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 3
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During the pastorate of Father Putz the present frame parochial residence was built ; it cost about $1,500. The present brick church was erected under the supervision of Father Arnoldi. Bishop Gilmour laid its cornerstone July 6, 1879, and in less than six months it was under roof. Owing to the dilapidated condition of the old church, which had long since ceased to be "proof against wind and weather," the new building had to be used before its interior was completed. Mass was said in it for the first time on December 21, 1879. On Sunday, July 2, 1882, Bishop Gilmour dedicated the handsome edifice. It was a day of supreme joy for the pastor and his people. The church (46 by 101 feet) cost about $10,000, exclusive of altars, pews and stained glass windows.
In the early spring of 1886 the foundation of the present brick school was laid under the direction of Father Arnoldi, but before the work proceeded any farther he was removed to Ber- wick. His successor-appointed in the latter part of May, 1886- was the Rev. Joseph P. Gloden, who brought the building to completion in September of the same year. It cost $3,000 and replaced a small frame structure that had served as a school house since 1873, when the parish school was opened. Until September,
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1887, the school had been in charge of lay teachers, but since then it has been conducted by Sisters of Notre Dame. At present (December, 1900,) nearly 200 children are in attendance.
About 1888 natural gas was discovered in the immediate neighborhood of Fostoria. It gave a new impetus to the town. Owners of extensive factories, and various industries with their many employees, were induced by the town authorities to locate there, the attraction being natural gas, as fuel, at a nominal cost. In consequence of this the population of Fostoria was increased within two years from about 3,000 to nearly triple that number. The Catholic population was also correspondingly increased, which fact necessitated the enlargement of the church. This was done during the summer of 1890, by adding a spacious sanctuary, thus affording considerably more seating capacity by vacating that part of the church which had been used formerly as a sanctuary. At the same time Father Gloden had the interior of the church entirely remodeled and frescoed in excellent taste, thus making it very attractive. These improvements cost about $3,000. To the great regret of his parishioners Father Gloden was transferred to another charge, in March, 1891, he having been appointed pastor of Ran- dolph, a large German parish. His successor was the Rev. Charles Griss, who in the following year had a fine pipe organ placed in the church ; it cost about $2,500. In June, 1897, Father Griss, at an outlay of $1,500, secured a five-acre tract of land just oppo- site the city cemetery, and had it neatly laid out for a parish. cemetery, according to the modern ideas governing places of inter- ment. The old cemetery, in use since 1858, was abandoned in 1899.
Father Griss, in addition, had the pastoral residence, and that of the Sisters, enlarged and improved at an expense of nearly $1,200, making both (frame) buildings meet all modern require- ments.
After an illness of some months Father Griss died, October 13, 1899. Between the time of his death and the appointment of his successor, the present pastor, the Rev. J. H. Kleekamp, the parish was attended by the Rev. D. Shunk, a Sanguinist. Upon his appointment, Father Kleekamp at once called on his people to aid him in paying off the parish debt, then amounting to about $2,000.
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At the end of the year 1900 less than half of it remained; the balance, it is confidently hoped by the pastor, will be paid by June, 1901.
In a short time the church will undergo some needed improve- ments. They will include an entire new front, two towers, and interior decorations, all of which, according to plans submitted, will involve an expense of about $10,000.
Catholicity in Fostoria had its cloudy days in the past. With poverty in the early days, and indifference, added to want of harmony, in later years, the parish had an unenviable reputation. Now the change for the better is complete, and St. Wendelin's, at present composed of about 250 families, can be truthfully classed with any parish of its size in the diocese, in point of lively faith, order and generosity.
In concluding this sketch due recognition must be given the pioneers of the Faith in Fostoria-who, "in season and out of season," were always helpful to their respective pastors in pro- moting the cause of religion, and the best interests of the parish. Among them the following deserve special mention: John and Theobald Omlor, Michael John. George John, Nicholas Portz, Sr., John Portz, Sr., James McDonald, Martin Kingseed and Nicholas Portz, Jr. The last two served for many years as parish council- men.
FREMONT, SANDUSKY COUNTY,
ST. ANN'S CHURCH.
The history of Fremont (formerly known as Lower Sandusky), figured largely in Indian tradition, and in the bloody strifes that were of such frequent occurrence between the several Indian tribes occupying both sides of the Sandusky river, and the military forces under General Anthony Wayne, who defeated them in 1794. It was at Lower Sandusky the grand councils of the Wyandots were held to exterminate the white man, whenever found north or west of the Ohio river; where also their captives were subjected to that inhuman treatment so peculiar to Indian cruelty. Up to 1813 it was not safe for the white man to come to Lower Sandusky. But Indian ferocity was brought to an end by
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ST. ANN'S CHURCH AND SCHOOL, FREMONT.
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the decisive victory won on August 2d, of that year, by the heroism of the young and gallant Col. Croghan. With a detachment of only 160 soldiers he not only held Fort Stephenson, his military post, against a force of 500 British regulars, aided by 500 Indians, but he put them completely to rout. After Croghan's victory white settlers found this stronghold of the Indian Reserve a desir- able place to live, because of its natural beauty and the advantages it offered for carrying on the fur trade. Three years later (1816) Lower Sandusky (Fremont) had a population of about 200 whites. Among these were three brothers-Joseph, Anthony and Peter Momenay-French Catholics who had fled from Detroit, Mich .. to escape the cruelty of the Indians. After an absence of seven years these young Frenchmen returned to Detroit and induced John B. Beaugrand, an enterprising merchant of that place, to come to Lower Sandusky, and by his business tact encourage the white settlers. In consequence of this invitation he came in 1822, and so pleased was he with his new venture that about January of the following year he also brought his family, consisting of his wife and seven children, to Lower Sandusky.
With the coming of the Beaugrand family the history of Catholicity in Fremont began. Mr. Beaugrand was not only an enterprising citizen but also a practical Catholic. Shortly after he had settled in his new home he invited his late pastor, the Rev. Gabriel Richard, of St. Ann's Church, Detroit, to pay him a visit and bless his house, a two story building, located a short distance east of the present Wheeling & Lake Erie railway station. In the latter part of March, 1823, Father Richard came as requested, and in the Beaugrand home said the first Mass ever celebrated in the village of Lower Sandusky. His stay was for only a few days during which he also visited a few French families at La Prairie, eight miles from Lower Sandusky. After Father Richard's departure no priest visited the village for some years. On his way to Michigan, Bishop Fenwick stopped over at Lower Sandusky two or three times, between 1826 and 1831, and looked after the spiritual wants of his neglected little flock. On one of his visits he was accompanied and assisted by the Rev. S. T. Badin. The Rev. Edmund Quinn, pastor of St. Mary's, Tiffin, visited Lower Sandusky a few times in 1831. After another lapse of time, the
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Redemptorist Father, F. X. Tschenhens attended Lower Sandusky from Peru, as a Station, from 1834 to 1837. During part of this time (1835-36) the Rev. E. Thienpont, from Tiffin, also visited Lower Sandusky occasionally.
In July, 1834, Bishop Purcell, accompanied by the Revs. J. M. Henni, of Canton, and F. X. Tschenhens, of Peru, paid his first episcopal visit to Lower Sandusky ; and his second, in September, 1836, when the Revs. S. T, Badin and H. D. Juncker assisted him on his missionary tour through Northern Ohio.
The Rev. Joseph McNamee, of St. Mary's, Tiffin, paid a few pastoral visits to Lower Sandusky, between September and November, 1839, when the Rev. P. J. Machebeuf, stationed at Tiffin from November, 1839, to December, 1840, was commis- sioned by Bishop Purcell to look after many missions and stations in Northwestern Ohio. Lower Sandusky was included among these; he attended it about once a month, at first from Tiffin, beginning in November, 1839, and after that (January, 1841-45), from Sandusky.
Mass was celebrated in Mr. Beaugrand's house by all the visiting bishops and priests until 1838, and during the following, year in Joseph Hunsinger's residence. Pease's Hall was then rented as a place of worship, as the Catholic population of the town and vicinity had become too large to find sufficient accommoda- tion in private houses. This hall was used until 1843, when John Christian's turner shop was rented by Father Machebeuf and fitted, up as a place of worship. Generously aided by two Protestant gentlemen, Messrs. L. Q. Rawson and A. Dickinson, sons-in-law of J. B. Beaugrand, the pioneer of Catholicity in Lower Sandusky, Father Machebeuf meanwhile raised a subscription for a church. A site was purchased on State street, for $200, from L. Brush, who gave the deed on December 13, 1841. The church was com- menced in the fall of 1843; it was a plain frame structure, 30 x 40 feet, and cost about $2,500. Father Machebeuf said Mass in it for the first time in May, 1844, although the interior was yet unfinished. At that time the Mission comprised about thirty families, nearly half of them living on farms in the neighborhood. Most of them were in very moderate circum- stances, and hence found it difficult to give much financial assis-
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tance towards building the church. From 1845 until January, 1846, the Rev. P. Peudeprat, Father Machebeuf's assistant at Sandusky, had charge of a number of his Missions. Among these was Lower Sandusky, which he attended monthly, as Father Machebeuf had done for some time before. Father Peudeprat was succeeded in February, 1846, by the Rev. Amadeus Rappe, then stationed at Toledo. He at once had the interior of the church finished. It was dedicated by Bishop Purcell, to St. Ann, on June 8, 1846, the Rev. Fathers Machebeuf, McNamee and Rappe assisting at the ceremony. Needless to say, the occasion was one of great joy for the Mission and its pastor. Father Rappe had as his assistant, in the attendance of his vast missionary field in Northwestern Ohio, the Rev. Louis De Goesbriand, who visited Lower Sandusky from the latter part of 1846 until his transfer to Cleveland, in 1848. The Rev. Maurice Howard, of Tiffin, was then in charge for a few months, until August, 1848, when the Rev. William L. Nightingale was appointed first resident pastor of St. Ann's church, at Lower Sandusky, about that time re-named Fremont. During his pastorate, which lasted until the early part of 1850, a frame house, located at the corner of Croghan and Wood streets, was bought for his residence; the purchase price was $700. About 1849 the grade of State street was lowered con- siderably, in consequence of which it was difficult to reach the church which had been built on an eminence. This necessitated also the lowering of the lot on which the church stood, to suit the new grade.
In 1850 the Rev. A. Carabin succeeded Father Nightingale, and remained in charge until July, 1852, when, stricken with paralysis, he was obliged to give up all pastoral work. His suc- cessor was the Rev. Thomas J. Walsh, who remained till June, 1856, when he was replaced in the following month by the Rev. John Roos. About this time the German members of St. Ann's asked Bishop Rappe's permission to organize a separate parish. His refusal to grant their petition caused much ill feeling. Finally. about April, 1857, it led to open opposition against the Bishop, in consequence of which he withdrew Father Roos from St. Ann's the following April, leaving the parish without a pastor. Mean- while the Germans organized, collected funds, bought lots and
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built a brick church, at a cost of about $7,000, making the new property far more valuable than the old. After nearly six months Bishop Rappe found the seceders from St. Ann's still determined to have a German parish-to be known as St. Joseph's. He finally yielded to their wish and sanctioned their organization in Decem- ber, 1857, by appointing a pastor for them, in the person of the Rev. Louis Molon, who at the same time was charged with St. Ann's as a Mission. The Rev. George Peter was appointed Father Molon's assistant in July, 1859, and besides aiding him in the pas- torate of St. Ann's, also attended a number of neighboring missions. Father Molon's stay at St. Joseph's was not peaceful; hence, weary of strife, he severed his connection with St. Joseph's in March, 1861. Bishop Rappe then assigned to him the pastorate of St. Ann's. This position he held until July of the same year, when the Rev. Michael O'Neill was appointed his successor. Father O'Neill remained in charge until May. 1865. From that time to the present, the following priests were resident pastors of St. Ann's, Fremont : The Revs. Joseph Voisard, 1865-66; Louis F. D'Arcy, April, 1866, to July, 1867 ; John Quinn, to August, 1868; John P. Carroll, to July, 1872 ; E. M. O'Callaghan, to August, 1877; J. V. Conlan, to January, 1883; A. Hamelin, pro tem., February to April, 1883; J. D. Bowles, till his death, July 4, 1887 ; H. D. Best, as assistant, during the illness of Father Bowles, from May, 1887, and then temporary pastor. from July to August, of the same year; T. P. McCarthy, to March, 1890; Alfred E. Manning, to Novem- ber, 1893; Patrick O'Brien, to September, 1897: Charles V. Chevraux, to November, 1900; and the present pastor, the Rev. James P. McCloskey, since November, 1900.
During the pastorate of Father O'Neill the church was enlarged by an addition of 30 feet, thus making its dimensions 35 feet wide and 70 feet long. In August, 1864, Father O'Neill also bought a tract of land covering nearly 15 acres, for a cemetery, St. Joseph's parish taking the north half of it. The purchase price, $1,400, was met by both parishes.
Dissensions again disturbed the peace of the parish, during the pastorate of Father Voisard, in consequence of which he resigned, in April, 1866. Since that time perfect harmony has prevailed between the people of St. Ann's and its long line of resident pastors.
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In May, 1872, Father Carroll bought three lots fronting on State street, at the intersection of Rawson avenue, for the purpose of building a new church thereon eventually. A two-story frame house on one of the lots was fitted up and occupied as a pastoral residence. The old residence, bought by Father Nightingale, was sold, to help defray the expense of the new purchase. During Father O'Callaghan's pastorate the present and first school, a two- story brick building, 30 x 40 feet, was erected in 1875, at a cost of nearly $3,000.
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In August, 1877, Father O'Callaghan was succeeded by the Rev. J. V. Conlan, who at once had the church repaired, frescoed and tidied up-improvements much needed at the time.
In November. 1883, Father Bowles bought three lots adjoin- ing those bought by Father Carroll, on the west. On one of the lots there stood a very comfortable frame house which he had changed and remodeled so as to meet the requirements of a parochial residence, which purpose it still serves. He also gave up his frame residence to the Sisters of St. Joseph, who since 1883 have had charge of the parish school.
With the appointment of the Rev. T. P. McCarthy, in August, 1887, a new era began in the history of St. Ann's parish. On taking charge he announced to his people his intention of taking steps at once towards the erection of a much needed church to replace the old weatherstained building, which he found much too small and very inconveniently located. A building committee was appointed, and plans drawn by a local architect for a Gothic brick structure, to be erected at the corner of State street and Rawson avenue. Bishop Gilmour approved the plans and the foundation was begun in the fall of 1888. The Bishop laid the cornerstone, June 9, 1889. The church, which is 55 feet wide, and 120 feet long, was enclosed, and the neat spire finished by Novem- ber of the same year. The Rev. A. E. Manning succeeded Father McCarthy in March, 1890. He continued and brought to com- pletion the grand work commenced by his predecessor. The beautiful church was dedicated on Sunday, July 26, 1891, by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Boff, at the time administrator of the diocese.
The exterior and interior of the sacred edifice are very attrac- tive, and the frescoing and stained glass windows show excellent
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taste. The church, with its furnishing, all of antique oak, cost about $30,000.
On Sunday, July 19, 1891, Mass was celebrated in old St. Ann's for the last time. It was torn down in April, 1893, thus passing into history as one of the oldest churches in Northwestern Ohio.
Among the pioneer members of St. Ann's the following deserve to have their names placed here on record : Jacob Gabel, Joseph Andrews, Denis Lane, Michael Gleason (first four coun- cilmen), Joseph Hunsinger, Joseph Baumgartner, George Rim- melspacher, John Kenney, Denis Doran, Balt, Kiefer, John Powers, Gabriel La Pointe, the Momenay brothers, Peter Beau- grand, M. D., Patrick Hayes and Caspar Hodes.
Father Manning's successor was the Rev. Patrick O'Brien, who made many improvements in and about the church, school and pastoral residence. At a considerable expense he also pur- chased a complete and ornate outfit of vestments that vie with the best.
The Rev. C. V. Chevraux succeeded Father O'Brien in Sep- tember, 1897. His efforts, like those of his three immediate prede- cessors, were directed towards reducing the parish debt (then $2,000), besides making needed improvements. When he left St. Ann's, in November, 1900, the debt amounted to only about $800, which has since been cancelled by his successor, the Rev. J. P. McCloskey, the present pastor.
The flourishing parish of St. Ann's numbers now (December, 1900) about 165 families, and the school has an enrollment of 150 children, taught by three Sisters of St. Joseph.
FREMONT, SANDUSKY COUNTY.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
Until the year 1856 St. Ann's was the only Catholic Church in Fremont, and the Catholics of the town and its environs, regard- less of their nativity, worshiped at its altar. Acting upon the advice of the Rev. F. X. Weninger, a celebrated missionary of the Society of Jesus, who gave a mission at St. Ann's, in the year
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, FREMONT.
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1856, the German portion of the congregation took preliminary measures to organize a second congregation for Germans ex- clusively.
The matter was submitted to Bishop Rappe, who refused to sanction the separation ; he set the seal of his disapproval upon the movement at once. This led to disappointment and chagrin on the part of those who desired the new church, and finally to open insubordination, resulting at last in the withdrawal of the pastor of St. Ann's, the Rev. John Roos, by the Bishop, and the placing of the church under a sort of interdict for a short time- from June to December, 1857.
Despite the: censure of their Bishop these people were determined to continue along the lines they had begun. They organized, collected funds, purchased land and built a church- a substantial brick edifice, 48 x 100 feet in size-at a cost of about $7,000. It showed their determination, and the good Bishop thought it wise to accede to their wishes, which he did in time. Another difficulty then arose; they refused to transfer the title of the church property to the Bishop, but the affair was finally adjusted to the satisfaction of all. The property was deeded to the Bishop, and on the 8th of December, 1857, St. Joseph's con- gregation, Fremont, was recognized as a parish and assigned a pastor in the person of the Rev. L. Molon, who likewise attended St. Ann's.
Among the names prominent in the organization of the parish we find those of Andres, Buchmann, Baumgartner, Binsack, Duerr, Gabel, Giebel, Gompert, Geschwind, Haberstroh, Heim, Haser, Ochs, Reineck, Rimmelspacher, Stuber, Schmidt, Schwarz, Toeppe and Wilhelm. And of them to Joseph Stuber is due in great measure the founding of St. Joseph's parish, of which he may rightfully be called the father. Another name worthy of praise is that of Godfrey Buchmann, an exemplary Christian, always at the head and front of every movement calculated to promote the interests of St. Joseph's.
In the year 1859 the church was provided with a bell and a very fine organ; a parish school-an indispensable adjunct to the church-was built the same year, humble in its beginning, but yet the nursery of faith and virtue for the youth of the parish.
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Not without regret does the writer chronicle a sad episode in the history of this congregation. It grew out of the original trouble that arose between the people of the parish and their Bishop when they formed themselves into a separate congregation against his wishes. As has been stated, the Jesuit, Father Wenin- ger, first suggested the idea of separation to the people and fos- tered it against the wish of the Bishop. The Bishop's turn had come, and he made use of the opportunity to show his disapproval of the missioner's meddling in the affairs of his diocese. Father Weninger was to open a mission in St. Joseph's Church on the 17th of May, 1860, and that fact was very generally known and attracted many to the church. He had the Bishop's permission : if it was withdrawn, he had no knowiedge of the withdrawal. Bishop Rappe came to Fremont to administer Confirmation at St. Joseph's on the very day the mission was to open, and positively forbade Father Weninger to give the mission. The Bishop's action caused general dissatisfaction among the people of the parish, who were strongly attached to Father Weninger, and, whether rightly or not, was interpreted to be an attempt to discountenance what the Catholic Germans considered their unqualified right, viz., to have churches of their own wherein the German language should be the vernacular. The end of Father Weninger's missionary career in the Diocese of Cleveland dates from this untoward event.
Weary of his vexatious charge, in which he had labored faithfully, Father Molon resigned the pastorate of St. Joseph's in March, 1861. The Rev. George Peter took charge of the con- gregation for the next few months, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Nicholas Moes, whose pastorate covered little over one year. His mild and judicious management of affairs served to allay the bitterness and resentment that had possession of the people's minds. This good priest's name is held in benediction by the people of Fremont to this day.
The present rector of St. Joseph's, the Rev. Seraphin Bauer. D. D., was appointed pastor of the congregation, September 21. 1862-more than thirty-eight years ago.
He found the parish encumbered with considerable debt. and set to work at once to liquidate it. He also bought some property the first year of his administration, at a cost of $800.
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH ANTERIOR), FREMONT.
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'In the summer of 1864 about thirteen families, living in and near the village of Hessville (now known as Lindsey) and attended from St. Joseph's, Fremont, up to that time, determined to build a church for themselves. They neither asked nor obtained permis- sion from their Bishop or pastor. The brick church, 40 x 70 feet, was enclosed and had already received the second coat of plaster when it was destroyed by a cyclone, on October 4, 1864. No attempt was made to rebuild the ruined church. Some of the families then became identified with the parish of Greensburg (now Millersville), others apostatized, and many moved away .*
In 1864 the present pastoral residence was built and the land for a parish cemetery purchased-a tract of six acres in a very desirable location, at a cost of $700. In 1897 the cemetery was enlarged by the purchase of about two and one-half acres more, at a cost of $700. Many beautiful statues were purchased from time to time. The church was illuminated by gas and two addi- tional bells were procured in 1867, and on Easter Sunday of that year they pealed forth their merry chimes for the first time. A fourth bell was added to the number in 1870.
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