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 I, pt1 > Part 3
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The Dominicans gradually gave up to secular priests their pastoral charges in the above named counties till, in 1842, they withdrew entirely, St. John's, Canton, being their last mission in Northern Ohio.
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A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
2. THE REDEMPTORISTS.
About 1829 the Very Rev. Frederick Rese, Vicar General of the Diocese of Cincinnati, was sent to Europe by Bishop Fenwick for the purpose of securing priests and financial aid for the Ohio and Michigan missions. Whilst in Vienna he visited the Redemp- torist Fathers, located there. His pathetic appeal for priestly help in the immense missionary fields in America, where the harvest was great and the laborers few, aroused in the heart of many a son of St. Alphonsus the desire to establish in that far distant country the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. This desire took effect in 1832 when three Redemptorists were sent in answer to Father Resé's appeal. They were the Rev. Fathers Simon Saender1, Francis X. Haetscher and Francis X. Tschenhens, who had as their companions three lay brothers. They arrived in New York on June 20, 1832, and a few days later set out for Cincinnati. There a most cordial welcome was given them by Vicar General Resé, Bishop Fenwick being absent at the time on an episcopal visitation of his diocese, then embracing all of Ohio, the territory of Michigan and the eastern part of the territory of Wisconsin. After a short rest the Fathers were assigned to their respective posts of duty. Father Haetscher was sent to Norwalk, Tiffin and the adjoining smaller missions in Huron, Erie, Sandusky, Craw- ford, Wyandot and Seneca counties, which had received a con- siderable influx of Catholics, principally from Germany. Father Saenderl was sent to Michigan and Father Tschenhens remained for a short time in Cincinnati to minister to the Catholic Germans there settled. Father Saenderl found little response to his labor and zeal in Michigan and so asked to be relieved of his charge. Bishop Purcell, successor to Bishop Fenwick, granted this request. In 1834 Bishop Purcell sent Father Tschenhens to Northern Ohio to take charge of the scattered missions which Father Haetscher had been attending, with the assistance of a few secular priests. Father Saenderl assisted Father Tschenhens at Peru and Norwalk for a few weeks in 1835, when, at the invitation of Bishop Resé, he returned with Father Haetscher to Michigan.
Bishop Purcell assigned to the Redemptorist Fathers, as their place of residence, Peru, Huron county, where, since 1829, a
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congregation of Catholic Germans had been organized.1 Later they were joined by the Rev. Fathers Czakert and Prost.
Soon these good and zealous priests found as little con- solation here as did their brethren in Michigan. Their appeals to the generosity of their people in Peru, for the erection of a new and much needed church, and for other parochial wants, met with no response. The spirit of the congregation was bad; insult and abuse were the return given the priests for their labors and self- sacrifice. This was most painful to good Father Tschenhens, who had always taken a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of his con- gregation. However, in spite of ill-treatment, he and his faithful co-laborers continued to discharge their duty, hoping against hope for a change of spirit.
. Father Tschenhens himself now took charge of the scattered missions in the adjoining counties, visiting at regular intervals, often over roads that were almost impassable, Sandusky, Norwalk, Liberty, Tiffin, Bucyrus, Wolf's Creek (now New Riegel), Mc- Cutchenville (no longer existing as a mission), and occasionally Canton. Whilst he was thus engaged Father Czakert attended Peru, Norwalk and the neighboring missions, going long distances afoot or horseback to do so.
No change for the better taking place in the spirit of the con- gregation at Peru, the Redemptorist Fathers asked their Provin- cial for permission to give up this charge. Their request was granted, and on Low Sunday, 1839, the Rev. Father Prost an- nounced to the congregation that he and his brethren intended to leave them, giving as a reason for so doing, the continued un- kindness and ingratitude shown the Fathers in return for their labors among the people entrusted to their pastoral care.
All the Redemptorist Fathers left as announced, with the ex- ception of the Rev. F. X. Tschenhens, who a few months later followed his associates to Pittsburg, where they founded a monas- tery and took charge of the present very flourishing congregation of St. Philomena.
In 1841, at the earnest solicitation of Bishop Purcell, Father Tschenhens again took charge of the congregation at Peru. It had been without a priest for months, owing to dissensions
(1) Berger, Life of Bishop Neumann, C. SS. R., p. 222.
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which caused the removal of the secular priest in charge, the Rev. Joseph Freigang. Father Tschenhens, assisted by the Redemptorist Fathers, Revs. J. N. Neumann and L. M. Alig, remained from June, 1841. to November, 1843. Meanwhile he also attended Tiffin and a few other missions in Seneca and Wyandot counties. On the date last mentioned the labors of the Redemptorists in Northern Ohio terminated.
3. THE SANGUINISTS.
In 1837 the- Venerable Dom Caspar de Bufalo, an Italian priest, founded at Rome a Congregation of priests, naming it the Society of the Most Precious Blood, and known later in the United States as Sanguinists. The object of the Society was to give missions to the peasantry of Italy and thus to arouse the faith then dormant among them in that country. The Very Rev. Francis de Sales Brunner, a native of Switzerland, learning of this infant Society and of its successful work in Italy, went to Rome in 1838, determined to join it, and also to introduce it, if possible, into his own country and Germany, and later on into the United States. His ardent desire was soon realized, and shared also by a number of Swiss priests who followed his example. They became members of the Sanguinist Society and under the leadership of Father Brunner did much for religion, especially in Switzerland. To put into effect his long cherished plan, to establish the same Society in the United States, he went to Rome again in 1842, to obtain the sanction of the Father General, who succeeded the Venerable Founder at the latter's death, in 1838. The permission was cheer- fully granted, and Pope Gregory XVI encouraged and blessed him, bidding him God-speed in his proposed missionary work in far distant America. On his return to Germany a letter awaited him from the Very Rev. John M. Henni, Vicar General of Bishop Purcell, inviting him and his associates to come to the Diocese of Cincinnati. The invitation was gladly accepted, and on the 28th of September, 1843, Father Brunner, accompanied by the Revs. M. Anton Meier, John Wittmer, Martin Probst, Jacob Ringeli, Peter A. Capeder, John Van den Broek, John B. Jacomet and two lay brothers, set out for America. After visiting the celebrated shrine at Einsiedeln, Switzerland, and spending a few days in Paris,
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they reached Havre on October 13, where they were obliged to await weather propitious for sailing. While thus detained they met Bishop Purcell, who had visited Rome, and had missed by one day the ship on which he had intended to return to America. The meeting between prelate and priests-his future co-laborers in Ohio-was most joyful. October 19, 1843, their ship set sail, and after a very stormy passage the missionaries reached New Orleans on December 21 following. They boarded a steamboat for Cin- cinnati, where they arrived January 1, 1844. Bishop Purcell, who had taken passage on a sailing vessel for New York, and thus pre- ceded the Sanguinist Fathers by a few weeks, gave them a most cordial welcome on their arrival. After a short rest from the fatigue of their long journey, six of the Fathers set out for Peru, Huron county, the field of labor assigned them by the Bishop, Father Probst remaining at Cincinnati for a time. They took passage on a steamboat up the Ohio river, as far as Wellsville, and thence crossed the country, using wagons to convey themselves and their baggage to their destination in the wilds of Northern Ohio. On the way to Peru they passed a number of villages and towns. Wherever they found a Catholic settlement they made a short stop to say Mass and preach. Among the places thus visited were Dungannon, Canton, Massillon, Wooster, and lastly Nor- walk, a short distance from Peru.1 On their arrival at Peru, about January 15, 1844, they took charge of St. Alphonsus' congrega- tion as successors to the Redemptorists. They also accepted charge of the missions attended by their predecessors, besides at- tending to the Catholic Germans in Cleveland, and the scattered missions in Lorain, Medina, Wayne, Portage and Stark counties.
The advent of these devoted priests was hailed with delight wherever they were sent. Their labors were signally blessed. In December, 1844, Father Brunner established a convent for this Society at New Riegel, in 1845 one at Thompson, and in 1848 another at Glandorf. Each of these places became a center of Catholicity for the surrounding country, and from them the neighboring missions were regularly attended. In 1847 the con- gregation of Peru, completely changed in spirit by the prayerful labors of the Sanguinist Fathers, was resigned by them. It was
(1) Sanguinists in the U. S., pp. 40-62.
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then placed in charge of secular priests, and has remained so ever since.
The Sanguinist Fathers, under the leadership of their saintly Provincial, did noble missionary work for the cause of God and the spiritual welfare of souls within the limits of the territory now constituting the flourishing Diocese of Cleveland, and they were one of the principal factors in promoting the wonderful growth of the Church therein. By their indomitable energy and simple piety, by their burning zeal and utter forgetfulness of self, by their labors "in season and out of season,". they helped to build up the King- dom of God in men's souls. They succeeded in awakening the Faith, and in enkindling the fire of Catholic Charity in the hearts of the people who had settled at an early date in northwestern Ohio. Most of them had come from countries in Europe where Jansenism and Josephism had put their deadly blight on religious life; and many, after finding a home in the New World, had long been left spiritually destitute, not having seen a priest for years. The Sanguinist missionaries fanned the dying embers of faith into a vigorous flame, and the succeeding generation was brought up in a true Catholic spirit. The result was, that religion soon flour- ished in all the missions under their watchful care, and hence it is but true to say, that the healthy growth of Catholicity in Northern Ohio may, under God, in a great measure, be justly ascribed to the untiring zeal of these excellent pioneer priests.
4. THE SECULAR CLERGY.
Together with those of the religious orders, recorded in the preceding pages, the priests belonging to the Secular clergy also deserve special mention. They too labored in this part of the Master's vineyard amid trials, difficulties and hardships, often side by side with their brethren of the Regular clergy, already men- tioned, more often alone in these scattered missions. And their labors have borne fruit a hundred fold. They did yeoman's ser- vice ; they blazed the way for those who succeeded them, and laid the foundation for many missions that have long since developed into strong, vigorous and prosperous congregations.
The first secular priest to do missionary work in Northern Ohio was the Rev. Ignatius J. Mullon, a learned and pious clergy-
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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH (INTERIOR), CLEVELAND.
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man. He was stationed at the Cathedral in Cincinnati, between 1824 and 1834, and was repeatedly sent by his bishop to the missions in Stark and Columbiana counties, also to Tiffin and Fremont, remaining for longer or shorter periods in each place. His first visit to Northern Ohio was shortly after his ordination, in 1824. The Rev. Francis Marshall was the next secular priest, doing pastoral work at Chippewa, (near Doylestown) in 1827. In 1830 the Rev. John M. Henni was appointed resident pastor of St. John's, Canton, remaining till 1834. During this time he also attended missions in Columbiana, Stark and Wayne counties. Next in point of time was the Rev. Edmund Quinn, first resident pastor of St. Mary's, Tiffin, 1831-35. His mission covered all of Northwestern Ohio. In 1833 the Rev. W. J. Horstmann came to Northern Ohio and founded a colony on land he purchased in Putnam county from the government. Here also he established St. John's congregation, Glandorf. The Rev. James Conlon had charge of missions in Columbiana and Mahoning counties, and the eastern portion of Stark county, from 1834. In 1835 the Rev. Matthias Wuertz was appointed pastor of St. John's, Canton, and attended Massillon, Louisville, Navarre, and several stations in Stark and Wayne counties. He remained till 1845. The Rev. John Dillon was the first resident pastor of Cleveland, from 1835 to 1836, and during this short time attended stations in Summit and Lorain counties. He died in Cleveland, October 16, 1836. The Rev. Basil Schorb, a native of Pennsylvania, was appointed resident pastor of Chippewa in 1837, and had charge of Canal Fulton, Massillon, Canton, Liverpool, Randolph and Wooster. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1843. The Rev. George Boehne was on the mission in Putnam county, notably at Fort Jennings, from 1841.
The Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer had pastoral charge of the Catholics of Cleveland from 1837 to 1839, and commenced their first church in 1838.
Between 1838 and 1840 the Rev. Michael McAleer did pastoral duty at Canton, Dungannon and Navarre. From 1839 to 1847, the Rev. Joseph McNamee was resident pastor of St. Mary's, Tiffin. For several years he also had charge of all the stations and missions in Northwestern Ohio, covering the same territory as his predecessor, Father Quinn.
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The Rev. Projectus J. Machebeuf had charge of the missions in Sandusky, Henry, Ottawa, Wood and Lucas counties from 1839, till he was transferred to Sandusky, as first resident pastor, in December, 1840. From Sandusky he attended missions in Sandusky, Erie and Huron counties.
In 1840.the Revs. Amadeus Rappe and Louis De Goesbriand came to Ohio. The latter was sent by Bishop Purcell to take charge of St. Louis' congregation, Louisville, Stark county. Father Rappe resided about six months at Chillicothe. In 1841 he was sent to Toledo, where he organized St. Francis de Sales' con- gregation, and attended all the missions and stations in Lucas, Paulding, Williams, Defiance and Henry counties. In 1846 he was joined by Father De Goesbriand, who shared with him the priva- tions and labors connected with this difficult charge. Father Rappe remained at Toledo till his elevation to the Episcopacy in 1847.
The Rev. Peter Mclaughlin was resident pastor at Cleveland from 1840 to 1846. Shortly after his arrival he had the interior of St. Mary's church, on the Flats, completed. The church was dedicated June 7, 1840. Father Mclaughlin also attended missions in Lake, Lorain and Summit counties.
The Rev. Maurice Howard was on the mission in Northern Ohio about ten years. He came in 1842. Among his charges were Doylestown, Cleveland and Tiffin. He also attended missions in Wayne, Summit, Richland, Portage, Medina, Mahon- ing, Lake, Huron and Geauga counties.
In 1843 the Rev. John J. Doherty was appointed pastor of St. John's, Canton, where he remained about five years. He also attended Massillon, Canal Fulton and Navarre.
In 1844 the Revs. John H. Luhr and John O. Bredeick were assigned charges in Northern Ohio. Father Luhr was first stationed at St. John's, Canton, October, 1844. In 1845 he organized St. Peter's, Canton, whose pastor he was till 1847. Father Bredeick was the founder of Delphos, and of St. John's congregation at the same place. The Rev. Peter Peudeprat arrived from France in 1845, and was sent to Sandusky as assistant to Father Machebeuf, where he remained till the following year, when he was appointed pastor of St. Louis' church, Louisville, Stark county.
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From 1844 to 1846 the Rev. Cornelius Daley was first resident pastor of St. Vincent's, Akron, and from 1846 to 1847 pastor at Doylestown. The Rev. Philip Foley was stationed at Massillon in 1846, and attended Wooster, where he directed the building of the first church, commenced in 1847 and finished two years later.
Besides the above mentioned secular priests the following were also on the mission in Northern Ohio: the Revs. Michael A. Byrne, at Cleveland, 1845-47 ; J. Freigang, at Peru and Norwalk, 1840-41; H. Herzog, at Fort Jennings, 1840; J. Hoffmann, at St. John's, Canton, with charge of Louisville and Doylestown, 1836-37; H. D. Juncker, at Canton and Tiffin, 1836-37; J. Kear- ney, who attended East Liverpool and Wellsville from Steuben- ville, 1845-46; F. X. Roth, at Avon, 1845-47; E. Thienpont, at Tiffin, 1834-35 ; J. V. Conlan, at Dungannon, in 1847.
The Very Revs. Stephen T. Badin and Edward T. Collins also visited some of the missions in Northern Ohio between 1835 and 1837, the former ministering to the Catholics at Canton, Canal Fulton, Fremont and Tiffin, the latter to those of Dungannon, Toledo and along the Maumee river.
This brief narrative contains the names of all the secular priests who, at any time between 1824 and 1847, were either stationed in Northern Ohio, or attended missions located therein. · As this sketch would hardly permit more than the mere mention of their names, the reader is referred to the biographical notices of these priests, many of whom are deeply enshrined in the memory of those who knew them and their disinterested work in the cause of religion.
The following is a complete list of secular priests stationed in Northern Ohio, October, 1847, when the Diocese of Cleveland was erected: the Revs. G. Boehne, Glandorf; J. O. Bredeick, Delphos; James Conlan and J. Vincent Conlan, Dungannon ; Louis De Goesbriand, Toledo; John J. Doherty, St. John's, Canton ; Philip Foley, Massillon ; Maurice Howard, Cleveland ; J. B. Jaco- met, assistant, St. Peter's, Canton; John H. Luhr, St. Peter's, Canton; Projectus J. Machebeuf, Sandusky; Casimir Mouret, Doylestown; Peter Peudeprat, Louisville; Amadeus Rappe, Toledo-in all, fourteen secular priests.
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5. CHURCHES.
As heretofore stated, Father Fenwick came to Northern Ohio for the first time in 1817, visiting among others in Colum- biana and Stark counties, the few Catholic families settled near the present village of Dungannon. Here also, under his direction, in 1820, was built the first church in Northern Ohio. It was a small brick building, dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle, and served its purpose till 1849, when the present church in Dungannon was erected. Three years later the Catholics in Canton also built a brick church, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. It was re- placed in 1872 by the present very beautiful church. These were the only two churches in Northern Ohio, until 1829, when a third was built at Chippewa, near the present village of Doylestown. It was primitive in style, small in size and built of logs. In 1831 two more log churches were erected, one at Randolph, Portage county, the other between Lawrence and Canal Fulton, in Stark county. In 1832 a small brick church (St. Mary's) was opened for divine service at Tiffin. It was built under direction of the Rev. Edmund Quinn, and was enlarged by a frame addition built during the pastorate of Father McNamee in 1845. In 1833 three log churches were erected, viz: at Glandorf, Putnam county; Navarre (Bethle- hem), Stark county, and at New Riegel (Wolf's Creek), Seneca county. In 1834 the Catholics of Peru built a frame church under the direction of the Redemptorist Father, Rev. F. X. Tschenhens, who had it dedicated to St. Alphonse, the founder of the Redemp- torists. In 1835 a brick church was built at Louisville, Stark county, and another (frame) at La Porte, Lorain county. In 1836 a frame church was erected at Shelby Settlement, Richland county, and another the following year at Mccutchenville, Wyandot county, eight miles south of Tiffin. In 1839 a log church was erected at Thompson, Seneca county. Cleveland's first church (frame) was begun in 1838, and opened for divine service in 1840. During the latter year the Catholics of East Liverpool, Colum- biana county, erected a neat brick church. Five churches were added to this list in 1841. Father Rappe secured by purchase two Protestant frame meeting houses, one of them unfinished. They were located at Toledo and Maumee. The first was dedicated to St. Francis de Sales. Log churches were erected at La Prairie.
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Sandusky county, and New Washington, Crawford county; also one of wood, near Norwalk, dedicated to St. Peter. The last men- tioned church is still in use.
In 1842 churches were built at Sandusky (Holy Angels'), Abbeyville, Landeck, Liberty, Liverpool, Sheffield, and St. Stephen's Settlement, the first of stone, the last of wood; the others were log churches.
In 1844 a log church was erected at Delphos by Father Bredeick. Frame churches were built at Akron (St. Vincent's), Defiance (St. John's), and Fremont (St. Ann's), and one of stone, at Massillon (St. Mary's). At French Creek an old frame building was bought and fitted up for church purposes; it served as such till the erection of a second frame edifice in 1849.
In 1845 brick churches were built at Canton (St. Peter's), and New Berlin, Stark county; Providence, Lucas county; Tiffin (St. Joseph's), Seneca county. During the same year a frame church was also built at Harrisburg, Stark county. In 1846 a log church was erected at Bismarck (Sherman), and one of same kind, in 1847, at New Bavaria (Poplar Ridge). Total number of churches built or bought between 1820 and October, 1847, was 42, viz : stone, 2; brick, 9; frame, 14; log, 17.
6. THE FEMALE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES.
The Very Rev. Provincial F. S. Brunner, C. PP. S., founded a community of Sanguinist Sisters in July, 1844, at Wolf's Creek. (New Riegel). Their convent, the first in Northern Ohio, was a log house. The community numbered but three sisters, Mother Mary A. Albrecht, Sister Rose and a novice.
December, 1845, Father Brunner also founded a community at Thompson, and there, as at Wolf's Creek, a log house was the convent building and contained a chapel. As soon as the Sisters were established in their respective convent homes at Wolf's Creek and Thompson, they at once began the perpetual adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Eucharist, as directed by their Rule. They and their successors have ever since continued, day and night, the ob- servance of this part of their Rule, as a reparation for the insults and outrages committed against our blessed Lord in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. They also supported at their own
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expense a number of orphan girls in each of these convents, notably at New Riegel, and have continued to the present day this work of charity.
At the request of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Purcell, a small colony of Notre Dame Sisters was sent in 1840 from Namur, Belgium, to Cincinnati. During their voyage they were under the care of the Rev. Amadeus Rappe, then also on his way to America. Later on, when he was appointed resident pastor of Toledo, he desired to obtain the aid of the Sisters of Notre Dame, in caring for the little ones of his fold. Though his request was earnestly seconded by Bishop Purcell, it could not be granted, because of the small number of sisters. In 1845, however, their community at Cin- cinnati received an increase from Namur, which enabled the Superioress to grant Father Rappe's urgent petition. Accord- ingly, in the early part of September, five sisters, with Mother Louis Gonzaga as superioress, embarked for Toledo on a canal boat. After a tedious ride of two days and two nights they reached their destination. Bishop Purcell, with his usual paternal solicitude, was there with Father Rappe to meet them.
The Sisters were conducted to their future convent home, consisting of two frame houses, at the corner of Cherry and Erie streets. Here they opened school on October 20, 1845. It promised good results, the children, though few in number. prov- ing most docile and diligent. One serious difficulty, however, stood in their way. Toledo, in those days, was a swampy and unhealthy place, where malignant fevers prevailed; and the Sisters to whom the variable climate of America, with its sudden changes, was most trying, quickly succumbed to its unfavorable influences. When they returned to Cincinnati in the summer of 1846 for their annual retreat they were all completely prostrated, so that some of them could not return at the close of vacation. The succeeding years proved even more disastrous, for not only the Sisters felt the evil effects of the climate, but their pupils also contracted the "Maumee fever." Indeed, almost every family in the town lost some beloved member by death. A novice of the community, Sister Ann Louise, returned to Cincinnati and died, and Sister Xavier, whose remains rest in St. Francis de Sales' Cemetery, Toledo, also sank a victim to the dread fever. All this determined
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