USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, Ohio, from the founding of Franklinton in 1797, through the World War period to the year 1920 > Part 35
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A branch of this society was organized on the South Side in 1870 and took the name of Mount Zion Church. A German church was organized in 1868, and erected an edifice on the south side of Friend, now Main, east of Grant avenue.
They now have five churches: Avondale, State and Avondale, Rev. E. B. Ewing; First, West Third Avenue, Rev. E. Fetter; Grace, Fifth avenue, Rev. J. H. Harris: St. Clair ave- nue, Rev. J. G. Spears ; Washington avenue, Rev. J. G. Spears.
Evangelical.
Evangelical Protestant ebureh is St. Paul's on Gates street, with Rev. W. L. Bretz as pastor.
Two churches of the Evangelical Association were located in Columbus: Emanuel, East Main street and Ohio avenue. These are now united in the Ohio avenue edifice, Rev. J. R. Dallas, pastor.
Of the Evangelical United there are three: Miller avenne. Rev. Elmer Bailey, pastor; St. Paul's, Warren avenue. Rev. P. E. Smoke, pastor; Wesley avenue, Rev. H. V. Summers, pastor.
CHAPTER XXV. RELIGIOUS LIFE-CATHOLIC.
.After Eighty Years of Effort, Nineteen Church Bodies-Holy Cross the First, in 1838-St. Patrick's, St. Mary's, St. Joseph's Cathedral, Sacred Heart, Holy Family, St. Domi- nic's, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Peter's, St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, St. Thomas, St. Leo's, Iloly Name, Holy Rosary, St. Aloysius, St. Ladislaus, St. Cyprian, Immaculate Conception.
By Helen Moriarty.
The history of the Catholic Church in the Capital City of Ohio, dates back definitely a hun- dred years, though far earlier than that there is reason to believe that the locality was visited by Jesuit missionaries who in their intrepid work penetrated the forests of the uuknown eoun- try, evangelizing and teaching the Red Man. Records of their labors and travels in the his- tory of the French Missionary Fathers show that they had many stations within the eonfines of what is now the State of Ohio, and it is not too much to suppose that at some period in their travels they might have stopped at the confluenee of the Seioto and the Olentangy rivers and there offered up the Sacrifice of the Mass, with the monarehs of the forest making long Cathedral aisles about them and the dark sons of the region kneeling at their feet. The aisles thus made holy have given way long sinee to the noise and activities of a large and thriving eity, in whose man-made aisles and altars the memory is forever perpetuated of those early days and fearless laborers.
In the year 1818 the Dominican Fathers, branching out from their motherhouse in Ken- tueky, had founded a mission in the central part of this State, destined to go down in history as "the eradle of Catholieity in Ohio." This foundation was at Somerset in Perry county, where in 1818 Very Rev. Edward Fenwiek, O. P., dedicated the first Catholic church in the State, under the patronage of St. Joseph, and opened a house for his brethren in religion, the better to enable them to proseeute their missionary labors throughout the virgin country. It is certain that Father Fenwick and his eo-laborers visited the site of the future capital of Ohio, and it is not unlikely that Bishop Flaget, who had been conseerated Bishop of Bards- town, Ky., in 1810, also visited this loeality when on a missionary journey in 1812 in search of seattered portions of the Catholic floek. He was accompanied on this occasion by the Rev. Stephen T. Badin, the first Catholic priest ordained in the United States. It was during this trip of the two zealous missionaries that they discovered the little Catholic colony in Perry county, made up of pioneer settlers from Pennsylvania and other Eastern states, whose devo- tion to their religion was to give them, six years later, the blessing of their own house of worship, the first Catholic church, as stated, in Ohio.
With their branch house established in Somerset, Bishop Flaget entrusted to the Domin- ican Fathers the mission work in Ohio, and for several years they ministered to the spiritual wants of the Catholies throughout the State. They had early founded a mission in Franklin- ton, where a few Catholies were to be found. Father Fenwick, who became in 1821 Bishop of the new see of Cineinnati, the first Ohio see, was assisted in those early days by Rev. Dominick Young, O. P. Later helpers of Father Young were Rev. Thomas Martin and Rev. Vincent de Raymond.
In Franklinton religious serviees were held at times in the Court House and occasionally in the homes of Vincent Grate and Henry Nadenbusch, the latter of whom lived near the State stone quarries, of which he was the lessee. Laborers engaged in building the National road at first composed the greater portion of the Catholic flock. Some of these became per- manent settlers, and their number was gradually increased by new arrivals. Among the pioneer Catholics of this section there is record of the following: The families of Mrs. Russell, Cornelius Jacobs, John Jacobs, Michael Reinhard, Anthony Clarke and Owen Turney. Later on the following names are found in the new congregation: John Ender, Clemens Bachr, J. Scherringer, P. Kchle, Jacob Zettler, Peter Schwarz, Henry Lutz, Lawrence Beek, Joseph Wolfel. Joseph Miller, Isadore Frey, Bernard MeNally, John F. Zimmer, C. Kuhn, John Urv. The descendants of many of these sturdy pioneers are prominent in the Catholic life of Columbus today.
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May 15, 1833, marks a new epoch in the history of Catholic activity in Columbus. On that date a lot was donated to the Catholic missionaries by Otis and Samuel Crosby and Nathaniel Medbery, on condition that a Catholic church be erected thereon within five years. The lot was located far away from the central life of the village, but was nevertheless a welcome acquisition, and is the present site of Holy Cross Church at Fifth and Rich streets. Here after considerable delay and many vicissitudes owing chiefly to lack of money, for the few Catholics were poor and struggling-the first Catholic church in Columbus was built.
Bishop Fenwick, the great pioneer worker, had died of cholera at Wooster, Ohio, in 1832, while on a missionary journey, and he was succeeded as Bishop of Cincinnati by Right Rev. John Baptist Purcell, D. D. In June, 1836, Bishop Purcell visited Columbus, now grow- ing into a good sized town on the east bank of the Scioto. At the Mass which he celebrated in the old Paul Pry House on Canal street between Main and Cherry alley, he called a meet- ing of the men of the congregation. At this meeting plans were laid which resulted in the completion two years later of the first Catholic church in Columbus, a humble enough edifice, built of stone from the State quarry and dedicated to St. Remigius.
Various difficulties attended the erection of the church, but the people were more than generous, giving out of their scanty store, of time, of money and of building material, re- joicing in the prospect of soon possessing a church of their own. Meanwhile in August, 1837, Bishop Purcell put new joy in their hearts by sending to them the Rev. Henry Damien Juncker to be their pastor as well as pastor of the little Catholic flock at Chilli- cothe, with instructions to build a church in both places.
Work on the Columbus church had stopped the previous year owing to lack of funds, and the zealous young priest set himself the task of completing the building. He was so successful that by the next Christmas the church was under roof, and by April, 1838, was ready for services, though still unfinished. On April 29 Father Juncker celebrated within its bare walls the first High Mass ever sung in Columbus. By a happy coincidence Rev. Stephen Badin, the venerable missionary, happened to be passing through Columbus at that time, and he had the pleasure of assisting at the Vesper service in the afternoon and of preaching to the people in English.
The church was small, and though built of stone, was simple in construction. It was fifty feet long by thirty wide and fourteen fect from floor to ceiling. There was a small gallery for the choir.
Father Juncker continued in charge of the congregation until 1839. Later he was made first Bishop of Alton, Ill. He was succeeded at Columbus by Rev. Joshua M. Young, a convert to the Church, who, as there was no pastoral residence at Columbus, made his home in Lancaster, visiting various other missions. On December 8, 1839, Bishop Purcell admin- istered confirmation for the first time in Columbus, and in the evening of the same day preached a sermon in the Senate Chamber of the old State House.
A pastoral residence adjoining St. Remigius Church was completed in April, 1813, and a month later Rev. William Schonat took up his residence there as pastor of Columbus Catholics, Father Young retaining charge of the missions around Lancaster with his home there. These two priests frequently exchanged places to the great spiritual benefit of their people, some of whom were German and some English speaking.
Holy Cross Church.
The congregation at Columbus increased so rapidly that it soon became evident a larger church was necessary. Accordingly in 1845 additional property was purchased on Rich street, and a new church planned, the cornerstone of which was laid on April 28, 1846. It was nearly two years before its completion, bat finally on January 16, 1848, Bishop Purcell dedicated the new edifice under the title of the Church of the Holy Cross.
The old stone church was turned into a school, the first Catholic school in Columbus, and was for a time taught by lay teachers. Rev. Caspar Borgess, who succeeded Father Schonat as pastor, enlarged the school, and in 1856 secured the services of the Sisters of Notre Dame from Cincinnati, who taught the girls' school. In May, 1859, Father Borgess- who afterward became Bishop of Detroit-was succeeded as pastor at Holy Cross by Rev. John B. Hemsteger, who continued in charge until his death in October, 1878. He had labored hard, adding to and improving the church property, erecting a new school and other-
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wise building up the parish. A year before his death a fire partially destroyed the church, which was at once repaired and rededieated, Bishop Toebbe, of Covington, Ky., officiating.
Rev. George H. Ahrens succeeded Father Hemsteger and remained until his death in 1884. Under his pastorate a new school was again built, the present school of today. At his deatlı the Rev. Clement R. Rhode was appointed pastor and continues in that office at the present time. He has valiantly kept up the traditions of the pioneer parish and made many improvements in church and school. A half century of good work was commemorated on September 7, 1888, when the golden jubilee of the first Catholic church in Columbus was auspiciously celebrated.
St. Patrick's Church.
Meanwhile many other congregations had branched out from the mother church in Columbus. Very early in its history Holy Cross Church became too small to accommodate the vastly increased number of Catholies and the plan of a new parish received its incep- tion. Among the first Catholic settlers the German element predominated, and when the new parish was projected it was decided with the Bishop's permission to build a church for English-speaking Catholics.
This congregation was formed in 1851 by Rev. John Furlong, the members for a time attending separate services in Holy Cross Church. In 1852 the congregation was placed in charge of Rev. James Meagher, who bought a lot 187 feet square at the corner of Seventh street, now Grant avenue, and Naghten street, for one thousand dolaars. With in- defatigable zeal the young pastor hastened the erection of the church which was completed in a year and dedicated on September 25, 1853, by Bishop Purcell, of Cincinnati. The fol- lowing year a brick school building was erected adjoining the church, on Mount Vernon avenue. It was first taught by lay teachers, but in 1856 the Sisters of Notre Dame from Cincinnati were engaged for the girls' school, lay teachers continuing to teach the boys. The first church bell in Columbus rang out from the turret of old St. Patrick's over sixty years ago. The parish residence was built in 1857.
In the same year Father Meagher was succeeded by Rev. Edward Fitzgerald, just or- dained, who remained at St. Patrick's during the dark days of the Civil War when he demon- strated his patriotism by floating the Stars and Stripes from the church tower and organiz- ing the Montgomery Guards, whom he pressed to offer their services to their country. He visited at Camp Chase where he gave the consolations of religion to both Union soldier and Confederate prisoner. He was a man of great heart and wide activities. He co-oper- ated with Father Hemsteger in helping the Sisters of St. Francis to found the first hospital in the city, and he was chiefly instrumental in effecting the permanent settlement in Colum- bus of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
In December, 1866, Father Fitzgerald was made Bishop of Little Rock, Arkansas, and was conscerated to his high office in St. Patrick's Church on February 3, 1867, by Areh- bishop Purcell. The sermon was preached by Rev. Patrick J. Ryan, who afterward beeame Archbishop of Philadelphia, and known far and wide for his golden-tongued oratory. Dur- ing those early days one of the assistant priests at St. Patrick's was Rev. J. B. Murray, who is still living and in active work in the Cincinnati archdiocese.
The pioneer days of the Church in Columbus passed away entirely with the arrival in July, 1868, of Apostolic Letters creating the diocese of Columbus, and the appointment of Right Reverend Sylvester Horton Rosecrans as first Bishop of the new sce. Bishop Rose- crans had arrived in Columbus in February, 1867, to succeed Father Fitzgerald as pastor of St. Patrick's, and he remained there with St. Patrick's as his pro-cathedral while St. Joseph's Church, now determined upon as the Cathedral, was in process of construction. When in 1872 Bishop Rosecrans took charge of the Cathedral he was succeeded as pastor of St. Patrick's by Rev. J. A. Murray, who the next year was in turn succeeded by Rev. J. A. Casella. In 1876, Father Casella returned to his native France and Rev. Nicholas Gal- lagher was made pastor. Since 1871 he had been president of St. Aloysius Seminary on the West Side, founded in that year by Bishop Rosecrans for the education of young men to the priesthood, but which had now closed for lack of support.
When on the death of Bishop Rosecrans, Father Gallagher was made administrator of the diocese, Rev. John Madden was in charge at St. Patrick's with Rev. John McGuirk, a son of the parish, as assistant. In 1880 Father Gallagher was made Bishop of Galveston,
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Texas, being the second' pastor of St. Patrick's called to episcopal honors. Rev. A. O. Walker was the next pastor, and he remained until 1885 when the parish was placed in charge of the Dominican Fathers by Bishop Watterson. The first Dominican pastor was Rev. P. C. Coll, and there has been a long line of zealous and able incumbents. Rev. Tim- othy L. Crowley, O. P., is the present pastor.
Shortly after taking charge at St. Patrick's the Dominican Fathers were assigned to work at the Ohio Penitentiary. For many years Rev. F. L. Kelly, O. P., has prosecuted this work among Catholic prisoners, among whom he has wrought untold good. The State recognized the excellence of his labors by erecting for his use a fine chapel.
St. Mary's Parish.
St. Mary's parish was organized in 1863 to meet the needs of the rapidly growing south- ern portion of the city. The present site of St. Mary's on South Third street was purchased by Father Hemsteger, pastor of Holy Cross congregation, of which the new parish was an offshoot. Rev. F. X. Specht, an assistant at Holy Cross, took charge of the movement and under his supervision the school building was first erected. Early in 1866 sod was turned for the church, of which the cornerstone was laid in August by Archbishop Purcell, of Cin- cinnati. On November 30, 1868, the completed edifice was dedicated by Bishop Rosecrans under the invocation of St. Mary. The church, Gothic in design, was handsome in appear- ance and sufficiently large for the future needs of what proved to be a thriving congrega- tion. It was richly frescoed and furnished and seated a thousand people. While the church was building Father Specht had been appointed pastor of the new congregation, and con- tinued in that capacity for nearly fifty years, dying in 1913, deeply mourned by his people and Catholics generally. He had been Vicar General of the diocese since 1885, and was twice Administrator of the diocese, and for his efficient discharge of onerous duties was made a Domestie Prelate by Pope Leo XIII in 1902 with the title of Monsignor.
Monsignor Specht made many improvements at St. Mary's, always looking with a fatherly eye to the best interests of the parish. He built the rectory, and a convent for the Sisters of St. Francis, successors of the Sisters of Notre Dame, who were the first teachers in the school. He installed a fine pipe organ in the church and in 1890 repaired and beau- tified the church, adding new stained glass windows. The spiritual part of his labors speaks in the piety and deyotion of a large congregation
On the death of Monsignor Specht Rev. Joseph M. Wehrle, formerly pastor of St. John's Church, Bellaire, succeeded to the pastorate of St. Mary's. Under the Bishop's direction he has since opened a high school in a newly acquired property just north of the church.
At the present writing St. Mary's parish numbers 850 families, with a school enroll- ment of 637, including 45 pupils in the high school.
The Cathedral Parish.
The growth of St. Patrick's parish was rapid, and it early became evident that a division of the parish would be necessary. Prosperity was beginning to bless Columbus Catholics. and in planning for the new offshoot of St. Patrick's Father Fitzgerald, then pastor, secured a subscription amounting to $37,000 from about two hundred and fifty donors. The com- mittee which he appointed to look after the work consisted of: John Conahan, Theodore Leonard, treasurer, John Jovee, John D. Clarke, Thomas Bergin, William Naghten, secre- tary. John Caren, Michael Harding, William Wall. James Naughton, William Riches, John McCabe, Michael Hartman, John Duffy, Martin Whalen, Bernard MeNally, and Michael Galvin.
In April, 1866, ground for the new church was purchased at the corner of Broad and Fifth streets. a plot 120 feet on Broad and 200 feet on Fifth street. The plan for the church was drawn by Michael Harding and the new parish was placed under the patronage of St. Joseph. The cornerstone was laid on November 11. 1866, by Rt. Rev. S. H. Rose- crans, assistant Bishop of Cincinnati. The next month Father Fitzgerald was made Bishop of Little Rock, Ark., and was suecccded as pastor of St. Patrick's by Bishop Rosecrans, who in March, 1868, became the first Bishop of the new diocese of Columbus. With great enthusiasm the Bishop assumed charge of building his cathedral church, and after making some change in the plans, decided to construct it of stone. It is said that General Rose-
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crans, the Bishop's soldier brother, who visited the Bishop during the erection of the Cathe- dral, assisted him materially by his advice and suggestions. It was not until 1872 that this beautiful Gothic Cathedral of St. Joseph was completed and ready for divine services. During the course of its construction Naughton Hall, situated on the east side of High street between State and Town streets, was used as a temporary chapel and there services were held for over two years. A few months after its organization, the Cathedral Chapel con- gregation as it was called, was placed in charge of Rev. J. F. Rotchford, O. P., whom Bishop Roscerans secured for a few years service from the Dominican community at New York. In 1872 Father Rotchford was recalled by his superiors and Bishop Rosecrans assisted by Father Gallagher conducted services in the chapel until the completion of the Cathedral.
On Christmas day, 1872, Bishop Rosecrans celebrated pontifical high Mass for the first time in his new cathedral. In 1873 a residence on East Broad between Sixth and Seventh streets was bought for the Bishop and his assistant priests, but the distance made it incon- venient, and in 1875 the Bishop built a rectory adjoining the Cathedral. There his priests took up residence, but he made his home at the Sacred Heart Convent, a private school opened a few years before by Dominican Sisters from St. Mary's of the Springs, at the southeast corner of Broad and Seventh streets. These Sisters afterward moved their convent to Galveston, Texas, on the invitation of Bishop Gallagher.
The Cathedral was consecrated on October 20, 1878, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Dwenger, of Fort Wayne, in the presence of six other prelates, more than fifty priests, and a large con- course of people. It was an auspicious event in the history of the new diocese. The ser- mon was preached by Rt. Rev. John Lancaster Spalding, the scholarly young Bishop of Peoria, Ill., afterwards one of the shining literary lights of the Church in America.
The venerable Archbishop Purcell, patriarch of the West, bowed with years and labors, made a few remarks at the close of the solemn services, contrasting the present beautiful edifice with the humble rooms where in pioneer days the Holy Sacrifice was offered, days and services which he himself so well remembered.
On the evening of the same day Bishop Rosecrans was stricken with fatal illness and died the following night. The new Cathedral, so late the scene of festivity and rejoicing. was hung with black and turned into a temple of mourning, when on October 25 the funeral of the beloved prelate took place. The Bishops and many of the priests who had assisted in the consecration of the Cathedral remained over for the obsequies. The body of Bishop Rosecrans was placed in a burial vault prepared for it in the basement of the Cathedral directly beneath the sanctuary.
Bishop Rosecrans was a convert to the Church. As his name indicates he was of Dutch ancestry, and his family was a distinguished one. Through his mother he was re- lated to Stephen Hopkins, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Sylvester Horton Rosecrans, son of Crandall and Jemima Hopkins Rosecrans, was born in Homer, Licking county, Ohio, on February 5, 1827. While he was a student at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, an older brother, William S. Rosecrans, a recent graduate of West Point and afterward the famous Civil War general, became a Catholic, and his example was followed by the young Sylvester. Later both parents also became Catholics. Sylvester was educated by the Jesuits at Fordham, and made his later studies in Rome, where he was ordained in 1852. His death at the age of 51 closed a career of great activity. He had labored earn- estly to build up the new diocese, a work of no small magnitude, and he died before he could see the fruition of his work. It was said that he was a born pedagogne and in the midst of his episcopal duties found time to teach in St. Aloysius Seminary, in Sacred Heart Convent, and even at St. Mary's of the Springs. He was a man of literary tastes, and was instrumental in founding the Catholic Columbian, under the management of Rev. D. A. Clarke, then an ecclesiastical student, and he was a frequent contributor to its editorial and other pages. He died universally esteemed and respected.
The successor of Bishop Rosecrans was the Right Reverend John Ambrose Watterson. D. D., who was appointed Bishop of Columbus on March 15, 1810, and was consecrated on August 8 of the same year in St. Joseph's Cathedral. In the eighteen months which had elapsed between the death of Bishop Rosecrans and the appointment of his successor, Very Rev. N. A. Gallagher administered the affairs of the diocese with residence at the Cathedral rectory. Rev. M. M. Mcara was rector of the Cathedral. In 1882 Father Meara was made pastor at Circleville and Rev. R. J. Fitzgerald became rector of the Cathedral, where he re-
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mained until 1888, when he was appointed pastor of St. John's Church, Bellaire. From that period Bishop Watterson retained the title of rector of the Cathedral himself until his lamented death in April, 1898. His labors in building up the diocese were stupendous and his health suceumbed under the stress of his episcopal duties. The work of the dioeese was extended through new parishes and the erection of churches and sehools. He purchased the present episcopal residence, thus completing a half bloek of valuable property on Broad street. His work in the dioeese was of lasting value. He was a man of dignified personality and wide at- tainments, a seholar and a student, with oratorieal ability of a high order. He died deeply mourned not alone by his own people but by the residents of Columbus generally, who reeog- nized in him a man of superior character and eminent virtues. He was 55 years old at the time of his death. His remains were interred in Calvary cemetery where a handsome granite monument marks his resting place.
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