests who labored in the Diocese of Cleveland from the beginning, and who have either departed this life or gone to other fields of labor.
Miscellaneous Sketches with Illustrations-The Infirm Priests' Fund ; the cemeteries in Cleveland, Youngstown, and Toledo; and The Catholic Central Association.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofcatholi21houc
Index to Biographical Sketches
Page
Page
Fenwick, Rt. Rev. Edward D., O. P. 1 Rappe, Rt. Rev. Amadeus, D. D .... 11
Purcell, Most Rev. John B., D. D .. 7 Gilmour, Rt. Rev. Richard, D. D ... 27 Horstmann, Rt. Rev. Ignatius F., D. D .. 40
Page
Page
Alten, Nicholas C
46
Andlauer, Rev. Albert.
48
Barry, Rev. John P. 49
Bauer, Rev. Seraphin, D. D. 52
Becker, Rev. Peter.
59
Bicchele, Joseph.
60
Bloomer, James M.
€3
Boehm, Rev. Charles. 65
Boesken, Rev. Henry E. 67
Boff, Rt. Rev. Mgr. F. M., V. G.
69
Boylan, Captain Patrick.
72
Brady, Captain George F.
75
Braschler, Rev. Charles Jos. A. 77
Bredeick, Rev. John Otto 79
Broun, Rev. John B. 81
Buerkel, Rev. John B. 83
Burke, Rt. Rev. Edmund, V. A. 84
Butler, Richard A.
86
Callaghan, Hon. Thomas E. 88
Carlin, Anthony. 90
Caron, Very Rev. Alexis. 92
Carr, Mr. and Mrs. John. 94
Carroll, Charles D.
97
Champion, David J .. 93
Chevraux, Rev. Charles Vincent. 101
Christophory, Rev. James.
101
Clary, James D.
106
Conlan and Dillon, Rev. Fathers 107
Conlon, Rev. Thomas F 110
Cronin, Cornelius
112
Dailey, James A. 114
Dainz, Charles A.
116
Daly, Peter
118
Dangel, Joseph.
120
Dannemiller, Benedict. 122
Deasy, Timothy H. 123
Dechant, Rev. Michael. 126
Dick, Joseph.
128
Donnelly, Hon. Michael. 180
Dwyer, Rev. Patrick C. N 132
Fahey, Peter R.
135
Farasey, James.
138
Farasey, James D 140
Farrell, Rev. James J.
142
Farrell, Rev. Patrick, D. D
14-1
Faulhaber, Frank V.
146
Feltz, George. 148
Finnegan, William P.
150
Furdek, Rev. Stephen.
152
Gallagher, Thomas
154
Gallagher, John Vincent, M. D
156
Gerardin, Rev. Joseph S. A.
158
Gerhardstein, Rev. Henry J.
150
Giebel, Francis J. 162
Giedemann. John A 165
Ginther, William P.
167
Glidden, Francis HI.
169
Gloden, Rev. Joseph P
171
Goebel, John.
173
Hackman, Joseph.
175
Hallaran, Denis J
177
Hannan, Family.
178
Hailigan, Rev. James Henry. 180
Hannin, Rev. Edward.
182
Harmon. Hon. Gilbert Francis.
1×5
Hart, William J
182
IV
V
INDEX TO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-Continued.
Page
Healy, Rev. Michael 190 Hickey, James. 192
Hill, Very Rev. John Austin 194
Hoeffel, Rev. Aloysius I. 197
Hoffer, Rev. Louis. 199
Holland, John.
201
Horst, Rev. Nicholas W
203
Horton, William Joseph.
Houck, Rev. George F 206
Houck, John.
209
Hopp, Rev. Francis J.
210a
Hoynes, Michael J.
211
Hribar, Rev. Vitus.
213
Hroch, Rev. Francis J.
214
Hug, Edward V., M. D.
216
Hughes, Henry.
218
Hultgen. Rev. Francis L.
2.20
Hurd, Hon. Frank H., LL. D
Jennings, Rev. Gilbert P
275
Johnston, Rev. John.
2.27
Keffer, Harry A
220
Kelley, Michael J.
230
Kegg, Robert J.
232
Kennedy, Hon. Thomas M.
234
Kennedy, Patrick M.
236
Kinkead, Rev. Michael P
.238
Kirby, Rev. Daniel Barry
240
Kirschner, Charles J
242
Klaus, Philip.
.244
Kleekamp, Rev. John H
.2.45
Klute. Rev. John W .247
Knapp, Charles J.
250
Koudelka. Rev. Joseph M.
.252
Kramer, Henry
255
Krupp, John.
256
Langenbach, Albinus 258
Lavan, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
260
Leeming, Rev. George
262
Leslie, Daniel E. .
265
Lindemann, Hon. John F
267
Lindesmith, Rev. Eli W. J
269
McCart. Edward.
.276
McCloskey, Rev. James P. 278
McGarry, M. J. and Jas. F
2,80
McGuire, Rev. Patrick J.
282
McHenry, James.
28.4
McKay, Capt. George P
286
McKenney, Patrick J
288
Page
McNico!, Patrick 290
McNicol, Daniel E. 292
Madigan, James P. 294
Mahon, Rev. Thomas F
297
Malone, Edward
293
Manning, William A.
301
Martin, Rev. Anthony T
303
Miller, Joseph.
.305
Mix, Robert E.
307
Mizer, Rev. John G. 309
Moes, Very Rev. Nicholas A., D. D .. 311 Moes, Rev. Nicholas 313
Molony, Edward
.314a
Morrissey, Patrick J.
315
Mullen. Mr. and Mrs. John.
316
Mulligan, Patrick J
318
Mulrooney, John.
320
Murphy, Rev. William F
322
Murphy, Rev. Edward J
.324
Murphy, Daniel J
326
Neracher. William.
328
Neuhausel. Martin
330
Nunn, John I.
332
O'Brien. Rev. Patrick
334
O'Brien, Patrick C.
337
O'Connor. John.
339
O'Donnell. John Joseph.
341
O'Mara, Patrick
.343
O Neil, Thomas.
345
Orlikowski, Frank.
346
Osthaus, Prof. Edmund H
348
Parsch, Christian.
.350
Pieil, Rev. Nicholas.
352
Pfeil, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence.
35.1
Pilliod, Augustine.
356
Plumanns, Rev. Leonard J
358
Puetz, Rev. John P.
360
Quinn, Rev. James J
361
Rebholz. Rev. Silvan
.304
Reichlin, Rev. Casimir.
366
Reichlin, Rev. Charles.
363
Rosinski. Rev. Benedict.
370
Rudge, George.
372
Ruffing, Anthony
375
Rupert. Rev. Frederick
377
Schaffeld, Rev. Joseph G
380
Schatfeld, Rev. John A.
332
VI
INDEX TO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES -- Continued.
Page
Schaffeld, Rev. John T. .384
Schmitz, Rev. Nicholas. .386
Schritz, Rev. Philip A.
388
Schwertner, Rev. Augustus J
.390
Scullin, Rev. Felix M
392
Shea, Rev. Patrick J.
391
Shenk, Alexander ..
396
Smigel, Peter S., M. D
398
Smith, Rev. Joseph F
.400
Smith, Patrick
402
Smith, Patrick M.
404
Stallkamp, Frank H
406
Stuber, Rev. Anthony B 408
Suplicki, Rev. Andrew J.
.111
Thorpe, Rt. Rev. Mgr. T. P 413
Toole, Mr. and Mrs. Charles 416
Tracy, Rev. John.
418
Biographical Notices of Priests of the Secular and Regular Clergy. formerly. on the Mission in Northern Ohio, or in the Diocese of Cleveland.
.452 to 539
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES
.
Page
Page
Calvary Cemetery, Cleveland. .545 Calvary .... Cemetery, Toledo. 550
Infirm Priests' Fund. .510
St. John's Cemetery, Cleveland. ..
.548
Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown .551
St. Joseph's Cemetery, Cleveland. . . . 547
Catholic Central Association ..:
553
MISCELLANEOUS ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Page
Board of Infirm Priests' Fund ...
.510
Canton-St. John's Church (in- terior) 490
Carey-Shrine of Our Lady
.528
Cleveland-Calvary Cemetery,
Main Entrance
.515
St. John's Cemetery, Main En- trance ,18
St. Joseph's Cemetery, Central
Cross
547
Delphos -- St. John's School and
Pastoral Residence
512
"Gordon" Miter
32
Thompson-Maria Steig Shrine.
180
Toledo-Calvary Cemetery, View Looking West 550
Youngstown-Calvary Cemetery,
Main Entrance
552
Receiving Vault
Mater Dolorosa Statue
Page
Trenkamp, Henry. 420
Treiber, Rev. Clement H
422
Uphaus, Rev. Joseph, C. PP. S.
424
Vahey, Rev. George J
426
Vogt, Rev. John G.
428
Wahmhoff, John H. 430
Wamelink, Prof. John T
432
Ward, Timothy C.
434
Ward, Peter W.
436
Weger, George S., M. D.
438
Westerholt, Rev. Francis.
440
Whalen, Peter F.
442
Widmann, Rev. Joseph S.
144
Wittmer, Rev. Theo., C. PP. S.
.446
Wonderly, Rev. Ignatius J.
448
Zwilling, Mr. and Mrs. John F .450
---- ---...
FU
MICHAEL W. CARR
THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE
T HE first volume of this work is essentially historical. This, the second volume, with the exception of the miscellaneous sketches, is wholly biographical. Of purpose is this division with its distinction made, because biography is the analysis of history.
Tersely defined, biography is the measurement of the char- acter and the outline of the life of an individual. When a person thus writes of himself and his career it is called autobiography, but whether oneself or another be chosen as the subject it is biography nevertheless; hence, it is not the rule that men shall have been gathered to their fathers before the pen of the biographer be allowed to touch them.
"Post-mortem biography" was not the rule with the author of ."Men of the Time." The forty-six subjects of "Plutarch's Parallel Lives" had not all passed away. Cornelius Nepos, in his "Lives of Commanders," did not concern himself about dead heroes exclu- sively. "Cæsar's Commentaries" are but his own autobiography. Much of the history of our own day, like McCarthy's "History of Our Own Time," is in part the biographies of prominent rulers, warriors, statesmen, and leaders, and, to a degree, of many over whom they hold sway. St. Paul himself was not so sensitive about his record and character as some, who take texts for sermons from his epistles, profess to be concerning theirs. He tells us who he was originally-Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians; what he became later-the Apostle of the Gentiles, "a Vessel of Election"; much of what he did-journeying extensively, and laboring in season and out of season ; and something of what he suffered for the faith-shipwreck, imprisonment. stripes, etc. What we know of St. Paul, the great preacher and teacher, we have learned from St. Paul, the autobiographer.
With such examples of memorial and biographical proprieties before us, we can the more readily agree with the celebrated
--
VIII
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
French author that, to the living the biographer owes considera- tion; to the dead he owes but truth .--- "On doit des égards aux vivants; on ne doit aux morts que la vérité."
The mission and purpose of biography are to describe the spirit and acts of men and thereby to entertainingly instruct and to encourage by example. It deals cursorily with personal acts and facts, while its essence is the careful weighing of human character. Alexander Pope had this idea clearly in mind when he wrote in his famous essay that. "The proper study of mankind is man"; and Langhorn had an equally correct conception of it when he forcefully declared that, "No species of writing seems more worthy of cultivation than biography, since none can more certainly enchain the heart by irresistible interest, or more widely diffuse instruction to every diversity of condition." Man studying man and painting word-pictures of him, even if but poorly done, must ever prove of unfailing interest to humanity. The imperfections of the writer-artist's work are often lost sight of in the attractiveness of the living subject, for the mind thinking, the heart loving, and the emotional nature active must ever have claims on human attention.
Not only is biography allied to history, but it is even the test of what history is in its logical sense. Men are the actors in every historical drama; their characters are inseparable from the plots, the essential parts, while their deeds but set these forth in bold relief. Given the characters of men, and their acts and careers are not difficult to determine. The deeds men do are predicated on their characters. Every individual begins to form character early in life, and long before its noon is reached that of each is fully developed. Old age does not change the complexion of character, nor can death either heighten or unmake it. It is this sum of the qualities of a man, and not so much his acts or his years, that the biographer is concerned with. Having journeyed near to the ridge of life or beyond, and while yet in the flesh, would, therefore. appear to be a good time in which to estimate a man's mental and moral worth.
Why then put off until after his demise the giving to the public a knowledge of his capabilities and powers, and the good uses to which he has been, or may be. devoting them? There can
IX
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
be no good grounds for such deferring, for surely supersensitive- ness or false modesty, to say nothing of things less worthy, ought not to be even thought of as reasons justifying it. The second corollary to the eighth commandment obliges every one not only to strive to acquire a good name among men, but to even allow to be made known both his good works and his intellectual and moral equipment looking to these ends. It also imposes the duty on all of us to defend our character when seriously aspersed. Proverbs xxii says: "A good name is better than riches; and good favor is above silver and gold." Much of the force of these thoughts consists chiefly in their application to the living.
The few, therefore, who can not bring themselves to approve of the scope of such a volume as this is, on the assumed ground that the truth, to their minds being either praise or censure, ought not to be, and can not be, told of men while yet alive, are either con- fused as to what biography really is in its relation to a good name and to high character, or they are not likely to be accused of possessing the most excellent judgment. Placed on either horn of this dilemma they are left little choice of position. They assume that the recognition of noble qualities and ability in the living is not proper, is flattery; while on the other hand they adopt the dictum, De mortuis nihil nisi bonum, that, "Of the dead nothing should be said but what is good"-flattery again! And yet, their professed zeal for the whole truth touching the quick or the dead is quite consuming. The encouragement and satisfaction, to say nothing of the information which a volume such as this affords, they would deny to the Catholic and reading public, forsooth. because they entertain the notion that the truth may not all be told; or if merit and worth be generously recognized in bishops. priests, and laymen, they call it flattery, and fear that a measure of blame and harsh criticism will not be set up in opposition.
Such persons evidently forget that, "A man whom it is proper to praise cannot be flattered." They also seem to overlook the truths that, "We get no good by being ungenerous, even to a book," and that,
"The least flower, with a brimming cup, may stand
And share its dew-drop with another near."
Every intelligent person knows that in order to avoid making these biographical sketches mere barren lists of names, dates, and
x
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
dry facts, it is essential to cite in addition some of the more prominent talents and qualities possessed by the subjects, together with such characteristical elements and circumstances as will aid in the portraitures. Especially is this demanded in the case of priests, who are generally regarded as the best educated men in every community, and whose qualities and abilities it were culpable to either ignore or treat with indifference. The natural and varied talents, years of training, and culture of the right reverend and reverend gentlemen mentioned in this volume, and, indeed, also the practicability, sterling character, and record of the laymen therein set forth, doubtless stand for much more than is ascribed to them by the author. Hence, any approach to adulation or flattery, even in form, is not only foreign to the intention of the writer, but is happily rendered next to impossible by the character and talents of the individuals described. Adopting the thought of another and changing some of the words it can be affirmed in point that,
"All the world's praise re-echoed to the sky Cancels not blame that shades the judgment's eye; .. All the world's blame, which fault for fault repays, Fails to curtail the meed of merited praise."
Where recognition, or even praise, is merited by the living, why defer the giving of either until after death, or why be stingy or ungenerous in their bestowal during life, especially since the object aimed at is the encouragement and enlightenment of man- kind? Why seek for cause for blame as an excuse for this, and not finding sufficient. fall back on the weak assumption that biography is "post-mortem literature"? Biography is not mortgaged to the dead. It does not mean picking flaws with. Neither is its office that of fault-finding or rebuke. It deals with character as the shaper of human conduct, and the best biography is that which shows the real or implied relation between character and deeds.
With these things in view, representative persons, both clerical and lay, have been selected in various portions of the Diocese of Cleveland as fit subjects for extended mention. Some are of those who have passed away. while the great majority are from the ranks of the living, and such descriptive sketches have been written of them as best comport with truth and fact, to the ends that the entire Catholic body may be represented and honored by and
XI
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
through them, and that the public may see how well and favorably Catholics will compare with their fellow citizens in things spiritual, intellectual, and material.
Accompanying each mention a fine.portrait of the subject is inserted. This feature has been adopted neither in compliance with, nor in opposition to, the wishes of either the individual or his friends. It is done rather to aid in the description, and to give a clearer idea of the appearance and manner of the person, for the countenance and poise reflect the interior qualities which comprise the character. We are counseled in this by numerous authorities, among them Thomas Carlyle, who once said: "Often I have found a portrait superior in real instruction to a half-dozen written biographies. I have found that the portrait was as a small lighted candle by which the biographies could, for the first time, be read and such human interpretation made of them."
Recognizing, therefore, the importance of portraits in a work of this kind, we have, even at great expense, freely employed them so as to make up for any deficiencies that might have occurred in our humble efforts at estimating and delineating character. By thus pictorially supplementing what in each instance we have indited we are encouraged to hope that a discriminating public will both approve of, and welcome, the volume here offered by THE CATHOLIC HISTORICAL SOCIETY, and THE AUTHOR,
MICHAEL W. CARR.
Cleveland, Ohio, January, 1903.
OMNIA IN CARITATE
THE RT. REV. EDWARD D. FENWICK, D. D.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
In Northern Ohio and in the Diocese of Cleveland
BIOGRAPHICAL
THE RIGHT REV. EDWARD D. FENWICK, O. P., (*) FIRST BISHOP OF CINCINNATI.
JANUARY, 1822-SEPTEMBER, 1832.
Edward D. Fenwick, a descendant of the ancient English family of Fenwick Tower, was born in St. Mary's county, Mary- land, in 1768. After the death of his father. Edward was sent to Europe to complete his studies. When leaving home he was in his sixteenth year. He entered the Dominican College at Born- heim, Flanders.
Impressed with the spirit and virtues of his Dominican preceptors, he became attached to them and soon joined their Order. From his childhood he showed a tender and unaffected piety. This grew with his years, and impressed itself on his superiors, whose respect and confidence he easily won. During the French revolution he was engaged in the duties of a professor, and as procurator of the Dominican convent at Bornheim. When the French soldiery overran and pillaged the Netherlands, his convent was seized and he, with his brethren, imprisoned as Englishmen. Securing his release as an American citizen, he
*The first five sketches in this volume-those of the Rt. Rev. Bishops Fenwick, Pur- cell. Rappe, Gilmour and Horstmann-have been written by the Rev. George F. Houck, Chancellor of the Diocese of Cleveland.
2
A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
went to one of the Dominican convents in England. There he remained till 1804, when in compliance with his ardent wish he was sent by his Provincial to America, to labor there in behalf of the spiritual interests of his countrymen. His own native State was the first field of his priestly labors in America. In this portion of his Master's vineyard he toiled about one year. Then Bishop Carroll, of Baltimore, upon consultation, and with the advice and consent of the Father General of the Dominicans, sent him to Kentucky to establish a colony of Friars Preachers. In compliance with instructions Father Fenwick, accompanied by three of his brethren, Fathers Wilson, Tuite and Anger, founded, in 1805, St. Rose's Convent, in Washington county, Kentucky, on a farm he purchased with his patrimony. Here it was that the Dominican Order had its first home in the United States, and from this place the light of the Gospel was carried far and wide. The Convent of St. Rose was soon crowned with benedictions. The children of St. Dominic, animated with the zeal of their pious founder. spread through the whole of Kentucky, affording its inhabitants the benefits of the religion of Christ. A Bull was received from Rome constituting Father Fenwick Provincial of the Order in North America. He would not, however, accept the proffered honor, fearing it might prove a hindrance to the conversion of souls. A remarkable circumstance, which has always been looked upon as the most certain evidence of the exalted virtue of Father Fenwick was that, after having obtained from Rome the office of Provincial for Father Wilson, with the permission to annul the appointment should he himself choose to retain that position, he did not hesitate a moment, but asked Father Wilson to accept it, as for himself he preferred rather to obey than to command.
In 1814 Father Fenwick, the apostle and pioneer priest of this State, made his first missionary visit to Ohio, and went as far north as Perry county, in the present Diocese of Columbus, where he found three Catholic families, consisting in all of twenty members. These good people were so rejoiced to see him, that he could never recall his first pastoral visit to this part of his vast "parish" without experiencing the greatest consolation. because he considered it the first fruit of his mission in Ohio.
According to the most authentic information obtainable
3
IN NORTHERN OHIO.
Father Fenwick's first visit to Northern Ohio-within the territory of the Diocese of Cleveland-was in 1817, when he came to Columbiana and Stark counties. There he found a number of Catholic families, some of whom had moved to Ohio from Pennsylvania and Maryland; others had emigrated from Ireland and Germany. None of them had seen a priest since they had settled in Ohio.
In 1818 Father Fenwick established on a farm, given for the purpose by Mr. P. Dittoe, a fervent and generous Catholic, the present flourishing convent of St. Joseph's, near Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, and was its superior for nearly four years. From St. Joseph's he and his few brethren of the convent, among them his nephew, the Rev. Nicholas D. Young, regularly attended the missions in Perry and the neighboring counties, whilst those of Southern Ohio received pastoral care from St. Rose's, Kentucky, and occasionally, also, from St. Joseph's, Perry county.
Bishop Flaget, of Bardstown, had under his jurisdiction Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. He petitioned the Holy See to relieve him of the spiritual care of a part of his immense territory. In accordance with his wish the Diocese of Cincinnati was erected, in 1821, and Father Fenwick consecrated by Bishop Flaget as its first bishop, in the Church of St. Rose. Washington county, Kentucky, on January 13, 1822. Soon after his consecra- tion, Bishop Fenwick took possession of his Episcopal See. Arriving at Cincinnati he found neither church nor dwelling. He rented a small house, where he was obliged to sleep in the garret ; the other part was destined for a chapel and a study. At times he was not able to pay the rent, and frequently had to seek his meals in the city. His cathedral was a barn-like, plank building, about one mile from the town, and in rainy weather quite inaccessible. The attempt to move it to the town failed ; it broke down on the road. A lot was wanting upon which to erect the cathedral again ; but where were the means to pay for it?
Without money, without the hope of procuring it to pay the debts already contracted, everywhere even the most necessary things wanting. in 1823 the Bishop resolved to set out for Rome. with the intention of resigning his heavy charge. The Holy Father, Leo XII, did not accept his resignation, but encouraged
4
A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
him to return to his See and presented him with 1,200 scudi for the expenses of his journey and those of the clergyman who traveled with him. It was the dark hour preceding the dawn of a brighter day. The day of prosperity soon came. God blessed the good Bishop's efforts and opened up new resources to him. In France especially he received great aid, the Association for the Propagation of the Faith, at Lyons, giving him generous assistance, Belgium, also, and Germany, following the example of France, contributed liberal sums to Bishop Fenwick in support of his poor diocese. On his return, in 1824, the above mentioned debts were paid, and a brick cathedral erected on Sycamore street. with the money he brought from Europe. Later he established the Athenaeum College, near his cathedral church. He also intro- duced into his diocese the Dominican Sisters, and one or two other religious communities to instruct the children.
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.