USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Mercer County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 21
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After him, Rev. Theopistus Wittmer, C. PP. S., became rector. Father Wittmer, when a mere boy, emigrated with his parents from Switzerland. The family settled near Egypt, Auglaize County, Ohio. In 1864 he was ad-
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mitted into the community, and, having finished his studies at St. Charles Seminary, was ordained priest in 1872. Before his promotion to the rector- ship, Father Wittmer had charge of St. Peter's parish, Winamac, Indiana, 1873 to 1876, and Celina, 1876 to 1883.
Father Wittmer held the rectorship until 1896, when he was transferred to Glandorf, Ohio, and was succeeded by Very Rev. Boniface Russ, at pres- ent provincial superior of the American division of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood. He is a native of Minster, Ohio, and was transferred to Carthagena after having charge of St. Joseph's, Wapakoneta, Ohio. Under him, ground was broken for the large pond (300 by 300 feet and about 12 feet deep), that is one of the beauties of Carthagena.
When a year and half later the confidence of the fathers called him to, assume the provincial office, he appointed as his successor Rev. Joseph Up- haus, C. PP. S., a native of Glandorf, who after another year and a half was appointed pastor of Thompson, where he died March 26, 1906.
The next rector appointed was Rev. August Seifert, C. PP. S., a native of New Riegel, Ohio. He had been rector of St. Joseph's College from the time that that institution of learning had been founded (1892) and returned again to the same institution in the same capacity in the fall of 1902, after a two-years' successful administration of St. Charles Seminary. Under him the new graveyard was laid out and the beautiful memorial stone cross as well as the stations, was erected, through the liberal contributions of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood. He also was the ingenious designer and constructor of the beautiful Lourdes' Grotto.
Father Seifert's successor was Rev. Benedict Boebner, C. PP. S., a native of Wendelin, Mercer County, who, after faithfully managing the in- cumbent affairs for two years, was promoted to the more strenuous and de- sirable occupation of preaching and conducting missions, retreats and other devotional exercises for the laity and the religious communities.
He was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. Paulinus Trost, C. PP. S., a native of Baden, Germany, who has made this country his home since 1876, when he was a young man of 20 years. He had devoted his youth to the art of painting under the direction of his father. Being ordained in May, 1885, after a four-years' activity in the ministry he was sent by his superiors to the Royal Academy of Arts, Munich, Bavaria, to acquire efficiency in the modern technique of painting. After three years attendance at that brilliant school of arts, he returned and was then active in St. Joseph's College at Rensselaer, Indiana.
In 1904 he was appointed to his present position. Under his supervision was erected (1905-06) the spacious new chapel, with Sisters' convent ad- joining the south elevation of the building. The chapel is 128 feet long, with
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a width of 85 feet in the transept. The length of the east side of the building is 183 feet. This beautiful Romanesque chapel in basilica style is certainly a credit to the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood, and an ornament to the seminary environs. The exquisitely artistic windows, especially the two large transept group pictures, are admired by all. This new building is the first part of the planned new seminary, forming about one-third of the whole, which will in course of time emerge, as we hope, from the plans on paper into effective reality.
INSTITUTIONS OF THE FATHERS OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD.
Motherhouse of the American Province of the Fathers of the Most Pre- cious Blood, and St. Charles Seminary, at Carthagena : Very Rev. Boniface Russ, C. PP. S., provincial; Rev. Paulinus Trost, C. PP. S., rector ; Revs. Ulrich Mueller, C. PP. S., Didacus A. Brackman, C. PP. S. and Julian Mayer, C. PP. S., professors; Revs. Cosmas Seeberger, C. PP. S., and P. Kuhnmuench, C. PP. S .; 22 students, all members of the community, and 23 lay brothers.
Novitiate of the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood, a mile and a half northeast of Burkettsville: Rev. Joseph Heitz, C. PP. S., master of novices; Revs. Andrew Stiefvater, C. PP. S., Philip Rist, C. PP. S., Hubert Seiferle, C. PP. S., Alphonse Laux, C. PP. S., and Ambrose Dowd, C. PP. S .; 17 novices and 27 brothers.
INSTITUTIONS OF THE SISTERS OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD.
Convent of Mary, Help of Christians, a mile and a quarter northeast of Maria Stein-Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood : Mother M. Josephine Roetsch, general superior; Sisters in the house, 88; Sisters in the community, 551; novices, 34; postulants, 23. This convent was estab- lished in 1844 by Sisters of the Most Precious Blood from Loewenberg, Can- ton Graubuenden, Switzerland. The Sisters conduct establishments in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and in the dioceses of Cleveland, Columbus, Fort Wayne, Kansas City, Nashville, St. Joseph, Sioux City and Tucson. In the main the Sisters devote themselves to teaching. They also engage in manual labor, manufacturing ornamental work for churches, and in literary and scientific studies. Connected with the Motherhouse is a normal school, in which novices are thoroughly trained. Rev. Henry Drees, C. PP. S., is chap- lain of the convent chapel.
Gruenwald, Convent of Mary, Mother of God, half a mile south of Cas- sella : Sister M. Veronica, superior; 60 Sisters of the Most Precious Blood. Rev. Casper Schedler, C. PP. S., is chaplain of the convent chapel.
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Convent of Assumption at Carthagena: Sister M. Cleova, superior ; 12 Sisters of the Most Precious Blood.
Near St. Henry was formerly located Himmelgarten, Convent of Mary, Mother of God. This was given up and the property sold some years ago.
CHURCHES.
St. John's Church at St. Johns in Marion township is one of the largest as well as one of the oldest Catholic congregations of Mercer County. It was established here by priests from Minster in 1837, the first church erected being a small structure built of logs. Not many years afterward, the population of the parish having been largely augmented, a good brick church was erected at a cost of about $8,000, which was subsequently enlarged so that at the time it was replaced with the present structure it was a building 50 by 100 feet in dimensions. The present edifice was built in 1888 at a cost of $40,145 complete. Rev. Thomas Eisenring, C. PP. S., commenced the work by tak- ing subscriptions, and Rev. Martin Dentinger, C. PP. S., completed the church. It is one of the handsomest church edifices of the county. A fine, brick priest's residence was built in 1906 on church land east of the church building by Rev. J. Otto Missler, C. PP. S., who is the present pastor. The congregation numbers 140 families.
St. Rosa's Church at St. Rosa, in Marion township, was established in 1837. A log church was built the following year. Regular services were first held about 1845, when Rev. L. Navarron, a French priest, with Rev. John Wittmer and other priests belonging to the Congregation of the Most Pre- cious Blood, visited the church alternately and performed divine services. Under the supervision of Rev. Andrew Kunkler, C. PP. S., the present church was built at a cost of $6,000, being dedicated in June, 1854. It is a brick structure, 42 by 75 feet in dimensions. On November 24, 1894, the con- gregation celebrated the 50th year or "Golden Jubilee" of its foundation. The present parsonage, a pressed-brick building, was erected in 1905, at a cost of $4,700, the work being done under the supervision of the present pastor, Rev. Liberat Schupp, C. PP. S. It has all the modern improvements found in a building of this nature and is lighted by acetylene gas. The congrega- tion has a membership of 67 families. The following priests, all members of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood, have had charge of the con- gregation since it was founded in 1844: Rev. L. Navarron, from 1844 to 1845; Rev. John Van den Broek, 1845 to 1846; Rev. John Wittmer, 1846 to 1848; Rev. Fred. Brenner, 1848 to 1849; Rev. Sebastian Gauter, Andrew Kunkler, A. Herbatritt and Peter Wilhelmy, who were pastors of the church from 1849 to 1856, inclusive; Rev. Nic. Gales, 1857 to 1861 ; Rev. Bernard
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Austerman, who began his pastorate in 1861 and was succeeded by Rev. Paul Reuter; Rev. Peter Haberthur became pastor in 1866; Rev. A. Kramer, in 1875; Rev. Erhard Glück, in 1876; Rev. Francis Büchel, in 1879; Rev. Cas- per Schedler, in 1892; Rev. Henry Drees, in 1893; Rev. Aloys Malin, in 1898; Rev. Casper Schedler, in 1905, being succeeded in that year by the present pastor, Rev. Liberat Schupp.
St. Joseph's Church is situated in Recovery township at St. Joseph, about two and a half miles northeast of Fort Recovery. This church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the county. It was organized in 1838, the first church structure being a log cabin built in that year. The first priest was Rev. John Herzog. Among the earliest members were John Dull and John Weiss and the Kramer, Goecke and Busch families. In 1861 a brick building, 45 by 85 feet in dimensions, was built at a cost of $6,000, which church con- tinues to be used at the present time. A new steeple or tower was added to the church in 1903, during the pastorate of Rev. Seraphim Kunkel, C. PP. S. A priest's residence was built in 1906 of brick veneer at a cost of about $3,000, under the direction of the present pastor, Rev. Theodosius H. Brackman, C. PP. S., who assumed charge of the parish on November 1, 1905. Follow- ing are given the names of some of the priests who have served this church during recent years, all being members of the Congregation of the Most Pre- cious Blood : Revs. Aloys Malin, August Seifert, J. Otto Missler, Jacon Marti, Peter Scherak, Louis Hefele, Seraphim Kunkel and the present pastor, Theodisus H. Brackman. The church has a membership of 49 families. - -
St. Henry's Church at St. Henry, Granville township .- The early history of St. Henry's congregation dates back into the late '30's, when there were but few scattered families throughout the southern part of Mercer County. The earliest members were the Hulsman, Hemmelgarn, Romer, Weinart, Wendeln and Bruns families. The first priest was Father Bartels. The first house of worship, built in 1840, was a frame structure and was used until 1854. In 1853-54 the congregation, at a cost of about $7,000, built a brick structure, 48 by 100 feet in dimensions, on the site of the present parish house. It was built under the supervision of Rev. John Van den Broek and was dedi- cated by Archbishop John B. Purcell in 1854.
In 1895 steps were taken to erect a new church to accommodate the large congregation. The new edifice which was dedicated on July 25, 1897, is a large, handsome building, constructed of brick, trimmed with Bedford stone. It is in the form of a Latin cross, measuring 167 feet 6 inches in length and 88 feet wide at the transept, and in architecture is true Gothic. The ceiling is vaulted and is supported by 12 Bedford stone columns, each
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20 inches in diameter and 30 feet high. From the floor of the nave to the apex of the vault is 62 feet. The tower is 203 feet above the street level and contains the largest chime of bells in this part of the State, consisting of the old bells and three new ones, in all aggregating 6,600 pounds. The tower also contains an Angelus chime clock, whose 12-foot dials are 110 feet above the street level. The cornice work, including the gutters and spouting, is of copper. The church will seat 1,100 and the gallery, where additional seats may be placed, will increase the seating capacity. The basement is finished off as a large assembly room for parish society meetings. The furnishings of the church are handsome and appropriate and in keeping with the archi- tectural details of the building. The statuary, stations of the cross and memorial art windows were imported. The artistic painting and frescoing of the interior of the church were done with exquisite taste. St. Henry's' Church is considered by many competent judges to be the most costly church in Northwestern Ohio, $100,000 having been expended to date on the church and the beautiful memorial windows. In its construction the church took one and a half million bricks, which is said to be more than has been used in the construction of any other building in the county. In 1901 a commodious and beautiful parish house was erected on the site of the old brick church at a cost of $10,000. Both the church and the parish house are lighted by acetylene gas and heated by a system of steam and hot water. The church is free of debt and has over 1,100 communicants, representing about 250 families. Rev. Dominic Shunk, C. PP. S., is pastor.
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St. Anthony's Church at Padua in Washington township .- The pioneer priests of the congregation of the Most Precious Blood, founded by Blessed Gaspare del Bufalo in Italy in 1815, and introduced into this country in the year 1844 by Rev. Francis Salesius Brunner, C. PP. S., were the first to ad- minister to the spiritual wants of the few scattered Catholics in this territory, now known as St. Anthony's parish.
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The first priest, Rev. Joseph Albrecht, C. PP. S., came from St. Joseph's parish, in Recovery township, Mercer County, and held divine services in the house of John Stelzer, in Indiana, and in the houses of Henry Wickelman and Anton Schnett, situated near the present St. Anthony's Church. A movement for the erection of a log church was first started in the fall o 1852 by the following men: Heinrich Schroer, Heinrich Wickelman, John Stelzer, John Weichel, Vinzenz Stark, John Driller, Louis Wickelman, Anton Schnett, Ignatz Rauh and Heinrich Fortmann.
The timber was hewn and the log church was built by these pioneers themselves, who pledged themselves, moreover, to contribute $4 each-in those days a large sum indeed, when there was no market at all for farm
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produce unless at a great distance. The little congregation was soon in- creased by the following members: Heinrich Brinkman, Heinrich Hütten- brock, Y. M. Hüttenbrock, Bernard Dennes, Theodore Middendorf, George John, Peter Obringer, Anton Schürman, Franz Wigand, Louis Greving, Felix Sell, Franz Langenhorst, Sebastian Krieg, Paul Wehrkamp, and Ger- hard Homan.
The parish was in charge of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood under Father Joseph Albrecht, who visited the place about once a month. During his absence the people went to St. Peter's Church, about six miles east. In the baptismal record, which was started in 1853, we find the names also of Rev. Mathias Kreusch, C. PP. S., and Rev. Willibald Willy, C. PP. S.
Rev. Sebastian Gauter succeeded Father Albrecht and was pastor from 1855 to 1860. During this time, Fathers John Wittmer, Engelbert Ruff and Rochus Schuly conducted services at intervals. The last named became the regular pastor from 1860 to 1863. The next three years, namely, until 1866, Rev. Engelbert Ruff, C. PP. S., had charge of the place. It was during his pastorate that the congregation enjoyed half service every Sunday. The books show nothing of importance all this time, except the usual record of haptisms, marriages and burials. Father Ruff was succeeded by Rev. Peter Wilhelmy, C. PP. S., whose term of office, 14 years, was the longest of any pastor in the history of the parish.
The very limited space of the log church could no longer accommodate the growing congregation, so that steps were taken to build the present brick church. As early as 1873 stone was hauled from New Bremen, Ohio, and brick were made on the place of the new church, to be erected about one-fourth mile south of the old site; the land, originally two acres, was donated by Ger- hard Homan. Preparations went on slowly, as the material had to be hauled over mud roads, at a distance of about 20 miles. Mr. De Curtains was the architect of the new church, which was about 44 by 80 feet in dimensions, and Mr. Van Oss, of Minster, Ohio, was the builder. The new edifice was com- pleted in 1875, but was really finished and plastered in 1879. In this year the high altar was purchased for $600 from J. Schroeder.
By the frequent signing of their names in the baptismal register, it must be inferred that Revs. Jacob Ringele, C. PP. S., and A. Capeder, C. PP. S., acted at times as pastor of St. Anthony's.
Rev. Ignatius Selb, C. PP. S., succeeded Father Wilhelmy, but remained hardly a year, until 1881. From this time until 1882 we find Rev. Conrad Schneider, C. PP. S., who obtained the privilege to binate, and erected also the way of the cross.
Rev. Franz Büchel, C. PP. S., came next and stayed until 1884, when
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Rev. Ferdinand Walser, C. PP. S., stepped in. Father Walser provided the first mission in the parish, conducted by a Redemptorist Father. He started also the St. Anthony's Young Men's Society, which has since become defunct. Father Walser obtained one acre of land from Henry Mai, on which he built a compartment house to be used by pastor and teacher. But before Father Walser could carry out his design of residing permanently at St. Anthony, he was removed by his superior and succeeded by Rev. Cosmas Maria See- berger, C. PP. S., who remained 12 years, until 1898, attending to the place from Mary's Home Convent as did his predecessors up to the time of Father Wilhelmy, inclusively. Father Seeberger established the arch-confraternities of the Holy Rosary, Precious Blood and the Apostolate of Prayer, or the de- votion of the Nine Fridays. Failing in health, Father Seeberger was replaced by Rev. Felix Graf, C. PP. S., who had charge of the parish not quite one year. In August, 1899, Rev. Maximilian F. Walz, C. PP. S., was appointed pastor of St. Anthony's Church. The people at this time were willing and generous enough to have the church remodeled and enlarged. Accordingly, in the spring of 1900 a sacristy with cloistral aisle, a brick tower from the ground up, to replace the foresteeple, were added to the church. A new roof and flooring were also necessary. The church was frescoed for the first time and further embellished by stained glass windows. The Christian Mothers' Society was established canonically in 1902. The year following, a pipe or- gan was installed in the church at an expense of $1,150, and an iron fence placed around the premises, costing with Page fence, $536.30. Gerhard Homan, Sr., donated in this year, half an acre for additional cemetery ground adjoining the old one. In 1903 the parish celebrated its golden jubilee, one pioneer member being present, Henry Schroer. Cement walks were laid around the church in 1904. The year 1905 witnessed the erection of both a residence for the pastor and a new schoolhouse. The former cost $3,500, and the latter, $1,200.
The total land of the parish now comprises three and a half acres. The total value of all the church property belonging to St. Anthony's parish at this time ( 1906) is about $24,000. The congregation numbers 74 families.
On August 9, 1906, Father Walz was transferred to Rome City, In- diana, and Rev. Charles H. Notheis, C. PP. S., a classmate of Father Walz, took hold of the reins of the parish as resident pastor.
St. Mary's Church at Cassella, Marion township, dates from about 1847, when the first services for Catholic people were rendered here by some of the pioneer Fathers of the Most Precious Blood, who came to the settlement on certain Sundays in order to provide religious services and instruction for the settlers of the Catholic faith. A plot of ground was secured, on which was
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erected a small frame building, which served as a church until a new brick church edifice, 43 by 78 feet in dimensions, was erected at a cost of $6,000, under the pastorate of Rev. Peter Haberthur, C. PP. S. This building was dedicated in August, 1862, by Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans, D. D. Martin Hierholzer, Bernard Wehrkamp, John Cron and R. Schaeffer constituted the building committee. This church was destroyed by fire in 1889 and was at once rebuilt under the pastorate of Rev. Martin Dentinger, C. PP. S., at a cost of $16,000. A fine pastoral residence, built of brick, was erected in 1905 at a cost of $6,000, during the pastorate of Rev. Charles M. Romer, C. PP. S. Fifty-four families constitute the membership of the church. The financial and spiritual affairs of St. Mary's congregation are in excellent condition. This can be said of nearly all the Catholic churches of Mercer County, which fact speaks well for the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood, who have built up all these churches.
Since 1876 the following priests, all members of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood, have had charge: Rev. Sebastian Gauter, who served until 1886, when he was followed by Rev. Theobald Schoch, who was succeeded in 1887 by Rev. Martin Dentinger. Father Dentinger was pastor until 1890, when he was followed by Rev. Charles Meyer, who served until 1893. Very Rev. Henry Drees, Provincial of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood, attended for one year, until 1895, when Rev. Anselm Schmidt succeeded him. Rev. Philip Rist became pastor in 1897 and continued until 1902 when the present pastor, Rev. Charles M. Romer, took charge.
St. Mary's Church at Philothea, Butler township, was established on September 6, 1851, by H. Weiner, H. Wendeln, H. Zumalde, Frederick · Albers, H. Spoltman, F. Saalman, H. Phelman and Henry Lennartz. Forty acres of land for church and school purposes were purchased of H. Weiner for $100 and in the following year a small log church was built. This church was used until 1871, when on July 1Ith the present church edifice, 45 by 85 feet in dimensions and costing $7,000 was dedicated. The church was built under the supervision of Rev. James Marti, C. PP. S. A chime of bells was placed in the church tower. A frame priest's residence was built in 1905 at a cost of about $4,500. Since 1880 St. Mary's Church has had the follow- ing pastors, all members of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood : Revs. Casper Schedler, Francis Büchel, Alphonse Laux, Bernard Russ, John Nageleisen, Peter Kuhnmuench, Willibald Schliemers, George Fleisch, George Hindelang, Xavier Mielinger, Edmund Lohmiller, Gregory Jüssel, Philemon Notheis, Ignatius Rauh and Erhard Fritz, the present pastor. The church has a membership of 55 families.
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St. Sebastian's Church is located at Sebastian in the northern part of Marion township. It was formerly a part of St. John's and St. Rosa's con- gregations and was established by permission of the Bishop in 1852. The pioneers of this congregation were Adam Gerlach, John Will and B. Frohn- ing. The first church edifice, built in 1853, served the congregation until a brick church was built in 1878-79, being dedicated in October of the latter year. It was erected under the supervision of Revs. Peter Kuhnmuench, C. PP. S., and Boniface Russ, C. PP. S., and was at the time considered the finest church building in all Mercer County. It was 45 by 85 feet in dimen- sions and cost $8,000. This church served the people as a place of worship until it was destroyed by fire January 12, 1903. A new brick church edifice, 52 by 113 feet in dimensions, was erected on the site of the former church the same year, under the supervision of Rev. Seraphim Kunkler, C. PP. S. A brick parsonage was built in 1905 at a cost of about $4,000. The con- gregation consists of 48 families. Dating from the construction of the sec- ond church, the following priests have served as pastors of St. Rosa's Church : Revs. Peter Kuhnmuench, Boniface Russ, Erhard Glück, Albert Voag, Eu- gene Grimm, Charles Meyer, Leopold Linder, John Nageleisen, Gregory Jüssel, Ferdinand Walzer, Anthony Dick, Seraphim Kunkler and Henry J. Winner, who has had charge of the church since August 23, 1906. All of the priests above named have been members of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood with the exception of the present pastor.
St. Aloysius' Church, which is located near Carthagena, in Marion town- ship, was established about 1856, when the settlement of Catholics here made a purchase of land from the colored people. In 1860 a site for a graveyard was purchased and a school organized. The congregation was organized by Rev. Aloys Schelbert, C. PP. S. For some years the services were held for this congregation in the chapel attached to St. Charles Seminary. In 1875, the membership having increased to the point where a church building was needed, plans for a brick structure, 45 by 85 feet in dimensions, with a solid tower from the ground with walls two feet thick, were made under the super- vision of the pastor, Rev. Henry Drees, C. PP. S. The corner-stone was laid and blessed in May, 1877, and through the indefatigable exertions of Father Drees the church was dedicated June 30, 1878, by Very Rev. Bernard Auster- man, Provincial of the Congregation of the Most Precious Blood. Among the active and energetic men of this congregation, who constituted the build- ing committee, were: Philip Frey, Frederick Forsthoefel and Peter Knoth. Large subscriptions from other towns and congregations aided in the erection of this church, which cost $7,500. In the summer of 1905 extensive altera- tions were completed, which resulted in the complete remodeling of the old
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