USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Memorial record of the county of Cuyahoga and city of Cleveland, Ohio, Pt.1 > Part 5
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Mr. Morison, the subject of this sketch, has been a Republican since his boyhood, taking from the first a deep interest in political qnes- tions and always having an opinion of his own. Hle has also been one of those who believed that it was the duty of overy good citizen to take a
part in political affairs, and in consequence he has been an active worker in support of the principles and party in which he believed.
In 1877 he was elected to the City Council and became a most useful and trustworty mem- ber. He was complimented with the presidency of that body in April, 1882, and his remarks on accepting the trust showed the deep sense of re- sponsibility he felt in assuming that office. In addition to his services in the Council, he was also an active member of the Board of City Im- provement, being the representative of the Council in that body in 1880-'81, and the citi- zen member in 1886.
Among the measures for the public good to which he gave his voice and vote during this service were: The acceptance of Wade Park; granting a right of way to the New York Cen- tral & St. Louis Railroad through the city; au- thorizing the purchase of the Fairmount street reservoir; the extension of the franchise of the Brooklyn street railroad in Scovill avenue to Woodland cemetery, and the introduction of Medina block stone for paving, instead of the old cheap method.
In 1886 Mr. Morison was elected to the State Senate by a majority of 3,425 votes, in a district occasionally Democratic, and was re-elected to that body in 1888. While in the Senate he se- cured the passage of a bill giving Cleveland the Federal plan of government. At the next ses- sion the Cleveland innnicipal reform bill was brought before the Senate, and Mr. Morison made an able address in support of the measure and secured its unanimous passage.
In making up his cabinet in April, 1891, Mayor Rose invited Mr. Morison to become Di- rector of Charities and Correction, to accept which he resigned his seat in the Senate. The administration of affairs in that office was most economical and ellicient. The institutions under his charge were in debt, and in a deplorable condition as regards sanitation and otherwise. By Mr. Morison's wise guidance all these con- ditions were remedied, even perfected, and the institutions made almost self-supporting. Ile
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retired from the City Hall in April, 1893, con- scious of having performed his whole dnty and with the thanks of a grateful public.
For many years he has given his spare time to extending his real-estate investments. . Ile is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Ori- ental Commandery, K. T., Knights of Pythias, Red Cross Lodge, Court St. Clair, I. O. F., Cleveland Athletic Club, Masonie Club and many other organizations.
R T. REV. LOUIS AMADEUS RAPPE, who was first Bishop of Cleveland, was born February 2, 1801, at Andrehem, De- partment of Pas de Calais, France. His parents were of the peasantry, and though humble they were truly virtuous people. In early life the son was under the necessity of assisting his aged father in cultivating the fields, and hence his literary training was some- what neglected up to the age of twenty years, at which age he started for the College of Boulogne, then under the direction of the cele- brated Abbé Haffringne. His purpose was to prepare himself for the priesthood, having been so induced by the influence of his mother. After completing his collegiate course, he en- tered the Seminary of Arras, and March 14, 1829, was ordained priest by Cardinal Latour d'Auvergne. His first charge was a country parish in the village of Wizme. About five years after his ordination he was appointed Chaplain of the Ursuline Convent at Boulogne. This position Father Rappe held from 1834 to 1840, during which time he read with great interest the " Annals of the Propagation of the Faith," which prompted him to devote himself to the American Missions.
Through the influence of Bishop Purcell, of Cincinnati, then visiting Europe, Father Rappe was indneed to come to America in the year 1840, for the purpose of entering upon the toilsome and self-sacrificing life of a missionary. Receiving permission from his Ordinary to
leave his diocese, and bidding farewell to his charge, he set sail for America, arriving at Cin- cinnati toward the elose of 1840. By Bishop Purcell he was at once sent to Chillicothe, in order to learn the English language, with which he was not familiar on coming to America. A few months later he was able to make himself understood in English, though he progressed slowly in the language and never acquired skill in its pronunciation.
From the summer of 1841 to the spring of 1846 his labors were in the northwestern part of Ohio, from Toledo to the Indiana line and to the south as far as Allen county. Ilis labors were trying and filled with great privations and difficulties. It was here that he saw the dan- gerous effects of intemperance, and throughout . the rest of his life he was an ardent worker for temperance, both in word and example. He was successful in his labors in the Toledo field, which grew in point of numbers and thus in- creased his duties manifold. He was a mission- ary of indomitable zeal and untiring energy, and being of great power of endurance he was enabled to perform much work. At last assist- ance was necessary, and in 1846 he was sent a co- laborer in the person of Father De Goesbriand. Father Rappe was affable in his intercourse with his people and was of great power and in- fluence among them. As a teacher of the catechism he had a special gift, and was equally gifted in his ability to bring the adults of his flock to frequent confession and regular attendance at mass.
Bishop Purcell, finding the work of attend- ing the diocese, then comprising the whole of Ohio, too great for him, asked the Holy See for a division of the diocese, and Cleveland was designated an episcopal see, and the zealous " Missionary of the Maumee," Father Rappe, was chosen as first bishop of this diocese. Octo- ber 10, 1847, he was conseerated, at Cincinnati, by Bishop Purcell. Immediately afterward Bishop Rappe took possession of his see, his diocese comprising all that portion of Ohio lying north of the southern limits of Columbiana,
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Stark, Wayne, Crawford, Wyandot, Hancock, Allen and Van Wert counties. There was then but one church in Cleveland, namely, St. Mary's, built in 1836, and bnt one priest. To supply the growing Catholic population in Cleveland it was necessary to erect another building for church purposes. In 1848 a frame building, 30 x 60 feet, was erected on Superior street, near Erie, and for several years it was used as a temporary church and parochial school house (the first in Cleveland), folding doors closing the sanctuary during school hours. Later Bishop Rappe had plans made for a cathedral, and in the fall of 1848 the corner stone was laid.
Bishop Rappe went to Europe in 1849 for the purpose of securing priests for his diocese, and members of religions communities for schools and charitable institutions. In Septem- ber, 1850, lie returned with four priests, five seminarians and six Ursuline unns. During the Bishop's absence the mansion of Judge Cowles, on Enclid avenne, was bought for the Ursuline Sisters. It served as the mother- house of the community until 1893. These sisters immediately opened a select school and academy, and in 1851 St. Mary's Orphan Asylum for girls was established on Harmon street, and the next year St. Vincent's Asylum for boys was opened on Monroe street.
The most important wants of the diocese now being supplied, Bishop Rappe turned his atten- tion to the details of diocesan work. Much work was accomplished in the upbuilding of schools and charitable institutions, and the sev- eral churches rapidly grew both in number and strength, and amid all these great duties Bishop Rappe never once showed signs of fatigue.
Previons to 1863 Cleveland had no hospital, and the Civil War increased largely the neces- sity for a hospital, which Bishop Rappe would have ere then built had he been able. Now he proposed to build one and supply it with com- petent mirses, provided the publie would give him active assistance; and the public gladly embraced the opportunity. In 1865 a $75,000
hospital was completed. It was named Charity Hospital and placed under the charge of the Sisters of Charity.
In 1869 Bishop Rappe visited Rome, attending the Vatican Council; and returning with frail health and failing eyesight he resigned, Angust 22, 1870, as Bishop of Cleveland, in which po- sition he had borne arduous duties, performing them with phenomenal zeal, fitness and becom- ing success, for a period of nearly twenty-three years. He retired after his resignation to Bur- lington, Vermont, and thereafter engaged in his former and favorite work of giving missions and catechising the young, till his death, which came to him September 8, 1877. To Cleveland his remains were brought and placed in the vault in the Cathedral basement.
Bishop Rappe was, indeed, a remarkable man; he was endowed with a strong mind and an affectionate and devont nature; he was a true patriot, a devout Christian, and his life was long and well filled with usefulness to his God and fellow man.
R T. REV. RICHARD GILMOUR, sec- ond Bishop of the Cleveland diocese, was born in the city of Glasgow, Seot- land, September 28, 1824, and came to America in 1829. He was brought up and educated as a Scotch Covenanter, but in early manhood he became a Catholic, and his conver- sion was due to unaided investigation and reason.
He studied for the priesthood at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Maryland, and was ordained priest August 30, 1852, by the Most Rev. Archbishop Purcell, who now sent him to a field of labor in southern Ohio, north- eastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia. IIere also he labored under great trials and disad- vantages, thoughi with great and pleasing snc- cess, till 1857, when he was called to Cinein- nati, and made pastor of St. Patrick's Church, one of the largest congregations in that city. Here also he was very successful. Among other
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achievements was the organization of one of the largest parochial schools in Cincinnati. After eleven years of faithful service for this congre- gation he became a professor in St. Mary's Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, and later pastor of St. Joseph's Church at Dayton, Ohio. In 1872 he was made Bishop of Cleveland, be- ing consecrated as such by Archbishop Purcell, on the 14th of April that year.
Like his lamented predecessor, Bishop Rappe, he was a man of indomitable zeal and wonder- ful energy. He found his new position full of difficulties and incessant work. Not sparing self he so overtaxed his physical strength that he was obliged to cease all duty for nearly two years, for on June 24, 1874, he fell a victim to nervous prostration, from which he did not fully recover until about 1877. Most of this period of enforced rest he spent in southern France, whence he returned in July, 1876, gradually resuming his arduous labors. He soon had the satisfaction to see his diocese rank with the first in point of system and order. Ile was an ardent advocate for the parochial schools, for which in earlier years he prepared a com- plete set of readers, that soon found adoption throughout the country. As a public speaker he had few equals; as a writer he ranked with the best, his style being clear, forcible, and even trenchant at times. He was a man of strong individuality. Tall of stature, and command- ing in appearance, he would easily be singled out in any assembly as a man of force and mental strength. Fair-minded and strictly just, he keenly resented injustice or deception. At first sight he impressed one as stern and re- served, bat in reality he had a most kindly disposition and generous impulse. As a con- verser he had few superiors. He was most frugal in his habits, and methodical as well as painstaking in his work. Ile was thoroughly American in sentiment, but had an impartial respect and kindly feeling for all nationalities. Hle had the universal respect of his non-Catholic fellow citizens, who recognized in him a man of rare intellect and great force of character.
Of this respect they gave evidence in the me- morial meeting held in his honor, after his death, in Music Hall, Cleveland, when all the speakers were men of prominence, not one of whom Catholic, and representing all shades of belief, and even of unbelief, but who had none but words of praise for him, applauded by the thousands assembled to honor his memory. It was indeed the most nnigne assembly ever held anywhere in the country. His death was lamented as that of a great man, good citizen, and able prelate, a loss to city, country and the church he served so well.
Ile died at St. Augustine, Florida, on April 13, 1891, after about one year's illness. His remains rest in a crypt under the cathedral in Cleveland, next to those of his predecessor, Bishop Rappe.
T HE RT. REV. IGNATIUSFREDERICK HORSTMANN, D. D., third Bishop of Cleveland, was born in Philadelphia, or rather the part of it that was then the District of Southwark, on December 16, 1840. His parents, natives of Germany, came to this country in early life, and his father was a very prominent and prosperous business man in the city of his adoption. Young Ignatius began his education in a private academy condneted by Madam Charrier and her daughter, Mlle. Clementine, and situated on German street, east of Third street. From this institution he passed to the Mount Vernon grammar school, and, having finished the regular conrse with distinc- fion, was promoted to the Central high school, at which he graduated in 1857, with an ex- ceptionally high average. Indeed, those who were then and previously his classmates say that he was ever at the head of his class. Then he entered St. Joseph's College, conducted by the Jesuits, and located at the northeast corner of Junipor and Filbert streets, Philadelphia. Evineing a strong inclination for the priest- hood, he entered the preparatory seminary at
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Glen Riddle, being one of the first of its students. Bishop Wood was so pleased withi his aptitude for and application to study that he chose him as one of the first whom he sent to the newly established American College in Rome. There he continued to fulfil the promise that he had already uniformly given, and soon took foremost rank in the classes of the Prop- aganda, winning a number of medals in literary and oratorical contests.
Completing the prescribed course of studies, he was elevated to the priesthood in the Eternal City on June 10, 1865, by Cardinal Patrizzi. He continued his studies in Rome, and a year later won the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Returning to Philadelphia he was, in the latter part of 1866, appointed Professor of Logic, Metaphysics and Ethies, as well as of German and Hebrew, in St. Charles Borromeo's Semi- nary, in the old building at Eighteenth and Race streets, until 1871, and afterward at Over- brook, Pennsylvania. He remained there until the close of 1877, when he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's Church, Philadelphia. He served this parish with admirable ability and tact, and drew to the church large congregations to hear his learned and interesting discourses. So carefully did he manage the finances of the parish that when he left, after having been in charge considerably less than eight years, there was a balance of over $19,000 to the church's credit.
In September, 1885, Archbishop Ryan ap- pointed him Diocesan Chancellor, which im- portant and exacting position he filled with distinguished ability, till his elevation to the Episcopate, February, 1892. As Chancellor he had more leisure for literary work than he had as a pastor. His extensive learning and critical taste have been of nse not only to himself but also to the intelligent Catholic-reading publie in his valnable labors on the editorial staff of the American Catholic Quarterly Review. In addition to attending to the works so far re- ferred to, he was Spiritual Director of the Catholic Club and Chaplain of the Convent of
Notre Dame, including the spiritnal direction of three organizations that meet there and that are composed largely of former pupils of the academy.
Many appropriate demonstrations in his honor were held in this city on the occasion of the twenty- fifth anniversary of his ordination, which was celebrated impressively. Archbishop Ryan preached the jubilee sermon in the cathedral. At a grand reception at the Catholic Club in behalf of his lay friends a purse of $4,200 was presented, which smn he immediately turned over to St. Vincent's Home.
February 25, 1892, he was consecrated Bishop of Cleveland, thus sneceeding Bishop Gilmonr, who died in April, 1891. Bishop Horstmam was duly installed in Cleveland a few weeks later, an immense multitude welcoming him to the Forest City. During his short career as Bishop of the large and important Diocese of Cleveland he has impressed all who have this far met him as a man full of energy, firmness and kindness. He is a fluent speaker, an able writer, and is endowed with great business taet, and thoroughly in touch with his people.
R EV. C. A. THOMAS, senior agent of the publishing honse of the Evangelical Association of Cleveland, was born in Hesse, Germany, March 22, 1840, a son of Ilenry and Catharine (Knoth) Thomas, also natives of Germany. His father, who has been engaged in the shoe trade, is now retired, aged eighty-seven years, with powers of body and mind well preserved. He resides with his son, whose name introduces this sketch. He came with his family from Germany in 1854, settling at Lockport, New York. llis wife died about 1884, at the age of seventy one years. Both were worthy and devoted members of the Evangelical Association. Their exemplary lives as sincere and consistent Christians are an endearing heritage to the family and a boon to
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their acquaintances in the church of their choice. Of their twelve children five are living, one of whom, IIenry, a twin brother of the subject of this sketch, is a minister in the Canada Con- ference of the Evangelical Association.
When a yonth Mr. C. A. Thomas was edn- cated both privately and at public schools, in both German and English, and both in the old country and America, and to a great degree without tutors. He began preaching at the age of nineteen years, in Canada, the New York Conference embracing a portion of that country. Ile was on cirenits for twenty years before coming to Cleveland, in 1879, and for over four- teen years he was editor of the Evangelical Magazine and of Sunday-school literature; he is the oldest editor now in the publishing honse, with which he has been connected for more than fonrteen years. In this situation he was the successor of tho late Rev. Dr. Martin Laner, who suddenly died December 31, 1893. After that event the Board of Managers and the junior publisher, who survived Mr. Laner, were of the united opinion that Mr. Thomas possessed all the qualifications for the position; and his success since then, though he has had the place but a short time, has already given ample evidence that their judgment was correct. Mr. Thomas is one of those men who consider their lives to be made up of plain duties, and his highest ambition is to discharge those duties to the honor of God and with justice to all men. Ile is the anthor of a number of books in Ger- man, is a finent writer and ready speaker.
When he assumed the management of the Religious Belleslettric Magazine its circulation increased from 6,000 to 14,500, and it has out- stripped every other publication of its kind in the German language in this country. Ilis snecess as editor was dne largely to the fact that he familiarized himself with the wants and needs of the readers of tho magazine, and has been successful in his endeavor to mect those wants. In this effort he did not undertake to cater to morbid appetite, but kept strictly within the channel of purity and noble ambition. This
feature has brought the Evangelical Magazine to the front, and is now the leading German periodical in this field in America.
Rev. Thomas is from a family noted for good health and longevity; is of medium size, wiry constitution and jovial disposition, and alert as a young man. He is a close observer, a good judge of human nature, has clear conceptive powers, a keen sense of justice, and is therefore a man of the highest sense of dignity, supported with the prudence of consideration and equity. As a preacher he was singularly successful. This is accounted for by his originality, which is full of energy and life, and just so much of good humor as to make him an interesting speaker both for young and old. He is a natural disciplinarian, which quality he demonstrated with signal ability while serving the church as Presiding Elder and also as editor of the Evan- gelical Magazine.
February 27, 1866, is the date of his marriage to Miss Joanna Spies, daughter of Rev. C. A. Spies, of this city, and of the same church, who resides with this family. Ilis age is now cighty- three years, and he is retired from the ministry, which he commenced in 1857, and during which he did much for the religions welfare of the German people of this country, both in the United States and in Canada. Mr. Thomas' residence is at 31 Steinway avenue, Cleveland. His children are: Edward, a machinist of this city, who married May Judkins; Emma, of the home cirele; Adaline, who has been a snecessful teacher in the public schools for a number of ycars; Joanna, who died at the age of nineteen years, May 27, 1893, a most lovely girl; and Harvey, now a pupil in the public schools.
The Cleveland publishing house of the Evan- gelical Association is located at 265 to 275 Woodland avenne. The building is a solid brick block, four stories high besides the basement, and covering the entire square between Vine and Herman streets; having 100 feet front on Wood- land avenue, it is equivalent to five full-sized stores. Half of it was built in 1874, and half in 1884. It embraces, besides publishing and
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wholesale departments, a retail book store and a number of offices, and a large press-room fronting on Woodland avenne. The house pub- lishes a number of periodicals, both in German and English, weeklies, monthlies and quarterlies, having subscribers by the hundred thousand scattered throughout America, Germany and Japan, and even to some extent in Russia, Pales- tine and parts of Africa. It is safe to say that this house has done its full share in distributing good and wholesome literature. It has the old- est German religious papers in this country, some of which were commenced as early as 1836; and a complete file of the oldest period- ical is still preserved entire. The institution also publishes musie, conducts a bindery and electro- typing establishment and do job work generally. No publishing house in the United States has a better name, or has in the time of its existenee exerted a greater influence for good.
D W. GAGE, attorney, Cleveland, was born September 26, 1825, at Madison, Lake county, Ohio, a son of James and Charlana (Turney) Gage. His father was born in Norway, Herkimer county, New York, and early in life, probably when twenty-one years of age, eame to Ohio, settling in Madison, where he spent nearly the whole of his life. Ile was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and also devoted a portion of his life to farming.
In the village of Madison David W. Gage was reared, attending the distriet school until he was seventeen years of age, when he pre- pared foreollege at Twinsburg Institute, Paines- ville Academy and Madison Seminary. When he was about ready for college he was attacked with typhoid fever, and a severe spell of siek- ness prevented his taking a course in college, and left him in not the very best of health, and warned him of his inability to go through the ordinary work of completing a college ednea- tion. He had, howover, gained a very liberal education, and as his tastos directed him to the
profession of Jaw, he began his preparations for that voeation by entering the law office of S. B. Axtell, in Painesville, where he read law during the years 1848 and '49. Subsequently he came to* Cleveland and spent the years of 1852 and '53 in reading law in the office of Williamson & Riddle. Ile was admitted to the bar at Columbus in the winter of 1853-54, and imme- diately thereafter entered upon the practice of his profession. Ile began practice in Cleve- land, and continued nntil 1868, in which year he removed to Iowa, where he remained for five years. He then returned to Cleveland, in which city he has since remained, continuing in an active, lucrative general practice. While in Iowa he held the position of United States Commissioner for that State, and sinee he re- turned to Ohio he has been conspienous as a leading spirit in the Prohibition movement. He is a member of the Sons of Temperance and of the Royal Templars, and for a number of years was a member of the Masonie order. IIe is a Christian gentleman, being a member of the East End Baptist Church, where he is an active worker as a Deacon.
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