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 35
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CRAWFORDSVILLE, WYANDOT COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S MISSION CHURCH.
The Mission of Crawfordsville was organized in 1849 and a small log church (20x26 feet), built on a donated parcel of land. It was attended by the Sanguinist Fathers, the first of whom was the Rev. F. X. Obermüller. The last was the Rev. T. Schoch, whose pastorate ended in August, 1875, when the Rev. Joseph Rosenberg, resident pastor of Kirby, was appointed to take charge of the Mission. Whilst the Rev. Father Gales, C. PP. S., attended Crawfordsville (May, 1857, to October, 1859), the second church, a very plain frame structure (25x50 feet) was built in 1859. It cost about $1,000, and was erected on a one acre tract of land donated by Peter Pauly, in November, 1858, for a place to build a church and school. In May, 1859, J. Draper also donated two and one-half acres for a cemetery. In 1878 Father Rosenberg established the parish school. In July, 1880, he was succeeded by the present attending priest, the Rev. J. G. Mizer. About this time the Mission had considerably increased, which fact made the
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need of a large church quite apparent. Besides, the well-to-do Catholic German farmers, who composed the Mission, also felt equal to the task of erecting a church that would be a credit to them. Father Mizer therefore had plans drawn for a church of Roman architecture, in size 40x80 feet, and to cost about $7,000. It was begun in August, 1883, and ready for use in January, 1885. On December 10, 1893, the pretty church was consumed by fire, owing to a defective flue. The insurance ($5,000) was promptly paid, but covered the loss only in part. The people were not dis- heartened, however, but resolved at once to replace the church by another and better edifice. Just two months after the fire the contract for the new church was let. On June 3, 1894, Bishop Horstmann laid its corner-stone. He also dedicated the church on November 18, 1896. It is a very attractive brick structure, 40x80 feet, of Roman architecture, with an eighty-foot tower at the southwest corner. It is furnished with artistic stained glass windows, fine altars, statuary, etc., and is considered one of the prettiest country churches in the diocese of Cleveland. Its cost was $11,000, and is fully paid. The fact is worthy of record, as the Mission numbers only about 35 families.
Father Mizer has had charge of Crawfordsville since 1880, with the exception of a short time (August, 1888, to January, 1890), when the Mission was attended from Carey, by the Rev. C. L. O'Brien. Father Mizer was then transferred to Carey, as resident pastor, but retained the charge of Crawfordsville. giving it semi-monthly service since then, as in past years.
CRESTLINE, CRAWFORD COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
The Rev. George H. Brennan was the first priest to say Mass in Crestline. This he did on week days in private houses, between the years 1854 and 1856, whilst he was resident pastor of Wooster. In the latter year he was succeeded by the Rev. Michael O'Neill who for about three years attended the few Catholic families then residing at Crestline. They were next visited by the Rev. Stephen Falk, pastor of Shelby Settlement, from 1859 to 1861, when Crestline was assigned to Mansfield as a Station and
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH AND SCHOOL, CRESTLINE.
Fatias
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attended by the Rev. Joseph F. Gallagher. Fathers Brennan and O'Neill had made several attempts to raise sufficient means for the erection of a frame church on lots that were promised as a dona- tion, but their efforts failed, because of the very small number and the poverty of those that comprised their charge. The promised site for a church (two lots fronting on North street) was deeded by Peter Dousset to Bishop Rappe in July, 1859, during the time Father Falk attended Crestline, but the building project had still not materialized. Finally, when Father Gallagher took charge in July, 1861, another attempt was made to raise funds for a church- this time with success. In a few months a frame building, 25x60 feet, was ready for use as a place of worship. Most of the timber was donated by members of the Shelby Settlement congregation and hauled by them gratis. This materially reduced the cost of the church, which was erected at an expense of about $1,000. It was placed under the protection of St. Joseph, but there is no record when or by whom it was dedicated. The Rev. Victor Arnould succeeded Father Falk at Shelby Settlement in May, 1862, and was also given charge of Crestline as a Mission. This he attended regularly on Sundays until September, 1863, when it became a Mission of Mansfield, with the Rev. James P. Molony in charge. In July, 1865, the Rev. John P. Pütz was appointed pastor of Galion and was at the same time directed to attend Crest- line as a Mission. In November, 1868, he was transferred to Crestline as the first resident pastor. He remained until Decem- ber, 1869, when, to the great sorrow of his parishioners, ill health forced him to resign his charge. His successor was the Rev. Joseph Eyler, January, 1870, to May, 1873. Shortly before his departure Father Pütz had bought two lots immediately east of the church, to be used eventually as a site for the pastoral resi- dence. Father Eyler raised a subscription for the purpose and in 1871 built the present residence, a neat brick structure, at a cost of about $2,500. In July, 1873, the Rev. A. M. Meili was appointed to succeed Father Eyler, after whose departure the Rev. J. B. Heiland, of Shelby Settlement, attended Crestline about one month. Father Meili's pastorate ended in March, 1874. The Rev. P. F. Quigley had temporary charge of Crestline, from Rockport, for a few weeks, until the arrival of the Rev. Edward Mears. By his prudence and zeal Father Mears succeeded in
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bringing about an excellent spirit into the parish, which he found considerably disturbed because of difficulties that arose during the time of Father Meili's incumbency. His successor was the Rev. George F. Houck, whose pastorate lasted from August, 1875, to July, 1877-when the effects of the "Black Friday" financial panic of 1873 were yet felt. Notwithstanding the financial depression, which very noticeably affected Crestline-a thorough "railroad town"-Father Houck succeeded in making a number of notable improvements in and about the church and school, all of which were paid for when completed. In obedience to Bishop Gilmour's wish he severed his connection with the good people of his first and only pastoral charge, and to which he had become greatly attached. He was assigned to a field of duty entirely new to him-the Chancellorship of the diocese, with which position was also connected that of secretary to the Bishop. Father Houck's successor was the Rev. Michael B. Brown, during whose pastorate, which ended in March, 1881, the present Sisters' residence was built. He was succeeded by the Rev. William J. Finucan who, like most of his predecessors and the large majority of the parish- ioners, was displeased with the out-of-the-way location of the church. As a new and larger church was a necessity, Father Finucan determined that it should be built in a prominent part of the town-as good as the best. In 1883 he raised a generous subscription for the purchase of a splendid site at the corner of Main and Thoman streets. The lots were bought in May, 1884, and cost $1,800. Ill health prevented Father Finucan from build- ing the much desired church, and obliged him to ask for a less exacting pastoral charge. His wish was granted and the Rev. Clement H. Treiber was appointed his successor, in June, 1887. Shortly after his advent to Crestline Father Treiber made prepara- tions to erect the new church, for which he found a little over $4,000 in the parish treasury. This sum had been raised by Father Finucan who had also paid for the above mentioned lots. With this nucleus on hand, increased by further subscription, the founda- tion for the church was commenced in the spring of 1888. On June 3, of the same year, the corner-stone was laid by Bishop Gilmour. During 1888 the sum of $13,000 was expended on the building. Father Treiber thought it prudent not to push the work
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too rapidly ; hence nothing of importance was done in 1889. In the following year the church was completed, $3,000 having been the amount expended. Mass was said in it for the first time on November 23, 1890. The beautiful edifice was dedicated by Bishop Horstmann, on Sunday, May 22, 1892. It was a day of rejoicing for pastor and people who now had a church that ranked with any in that section of the diocese in point of architectural beauty and finish. It was also a vindication of Father Finucan's position against the few who opposed the purchase of the new site, all now agreeing that no better location could have been chosen. The church (42x100 feet) is a very attractive brick edifice of Gothic architecture and adorned with stone trimmings. It has stained glass windows and its interior is fitted up in excellent taste.
In September, 1899, the Rev. Ignatius J. Wonderly was appointed successor to Father Treiber, who was sent to Canton, there to organize a congregation. Father Wonderly's stay was brief-till January, 1900, when the Rev. J. C. Herr, the present incumbent, was appointed to take charge. Shortly after his arrival he had the pastoral residence neatly refurnished at a cost of about $300. At an outlay of about $700 he had the old church remod- eled into a school, a purpose it now admirably serves, affording, as it does, ample educational facilities to the children of the parish. The school dates back to the pastorate of Father Pütz, and has been kept open ever since. It was in charge of lay teachers until September, 1887, when it was placed under the direction of the Sisters of Notre Dame. They remained in charge until Septem- ber, 1889, when they were succeeded by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. They taught the school until June, 1893. In Septem- ber, 1893, the Dominican Sisters replaced them and since then have had charge. The enrollment in December, 1900, was 100 pupils.
The parish now numbers about 85 families. As a "mixed" congregation, composed of Irish, Germans, and their decendants, it is a model, Catholicity and not nationality being the tie that binds them all.
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CUSTAR, WOOD COUNTY. ST. LOUIS' CHURCH.
The first Catholic settlers in Liberty, Milton and Weston townships formed the nucleus of the present flourishing congrega- tion at Custar .* From 1858 to 1866 Custar was attended as a Station at irregular intervals, from Maumee, Perrysburg and Providence. A frame church (no longer existing) was built in the early "sixties," at Wirtsburg, about a mile and a quarter east of the center of the Custar Mission, where also, in the summer of 1864, a frame church, 29x50 feet, was built under the direction of Father Griss, who at that time attended Custar from Perrysburg. Both churches were completed about the same time and were dedicated on the same day by Bishop Rappe. There is, however, no record of the date of dedication. Shortly after this event the Mission of Wirtsburg was merged into that of Custar, and thus ceased to exist. The following priests had charge of Custar, either as a Station or as a Mission: The Revs. S. Bauer (who attended Custar from Maumee between 1860 and 1862, and was the first priest who visited Custar), Jacob Hamene, Charles Griss, Joseph Reinhardt, Daniel O'Keefe, and Henry D. Best. In August, 1875, the Rev. Henry Doerner was appointed first resi- dent pastor. He had charge of St. Louis' parish until March, 1881. He built the pastoral residence in 1876; previous to that time he lived in a rented house. His successor was the Rev. Joseph Sproll (1881-85), and he in turn was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Michael Vollmayer, in July, 1885. By this time the congregation had outgrown its first church, which had also been considerably damaged by fire in March, 1887. Hence Father Vollmayer secured a suitable site in January, 1889, and shortly after had the foundation for a brick church, 45x106 feet, under way. Bishop Gilmour laid the corner-stone on Sunday, July 14, 1889. Two years later (May, 1891), Mgr. F. M. Boff, then administrator of the diocese, dedicated the beautiful Gothic structure to St. Louis, King of France. The pastor and his gen- erous people, the majority being German farmers, had the great satisfaction of entering their new house of worship on the day of its dedication, with the knowledge that it was without a dollar of
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debt. With its furnishings, stained glass windows, Stations and statues, the church cost about $14,000. In December, 1891, three fine bells were placed in position. The church is a monument to the zeal of Father Vollmayer, under whose watchful eye it was brought to completion; it is also a tangible evidence of the generosity and practical faith of his congregation, which numbers about 85 families.
In the fall of 1900 Father Vollmayer began the erection of a handsome pastoral residence, of brick; it cost about $3,500. The old residence was fitted up as a home for the Notre Dame Sisters who took charge of the parish school in September, 1900, till then taught by lay teachers. The school was established in 1875, during the pastorate of Father Best. For three years the pupils were assembled in the church, near the entrance, and there taught. In 1878 Father Doerner built an addition to the rear of the church, part of it serving as a sacristy, and part as a school.
CUYAHOGA FALLS, SUMMIT COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S MISSION CHURCH.
Cuyahoga Falls is a flourishing village, five miles north of Akron. It is located on the banks of the river from which it takes its name, and is noted as one of the most picturesque places in Northern Ohio. Catholics settled there between 1820 and 1835, and were visited by the Dominican Fathers, among them the Rev. Vincent De Raymacher. In 1835 the Rev. John Dillon, first resident pastor of Cleveland, paid them occasional visits, as appears from an item in the Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph of September 4, 1835, which will be found on page 31 of this volume. Cuyahoga Falls was first attended from Cleveland, as a Station, by the Revs. Patrick O'Dwyer and Peter Mclaughlin (1836-42), and from 1842 till 1867, by the resident pastors of St. Vincent's, Akron. It was then attached to Hudson, whence it has been attended ever since. Whilst the Rev. Patrick Barry, resident pastor of Hudson (July, 1881, to November, 1884), had charge of Cuyahoga Falls, he secured property for a church in October, 1883. In the spring of the following year he had the present brick edifice (30x60 feet) brought under roof, but lack of means prevented its interior
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completion. It thus remained until the advent of the Rev. James J. Farrell, who had pastoral charge of "The Falls" from October, 1885, to September, 1889. He had the church plastered and neatly adorned. It cost about $2,000, and was dedicated to St. Joseph, by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G., on June 19, 1887. The Mission numbers about 20 families, to whom much credit is due for generously assisting with their limited means their respective pastors in securing so neat a place of worship. The Rev. D. B. Crotty, of Hudson, the present pastor, has had charge of the Mission since August, 1899.
CYGNET, WOOD COUNTY.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS' MISSION CHURCH.
The little "oil-town" of Cygnet has but a brief history. It dates back less than ten years-to about the year 1890, when in the heart of the now celebrated oil field of Wood county it came into existence. With oil drillers, in the employment of the Standard Oil Company, came also a fair contingent of Catholics, whose numbers were steadily increased by other co-religionists seeking employment, or their fortune, in the surrounding oil region. How Cygnet, with its vast array of oil derricks, came by its pretty name is not on record, as there is certainly nothing about the town to suggest the young of the swan.
To the Rev. W. S. Kress, pastor of Bowling Green, was committed, in September, 1892, the spiritual welfare of Cygnet's few Catholics. He assembled them for the purpose of determining upon the purchase of a suitable place for divine worship. They were averse to erecting a costly building, as the future of the town, depending as it did on the oil supply, was not assured. Its exhaustion meant the total abandonment of Cygnet. In view of the uncertainty of the town's stability it was resolved to accept the offer, without cost, of an abandoned one-story frame building, which had been used as a rod-shop, but was still in good condition. Three lots, fronting on Bradford street, were purchased for $250, and the above mentioned building, located on them, was transformed into a neat chapel. The first High Mass was cele- brated in it by Father Kress, on Sunday, October 30, 1892.
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Previous to the equipment of the chapel, Mass had been said in one of the public school buildings, and before that in the house of Hugh McGivern. In November, 1894, the Rev. A. H. Schreiner succeeded Father Kress at Bowling Green, with charge of Cygnet as a Mission. After repeated but vain efforts to convince the few Catholics of Cygnet of the necessity of building a more suitable house of worship, Father Schreiner finally succeeded in getting their co-operation. As a result he bought, on September 9, 1898, a new location in the most prominent part of the town. The temporary chapel was removed to the rear end of the lots, eventu- ally to be used as a parish and society hall. Plans were at once drawn and approved for the construction of a substantial brick church, 35 feet wide and 65 feet long. It was completed in a few months, and dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on Sunday, July 9, 1899, by the Rev. Chancellor Houck, as Bishop Horst- mann's delegate. He also sang the first High Mass in the new edifice, which is a little gem of church architecture, and an orna- ment to the town as well as its most prominent building. Its construction was planned and begun by Father Schreiner, and completed under the supervision of Father Regan. It cost $4,000; but a small debt remains, which will soon be paid.
Father Schreiner was succeeded at Bowling Green and Cygnet by the Rev. Martin J. Regan, the present pastor, in January, 1899. Since Bowling Green and Cygnet are now connected by an electric line, services are held in each place every Sunday and Holyday. The Mission is in a prosperous condition, with harmony and peace prevailing. As yet it has not been found possible to establish a parish school.
DALTON, WAYNE COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S MISSION CHURCH.
As early as 1825 Catholics, from Maryland, had settled in the village and environs of Dalton-located six miles from West Brookfield, Stark county. It was then and for many years known as Sugar Creek. They were attended by the resident pastors of St. John's, Canton, and later by those of Doylestown, Wooster and Canal Fulton. They had built a log chapel on the farm of a Mr.
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Arnold. As they gradually became reduced in numbers their further attendance as a Mission was abandoned. When asked to join one of the neighboring Missions, and help build a church, it is said they refused. Concerning the log chapel, mentioned above, the following paragraph is taken from a letter sent by Bishop Purcell to the Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph, in which it appeared July 18, 1834: "In Sugar Creek church, Wayne county, likewise a log edifice, small and inconveniently situated, there were fourteen communicants *
* on the first of July. The Arnolds, of Allegheny county, Maryland, have planted the mustard seed, and they now cherish its growth in this lonely place." By degrees they became careless and eventually they, with their descendants, apostatized. The above mentioned log chapel was turned into a stable and later the adjoining small and partially filled cemetery was sold to the Township Trustees by the owner of the farm on which it was located, and made a public cemetery. Thus the last trace of Catholicity at Dalton was effaced and has never since been restored.
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DEFIANCE, DEFIANCE COUNTY.
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S CHURCH.
The Holy Sacrifice was offered in Defiance for the first time, in the year 1841, the Rev. Amadeus Rappe, later first Bishop of Cleveland, being the celebrant. There were then but two Catholic families-P. Fitzpatrick's and Frank Weissenberger's-in Defi- ance, the County Seat of Defiance county. There were in the town at that time less than three hundred inhabitants. Besides the above mentioned families, in whose houses Mass was said for some years, there were also a few Catholic young men and women. They constituted the numerical strength of Defiance's Catholic population and were regularly visited from Toledo, on week days, by Father Rappe (1841-46), the Revs. Louis De Goesbriand (1847) and Philip Foley (1847-49). In 1849 the Rev. Sebastian Sanner. resident pastor of Maumee, was given charge also of Defiance. which he attended about one year.
The first church, a frame structure, 22x30 feet, was built under the direction of Father Rappe, in the fall of 1844, on a lot donated
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ST JOHN S CHURCH, DEFIANCE
الجنسية
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by H. G. Phillipps. The following passage, relative to St. John's, Defiance, is taken from a letter sent by Father Rappe to Bishop Purcell, and published by him in the Catholic Telegraph, February 13, 1845: "I went to Defiance the 15th of January, and was very much gratified when I perceived a small church erected by the care and sacrifice of a few Catholic families of that place. I hope to celebrate Mass in it before Easter. I am pleased to tell you that everything has been conducted so well that it will be out of debt when finished. It is not a splendid building, but I hope Almighty God will have more regard for the good and pious hearts, which built up an humble temple for His glory, with much exertion, than for a monument erected by pride, or without any hard sacrifice." Though small, the church, or chapel, was amply large for some years, as the growth of Catholicity in the village and county of Defiance was very slow until 1850. Within the limits of the entire county there were then only fifteen Catholic families, some of them going a distance of twenty miles to attend Mass. In 1850 Defiance was made the center of a Mission district, com- prising all of Defiance, and part of Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Williams and Wood counties. The Rev. Louis J. Filiere was appointed the first resident pastor of Defiance, in November, 1850, with the above mentioned additional charge. In March, 1854, he was transferred to Providence, Lucas county, and Defiance was then assigned to the Sanguinist Fathers of Minster, Auglaize county, as a Mission, and attended by them from April, 1854, to July, 1855. Their names, as found in the parish records of Defi- ance, are the Revs. Patrick Henneberry, Andrew Herbstritt, E. Ruff and Jacob Ringeli. During this time they built a small frame house next to the church for their residence. They also built a residence for the Sanguinist Sisters who had charge of the school, which was organized at that time. During Father Filiere's pastor- ate five acres of land were secured for a cemetery. The deed was given June 3, 1853. The Rev. Francis Westerholt was appointed to the pastorate of Defiance in July, 1855, thus relieving the San- guinists. In September of that year he secured additional lots for a prospective church, which soon became a necessity, owing to the increase of Catholic population in Defiance and its immediate vicinity. In the summer of 1856 Father Westerholt had the new
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brick church (34 x 75 feet) under way and enclosed in the fall of that year. Although its interior for lack of means was not finished until some time later, necessity compelled Father Westerholt to use it in its unfinished condition, as the old church had become overcrowded. This was also changed at once into a parish school, much to the joy of the children, whose number had outgrown the cramped quarters in the old school. Besides attending to St. John's, Defiance, Father Westerholt had charge of many stations and missions in the county of Defiance and neighboring counties, until his appointment to the pastorate of Delphos, in July, 1858. The Rev. Aloysius I. Hoeffel was at that time also appointed his successor at Defiance, with charge of the above mentioned stations and missions. These he attended alone about one year, when he received assistance, in July, 1859, in the person of the Rev. James P. Molony, whom Bishop Rappe sent to Father Hoeffel as his co-laborer, thus enabling him to give more time and attention to his parish work at Defiance. Father Molony was succeeded by the Revs. A. Magenhann (1861) ; J. P. Carroll (1862-63); John Han- nan (1865-66) and Daniel O'Keefe (1866-69). Father Hoeffel finished the interior of the church begun by Father Westerholt. He secured a pipe organ at a cost of $1,000, purchased eight acres of land for a cemetery, and the lot on which the present pastoral residence stands. After ten years of hard labor Father Hoeffel was appointed to the important pastorate of St. John's, Delphos, thus again succeeding Father Westerholt, who was transferred to St. Peter's Church, Cleveland, in January, 1868. The Rev. G. Rudolph succeeded Father Hoeffel at Defiance. He remained from May, 1868, to August, 1869, when the Rev. C. Viere was appointed resident pastor. He in turn was succeeded by the Rev. John B. Jung, in October, 1878. During Father Viere's pastorate the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was organized in 1873, by the separation from St. John's of its English-speaking members. This now made St. John's an exclusively German parish. To give the new parish a start, St. John's gave the suni of $5,000, and retained for their own use all the church property, excepting the cemetery, which remained in common. During the same year St. John's built a neat brick pastoral residence. It cost $4,000, and was then considered one of the best in the diocese.
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