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, pt2 > Part 11
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In January, 1846, Father De Goesbriand was transferred to Toledo, as assistant to the Rev. Amadeus Rappe. His successors at Louisville were the Rev. Peter Peudeprat (January, 1846-April, 1850); and Casimir Mouret (April-June, 1850). Louisville was then attended from St. John's, Canton, until September, 1850, when the Rev. J. B. Marechal was appointed resident pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. Louis F. D'Arcy, who, at his own expense, made a number of improvements in and about the church property, and built the first school, a small frame structure. Owing to ill health he resigned his pastorate in May, 1854, and returned to his native France. Father D'Arcy came back to Louisville in 1856; during his absence the Rev. August J. Rollinet had charge of the parish. After his return he remained till January, 1861, when he was succeeded by the Rev. A. L. Mauclerc, whose stay was of short duration-until May of the same year. Louisville was then attended from Dungannon as a Mission, until July, 1861, when the Rev. Louis Hoffer was appointed resident pastor.
In 1867 Father Hoffer replaced the frame school house by the present two-story brick building (34 x 72 feet) at a cost of about $5,000, of which sum Mr. J. Davis, a parishioner, gave nearly $600.
In the spring of 1869 the foundation for the present brick . church was commenced. The imposing edifice was not completed however until 1875. It is of Gothic architecture, and is located on an elevated spot commanding a view for many miles in every direction. It is 60 feet wide and 132 feet long, and has two towers, each 100 feet high. Stained glass windows and artistic frescoing make its interior quite attractive. The church cost about $31,000, and is an ornament to the town of Louisville and a credit to Father Hoffer as well as to his generous parishioners.
By an ordinance of the town council of Louisville, passed in 1889, further interments were forbidden in the parish cemetery,
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adjoining the church. Father Hoffer therefore secured a tract of land, comprising about six acres a short distance from the village. He had it platted and beautified as a parish cemetery.
Owing to failing health and advanced age Father Hoffer found it very difficult to attend to his parish unaided, and there- fore asked for an assistant. The Rev. S. Weber was appointed as such in January, 1897. In May of the same year Father Hoffer's health had become so greatly impaired that he felt himself obliged to resign his pastorate, the onerous duties of which he had so ably and faithfully discharged since 1861. Father Weber was then given full charge of the parish as its temporary pastor, until the appointment of the present incumbent, the Rev. Francis Senner, in September, 1897. Father Hoffer did not enjoy his respite very long. After a painful illness he died, well prepared, on November 2, 1897. His remains were interred in the new cemetery ; a beautiful granite monument, erected by his grate- ful parishioners, marks his grave. A marble tablet has also been placed in the church to perpetuate the memory of this good and devoted priest.
When Father Hoffer resigned he sold to the parish, for a nominal sum, just sufficient to pay his few debts, the brick resi- dence he had built near the church and occupied for some time. It was all he possessed, after his many years in the Ministry, and was practically a donation to the parish he had served so long and well.
In the summer of 1898 a new pipe organ was bought to replace the old. It cost nearly $1,300. In September of the same year two Sisters of the Humility of Mary, from Villa Maria, Pa., were given charge of the parish school which up to that time had been taught by lay teachers; the change was much appreciated by the congregation.
In the summer of 1900 a brick house, in the rear of the church, was purchased for $600, to serve as a residence for the Sisters. With this latest acquisition St. Louis' parish is now fully equipped with substantial buildings covering all its needs, and has no debt. This might be called a prosperous condition for any parish,
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but unfortunately for Louisville, the absence of industries of any kind forces many members of the congregation to seek employment elsewhere, and thus its numbers as well as the school enrollment are steadily diminishing. At present about 120 families comprise the parish.
LOWELLVILLE, MAHONING COUNTY. HOLY ROSARY MISSION CHURCH.
About 1867 the building through Lowellville of the Ashta- bula and Pittsburg railroad (now a branch of the Pennsylvania Railway), and the starting of a furnace, attracted about twenty Catholic families to that village. The Rev. John J. Begel, chap- lain of the Convent at New Bedford (Villa Maria,) Penn., four miles distant, was directed by Bishop Rappe to look after their spiritual interests and to secure a lot for a proposed church. Owing to the bigotry of the Protestants in the village, Father Begel was obliged to make the purchase of the lot through a middle-man, a Catholic, named Roger O'Meara, who bought it in his own name, in 1868, for $200, and later on (in October, 1872) transferred it to the Bishop. The foundation for the church was begun in 1868, but owing to the failure of the above mentioned furnace most of the Catholics left Lowellville. In consequence of this the erection of the church had to be indefi- nitely postponed. In 1872 the Rev. J. T. Schaffeld, pastor of Hubbard, was directed to attend Lowellville as a Station, which he did until 1874. Father Begel was again commissioned to take charge of it. In 1879 the Rev. F. McGovern, of Brier Hill, succeeded Father Begel who was unable to properly attend the Station, because of failing health. In July, 1881. the Rev. N. J. Franche, of Villa Maria, succeeded Father McGovern, and has attended Lowellville since that time. About 1882 the village began to revive from its long period of financial depression. This was brought about by the building of two new railroads and the re-opening of the old furnace, in consequence of which the Catholic population was somewhat increased. Encouraged by · the revival Father Franche resolved to build the church, com- menced in 1868. For this purpose he began to collect funds
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along the railroads, in the furnaces and at the neighboring stone quarries. The church was built in 1884. It is a neat brick structure, 26 by 56 feet. With altars, pews, etc., it cost about $3,600. It has recently been frescoed and presents an attrac- tive appearance. Mass was celebrated in it for the first time on Christmas day, 1884. It was dedicated August 15, 1888, by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G. The Mission is composed of Irish, Italians and Slavs, and numbers about 25 families; services are held twice a month.
LUCKEY, WOOD COUNTY. ST. CHARLES' MISSION CHURCH.
Luckey is a small village of about 300 inhabitants, and is located 13 miles south of Toledo, on the Ohio Central Railroad. Mass was celebrated there for the first time in 1892, in the log cabin occupied by James Powers; the Rev. W. S. Kress, at that time resident pastor of Genoa, was the celebrant. After his transfer to Bowling Green, in the same year, Luckey was attended from Toledo, by the Rev. T. F. McGuire, who visited the place once a month, on Sunday, and once a week on other days. He assembled the faithful, numbering about 45 souls, in the above mentioned log cabin, where he said Mass and administered the sacraments. In 1893, for the sum of $100, he bought a small frame "meeting house," 28 x 40 feet, that had been used by a Protestant sect in the village. He had it moved about one mile. on a lot which had been donated by an owner of some of the lime kilns at Luckey. Mr. Thomas Dougherty, of Toledo. The building was well constructed, and, after some necessary changes were made, served admirably its new purpose-a Catholic church. It was dedicated to St. Charles, on July 16, 1893. From Decem- ber, 1893, until May, 1896, the Mission of Luckey was attended by one of the Jesuit Fathers, of St. Mary's, Toledo, the Rev. G. Burkard. It was then attached to Gibsonburg, whence it has since been attended on week days. Since 1897 Luckey lost most of its Catholic families, they having left to seek employment elsewhere. There is no prospect for its future growth; on the contrary, present indications are that it will soon have to be abandoned as a Mission.
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1 MCCUTCHENVILLE, WYANDOT COUNTY .* VISITATION B. V. M. MISSION CHURCH.
Mccutchenville was attended as a Station, between 1831 and 1834, by the Rev. Edmund Quinn, pastor of St. Mary's church, Tiffin, 10 miles distant, to the north. It was next attended from Peru, Huron county, until 1839; again from St. Mary's, Tiffin, until 1847, and then by the Sanguinist Fathers, at New Riegel, (Wolf's Creek) until 1871.
In July, 1834, William Arnold, a member of the Mission, gave nearly three acres of land as a site for church and cemetery. The church, a small but neat frame structure, was not built, however, until 1837, during the pastorate of the Rev. F. X. Tschenhens, of Peru. It was dedicated by Bishop Purcell, June 26, 1841. Prior to 1837 divine service was held in private houses.
The little church was always an eyesore to the bigoted Protestant villagers. Finally in the summer of 1871 it was set on fire by an unknown incendiary, and completely destroyed. For some years before this dastardly act the once flourishing Mission had decreased to a few families, owing to the fact that many had sought homes in the far West, and others had affiliated themselves with neighboring churches where services were more frequently held. Hence, as had been correctly planned by bigotry, the remaining few Catholic families were not able to rebuild their church, and no effort to do so has been or could be made since then. The Mission consequently disappeared, and the land, above mentioned, is now used solely as a cemetery.
MADISON, LAKE COUNTY.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MISSION CHURCH.
Mass was celebrated at Madison for the first time, in 1863, by the Rev. John Tracy, then resident pastor of Ashtabula. His visits were made monthly until October, 1869, and private houses served as assembly places for the few Catholic families, resident in the village of Madison. In 1868 Father Tracy took up a
*See pages 30, 33, 43, this volume.
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subscription for a church. The Protestants of the place gave him considerable assistance, without which it would have been impossible to build a church, as his own people were few in number and poor in purse. The church was commenced in June, 1868, and enclosed the same year. It was used with its interior unfin- ished, until the summer of 1864, as lack of means and a consider- able debt (about $2,000) prevented its earlier completion. Between 1868 and 1884 the priests who had charge of the Mission made repeated efforts towards paying off the debt, notably the Revs. J. C. Desmond and J. J. Gocke. This was done by collec- tions in a number of churches in the diocese. Father Gocke suc- ceeded in reducing the debt to less than $200, besides raising enough means with which to pay for the completion of the interior and providing suitable church furnishings. The neat brick edifice (40 x 60 feet) was ready for dedication by June, 1884. The ceremony was performed by Bishop Gilmour on Sunday, July 27, following, and was witnessed with joy by the Catholics, and not without interest by the kindly disposed Protestants of Madison.
After Father Tracy ceased attending Madison, in October, 1869, it was attached to Painesville as a monthly Mission. until 1872; then to South Thompson, (and for a short time to Jeffer- son) until June, 1898. Since that time it has been attended from Willoughby. At present only about 10 families reside at Madison.
MANSFIELD, RICHLAND COUNTY. ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
Mansfield, the county seat of Richland county, was platted in 1808, and the first sale of town lots took place on October 8, of that year. Its situation is beautiful and its commanding eleva- tion overlooks for miles a charmingly picturesque country. Catholics began to settle here about 1834 .* At long intervals they were visited by the resident pastors of Dungannon and St. John's, Canton. Between 1839 and 1840, the Rev. J. P. Mache- beuf, then stationed at St. Mary's, Tiffin, paid them a few visits, as did also the Rev. J. McNamee, of the same place, and the Rev. F. X. Tschenhens, of Peru. But not until 1848 were the Catholics of Mansfield regularly attended. It was then that the
*See page 28, this volume.
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resident pastors of Shelby Settlement were commissioned to look after their spiritual interests, which they did until 1852, when Mansfield was assigned to Wooster as a Station. This arrange- ment continued until July, 1861.
In July, 1849, Bishop Rappe bought a lot located at the corner of First Ave. and Mulberry street. At a small expense the frame Presbyterian meeting house which stood on the lot was transformed into a church, and served as such until 1871.
The Rev. Joseph F. Gallagher was appointed first resident pastor of Mansfield, in July, 1861, with charge of a number of Missions and Stations. The following priests were his suc- cessors : The Revs. James P. Molony, September, 1863, to Nov- ember, 1865; Jacob Kuhn, November, 1865, to October, 1869; Andrew Magenhann, October, 1869, to January, 1898; and the present pastor, the Rev. Ferdinand A. Schreiber, since January, 1898.
During the pastorate of Father Gallagher the parish cemetery was bought. Father Molony bought a lot next to that secured in 1849, as above stated. He also built the brick pastoral residence, now in use, but considerably enlarged and modernized by Fathers Magenhann and Schreiber.
In 1870 Father Magenhann built a brick church (52 × 125 feet) on the site of the old structure. It was of Roman architec- ture, with a very attractive interior, and cost about $35,000. In its day it was considered a very handsome edifice, and one of the best appointed in that part of the diocese. Mysteriously, and in a manner thus far unexplained, the church took fire on April 9, 1889, and was completely destroyed. Its destruction was a severe blow to the pastor and congregation, who had still to face a considerable debt which had been contracted in its erection. About fifteen years before this sad event Father Magenhann had bouglit, at his own expense, from the City of Mansfield, a public school located on two lots opposite the ill-fated church. The building was made to serve as a parish school and the large lot as a playground for the children. This property he deeded to Bishop Gilmour for the use of the parish, in June, 1889, and built on it the present com- bination church and school, a fine two-story brick structure. It contains a spacious, well arranged auditorium, and four school
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rooms. It cost about $20,000, and admirably serves its double purpose.
Owing to parish troubles and ill health Father Magenhann resigned in January, 1898, and was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. F. A. Schreiber. He found a large debt incumbering the parish property. In a short time peace and harmony were restored, and the debt considerably reduced. Father Schreiber hopes to cancel the entire debt within a few years.
The parish school was organized in 1868, during the pastor- ate of Father Kuhn. It was opened in a small frame building erected by himself, and placed in charge of a lay teacher. A few years later Father Magenhann engaged the Sisters of St. Francis, from Joliet, Ill., who have had charge of the school ever since. About 250 children are in attendance and four Sisters are engaged as teachers. The parish, composed of Irish, Germans, and their descendants, now numbers about 300 families.
MANTUA, PORTAGE COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S MISSION CHURCH.
Mantua was first attended as a Station, from Holy Rosary (now Holy Name) church, Cleveland, between 1864 and 1865. It was next attached to Niles, from 1865 to 1870. Since then it has been attended monthly from Warren. The Rev. Jacob Kuhn was the first priest in charge. In May, 1864, he bought a half-acre lot for a prospective church. But lack of means prevented the erection of the church until 1871, during the pastorate of the Rev. E. J. Murphy, then stationed at Warren. It is a plain frame, building, 25 x 40 feet, and cost about $1,000. It was dedicated to St. Joseph, in 1876. In 1881 the church was enlarged by the addi- tion of a sacristy. In 1891 a tower and gallery were built, and in 1900 the interior as well as exterior thoroughly renovated. The church has now quite an attractive appearance. The Mission is composed of Irish and Italians and numbers about 25 families.
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MARBLEHEAD, OTTAWA COUNTY.
ST. JOSEPH'S MISSION CHURCH.
Catholics began to settle at and near Marblehead as early as 1842. They received spiritual ministration from the resident pastors of Holy Angels' church, Sandusky, and St. Ann's, Fre- mont, until 1866, when the Rev. John Koehn, of Port Clinton, was commissioned by Bishop Rappe to attend Marblehead as a Station. In August, 1867, he secured a lot, 50 x 100 feet, and built on it a stone church, of very simple design. The people were however so poor, and few in number, that it was with great difficulty they finally paid for the church-nearly 13 years after it had been built.
Marblehead was attended monthly, from Port Clinton, as a Mission, from July, 1866, until January, 1892. It was then that the Rev. F. J. Hroch was transferred from Port Clinton and appointed first resident pastor of Marblehead. This arrange- ment continued until October, 1894, when the order was reversed, Marblehead thus again became a Mission of Port Clinton, with Father Hroch in charge since that time. For the last six years he has attended Marblehead every Sunday and Holyday, a duty by no means easy of performance, as the distance, twelve miles, has to be covered by driving across the country, and over a road that during the winter months is often in a wretched condition.
The Mission is composed of Irish, Germans, French, Slovaks and Hungarians, all dependent on the local lime kilns and stone quarries for a livelihood. Although a congregation of nearly 100 families of "divers tongues," a spirit of peace and unity has always prevailed in the Mission.
Whilst the Rev. Joseph Hoerstmann attended Marblehead, notable improvements and changes were made. He discovered that the title to the church property was gravely defective; that in fact it was not held by the Bishop, although conveyed to him in good faith by the supposed owner. The real owner, a Protestant, however, kindly assured the Bishop that he would not enforce his ownership until obliged to extend his adjacent quarry, of which the church lot was a part. This gave Father Hoerstmann sufficient
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time to secure another church site, which he did in June, 1888, by purchasing, at a cost of $600, six nicely situated lots, at the inter- section of Barclay and Perry streets. On one of the lots he built, in 1889, the present combination church and school, a frame structure, 30 x 60 feet. It was dedicated by Bishop Gilmour on August 4, of the same year, and with altar, pews, etc., cost about $2,000. The auditorium was used as a school, the sanctuary being shut out from view during school hours by sliding doors. The old church was torn down in December, 1891, and the lot quit-claimed to its owner. In October, 1886, Father Hoerstmann bought the land now used as a cemetery. It comprises nearly two acres.
The parish school was organized by Father Hoerstmann, in September, 1889, and conducted by two lay teachers. In 1893 Father Hroch built the present two-story school house, a frame building ; it was opened for use on December 14, of that year. It cost $2,000, and contains two large school rooms. In the rear are the living apartments for the two Dominican Sisters, who have had charge of the schools since September, 1894.
In 1900 a well arranged house was built of stone, at a cost of nearly $2,400, to serve as a home for the resident pastor, whose appointment is earnestly hoped for by the Catholics of Marble- head, but which thus far had to be deferred, owing to lack of priests.
MARSHALLVILLE, WAYNE COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S MISSION CHURCH.
Marshallville, formerly known as Bristol, is one of the oldest Catholic settlements in the diocese, its history as such dating back to the early twenties, when the few Catholic families were first visited by the Dominican Fathers in charge of Dungannon and Canton. From about 1830, until 1858 the resident pastors of St. John's, Canton, Louisville, Doylestown (Chippewa), Wooster and Massillion attended Marshallville as a Station, saying Mass in private houses, a good part of the time in the residence of Mr. Joseph Rech.
The present church, a frame structure, 38 x 60 feet, was com- menced by the Rev. J. H. Luhr, of Canton, in 1848, and finished
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in July, 1849. It is still in good condition and stands on a one-acre lot, part of which is used as a cemetery.
The Mission had about 40 families in 1849. This number had decreased to less than half by 1860. Coal having been discovered in the immediate neighborhood, about 1865, the Catholic popula- tion increased to about 60 families, as employment was afforded by the opening of the coal banks. These are now nearly exhausted and in consequence the Mission has also greatly decreased, and at present numbers only about 15 families. Marshallville has been attended from Canal Fulton, since 1858.
MASSILLON, STARK COUNTY. ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
Prior to 1834 all the Catholics at Massillon were identified with St. Mary's church. The congregation was made up of Ger- mans and Irish, and the thought of a division of the parish on national lines was under consideration for several years. The English speaking members were desirous of the change. Nothing was done, however, in that respect until 1854. In December, 1852, St. Mary's church, a stone edifice, was set on fire, only a portion of the walls remaining. Pending the erection of a new church, a public hall in the "Stone Block" was rented by the congregation and divine service held in it for about one year. Meanwhile the English speaking members were permitted by Bishop Rappe to form a separate congregation. The Rev. Louis Molon, pastor of St. Mary's congregation, bought three lots on South street, in the summer of 1853, as a site for the prospective church and school. The Rev. A. Campion, of St. John's church, Canton, was directed by Bishop Rappe to commence the church during the fall of 1853. He also attended the English speaking Catholics of Massillon about six months during the same year, separate services being held in the above mentioned hall. The church, a plain brick structure, 45 by 60 feet, was completed in the spring of the following year, under the direction of Father Molon, and dedicated by Bishop Rappe, to St. Joseph. Father Molon attended St. Joseph's from St. Mary's church, Massillon, from July until December, 1854. The Rev. Bernard Carragher,
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, MASSILLON.
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of St. John's, Canton, was then given charge of the Mission, and attended it until April, 1857. when St. Joseph's was again made a Mission of St. Mary's, Massillon, with the Rev. Joseph Lais in charge, until February, 1858. Father Lais found the church deeply in debt, and the Mission so small and poor that it was impossible to pay the clamoring creditors. The result was that in February, 1858, the church was closed and the property offered for sale by the county sheriff. It was a sad chapter in the short history of St. Joseph's, and the church remained closed for five years. Meanwhile the members of the Mission attended St. Mary's, as in former years. Finally, through the efforts of some of the more prominent members of St. Joseph's, viz., Messrs. S. P. Richard, H. Falke, A. Hammersmith, J. Fries, P. Mellon, and John Nolan, the claims of the creditors were satisfied, and the church property was deeded back to the Bishop by the sheriff, on March 24, 1863. The church was re-opened in July of the same year by the Rev. H. L. Thiele, who was then appointed first resi- dent pastor of St. Joseph's parish. He bought a house and two lots nearly opposite the church, for his residence. They served as such until 1892, when they were sold. Father Thiele remained in charge until December, 1864. Since that time the following priests have been resident pastors of St. Joseph's church: The Revs. Louis Molon, January to September, 1865; George A. Verlet, September, 1865, to May, 1888. William A. Harks, May, 1888, to September, 1889; John T. Cahill, September, 1889, until liis death, August 11, 1890; Denis J. Stafford, August, 1890, to August, 1891 ; Thomas F. Mahon, August, 1891, to June, 1898; and the present incumbent, the Rev. Jacob F. Kuebler, since June, 1898.
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