History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 122

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592

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The history of the congregation furnishes an interesting chapter in the history of the Catholic Church in Ohio. It was about twenty years after the settling of Cincin- nati that German emigration was directed to the banks of the beautiful Ohio. At first the Catholic element was small in membership and in earthly influence. When in the year 1822 the first Cathedral was opened on Sycamore street by the Saintly Bishop Fenwick, the English and German speaking Catholics worshiped before the same altar. A German priest in the person of Rev. F. Rese, afterward bishop of Detroit, was found to administer to the wants of the German Catholics, and to in- struct them in their mother tongue. Thus matters went on until the arrival of

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Bishop J. B. Purcell in 1833. He at once saw the wants of his Catholic Germans, and went to work to build for them their own church. He secured for them a lot 70x200 feet on Fifth street, outside of the western limits of the city, for the sum of three thousand dollars. The construction of the building was directed by Rev. S. H. Montgomery, and the corner stone was laid in April, 1834. By October 5, same year, matters had so far advanced that the dedication could be performed by the Rev. Bishop. This was a red-letter day for the Catholics of Cincinnati, and remark- able in the history of the young Church in Ohio. Never before was there such a gathering of distinguished clergymen in Cincinnati. Besides the Rev. Bishop of Cincinnati there were present the Rt. Rev. Benedict J. Flaget, Bishop of Bards- town, Ky .; Rev. John M. Henni, afterward Archbishop of Milwaukee; Rev. H. D. Junker, afterward the first bishop of Alton, Ill., and the eloquent Father Abell, of Louisville, and Father Hilzeberger, of Maryland, besides the local clergy and ten ecclesiastical students. One remarkable feature of the day was the elegant singing at Divine service, and, as the Catholic Telegraph of October 10, 1834, remarked, a splendid orchestra entertained the visiting clergy at dinner with choicest of music. Here was the start made in that noble art which has been faithfully fostered by their successors. The pioneer Catholic Germans as a rule were not men endowed with an abundance of earthly goods. They came from Fatherland blessed with a good common-school education, and a deep sense of religion. They came to this country to better their fortunes and to secure their families a home. But in the pursuit of earthly goods they did not overlook higher ends. In January, 1837, the members of the Holy Trinity congregation organized the St. Aloysius Orphan Society, which has continued to flourish ever since, and which in 1894 had a membership exceeding twenty-five hundred. In order to defend themselves against the many attacks on their religion made by adversaries, Rev. J. M. Henni, with the aid of the Orphan Society, established the Catholic weekly paper, The Wahrheits Freund, the first German Catholic paper published in the United States, which to this day is in a most flourishing condition, fulfilling well its high mission. The Catholic Relief Union, which for a half century did its good work, was another organization started by these German pioneers. Moreover, as soon as permitted, early in the "forties," these pioneers organized a Cemetery association which now controls three extensive cemeteries-St. Joseph, St. John, St. Mary's-using its revenues for the main- tenance of the cemeteries, and relieving the wants of the deserving German poor. To Holy Trinity congregation belongs the honor of having established and maintained the first parochial school in Hamilton county. At first the classes were taught in the basement of the old church edifice, destroyed by fire in 1852. In 1848 the con- gregation bought an adjoining lot of fifty feet, and erected thereon a three-story school building of six spacious rooms. In order to keep up with the times in 1876, the congregation purchased an additional lot of sixty-foot front for $21,000, and erected thereon the present beautiful school building, one of the finest in the city, at a total cost of $50,000. This congregation has been presided over for the last sixty years by Rev. J. M. Henni, the late Archbishop of Milwaukee; Rev. F. X. Huber, O. S. F .; Rev. I. Schonat; Rev. Peter Kroger; Rev. Bernes Hengehold, and Very Rev. John C. Albrinck, V.G., the incumbent in 1894. Although the mem- bership has decreased in consequence of the inroads of public works into its terri- tories and the greater conveniences of our beautiful suburbs, Holy Trinity congrega- tion holds a high place among the numerous Catholic congregations of Cincinnati. - [Contributed.

VERY Rev. J. C. Albrinck was born January 17, 1830, in the former Kingdom of Hannover, Germany. In the fall of 1836 he emigrated with his parents to America, and ever since has made Cincinnati his home. After attending the parochial school of Holy Trinity, he made his first communion there in August, 1840, and was con- firmed in October following. After engaging in various employments to aid his

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struggling family, he entered St. Xavier College in the fall of 1844, and graduated therefrom in 1849. He found means of entering the ecclesiastical state, and in August, 1849, was sent to the famous Seminary of St. Sulpici, Paris, France, by the late Archbishop Purcell. After a four-years' course of philosophical and theological studies, he was ordained priest in the Cathedral of Notre Dame May 21, 1853. Soon after he returned to the city of his adoption, and in January, 1854, was assigned to the mission of Pomeroy, Ohio, where the scattered Catholics of Meigs, Athens and Gallia counties, and those of West Virginia in the adjacent territory, were subject to his administration. He filled this position four and one-half years, when, after having built a church in Gallipolis, he was removed to Reading, Hamilton Co., Ohio. Here a new field for his activity was opened for him. During his four- teen years of ministration it fell to his lot to build the present beautiful church, erect a spacious schoolhouse, and enlarge the pastoral residence. He also built the churches of Glendale and Carthage, and for twelve years provided for the spiritual wants of the inmates of the City and County Infirmaries. After having provided amply for the wants of the Catholics in this neighborhood, he was in May, 1872, re- moved by the late Archbishop Purcell to the charge of the Trinity Church, West Fifth street, city. Here a new field was opened for his activity. One of the first acts of his ministration was to purchase a portion of the Brachman lot, and to build thereon the present beautiful schoolhouse. On the death of Very Rev. Otto Jair, O. S. F., in 1887, the Most Rev. Archbishop Elder appointed him vicar-general of the diocese. Besides attending to the arduous duties of his position he found time to assist new congregations in the suburbs, and the now flourishing congregations of Norwood and North Fairmount and Deer Park are indebted to him for their establishment and their first success. In the year 1889 he procured a beautiful piece of property at Cedar Point, erecting thereon St. Gregory's Preparatory Sem- inary, and for two years he presided over it as rector, when he returned to his first charge as pastor of the Holy Trinity. Although at this present writing he is in his sixty-fifth year, his remarkably good health gives promise of many years of activity.

REV. MAXIMILIAN SCHAEFER is pastor of St. George's Church, Calhoun street, Corryville. The origin of St. George's Church dates back in 1868, when Rev. Otto Jair, of St. John's Church, on the 20th of April bought two lots of 150 by 190 feet on Calhoun, between Vine and Madison streets, on which a substantial two-story brick building was erected to serve as chapel and school. The corner stone was laid July 5, and the building dedicated on the following 18th of November, St. George being selected patron of the congregation. This church was served for two years from St. John's Church, but owing to its rapid increase Rev. Jerome Kilgenstein was appointed resident pastor in 1870. In 1872 he bought a site for a parochial residence, and had plans for a large substantial church prepared, the corner stone of which was laid October 13, 1872. It was finished and dedicated June 28, 1874, during the pastorate of Rev. William Gausepohl.

The church is built in the romanesque byzantine style, of pressed brick, with sandstone trimmings. The two spires rise to the height of 190 feet, the church be- ing 160 feet long and 70 wide. The inside height to the apex of the groined arch is 62 feet, whilst the naves are 47 feet high. The front on Calhoun street measures 78 feet, and has three fine sandstone portals, above the middle of which is a beau- tiful circular window. The building, exclusive of furniture, cost $80,000. Later, stained glass windows, altars, bells and a grand organ were added, all of which are works of art, and make St. George's church one of the finest places of worship in the city. Rev. Maximilian Schaefer, O. S. F., is the present pastor .- [Contributed.

REV. JOHN F. SCHOENHOEFT is pastor of the St. Lawrence congregation, which was founded in 1868 by the resident Catholics of Price Hill, who up to that time had attended Divine services at St. Mary's Seminary. In the year mentioned, under the administration of Rev. I. M. Bonner, the first pastor, a piece of ground compris-

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ing about 1.28 acres, and situated at the corner of Warsaw pike and Rapid Run road, was purchased from Jefferson Terry for the sum of $3,000. On this site a two-story brick schoolhouse was erected, the second story of which was fitted up for church purposes. The dedication of this church took place on Trinity Sunday, June 12, 1870, the Right Rev. A. M. Toebbe, Bishop of Covington, Ky., officiating. In the meantime, in 1869, Rev. Father Bonner was transferred to St. Edward's Church, city, and Rev. H. I. Richter, D. D., vice-president of Mt. St. Mary's Semi- nary, was placed in charge of the present church and pastoral residence, the lot being 250 feet square, and lying opposite. The school property was purchased in 1874 for the sum of $13,500. The residence of these premises was occupied as a pastoral residence in the year 1881." In the same year Rev. Dr. Richter was given an assist- ant in the person of Joseph M. Benning. In 1882 the congregation became free from debt. In 1883 Rev. Dr. Richter was named first Bishop of the new diocese of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; he was succeeded at St. Lawrence's by Rev. John Frederic Schoenhoeft, D.D., hitherto assistant pastor at Holy Trinity Church, Fifth street, city. In 1885 the frame dwelling in the rear of the schoolhouse was purchased together with the adjoining lot, for $3,500. This property was very soon after util- ized for school purposes.

The congregation having grown to such an extent that the chapel in the school building was no longer able to accommodate the members, it was resolved in Janu- ary, 1886, to build a new church. The corner stone of the new edifice was laid by Most Rev. Archbishop Elder, on October 17 of the same year. In order to keep the congregation out of debt as much as possible it was decided for the present to build the basement only, and to roof this in temporarily and use it for Divine ser- vices. The cost of building the basement was about nineteen thousand dollars. The dedication of the basement chapel took place on Sunday, May 22, 1887, Right Rev. Bishop Richter, the former pastor of the congregation, conducting the cere- monies. The interior is 125 feet long and 68 feet wide, 16 feet high, and has a seating capacity of about six hundred. Rev. Joseph M. Benning having accompa- nied Bishop Richter to the diocese of Grand Rapids in 1883, Rev. Bernard Bott- mann was appointed his successor, and remained at St. Lawrence until 1877. In that year he was assigned to temporary charge of St. Henry's Church, city, his place being taken by Rev. B. Miggeel. In the year 1891 the congregation was again free from debt. On March 9, 1892, the steeple of the school building was destroyed by fire. Owing to the steady growth of the congregation it was found necessary, in 1893, to resume work on the new church, and push it to completion. It is expected to have the church ready for occupation by the end of August of this year (1894). When completed it will be one of the handsomest church edifices in the diocese. The plans and specifications were drawn by A. Drindin, of Chicago, Ill. The church is built in the Gothic style of the XIVth century. The length is 165 feet, the width 72 feet. The front is adorned by two towers, the one being 190 feet high, the other 130 feet. The congregation is in a very flourishing condition, and now numbers about four hundred and seventy-five families. - [Contributed.

REV. W. F. M. O'ROURKE is pastor of Holy Angels congregation, which was organized and the first church built in 1859. The first church is now used for the parochial school. The second church, the prsent stone edifice, interiorly most beautifully decorated, was built in 1862-63. The present commodious pastoral residence was built in 1867.

The principal families in the early days of the congregation, and their descend- ants still connected with it are: The Springers, Peters, Leens, Kellahers, Drionys, Greens, Linskeys, Burks, Dugans, Scanlons, Maloneys, Daily, Kelleys, Doomis, Burns, Nolans, Hines, McCarthys, Redmond, Roachs, Highlands, Morans, Fowlers, Sullivans, McCormacks, Conlons, Tobins, O'Connells, Fallons, Butters, Haleys, Monoghans, Hughes, Farrels, Welshs, Bradleys, O'Neils, Halls, Collis, Blands,

PATRICK POLAND.

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Earlys, Delaneys, Sweeneys, Kennedys, Gills, Farringtons, Hollingers, Molloys, Williams, McGreveys, Bradys, Flynns, Hessions, Gleasons, Churchills, Conners, Diskins, Courtneys, Foys, Gannons, Ryons, McCluskeys, Mullens, McManus, Rear- dons. The lay officers of the church during the past nine years have been Messrs. J. H. Redmond, P. A. McCarthy, Patrick Foy, J. Delaney, J. Steinmetz and P. Monaghon. The present officers are: Messrs. M. D. Leen, E. Sweeney, H. M. Rice, E. J. Denny, M. Dugan, M. Burns, M. Kelley, M. Maloney, B. Early and P. Court- ney. The first pastor of Holy Angels Church was Rev. M. O'Sullivan, 1859-60; the second was Rev. T. F. Walsh, 1860-63; the third was Rev. E. P. Corcoran, 1863-65; the fourth was Rev. M. O'Neill. 1865-85; the fifth (1885) is Rev. W. F. M. O' Rourke, the present incumbent .- [Contributed.

Father O' Rourke was born in central Pennsylvania, March 21, 1836, was removed in childhood to Pittsburgh, thence to Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, in 1839. At the age of twenty-three years, having been reared on a farm, and having had a fairly good education in the common branches of school instruction, he, in 1859, entered the Seminary of Mt. St. Mary's of the West at Cincinnati. At this seat of learn- ing he pursued his studies of humanities and theology for seven years, and was ordained to the Holy priesthood by Most Rev. J. B. Purcell, on St. Patrick's Day, 1866. He celebrated his "silver jubilee" in the priesthood in the church of Holy Angels in 1891. It was admitted on all sides to have been the most magnificent celebration of the kind ever thus far accorded to a priest in the archdiocese of Cincinnati.

REV. PETER LOTTI, rector of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, was born in Florence, Italy, August 6, 1864, and is the eldest of four children of Savino and Josephina (Pieri) Lotti. both natives of Florence. The father is still living, and resides in Florence; the mother died in 1866. The brothers of our subject are all living, and reside in Florence; the youngest at the present time is being educated for the priesthood at Saint Miniato College, Florence.

The Rev. Father Lotti was educated at the Abbey of Ficsole, Florence, and in 1887 was ordained priest by Right Rev. Del Corona (Dominican), Archbishop of Florence. The Rev. Father came to the United States in 1890, landing at New York; from there .went to Bridgeport, Conn., and for a short time was pastor of a small congregation there. He came to Cincinnati in 1892, and was at once appointed rector of Sacred Heart Church. The corner stone of this church was laid by Right Rev. Archbishop William H. Elder, on the first Sunday in October, 1892, and dedi- cated by Monsigneur Francis Sattoli, of Rome, August 27, 1893, being the first church dedicated by him in America. The Church of the Sacred Heart is also the only Italian church in Cincinnati; it bas a congregation numbering some eight hun- dred families, and it is the intention of the congregation to build a parochial school at a very early date. Rev. Father Lotti is a member of the order of St. Charles Barrome. - [Contributed.

REV. CHARLES BERTOIELLI, assistant priest, Church of the Sacred Heart, was born in Placentia, in the north of Italy, December 15, 1868, son of Galsano and Ferrari Lingia (Boskie) Bertoielli. He was educated in Cardinal Alberoni College, Placentia, and was ordained to the priesthood November 1, 1892, by Right Rev. Archbishop Scalabuni, of Placentia, and founder of the Order of St. Charles Bar- rome, of which the Rev. Father is also a member. Both of the Rev. Fathers are held in very high esteem by the members of their congregation and are indefatiga- ble in their efforts to minister to the spiritual wants of their people.

The Sisters of Notre Dame .- Among the institutions of learning and academies established in Cincinnati and Hamilton county, for the education of young ladies, the houses of the Sisters of Notre Dame have held a most conspicuous place for more than half a century. The grey old convent of Notre Dame, situated on the south side of Sixth street, between Sycamore and Broadway, has quite an interesting h

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tory; and, although, at the time of its planting in the rugged soil of the New World, this congregation of Religious appeared like a tiny mustard seed, it has never ceased to grow in power and to spread out its branches, till now the blessing of its influ- ence in the domain of education is enjoyed over the vast and flourishing territory between New England and the Pacific coast. The Sisters of Notre Dame came to Cincinnati in 1840, at the urgent request of Bishop John Baptist Purcell, direct from the Mother House in Namur, Belgium. During the year previous, this pious and cultured prelate, while on a tour of Europe, desired to call on the Baroness de Copens, whose sister, a Religious, he had met in America. Arrived at her residence in company with the Abbi Brassac, it was ascertained that the Baroness was absent, attending a retreat, in the Convent of Notre Dame at Namur, and thither they went. This convent, which is known as the "Mother House" of the Sisters of Notre Dame, was founded in 1807 by the Venerable Julia Billiart, and at the time of the good Bishop's visit, in 1839, was governed by Mother Ignatius. The latter received her visitors most cordially, and after inspecting the various departments of the institute, Bishop Purcell was so impressed with the holy rules of the Religious, and their admirable educational methods, that he, there and then, determined to establish a House of this Order in Cincinnati, which was then a city of about forty-five thousand inhabitants, with, comparatively speaking, few institutions for the complete and high education of girls and young ladies. In the following year (1840) the good Bishop was enabled to carry out his project. The Rev. Mother Ignatius, at the request of his Lordship, sent eight Sisters of Notre Dame on the important mission. These zealous missionaries, whose names are held in benediction to this day by thousands of grateful pupils in this city, and in many parts of the United States, were: Sister Louis de Gonzague, Superior; Sister Louise; Sister Xavier; Sister Ignatia; Sister Rosine; Sister Melanie; Sister Humbeline and Sister Mary Pauline. The Sisters set sail from Antwerp, September 9, and entered the harbor of New York, October 19, 1840. They donned secular dress here, and traveled according to the usual custom of those pioneer days by boat and stage to Cincinnati, arriving on the eve of All Saints. They attracted much attention both on the streets and in the Cathedral at divine service; and were soon known as the " accomplished French ladies." The first house occupied by the Sisters was on Sycamore street, opposite the old cathe- dral (now St. Xavier). It was soon found too small for the growing wants of the community and school. About a dozen yards from their humble abode there stood a house and garden, once the property of Rev. Oliver M. Spencer, pastor of the adjacent Methodist Church. The street on which this property was situated had originally been called Gano street, in honor of Judge Gano, but its name had been changed to Sixth street. The house and garden of Mr. Spencer, with its rare plants and beautiful trees, was considered one of the most elegant and desirable pieces of property in the city. The Sisters purchased this property from Josiah Lawrence, the owner, at the time of their coming to Cincinnati. Mr. Lawrence was a stanch member of the Methodist Church, but his niece, who was largely instrumental through her kind, personal efforts, in procuring this property for the Sisters, had the happiness, subsequently, of becoming a Religious of Notre Dame in this very house. Christmas morning found the little community settled in their new home, and here their first school was opened January 18, 1841. The foundation prospered beyond the fondest hopes of any of its projectors. The pupils of the Sisters were from the most refined and wealthy families, and many were Protestants. In a few months boarders and day scholars numbered sixty, and the records of the first years continually make mention of buildings, erected or enlarged, for the accommodation of the increasing number of pupils and Sisters. But it was not for the wealthy classes that these good Sisters had come so far. A parting injunction of their Mother Superior had been to help the poor to their utmost ability, and indeed the Institute of Notre Dame had been established by the Venerable Mother Julia Billi-

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art " to instruct the poor in the most abandoned localities." It was on this account, that they might labor among the poor classes, that Sister Superior Louise rejected an offer of the Right Rev. Bishop Purcell, by which they would have come into pos- session of the beautiful estate, in Brown county, afterward presented to the Ursuline Nuns. The Sister Superior of Notre Dame alleged, as her reason for declining the offer, that their rules did not permit them to commence a Foundation in a locality where they could not instruct and educate the poor as well as the rich. Classes for those unable to pay for their tuition were opened at the same time as the boarding school, and the delighted teachers soon saw the pupils in the parochial school sur- pass in number those of the academy. This free school has developed into the present "St. Xavier Girls Parochial School," taught gratuitously by the Sisters of Notre Dame for fifty-three years, twelve teachers being employed at present, there- by saving the State thousands of dollars yearly. In the course of time, twelve other schools were opened in the city, and are conducted by the Sisters of Notre Dame to this day. St. Xavier's School was established in 1840; St. Mary's, Thirteenth street, 1847; Holy Trinity, Fifth street, 1848; St. Paul's, Pendleton, 1850; St. Philomena's, Pearl street, 1853; St. Joseph's, Laurel street, 1855; St. Augustine's, Bank street, 1862; St. Anthony's, Budd street, 1864; St. Ann's, New street, 1867; St. George's, Corryville, 1877; St. Henry's, Flint street, 1878. Colored children are taught at St. Ann's school. A school in which deaf mutes are instructed in the ordinary branches of education was opened in 1889. Many sodalities for young and married ladies have been flourishing under the care of the Sisters for years, while the "Tabernacle Society for the Relief of Poor Churches" is the latest gem that has been added to the crown of glory which encircles the fair name of Notre Dame.

MT. NOTRE DAME, Reading, Hamilton Co., Ohio, one of the most famous board- ing schools and institutions of learning for young ladies, in the United States, was founded in 1860. The number of boarders could no longer be accommodated at Sixth street, on which account a tract of land, containing about eighty acres near Reading, nine miles from the city, was purchased. A fine church and spacious convent now grace the famous "Mt. Notre Dame," which, during the thirty-three years of its existence, has become the cherished alma mater of hundreds of ladies- Catholics, Protestants and Jewesses-who are distinguished leaders in their respect- ive Churches, and in society, throughout the western and southern States.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 122

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1592

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592