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 16
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*The Church In Northern Ohio, 4th ed. pp. 268, 285, 286, 301.
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A HISTORY OF CATHOLICITY
property now used by St. Peter's. The title to the lot was vested in self-constituted "trustees." By June, 1841, a frame church, 40 by 65 feet, was enclosed, floored, and ready for plastering. On the 21st day of that month Bishop Purcell arrived at Peru, interdicted the church at Norwalk, and formally excommunicated the Rev. Freigang, who had been suspended in April, but failed to heed the suspension.
The church remained closed until the arrival of the Rev. Matthias Alig, C. SS. R., in July, 1842. He petitioned the Bishop for permission to open and complete the church. The permission was granted on the promise that the title to the property be trans- ferred to the Bishop of the Diocese of Cincinnati. About Septem- ber of the same year work on the church was resumed. The Catholic population of Norwalk had increased considerably by this time, thus necessitating an enlargement of the church. This was done by adding 25 feet to its length, and the basement was excavated for a temporary school. Although the church was not quite finished, Mass was celebrated in it for the first time, on January 1, 1843. In the early spring of the same year the parish school was opened with an attendance of about 60 pupils. Father Alig's connection with St. Peter's ended in August, 1843, and for five months, owing to lack of priests, the Mission remained with- out attendance.
In January, 1844, the Very Rev. F. S. Brunner, Provincial of the Sanguinist Society, was given pastoral charge of St. Alphonsus' church at Peru, and of St. Peter's, Norwalk, as a Mission. In the same year the title to the church property at Norwalk was transferred to the Bishop, thus ending "trusteeism" and the dissensions that arose from it. The church was com- pleted about May, 1846, and dedicated to St. Peter, the Apostle, by Bishop Purcell on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the 11th of the following month. The adjoining cemetery was also blessed on the same day.
St. Peter's was attended from Peru by the Sanguinist Fathers until December, 1847, when they were transferred to Thompson, whence the Mission was attended until August. 1351, notably by the Revs. M. Kreusch and F. X. Obermüller. The Rev. Charles Evrard, pastor of Peru, was given charge of St. Peter's, as a Mis-
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sion in September, 1851, and was the first priest to say Mass there every Sunday.
About this time over 200 German and English speaking Catholic families were identified with St. Peter's. They petitioned Bishop Rappe for a resident pastor, whom they were willing and fully able to support. Their petition was granted in June, 1853. by the appointment of the Rev. Nicholas Roupp, as their first resident pastor, who remained until September, 1854. Owing to a scarcity of priests, St. Peter's was then again made a Mission of Peru, and thus remained until July, 1855, when the Rev. Nar- cissus Ponchell was given pastoral charge of it as a resident pastor.
In July, 1856, the English speaking members of St. Peter's were authorized by Bishop Rappe to organize as a distinct parish. Pending the erection of their own church, to be known as St. Mary's, Father Ponchell gave them separate services in St. Peter's. From September, 1859, until July, 1860, he had as.his assistant the Rev. A. L. Mauclerc.
In the summer of 1859 the present brick school was built at a cost of about $1,000, and was placed in charge of a lay teacher in September of that year.
Father Ponchell remained in charge until his lamented death, September 16, 1860, when St. Peter's was again attached to Peru as a Mission, until September of the following year. It was then that the Rev. F. X. Obermüller, formerly a Sanguinist, but at this time a secular priest, was appointed resident pastor. During his pastorate of St. Peter's, until July, 1865, he organized Missions at Monroeville and Milan, thus considerably reducing the mem- bership of his parish. In February, 1865, he bought for his resi- dence a lot with a two-story brick house, opposite the church. The purchase price was $2,000. Father Obermiiller was suc- ceeded by the Rev. A. Dambach, in July, 1865, and he in turn had as his successor, in May, 1867, the Rev. A. Magenhann. In the spring of 1868 about two-thirds of the parish, being dissatis- fied with the out-of-the-way location of the church, left St. Pe er's. organized as a separate parish, and bought several lots in the center of Norwalk for a church site, as stated in the preceding sketch of St. Paul's church. This division largely reduced the member- ship of St. Peter's, and caused much ill feeling among those that
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remained with the parent parish. The Rev. Jacob A. Kuhn was the next resident pastor of St. Peter's, from October, 1869, until August, 1871. Since that time the following priests had pastoral charge of St. Peter's: The Revs. M. Dechant, August, 1871, to July, 1872; G. Drolshagen, to September, 1873; G. Peter, to October, 1875; P. Kolopp, to June, 1881; F. C. Ludwig, from October, 1882, to January, 1883, and A. Dambach, as the last resident pastor, from August, 1886, until September, 1891. Dur- ing several short periods between June, 1881, and August, 1886, St. Peter's was attended from Monroeville. Since September, 1891, St. Peter's has been attended from St. Paul's, Norwalk, of which it was made a "chapel of ease," Mass being celebrated in it every Saturday for the convenience of the aged people residing in that vicinity.
The church and cemetery are kept in excellent condition, and the Mission has no debt.
OAK HARBOR, OTTAWA COUNTY. ST. BONIFACE'S CHURCH.
The village of Oak Harbor, formerly known as Hartford, is situated on the northern division of the "Lake Shore" Railroad, about 24 miles east of Toledo. The Rev. Amadeus Rappe, resi- dent pastor of Toledo, was the first priest to minister to the spirit- ual wants of the few Catholics living in and near this village. His visits, made at regular intervals, extended from 1846 to 1847. Oak Harbor continued to be a Station for Father Rappe's suc- cessors at Toledo until 1853, when it was attached to St. Ann's, Fremont, and placed in charge of the Rev. Julian Bourjade, who also attended a number of neighboring Missions and Stations. Oak Harbor was next attended from Port Clinton, between 1856 and 1872, and from Elmore, between 1872 and 1885. In Decem- ber, 1866, two lots at the corner of Church and Oak streets were purchased as a church site, but for lack of means the erection of a house of worship, of even the humblest type, had to be post- poned. During most of these years Mass was said in private houses. In 1873, the Rev. W. McMahon, then in charge of Oak Harbor, succeeded in raising a part of the needed funds for
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
a frame church, 40 by 65 feet, which he built on the above men- tioned lots. For some months he held Divine service in a public school and in a Lutheran church, then not in use. His successor, the Rev. H. Kolopp, reduced the debt still due on the building. He also established a parish school, which, however, was soon closed, for want of support and attendance. The Rev. John Klute succeeded Father Kolopp in 1876. He paid the remain- ing debt and improved the church to a considerable extent. The next priest in charge of the Mission was the Rev. G. H. Rieken, from May, 1880, to February, 1885. In July, 1881, he purchased the lots immediately west of the church and on one of them built the present pastoral residence, a frame structure. The Rev. James J. Farrell was appointed first resident pastor of Oak Harbor, in February, 1885, but in consequence of an un-Catholic oppo- sition remained only until the following October, when the Rev. Charles Griss was sent as his successor. Father Griss soon suc- ceeded in bringing about a change for the better, and in harmon- izing the discordant elements. At a cost of about $1,400 he enlarged the church, by an addition of 24 feet, and re-established the parochial school in a frame building which he had erected for that purpose. The school was taught by lay teachers until 1895, when it was discontinued for lack of proper support, and because of opposition.
The pastorate of Father Griss ended in March, 1891, and in the following month the Rev. Michael Becker was appointed his successor. He in turn was succeeded by the present incumbent, the Rev. Jacob Christophory, in December, 1892.
For a number of years prior to 1895 the saw-mills and stave factories at Oak Harbor gave employment to a large number of the villagers, and many of those employed were Catholics. As the supply of timber began to lessen steadily, the owners of the mills and factories were obliged to locate elsewhere. In conse- quence of this the employes were likewise compelled to seek a livelihood in other localities. This fact also made large inroads on the membership of the parish, as about 45 families, or nearly half, left Oak Harbor between 1895 and 1896. At present the parish numbers about 60 families.
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OBERLIN, LORAIN COUNTY.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS' MISSION CHURCH.
Oberlin has a national and almost worldwide fame as the home of "Oberlin College," a large and influential institution founded by the Congregationalists. in 1832. During the Civil War it became noted also as a place of refuge for slaves who escaped from the southern states, with the result that many of them made Oberlin their permanent home. Although Cath- olics settled in various parts of Lorain county, and established many flourishing parishes within its limits, the town of Oberlin never welcomed but merely tolerated the very few that settled there. In consequence of this lack of welcome on the part of Oberlin's exclusive and almost intolerant denizens, the Catholic element was always, as it is now, greatly in the minority. About the year 1863 the few Catholic families, and the Catholic servant girls employed in the village households, were visited for the first time by the Rev. Thomas F. Halley, resident pastor of Grafton, from which place they were attended until 1865, when Oberlin was attached to Elyria as a Station. Mass was said in private houses for nearly twenty-five years. In June, 1880, the Rev. J. T. Schaffeld, resident pastor of Elyria, began to visit Oberlin at stated intervals on week days. He did so for ten years, until January, 1900, when the Rev. T. F. McGuire, of St. John's, Lorain, was appointed his successor. On December 16, 1887, Father Schaffeld bought, for $700, two lots at the corner of South Groveland and Pleasant (now West College) streets-in the very center of the beautiful village of Oberlin. However, for lack of means, the long-looked-for church was not commenced until three years later. The cornerstone was blessed by Mgr. Boff, V. G., on September 14, 1890. On the following Christmas, Father Schaffeld celebrated Mass in the new but unfinished church for the first time. By degrees, and as means became available, the interior was embellished and fitted out with neat furnishings. Although completed in 1892, the church was not dedicated by Bishop Horstmann until May 13, 1900. The cere- mony was witnessed by a large number of interested spectators. many of whom were not of the Fold. It was a memorable day
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
for Oberlin, as it was the first time a Catholic Bishop was ever seen in that stronghold of Protestantism.
The church, though small, is a very neat brick structure, 30 by 50 feet. It has a slate roof, and is adorned with stained glass windows, and artistic frescoing. It cost about $5,000. Much of · this amount was collected from various parishes throughout the diocese by Father Schaffeld. He has every reason to be grati- fied with the successful outcome of his untiring efforts in erecting so beautiful a house of worship to Almighty God, in spite of the many financial difficulties with which he had to contend.
The Mission now numbers about 24 families, and is attended monthly from Lorain, by the Rev. T. F. McGuire.
OLMSTED, CUYAHOGA COUNTY. ST. MARY'S MISSION CHURCH.
The first and only Catholic family to settle at Olmsted (for- merly known as Olmsted Falls), prior to 1849, was that of Thomas Reynolds. In that year the building of the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad through Olmsted Falls brought an influx of Catholic employes, who eventually made that village their home. One of these was Mr. James Hickey, now the oldest Catholic and one of the most respected citizens of Olmsted. About this time they were visited by one of the Cathedral curates, whose name however is not on record. He said Mass at Olmsted in a barn belonging to a Protestant, named Calvin Geer. Two years later the Rev. W. O'Connor, and after him, the Rev. Thomas Walsh, both stationed at the Cathedral, attended Olmsted, the former from 1851 to 1853, and the latter till 1854. Each cele- brated Mass and administered the Sacraments in a log school house which belonged to the village. The next priest in charge, from 1854 to 1856, was the Rev. M. Healy, of Elyria, who came every two months and said Mass in Mr. Hickey's house during that time. The Rev. Louis J. Filiere was appointed first resident pastor of Olmsted in 1856, with charge of Berea as a Mission. During his pastorate he said Mass for two years in a vacant house owned by Richard Pollard, and for nearly one year in a frame house which he purchased and fitted up as a temporary church and pastoral residence. In the spring of 1858 Father Filiere bought a
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lot and on it erected a small wooden church of plainest design. He was transferred to St. Mary's, Berea, in 1862, but continued to attend Olmsted as a Mission until March, 1873, when the Rev. E. J. Murphy was appointed resident pastor. In May of the same year Father Murphy purchased five lots, and one month later, another and larger lot adjoining the first, all fronting on Hamlin near Columbus street. On one of these lots stood a stone house, which was remodeled as a pastoral residence. During this time the adjacent stone quarries were in full operation and gave lucra- tive and steady employment to many men, a considerable number of them being Father Murphy's parishioners. They contributed generously and thus made the purchase of the church property possible. The frame church built by Father Filiere was moved on one of the lots fronting on Columbus street and enlarged by Father Murphy, making its dimensions 30 by 60 feet. He also bought the village public school building, a frame structure, and had it transformed into a parochial school. It had to be closed shortly after, however, because of the financial panic which made its dire influence felt throughout the country. The school has never since been re-opened.
The following priests succeeded Father Murphy as resident pastors: The Revs. James Cullen, November, 1876, to October, 1879, and John T. Cahill, November, 1879, to October, 1880. Since the last mentioned date Olmsted has been attended from St. Mary's, Berea, as a Mission. The present priest in charge, since March, 1886, is the Rev. F. J. O'Neill, who attends Olmsted every Sunday.
The Mission now numbers about 40 families.
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OTTAWA, PUTNAM COUNTY. STS. PETER AND PAUL'S CHURCH. =
Until 1872 the Catholics residing at Ottawa, the county seat of Putnam county, were identified with St. John's church, at Glandorf, two miles distant. For some years previous to that time they had petitioned to be allowed to build a church of their own. Mr. Matthias Müller, a Catholic resident of Ottawa, had donated one acre of land at the corner of 4th and Sugar streets for a church site, as early as January, 1861. Bishop Rappe
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
granted their request in 1868, and commissioned the Rev. A. Reichert, pastor of Glandorf, to solicit subscriptions for that object. The cornerstone for the church was laid on June 14, 1868, but the church was not finished until four years later. It was dedicated by Bishop Gilmour on August 15, 1872, and placed under the patronage of the Apostles, Sts. Peter and Paul. It is a handsome brick structure, 50 by 130 feet, fronts on 4th street, and cost about $18,000, exclusive of its furnishings. In 1882 the present fine organ was bought for $1,800.
In 1887 a brick school and residence for the teachers (San- guinist Sisters) was erected at a cost of about $4,500. Previous to the opening of the parochial school the children of the parish attended the so-called Catholic district schools, in the neighbor- hood, but which were Catholic only in so far as the teachers and pupils were such. The latter received little or no religious train- ing and hence the great need of a distinctly Catholic school became apparent and had to be met ; and it was successfully met in the face of strong opposition, which, however, has long since passed away.
During the pastorate of Father Abbrederis the parish debt. contracted in the erection of the church, was greatly reduced and many substantial improvements were added to the building. The debt was cancelled in 1889, during the pastorate of Father Boebner, by means of a very successful fair, which netted about $3,000. Father Dick had the church neatly frescoed and fur- nished with stained glass windows. He also built the present spacious brick pastoral residence in 1892, at a cost of nearly $3,000. Prior to this time the attending priests resided at Glandorf.
In February, 1876, a two-acre tract of land was secured for a cemetery, to which two acres were added in 1878. A part of the cemetery is laid out in burial lots and in the center stands a beautiful large stone cross.
All the church property is in excellent condition, and is not burdened with debt. An excellent spirit prevails in the parish. The congregation is composed chiefly of Germans, or their decendants, and now numbers about 150 families.
The following Sanguinist Fathers have had charge of the
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parish : The Revs. A. Reichert and J. Marty, 1868-73; F. Schalk, 1873-76; C. Roessner, 1876-78; R. Abbrederis, 1878-83; B. Boebner, 1883-91; A. Dick, 1891-97; Bernard Russ, from 1897 till he was forced to resign in April, 1900, because of ill health. (He died in California, July 17, of the same year.) Since April, 1900, the present pastor, the Rev. A. Dentinger, has had charge.
OTTOVILLE, PUTNAM COUNTY. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH.
Ottoville is a hamlet about six miles north of Delphos, on the "Clover Leaf" Railway and the Miami and Erie Canal. Its population is exclusively Catholic and German. The present large and flourishing congregation was founded by the Rev. John Otto Bredeick, who was resident pastor of Delphos, from 1844 till his death in 1858. He visited the few Catholics of the hamlet for the first time in 1850. He found but six families; they were living a life of privation on small farms that had been wrested from the "forest primeval." Hence there was but little hope for the erection of a church at that time or in the near future. He therefore said Mass for them in the house of Mr. J. C. Fournier, and ministered to their spiritual wants faithfully for eight years. He also furnished out of his own means everything needed for the celebration of the Divine Mysteries. About 1850 he bought forty acres of land in the hamlet, then known as "Section Ten," and laid it out in town lots. The most eligible of these he retained for church purposes and the rest he sold, but set aside the proceeds of their sale for the benefit of the church he hoped to build. But before he could put his cherished plans into execution, death claimed this good and self-sacrificing priest on August 19, 1858. "Section Ten" was renamed Ottoville, in recognition of Father Otto Bredeick's benefactions to the hamlet and its Catholic settlers. The next priest in charge was the Rev. F. Westerholt, who, like his lamented predecessor, attended Ottoville from Delphos. The Catholic population having increased considerably by this time Father Westerholt undertook the task of building a much needed church, on the site and, in part, with the means provided by Father Bredeick. The foundation was blessed by
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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, OTTOVILLE, PUTNAM COUNTY.
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IN THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND.
Father Westerholt on September 9, 1860. Although its interior was not quite finished the church was used for the first time in the spring of the following year. It was a frame structure, 40 by 80 feet, and of attractive appearance. Father Westerholt attended the Mission until about May, 1861, when it was assigned to the Rev. J. J. Goebbels, pastor of Fort Jennings, who had charge of it until 1864. He was succeeded in October of that year by the Rev. A. J. Abel, who was the first resident pastor of Ottoville until July, 1865, when it was again attended from Fort Jennings, until June, 1866. The Rev. H. D. Best was the next resident pastor, until February, 1868. The Rev. Michael Müller succeeded him in the following month, and remained in charge until his death, January 27, 1900. From June, 1898, he had as his assistant the Rev. H. Wichmann, who attended the Mission of Cloverdale. He also had temporary charge of Ottoville after Father Müller's death, until the appointment of the present pastor, the Rev. J. B. Mertes, in June, 1900.
Father Goebbels finished the interior of the church, com- menced by Father Westerholt. He also commenced the first pastoral residence, a plain frame structure; it was finished by Father Abel, in the fall of 1864.
Shortly after Father Müller arrived at Ottoville he added the spire to the church. He also bought an 1800-pound bell, and a fine organ, both of which are still in use. Under his direction the church was greatly improved in and outside.
The excellent land in the neighborhood of Ottoville induced many Catholic Germans to become its owners and tillers, with the result that the parish grew rapidly in numbers. Most of its mem- bers also became financially prosperous farmers. Hence Father Müller foresaw that he would soon be obliged to provide better and far more ample church facilities than those then afforded. With this object in view he raised a subscription for the erection of a church in keeping with the means of his people. His call on their generosity met with a prompt and most kindly response. Architect Druiding, of Chicago, was commissioned to draw plans for a church of pure Gothic design. They were approved by Bishop Gilmour, the pastor and councilmen. The foundation was begun in the early spring of 1885, and the cornerstone was
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laid on June 7, following, by the Very Rev. Administrator Boff. then in charge of the diocese, owing to the absence of the Bishop, who was in Europe at that time.
As rapidly as means and building material were available the work was pushed towards completion. All the parishioners vied with each other in giving assistance, not only by generous sub- scriptions but also by free labor and building material. In con- sequence of this generosity the cost of the church was reduced by many thousands of dollars. In the summer of 1888 the grand and imposing structure was ready for dedication but the impressive ceremony, performed by Bishop Gilmour, did not take place until September 23, of that year. The following account of the dedica- tion of the church, with additional comment in reference to the parish, was written by Bishop Gilmour, in his terse and character- istic style, and was published by him in the Catholic Universe, oi September 28, 1885 :
"Last Sunday the Rt. Rev. Bishop dedicated, at 10 a. m., the beautiful new church at Ottoville. * The church is 174 by 78 feet, and 90 feet in the transept, with two fine towers 180 feet high. The pillars and groined ceiling are painted and frescoed with much taste; a large and commodious sanctuary, fine sacris- ties, handsome pulpit and confessionals, rich stained glass windows-presenting as a whole a beautiful and striking appear- ance, exteriorly and interiorly ; all at a cost of $60,000, with a debt of but $6,000 to pay, while there is an unpaid balance, in notes, of $10,000 subscription, so that practically, when the church was dedicated, it was paid for. This is surely creditable to the pastor, Father Müller, and to the congregation. *
"This congregation is wholly composed of well-to-do farmers who began with honest hearts and sturdy hands, and have cut out of the forest homes for themselves and their children. A
healthy feature of the growth of this congregation is the buying by the parents of farms in the surrounding country for their children, thus widening the circle of the Catholic farmer popula- tion, and giving stability and a future to both fathers and chil- dren. * * They are wise men who get on the land, and wiser still who have pluck to stay on it when they get there."
The church at Ottoville, for size, finish and cost, ranks with the best and finest in the diocese of Cleveland, and is deservedly a monument to the projector and builders, who erected so beauti- ful a temple to the honor and glory of God.
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