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 32
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A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
BIG DITCH, LUCAS COUNTY. ST. IGNATIUS' CHURCH.
The above named church, a small, modest looking frame building, 30 x 45 feet, with posts for support, was built in Novem- ber, 1883, under the direction of the Rev. John McMahon. It was dedicated by Mgr. Boff, V. G., on September 27, 1885. On the same day he also blessed the adjoining cemetery. Big Ditch is a French-Canadian settlement, and received its odd name from the fact that a deep ditch was cut through that part of Lucas county to drain a large section of adjacent flat country. The settlement was attended from Toussaint as a mission by the Rev. John Mc- Mahon, from November, 1883, to March, 1886; then by the Rev. Armand Hamelin, to August, 1890. From that time, until January, 1891, it had no services, owing to lack of priests. It was then attended monthly from Toledo by the Rev. Louis Braire, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, until June of the same year. Again Big Ditch was without attendance till the appointment of the Rev. James Rouchy as first resident pastor, in January, 1892. He boarded with one of his parishioners until the fall of that year, when he built a small frame residence, at a cost of $800. Owing to ill health he resigned his pastorate in March, 1896, and was suc- ceeded by the Rev. James Mevel, who remained only until the latter part of October, 1897, when he also was obliged to resign because of illness. He died at St. Vincent's Hospital, Toledo, on . November 3, 1897. His immediate successor was the present pastor, the Rev. John Berthelot. He had the church placed on a brick foundation, as also neatly renovated and tidied up. The pastoral residence was enlarged by a frame addition of 20 x 32 feet during 1898. In the following year a spire was built and a 1,200 pound bell placed in the belfry. In 1900 the church was lengthened 26 feet, the addition forming the present sanctuary. The interior was frescoed and fitted up with neat pews, altar rail- ing, etc. Hardly were these improvements finished when, on July 7, 1900, a cyclone struck the church, tore off the spire and greatly damaged the building. This was at once put in good condition again. The entire church property, including the cemetery, now presents an attractive appearance and reflects much credit on the pastor and his spiritual charge, which, though numerically small, is generous in its support of the Church.
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
BIG SPRING, SENECA COUNTY, ST. PETER'S MISSION CHURCH.
In October, 1858, Bishop Rappe gave permission to about fifty families, then and for years before identified with St. Boniface's Church, New Riegel, to build a church for themselves at Big Spring Settlement, two miles distant. This they did under the direction of the Rev. Erhard Glueck, C. PP. S., who was appointed to take charge of the mission .. The church, a frame building, 30 x 60 feet, was built at a cost of $1,500, on a one-acre parcel of land donated in May, 1857, by Frederick Nye, a parishioner. At the same time Peter Kiefer also donated five acres to the mission. Bishop Rappe dedicated the church to St. Peter the Apostle, in November, 1859. It served its purpose until 1881, when in November of that year it was replaced by the present brick church, 45 x 95 feet in size. It is a neat structure of Roman architecture. has stained glass windows, and the necessary outfit of fine altars, pews, etc. It is also tastily frescoed. The church was built at a cost of $9,000 during the pastorate of the Rev. Jacob Marte, C. PP. S., in the face of considerable opposition on the part of some of his parishioners. This opposition, however, had almost disappeared before the church was finished.
Big Spring has always been attended by Sanguinist Fathers from New Riegel as a mission. From 1858 to 1866 services were held once or twice each month. Since then Divine service has been held every Sunday and Holyday.
St. Peter's, like many other congregations, has pages in its history that were better unwritten. Several times a spirit of insubordination prevailed, to the injury of religion and the scandal of the faithful. This fact, with the frequent changes of pastors as a result, proved a serious drawback to the growth of the mission- composed almost entirely of farmers. For years past, however, a better spirit has been shown and St. Peter's record since then has been void of any blot.
The following priests had charge of the mission of Big Spring from 1858 to 1900: The Revs. Erhard Glueck, Patrick Henne- berry, Nicholas Gales, Engelbert Ruff, Henry Drees, Matthias Kreusch, Christian Frensch, Alphonse Laux, Philip Rist, Caspar
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Schedler, John B. Birnbaum, Theobald Schoch, Cosmas Seeberger, George Fleisch ; Jacob Marte, July, 1877, to August, 1882; Joseph Heitz, to October, 1883 : Rudolph Abbrederis, to November, 1885; Matthias Kenk, to April, 1892; Xavier Mielinger, to May, 1894. The present pastor, the Rev. Charles Meyer, has had charge of Big Spring since July, 1894. Twice during his pastorate he had the church repaired, owing to its defective construction. It now ranks with the better class of country churches in its appointments and general appearance.
The parish school has an enrollment of 60 pupils and is taught by a lay teacher.
BISMARCK, HURON COUNTY, ST. SEBASTIAN'S CHURCH.
St. Sebastian's congregation at Bismarck is composed entirely of German farmers and was organized in 1846. Previous to that year the Catholics living in Sherman township-which gave its original name to the settlement ; only since 1882 has it been known as Bismarck-were identified with the congregations of Peru and Thompson. On July 2, 1846, their first church, a small building constructed of rough hewn logs, was opened for Divine service. From that time until 1860 the mission of Sherman was attended by the Sanguinist Fathers from Thompson, five miles distant. At first the attendance was monthly, and finally, as the mission grew, Mass was said every Sunday and Holyday. The following Sanguinist Fathers had charge of the mission between 1846 and 1868: The Revs. F. S. Brunner, P. A. Capeder, M. A. Meier, M. Kreusch, S. Ganther (1849-52), A. Dambach, E. Glueck, P. Wilhelmy, R. Schuele, V. Haussner, J. Ringeli (1860-66), E. Ruff and A. Laux. In July, 1868, the Rev. J. M. Thoma, C. PP. S., was appointed first resident pastor of Sherman, remaining until July, 1869. The settlement was then again attended from Thompson as a mission until December of the same year. Since that time the congregation of Sherman (Bismarck) has been in charge of secular priests, the first being the Rev. John P. Puetz, who remained until November, 1872, when he was obliged to resign because of ill health. The Rev. V. Haussner, formerly a
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
Sanguinist, but at this time a secular priest, was again given pastoral charge of Bismarck, as successor to Father Puetz. In April, 1879, he was succeeded by the Rev. John F. Koehn. He too was obliged in October of the same year to give up pastoral work owing to illness. He died at Bismarck on January 24, 1SS0. The present pastor, the Rev. Theodore Litterst, took charge of the congregation in November, 1879.
The original log chapel was replaced in 1857 by the present brick church, 40 x 72 feet in size. Its cornerstone was laid on August 5 of that year. The present pastoral residence and school, both brick buildings, were erected between 1867 and 1868. A frame school house was built in 1862, about two miles from the church, for the convenience of the children in that section of the parish. No notable improvements were made in or about the church property for a number of . years, until 1894, when the church was thoroughly renovated, both exterior and interior, and thus made very attractive, which it is even at the present time. In 1897 a $1,400 pipe organ replaced the old time worn instrument.
The two parish schools are taught by lay teachers. 1
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BLUFFTON, ALLEN COUNTY,
ST. MARY'S MISSION CHURCH.
Bluffton was a Catholic station from 1856 until 1866. During these years it was attended from New Riegel by the Rev. M. Kreusch. It was then attended monthly irom Findlay by the Revs. J. M. Roetzer, from July, 1860, to March, 1862; H. Behrens, to July, 1863; M. Dechant, to June, 1867; E. J. Vattmann, to September, 1869 ; N. Flammang, to August, 1870; from Fostoria, until March, 1871; again from Findlay, by the Rev. J. B. Jung, until October, 1878 ; from Fostoria, to March, 1879 ; from Findlay, by the Rev. G. Rudolph, to March, 1881. Since then the present pastor of Findlay, the Rev. H. Doerner, has attended the mission monthly.
In 1865 James Owens donated an acre of ground on which the present frame church, 24 x 40 feet, was built under the direction of Father Dechant. It cost $1,000, of which sum Mr.
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Owens contributed $200. Bishop Rappe dedicated the church in the summer of 1869. In 1883 the building was re-roofed, and in 1890 it was surmounted by a spire, and the interior was also renovated. At present the mission numbers only twelve families and has no prospective growth.
BOWLING GREEN, WOOD COUNTY.
ST. ALOYSIUS' CHURCH.
For some unexplained reason the number of Catholics in Bowling Green, though a county seat, and an attractive and very pleasantly situated town, surrounded by excellent farming land, was for some years very small-out of all proportion with its population. For upwards of twenty years, prior to 1882, there were but ten families, and these mostly all poor. They were visited at irregular intervals by the pastors in charge of Maumee and Perrysburg, especially by the Revs. S. Bauer (1860-62), and C. Griss (1863-65). In 1869 Bowling Green was attached to Providence as a station and later as a mission, and so remained until 1890, the Rev. D. O'Keefe attending it until 1871, and the Rev. H. D. Best from 1871 until 1877. About 1878 Father Best made an attempt to build a church at Bowling Green, but failed for lack of means. Meanwhile and until the fall of 1881 Mass was said in private houses, as had been done in years past. In 1880 the Rev. H. Kolopp succeeded in raising a subscription sufficiently large to warrant the purchase of a lot and the erection of a church. The latter, a neat and substantial brick edifice, 35 x 50 feet, was built during the summer of 1881, and dedicated by Bishop Gilmour on Sunday, October 23, of the same year. During the year 1892 the church was painted and frescoed. It was also furnished with a neat altar, pews, altar railing, confessionals, etc. By the end of that year the entire debt was cancelled, and the above mentioned improvements were paid for. In 1894 an addition of 30 feet was built to the church, at a cost of $1,200. In the summer of 1896 a tower was built and a bell purchased, both at a cost of $800. The pastoral residence, a frame structure, was built in 1891.
As a result of the pastoral zeal of Father Kress in behalf of his flock, many who had gone astray or had become indifferent
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ST. ALOYSIUS' CHURCH, BOWLING GREEN.
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about their religious obligations were brought back to the fold. Thus the membership of St. Aloysius' parish was raised from about twenty-five families to sixty-five in 1894. This number was reduced, however, shortly after, owing to the destruction by fire of the Glass Works, in which there were many Catholics employed. As the works were not rebuilt all the employees sought work else- where. Since then there has been a slight increase again in the parish, the number of families according to the last diocesan census (1900) being fifty-nine.
A much needed parish school has not as yet been established, owing in part to lack of means.
The following priests had pastoral charge of Bowling Green since the time of the Rev. H. D. Best (1871-77), viz. : The Revs. H. Kolopp, April. 1877, to August, 1883; G. Leeming, to February, 1885; J. P. McGrath, to December, 1888; J. J. Hennessy, to February, 1890. The Rev. M. Philippart was the first resident pastor of Bowling Green, which ceased to be a mission with his appointment, in June, 1890. His successors were the following priests: The Revs. W. S. Kress, in January, 1892 ; A. H. Schreiner, October, 1894, to January, 1899, when the present incumbent, the Rev. M. J. Regan, took pastoral charge.
BRIGHTON (BROOKLYN), CUYAHOGA COUNTY. CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART OF MARY.
Brighton, a village in the suburbs of Cleveland, now known as Brooklyn, was made a mission in the spring of 1873, and, with the exception of the time from October, 1877, to January, 1879, was attended as such from St. Mary's Seminary until November, 1885, by the Rev. P. F. Quigley, D. D. During the above mentioned period the Rev. John A. Marschal attended the mission from Cleveland. For over two years Father Quigley held divine service in an old cooper shop, which he had fitted up as a temporary place of worship. In May, 1874, he purchased a lot on Mechanic street for $2,800. A few weeks later he began the erection of a brick church, 35 x 70 feet in size. The corner-stone was laid on Sunday, October 25, 1874. In the absence of Bishop Gilmour, the church was dedicated by Bishop Fitzgerald on
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Sunday afternoon, July 4, 1875. The ceremony was witnessed by a very large number of interested spectators, among them many of the Protestant villagers, who till then had treated their Catholic fellow-townsmen with contempt and even with insolence. In their bigotry they denied the attending priest the most ordinary courtesies. The village authorities even refused him the temporary use of the Town Hall, thus forcing him to use the above mentioned cooper shop as a place of worship. The erection of the church was barely tolerated by the intolerant Brightonians. Hence, from the very beginning the mission was beset with difficulties engendered by bigotry. But other difficulties of a graver nature were in store for it.
At the time Dr. Quigley took charge of the Brighton mission its prospects were very roseate in the way of a large increase of population, because of promised carshops, etc. On this sup- position the above mentioned lot was bought (to which a second lot was added in 1875). and the church built-at a cost of about $10,000. This was done when real estate and building material were held at a high price. As the mission was then composed of twenty-five poor families, help from that source was out of the question. Hopeful of a brighter future, to tide over financial difficulties, brought about by the panic of 1873, Father Quigley was obliged to secure a loan at an exorbitant rate of interest. But the prospects so ardently looked for failed to materialize, and the Brighton church was hopelessly involved in debt which bore a heavy rate of interest, so that the future of the mission looked anything but bright or promising. On January 24, 1878, Bishop Gilmour published an appeal in behalf of the mission, and authorized Father Quigley to solicit financial aid throughout the diocese and elsewhere. Besides attending to his duties at the Seminary, he was thus engaged until his appointment to the pastorate of St. Francis de Sales' Church, Toledo, in November, 1885. At that time he had succeeded in raising enough money to pay the interest and reduce the debt to $3,500.
Brighton was without a priest from November, 1885, to January, 1888, when the Rev. Peter D. Scherer, resident pastor of Independence, was appointed to attend the mission, which he did monthly until June of the same year, when he left the diocese. He was succeeded by the Rev. Nicholas Hofstetter, who had charge of
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
the mission until August, 1890. Brighton was next attended from St. Ignatius' College, Cleveland, by the Rev. Augustine Steffen, S. J., from August, 1890, to August, 1893, and by the Rev. Henry Richard, S. J., until February, 1894. Father Steffen's pastorate was very successful and infused new life into the mission which had almost ceased to exist. In 1892 he began the erection of the present frame school building, 31 x 55 feet, and had it finished in the following year, at a cost of $2,100. In February, 1894, the Rev. Michael Becker was appointed first resident pastor of Brighton. In September of that year the school was opened with an attendance of fifty pupils, taught by a lay teacher. Father Becker was succeeded in March, 1895, by the Rev. J. B. Neustich, S. J., who attended Brighton from St. Ignatius' College till July, 1895, when the Rev. Joseph Schwick succeeded him. He was replaced in June, 1896, by the present pastor, the Rev. N. Weckel, whose energy has produced a great change for the better in the parish. Shortly after taking pastoral charge he had the church re-roofed, frescoed, and furnished with stained glass windows. The parish hall in the school building was plastered and a second school room was added. He also engaged two Sisters of St. Joseph to take charge of the school. In 1897 he built the present neat frame pastoral residence at a cost of about $1,200. In 1899 the school and pastoral residence were provided with furnaces. In 1900 a very tasty high altar replaced the old make-shift which served as an altar. Meanwhile he also reduced the parish debt considerably, so that it is now almost entirely cancelled. The parish is in a flourishing condition and bids fair to increase in strength; its outlook is most promising.
BRYAN, WILLIAMS COUNTY. ST. PATRICK'S MISSION CHURCH.
Rev. Francis Westerholt was the first priest to visit Bryan. He attended the place from Defiance, as a Station, during 1857 and 1858. At that time there were but four Catholic families in Bryan and its vicinity. An attempt to build a church was made in 1874 by the Rev. J. G. Vogt who took up a subscription for that purpose, but the project ended in failure, owing to the small num- ber of Catholics. In the following year the Rev. P. H. Delbaere
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made another effort in the same direction, which proved success- ful, as the Protestants of the village subscribed liberally ; in fact they gave most of the money needed for the erection of the modest little frame structure, which was built on a lot secured in 1874 by Father Vogt. Their subscription exceeded by far that of the Catholics, who lacked means however, rather than good will. The church was dedicated by Vicar General Boff in 1875. It was replaced in 1890 by the present neat brick structure, 32 x 54 feet in size, exclusive of the tower. With its furnishings and the site, it cost about $3,500. The church is located in a prominent part of the village, on a lot purchased in 1889.
Following is a list of priests who have had charge of Bryan as a Station or Mission: The Revs. F. Westerholt, A. I. Hoeffel, J. P. Carroll, 1857-65; N. Kirch, 1865-67; Peter Becker, 1867-69; J. Eyler, 1869-70; C. Braschler, 1870-73; J. G. Vogt, 1873-75; P. H. Delbaere, 1875-77; N. J. Franche, 1877-81; F. X. Nunan, 1881-82 ; J. B. Primeau, 1882-83 ; J. H. Kleekamp, March to July, 1884; G. C. Schoenemann, 1884-86; J. H. Muehlenbeck, 1886-98. Since July, 1898, the present pastor, the Rev. P. H. Janssen, has had charge.
Bryan was attended from Defiance till 1865; from Edgerton, Archbold and St. Mary's Corners, between 1865 and 1884, with periodical intermissions, when it had no priestly attendance. Since July, 1884, Bryan has been attached to Archbold as a Mission, and at present numbers about eighteen families.
BUCYRUS, CRAWFORD COUNTY. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.
In 1835 the Redemptorist Father, F. X. Tschenhens, came from Peru, Huron county, to gather together and minister to the few Catholic families in and around Bucyrus, he being the first priest to visit the Catholic settlers located in that part of Northern Ohio. From 1844 to 1862 Mass was said at irregular intervals, in private houses by the Sanguinist Fathers, who came from Thomp- son, Seneca county. Among these were the Revs. J. Albrecht, A. Reichert, and Matthias Kreusch. The Rev. Peter Kreusch attended Bucyrus from Shelby Settlement between 1852 and 1854.
In 1862 a lot was bought on Mary street, and also an old Pres-
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byterian meeting house, which was moved on to said lot and fitted up as a church. The cost of lot and building was $400. The Mission of Bucyrus was then attended from Shelby Settlement until 1865 by the Revs. S. Falk and V. Arnould; and for a few months in 1865, from Wooster, by the Rev. Joseph F. Gallagher. It was then attached to Upper Sandusky as a monthly Mission, until 1869. During that time it had as attending priests the Revs. A. J. Spierings, from November, 1865, to April, 1867; and Joseph Reinhardt, until February, 1868. Father Reinhardt was killed on February 22, 1868, whilst boarding a train at Upper Sandusky for Bucyrus where he intended to meet Bishop Rappe, who had gone there to give confirmation. His successor was the Rev. G. Peter, who attended Bucyrus until 1869. The Mission was then without a priest for two years, except once during the Eastertide, because of some difference between the congregation and Bishop Rappe. Peace was finally restored and Bucyrus received its first resident pastor May 5, 1871, in the person of the Rev. D. Zinsmayer, who remained in charge until April, 1877. During that period a great deal had to be done for the parish. The frame church was old, and without decent furniture. There was no residence that was suit- able for the pastor, and a considerable debt to be cancelled. Father Zinsmayer lived for some time in a small frame house, that stood on a lot which had been bought for the parish by Father Peter, but had been paid for only in part. Father Zinsmayer raised a subscription to cancel the debt. He bought a fine bell and pro- vided the church with needed furniture and had it thoroughly renovated and frescoed. He also built and furnished a neat pastoral residence-all at an outlay of nearly $4,000. At this time the congregation numbered only about forty-five families; though the majority were poor, they assisted their pastor very generously, considering their means. "The St. Ludwig's Missions Verein," of Munich, Bavaria, sent Father Zinsmayer the sum of $1,300 towards cancelling the parish debt incurred by the congregation for the above mentioned improvements.
The Rev. H. D. Best succeeded Father Zinsmayer in April, 1877. His pastorate ended in November, 1881, when the Rev. Joseph Eyler was appointed his successor. Shortly after his arrival at Bucyrus, Father Eyler urged upon his people the necessity of building a new church, as the old structure had become dilapidated
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and too small. But before he could put into effect his cherished plan he was replaced, in August, 1883, by the Rev. H. Kolopp, under whose direction the present handsome brick church was built. Its cornerstone was laid by Bishop Gilmour on May, 25, 1884. The same Prelate dedicated the church to the Most Holy Trinity, on Sunday, May 27, 1888. It cost about $17,000, exclusive of altars, pews, etc. Father Kolopp died at Bucyrus, after a short illness, on March 22, 1887. In the following month the Rev. J. H. Kleekamp was appointed his successor. He found a large debt, which had been contracted in the erection of the church, but which he con- siderably reduced during the time he remained in charge-till August, 1891, when the Rev. Joseph Rosenberg was sent to Bucyrus. At an outlay of nearly $1,000, paid entirely by himself, Father Rosenberg had the sanctuary ornamented by three neat altars and a communion rail. His successor was the Rev. M. Arnoldi, who had charge of the parish from January, 1896, till May, 1899, when the present incumbent, the Rev. Charles Brasch- ler, succeeded him.
The parish school was first organized during the pastorate of Father Spierings, but owing to lack of means it had to be closed soon after. Father Zinsmayer reopened the school, but for the same reason it had to be closed again, although at one time about sixty pupils were on its rolls. It was reopened during the pastorate of Father Kolopp, and has continued doing its work ever since. The Dominican Sisters have had charge of the school since 1895. At present (December, 1900) 115 pupils are in attendance.
CANAL FULTON, STARK COUNTY. STS. PHILIP AND JAMES' CHURCH.
Lawrence township, Stark county, in which Canal Fulton is situated, received its first quota of Catholic settlers in 1812. They were John McCadden, Matthew and James Patton, Daniel Boyle and their families. The Rev. Edward D. Fenwick, O. P., then stationed at St. Rose's, Ky., was the first priest to visit Northern Ohio, after the departure of the Jesuits in 1773. He extended his visit from the village of Canton to Lawrence township in 1817, where he gladdened the hearts of the above named pioneers who had not seen a priest since they came to Ohio. He said Mass in
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STS. PHILIP AND JAMES' CHURCHI, CANAL FULTON
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