History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 85

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 85

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The Dominican Fathers, composing an "Order of Preachers," founded in the thirteenth century by St. Dominie, had already established a nursery of Catholicity near Doctor Flaget's see in Kentucky. Their active missionary life in that State induced the Bishop to place the Ohio missions under their charge. Very Reverend Edward Fenwick, then Provincial of the Dominican Order, resigned his office to comply with the Bishop's request, and repaired immediately to Perry County, Ohio, where he permanently founded the mission which became the " Cradle of Catholicity " in the State. Here, in 1818, Father Fenwick had the happiness of dedicating in honor of St. Joseph the first Catholic church and of establishing a convent whence should go forth active missionaries to various parts of the State and surrounding regions, ministering to the Catholic families here and there, as they were to be found, and erecting at different places permanent missionary sta- tions. Father Fenwick and colaborers visited the locality of the future capital and prepared the way for the rapid growth of the Catholic Church in this city. A witness of his great zeal and labors is found in the introduction to a baptismal register preserved in his own handwriting in St. Joseph's convent :

In the years 1817-1818, I baptized in different parts of Ohio State one hundred and sixtytwo persons, young and old, whose names and sponsors cannot now be recollected, as I was then au itinerant missionary and such persons were generally discovered and brought to me accidentally. Rev. Mr. Young, during his journey to Maryland and back to Ohio, this year of 1818, baptized about thirty persons in a similar manner. - Edward Fenwick.

"Glory be to Thee, O Lord, and on earth peace to men of good will."

Father Fenwick's missionary zeal was everywhere attended by a renewal of religious fervor among the Catholic settlers and by numerous conversions to the faith. Father Dominick Young, of the same religious order, was his almost con- stant companion on these missionary tours.

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First Bishop of Cincinnati .- The increasing demands for missionaries and the establishing of numerous stations by the Dominican Fathers throughout Ohio and portions of Michigan and Indiana, urged upon Rome, through Right Rev. Doctor Flaget, the pressing need of a bishop to exercise jurisdiction over that large terri- tory now grown beyond that prelate's possible attention. Accordingly, recogniz- ing the labors, piety, and learning of Father Fenwiek, Pope Pius VIII, on June 19, 1821, named him Bishop, with Cincinnati as his see and Ohio as his diocese. The ceremony of consecration took place in Bardstown, Kentucky, January 13, 1822, Bishop Flaget being the consecrator. Shortly after his installation at Cin- cinnati, Bishop Fenwick repaired to Europe to obtain assistance in meeting the requirements of his diocese, rapidly growing in importance. During his absence the Dominican Fathers from St. Joseph's, Perry County, continued their labors on the missions under the direction of Very Rev. Father Hill, Viear-General of the diocese. Among these Fathers we find the following frequently and promi- nently named : Dominic Young, Thomas Martin and Vincent de Raymond. On Bishop Fenwick's return from Europe, in 1825, he renewed his missionary life, enthused and encouraged by his successful trip abroad. Providence, however, had destined only a short career for the zealous Bishop. On his way home from an extended visitation of the northern portions of his diocese, in the autumn of 1832, he fell a victim to the cholera at Wooster, Ohio.

Bishop Fenwick was succeeded in the Episcopal office by Right Rev. John Baptist Purcell, who was consecrated Bishopin the Cathedral at Baltimore, Mary- land, October 13, 1833, by Archbishop Whitefield, of that see. Upon the death of Bishop Fenwick and the installation of Bishop Purcell the manner of conducting the missions of Ohio that were attended by the Dominican Fathers underwent some modifications. These changes were to be expected, since the former Bishop was not only a missionary in the parts over which he exercised episcopal jurisdic- tion, but was a member of the Dominican Order. Bishop Purcell on the contrary, bad no such experience on the missions of the West ; being yet very young, his youth, at first, was strongly urged against his appointment as Bishop. He came, moreover, from the ranks of the secular clergy, whose ministrations had been confined to narrower limits, but would now be more extended.

The results achieved by the pioneer band of Dominican Fathers were appre- ciated by the new Bishop, and to their assistance in continuing the missionary work, he gathered abont him a number of devoted secular priests over whom, as their Bishop, he could exercise a more direct control on the missions and the founding of new churches. With a truly apostolic zeal Bishop Purcell engaged in his labors, visiting every portion of his large diocese, ministering in person to the spiritual necessities of the people, and defending fearlessly in public places the doctrines of his faith that had been assailed and often misrepresented.

The Columbus Mission .- The Dominican Fathers who had early founded the mission in Columbus had come into possession of a lot by donation, the conditions being that a church be ereeted thereon within five years from date of the deed, which was May 15, 1833. This lot is the present site of Holy Cross Church, on the northeast corner of Rich and Fifth streets, the donors being Otis and Samuel Crosby and Nathaniel Medbery. Religious services continued to be held, as in the past, by the Dominican Fathers from time to time, in different houses of Catholics, among them being the residence of John McCarthy, on Main Street, between High and Third. Mr. McCarthy was, at the time, an engineer on the Ohio Canal and Columbus Feeder. Previously to this time Catholic services were held in Franklinton, now the West Side, where a number of Catholic families had set- tled. At such times the old courthouse - present location of the Franklinton publie school building - the homes of Vincent Grate and Henry Nadenbusch, the latter situated near the State stone quarries, were honored by having the Sacrifice

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of the Mass offered up under their roofs. Laborers engaged in the construction of the National Road composed for a time the major portion of the congregation.

Among the permanent settlers, however, who constituted the pioneer Catholic congregation that was the nneleus of the future churches of the city, we find record of the following: The families of Mrs. Russell, Cornelius Jacobs, John Jacobs, Michael Reinhard, Anthony Clarke and Owen Turney. Later on, the following Catholies settled in the city and added to the membership of the con- gregation : John Ender, Clemens Baehr, J. Scherringer, P. Kehle, Jacob Zettler, Peter Schwartz, Henry Lutz, Lawrence Beck, Joseph Wolfel, Senior, Joseph Miller, Isidore Frey, Bernard Me Nally, John F. Zimmer, C. Kuhn, John Ury and several others whose names are not on record.

As the number of families increased with the natural development of the State, under the impetus given to immigration, and the prominence accorded to Columbus as the capital of a promising great State, the Catholics felt sorely the need of a church building and a resident priest. The Dominican Fathers in whose name, under the corporate title of " Literary Society of St. Joseph," the lot for church purposes above referred to was held, were solicitous for the spiritual wel- fare of their struggling flocks, and earnestly strove to arrange for such a building. Prompted by such a desire, Very Rev. N. D. Young, Provincial of the Dominican Order, sought the advice and expression of the wishes of the Bishop in the matter, by addressing him the following letter under date of January 16, 1835 :

We have a lot in Columbus. A church could, this year, by a little exertion be erected on it. We ask your permission to do so. Father Martin occasionally visits Columbus. The Catholics are suffering there a great affliction, and amongst them many sad evils occur in consequence of having no regular attendance. With your consent we shall do our best to supply them. Should you object, we are willing to give up the lot and place our subjects in other places.

On March 28, 1835, the Bishop replies to Father Young :

I earnestly wish that you undertake the erection of a church in Columbus on the terms I proposed, viz., your having the completed church under your care so long as I live, and thereafter as long as you could supply it with a pastor, if my influence, (by a written expres- sion of my will) after my decease, will bind my successor. If the lot in Columbus has been already deeded to you, the knot is ent and I agree to the erection of a church on it for the good of the Catholic Congregation. You see how anxious I am to meet your views when I see them connected with the best modes of advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ. If you cannot proceed to the building of the church, yon will, of course, inform me and trans- fer the lot.

Notwithstanding this very decided indication of the Bishop's desires, the Dominican Fathers finally determined to place the lot at the disposal of the Bishop, who would have his priests undertake the building of the first church in Columbus. The property, however, remained in the name of the Dominicans until May 29, 1869, when the legal transfer and record were made.

First Catholic Church .- In June, 1836, Bishop Purcell came to the city, stop- ping at Colonel John Noble's National Hotel where stands the Neil House of today, and on the Sunday following his arrival, June 5, celebrated bis first Mass in Columbus in the old Paul Pry House on Canal Street, between Main and Cherry Alley, then occupied by the family of George Studer. Mass had been fre- quently celebrated in this house by the Missionary Fathers, and it continued to be used for that purpose for some time, as it was the most convenient locality. After divine services on the occasion above referred to, the Bishop announced the object of his visit to be the consulting with the Catholics in reference to the building of a church. For this purpose he asked all the men of the congregation to meet him at the same place at a stated hour in the afternoon.

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Agreeably to this request the meeting was held and attended by nearly all the men of the little mission. Great interest was manifested, yet the enthusiasm was somewhat dampened when the pecuniary condition of most of the congregation was considered, as the raising of the necessary funds to meet the estimated cost of the building would be an impossibility at that time. The possession of a lot was a good beginning, but a comparatively small item in the general expense. The meeting had about decided to postpone action for a year or two and continue in the meantime the same arrangements as in the past, when a member, Mr. Martin Stafford, superintendent of the masonry of the newly erected Penitentiary, extended encouragement and excited renewed interest in the project by suggest- ing a very feasible plan whereby the cost could be greatly lessened. Ile proposed a structure of rough limestone of such proportions as to accommodate the congre. gation for the present and perhaps for some years to come, and stated that he was assured most of the material could be obtained by donations, the money sub- scribed to be used for other necessary expenses in the process of completion.

This proposition was well received and considered worthy a fair trial as it involved no risk and met, too, with the willing approval of the Bishop. Sub- scription lists in German and English were opened immediately, all at the meet- ing giving in their names with generous amounts. The sums were to be paid as follows: Onehalf down, or as soon as needed and called for ; the other half not to be paid until the structure should be under roof. At the suggestion of the meeting the Bishop appointed a building committee who should have charge of the work and receive the moneys subscribed. The committee consisted of Martin Stafford, Charles Cross, George Studer, Jacob Scherringer and Cornelius Jacobs. The organization of the committee was effected by electing Martin Stafford president, Charles Cross secretary, and Cornelius Jacobs treasurer.

During his stay in the city the Bishop visited the different families and ministered to the spiritual wants of the English-speaking Catholics. He promised to send a German priest, as soon as possible, to do a like service to the German Catholics, who were not familiar with the English language. In com- pany with some members of the building committee, the Bishop visited the stone- quarries west of the city and succeeded in making very satisfactory arrangements with the lessee, Henry Nadenbusch, by whom building material was to be fur- nished at $1.25 per perch, delivered on the site of the new church. Mr. Naden- busch afterwards donated a large amount of stone. Sand was donated by James Fields from bis bank on the east side of the Scioto River, just north of the Broad Street bridge, and was hauled by Joseph and Ziriach Wolfel in part payment of their subscriptions. The committee met with much discouragement in the collec- tion of subscriptions and it soon became evident that sufficient funds could not be

realized to place the building under cover.

It was therefore determined to sus- pend further operations and pay for material, and settle all bills to date.

In the latter part of August, 1836, the Bishop sent Rev. Father Stahltschmidt, a German priest, to accommodate the German Catholics, who had long been deprived of the services of a priest of their own nationality. The Father remained until the twelfth of September at the home of George Studer, celebrat- ing Mass daily in Paul Pry Hall." Not until December following did the congre- gation again have Mass, for on the twentythird of that month Rev. Father Hoffman, a Franco-German, arrived to spend the Christmas season with the people. Paul Pry Hall could not be obtained at this time and, accordingly, serv- ices were held in one of the socalled Eight Buildings on West Town Street, between Front Street and Fair Alley.

From this time until August 4, 1837, there is no record of any Catholic serv- ices in Columbus. The Bishop recognized the necessity for a resident priest now more than ever, for the Catholics were increasing, spiritual wants were many and

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pressing, and a church was in progress of construction. Finally, on the above date, the patience of the congregation was rewarded and the hearts of all glad- dened by the arrival of Rev. Henry Damien Juncker, who came with the author- ity of Bishop Purcell as pastor of the Catholics of Columbus and Chillicothe, and to build a church at each of these places. He was entertained at the residence of George Studer. It was published to all Catholics that there would be Mass on Sundays, August 6 and 13, and on every day intervening, on the second floor of Henry Weiss's frame house, next south of the Paul Pry, which was engaged for other purposes.

Father Juncker, as permanent pastor, and imbued with the zeal of a young and fervent priest, applied himself to the task of building a suitable church. The little congregation, almost disheartened at the poor prospect of having such an edifice, rallied about their pastor and united hands and hearts again in the undertaking. The former building committee gave Father Juncker the history of their efforts thus far and the results, with the obstacles they saw in the way of accomplishing their purposes. Many different plans were proposed but it was finally determined to remove the material already at hand to the north end of the lot, immediately in front of the present Holy Cross School, and to erect the church thereon. A building of the following dimensions was planned and laid out : Fifty feet long, thirty feet wide, fourteen feet from the floor to the ceiling - eighteen feet from the base -- and to have a small gallery for the choir. A church of such a size, it was thought, would meet all the requirements of the congregation for some years to come, and then when another church should have been built on the other and more prominent part of the lot, this structure could be used for a schoolhouse.

With renewed activity the building committee began work. New subscrip- tion papers were circulated, more money was collected and some material was donated. Having thus started the building, Father Juncker left, on August 15, to attend to the interests of his flock at Chillicothe. The masonry was contracted for with George Kannemacher and Andrew Schott. The heavy carpentering was done under direction of Jacob Schoeringer, and the joinerwork by Charles Cross. Cornelius Jacobs was general superintendent. On October 13, 1837, Father Juncker returned, and on the fifteenth had services in Bernard Burke's house on South Street, now Fulton, between High and Third. Owing to the want of suit- able accommodations, as well as to urge on the speedy completion of the building, the pastor announced that no more public services would be held in Columbus until the church was prepared for them. The masons had begun their work without waiting for the ceremony of cornerstone laying. The joy and thanks- giving with which the Catholic people saw their little church assuming shape can be readily imagined. Father Juncker frequently visited the congregation during the building, and on such occasions was given hospitality at the home of Charles Cross.

St. Remigius's Church .- The process of construction went on as rapidly as possible ; the middle of December, 1837, found the building under roof, and by the twentieth of April, 1838, it was in condition to be occupied, though not plas- tered, painted nor seated. On the twentyninth of the same month Rev. Father Juncker held services in the unfinished church, singing High Mass - the first ever celebrated in Columbus - and placed the edifice under the patronage of St. Remigins. Remigins, or Remi, was Archbishop of Rheims, France, and died a holy death in the year 533, after a reign of seventyfour years in the Episcopacy - the longest ou record. Rev. Stephen Badin, the venerable missionary of our Western States, happened en route through Columbus on the Sunday of the open- ing of the new church, and, learning of the joyous occasion, stopped over, preach - ing a learned discourse in English at the Vesper service in the afternoon.

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In a few months the interior of the building was finished and the congrega- tion was happy in the possession of a church that realized their fondest hopes. They had a pastor too, but his time was divided between Columbus and Chillicothe. At intervals he visited the Catholics at Circleville, Waverly, Portsmouth, Delaware, Marion and a few other missionary stations. It frequently happened that Mass was celebrated on occasions when the pastor could not be present, by priests pass- ing through the city to other missions, Father Juncker continued in charge of the congregation until November, 1839, when the Bishop transferred him to another mission. Some years later Father Juncker became Bishop of Alton, Illi- nois. He was succeeded in Columbus by Rev. Joshua M. Young, in December the same year. Father Young was a convert to the faith, and had been ordained only a short time. As Columbus had no pastoral residence, the pastor made his home at Lancaster, which, with Logan, Delaware and Marion constituted his missionary field with this city as a centre.

On December 8, 1839, Right Rev. Bishop Purcell administered the Sacrament of Confirmation for the first time in Columbus, and on the evening of that day preached a sermon on the Holy Trinity in the Senate Chamber of the old State- house, the only available hall at that time. In November, 1840, the Bishop again visited Columbus, and on Sunday, the twentyfirst of that month, celebrated Mass, gave an instruction at the Vesper service in the afternoon and lectured in the Hall of Representatives in the evening. During the week he lectured each evening in the Courthouse, which had been completed only a short time. On the following Sunday the Bishop and Father Henni, afterwards Archbishop of Milwaukee, officiated at the church, and in the evening the Father preached in German at the Courthouse. Father Young, the pastor, having expressed a desire to reside in Columbus if a house were built for him adjoining the church, the congregation took prompt measures to comply with his wishes, and within one year - that is by April 1, 1843 - had a residence ready for occupancy.

First Resident Priest .- But Father Young was not destined to be the first resi- dent priest of Columbus, for on February 25, 1843, the Bishop sent Rev. William Schonat, who had recently arrived in the diocese from Silesia. to assist the pastor on his mission during lent. A few weeks after Easter, as Father Schonat was about to return to Cincinnati, the congregation petitioned the Bishop to have him retained as resident pastor, the labors of the mission really requiring two priests. The prayer was granted and on May 10, 1843, Father Schonat took possession of the pastoral residence.

First Catholic School .- Already the little church was found inadequate to the needs of the rapidly growing congregation, and Father Schonat was obliged to say two masses on Sundays and Holydays of obligation to accommodate all who attended. The pastor was also solicitous for the spiritual condition of the children of his flock, and was anxious to gather them under the shadow of the church where worldly science could be taught in union with the science of God. One of his first undertakings, therefore, was the building of a school. His efforts were heartily seconded by the congregation, and in a short time he had a frame build- ing erected on the church lot. It was the first parochial school in Columbus and was taught by secular teachers.

Holy Cross Church .- Whilst Father Young retained charge of the missions at Lancaster with his home at that place, Father Schonat attended Delaware and Marion from Columbus. To the advantage of the English and German speaking people these Fathers often exchanged places and thus labored together in a mauner that gave the greatest spiritual benefits to all. On June 6, 1843, the Bishop visited the city and administered confirmation to a class of fiftyfive persons. Father Schonat was invited to accompany the Bishop on a visit through- out the northeastern portions of his diocese, which as yet included the whole

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State of Ohio. The tour occupied three months and it was sometime in September before Father Schonat returned to his charge, the congregation in the meantime being atten ded, as necessity required, by Father Young and others.

It became evident that early steps should be taken towards the erection of a larger church, and Father Schonat so annonneed to his people. Monthly meet- ings of the congregation were held and the subject was thoroughly discussed. The lot already in possession was too small, and preliminary measures were taken co purchase the adjoining property on Rich Street, which would give a total length on that street of 125 feet and 1873 along Fifth Street. The negotiations were successful and the additional lot was transferred November 10, 1845, by M. J. and L. T. Gilbert to the Bishop of the diocese, in trust for the congregation, the con- sideration being $600. Plans were prepared for the new church and submitted to a meeting of the congregation presided over by Father Schonat, on December 8. It was decided to build in the Gothic style of architecture an edifice of brick, plain and substantial, with stone foundation and trimmings, and good support- ing buttresses. The dimensions were 115 feet by 62 with a height of 40 feet from floor to ceiling. A building committee consisting of Maurice McGuire, John Duffy, Jacob Schoeringer, Fredolin Mutter, Anton Rolling, Cornelius Jacobs, Joseph Sattler, Peter Ury, John F. Zimmer and George Entered, was elected by the congregation and urged to arrange for the commencement of the new struc- ture in the early spring. The winter season, then at hand, was suggested as the best time to chop and hew the timber necessary. Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Lutz donated the timber on their lands for the framing of the roof and the construc- tion of the gallery ; others offered to do the chopping and bewing, and those hav- ing teams agreed to do the hauling. On an appointed day all met at two o'clock in the morning and proceeded to the timber lands, and in the evening returned with their wagons loaded.

On account of meager cash subscriptions available and the large number of days' work subscribed, it was decided to have the excavating, masonry, bricklay- ing, carpentering etc., done by the day and credit given accordingly to all who made donations of the same. Joseph Satter was foreman of the stone and brick masons, J. Schoeringer and F. Mutter directed the carpenter work, and C. Jacobs was architect and general superintendent. During the winter the committee was active in the preparations for the spring work, receiving estimates and bids, and discussing the best means of raising the necessary funds. In those days church fairs, suppers, picnics and the like entertainments, had not yet been inaugurated, and all who could assist religious enterprises did so most willingly and with heart- felt thankfulness for the opportunity and the blessings that would certainly follow.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 85

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196