USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 1 > Part 59
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In 1822. the Rt. Rev. Edward Fenwick was appointed Bishop of the Cin- cinnati Diocese, at which time there were probably not more than 100 Catholics in the whole State.
Bishop Fenwick was one of the early missionaries of Ohio, and was known throughout several States for his ardent zeal in behalf of God's children. He died in 1832, and in 1838 the present Archbishop, the Most Rev. John B. Pur- cell, was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The diocese then comprised Ohio. Michigan and a portion of Kentucky, but in due time the two latter States were cut off and formed into other sees. Cleveland was made an Episcopal see in 1847, and Columbus in 1868, and both have grown to be flourishing dioceses, but Clark County still remained in the Diocese of Cincinnati.
St. Raphael's Church .- It may be asserted with safety that in 1830 there was not a single Catholic family within the borders of Clark County, but, along about 1835. and the following ten years, a member of Catholics located in Springfield and immediate vicinity, among whom were Patrick Rockett, Timothy Reardon, William Gribblenhoff. Nicholas Spangenberger, Wendling Poppert, L. Cuymus, Joseph Bauer, John and Francis Creighton. John Doyle, Mr. Barmot, Michael Kelly, Adam Hyle, Henry Quinn, John A. Shuette, David Clancy, Francis Shrimp, John Connors, Joseph Lebold, Michael O'Brien, Michael Kennedy, Mr. Metsinger, Mrs. Lemon, and perhaps a few others, most of whom had families.
From 1845 to 1850 came John, Patrick and James Hennessy, Peter and Thomas Lynch, Francis MeConnell, Simon Quills, Mathew Green. Michael Con- dron. Mathew Bolan, Sylvester Degan, Anthony Cavanaugh, James Quinn. Pat- rick Clark, William Burns, Hugh Farvy, Patrick Casey, Patrick Meehan, Jere- miah Foley, Bartholomew Doyle, James O'Brien, Mrs. Bridget Henry, Patrick and Daniel Doyle, James, Owen and Thomas MeBreen, Patrick and Charles Biggins, Henry and Martin Gibbons, John Flannigan, Mathew, and Patrick Carlos, Peter, Luke. Patrick and John Case, John Douglas, Andrew Mechan, Patrick Shinners, Thomas MeLane. Lawrence Hays, Michael Murphy, John Bellow, Thomas Carroll. Michael Dillon, John Sullivan. Hugh Sweeney. John Kinney, Michael Ging, Dennis and John Shea, Dennis Clancy. Patrick Dillon, Eugene McCune, Thomas Conway and Michael Hart.
In the following five years came William Powers, Anthony Hines, Thomas O'Brien, Bernard Enright, Thomas, Andrew and Michael Gallagher. John Mad- igan, Peter Seward, Mr. Weingartner, James Fitzgerald. Mr. Monaghan, Patrick ('Brien, Michael, Patrick and John Bolan. William Regan, Richard Burns. Dennis Hogan, Owen Gaileghar, Michael Condron, Michael Rule, John McGarr.
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Francis Dougherty, James Bucke, Jeremiah Cronin, Hugh Hart, Peter Madden, Michael Madden, Joseph Gunder, Andrew Haas, John Carr, John Milan, Michael Dargen, Michael and John Hughs. Martin Quaid, Patrick and Daniel Tehan, Thomas Shaw, Mr. Ford, Richard Walsh, Anthony Ray, and perhaps a few others, whose names we have been unable to obtain; but those mentioned were the nucleus around which gathered the present large Catholic population of the county.
.The first priest visiting Clark County, as far as known, was the Rev. Henry Damian Juncker, a German priest from Dayton, who celebrated mass in the house of William Gibblenhoff, which was the first divine service of the Catholic Church held in the county.
Father Juncker became Bishop of Alton. Ill., in 1857, and died in 186S.
From this time, the Catholics had servcies at irregular intervals of from once to twice per month at the private houses of members, and sometimes at small public halls, whenever such could be obtained for this purpose.
The next priest coming to Springfield was the Rev. Joseph O'Maley, also of Dayton, who afterward died in this city while here on a visit.
He was followed by his brother. Rev. Patrick O'Maley, and he by Father Cahill, of Piqua, who was an earnest, eloquent divine, and did much good.
Other priests came at different times, whose names were not known, or, if so, forgotten, but all were merely transient, and came as often as they could to hold divine service and preach God's word to the faithful few who gathered to listen to the teachings of the ordained servants of Christ, and worship at the rude and hastily erected altar of the Most High.
. .. It was not, however, until August, 1849, that Springfield had a resident priest; but at that date, the Rev. James F. Kearney was appointed resident Pastor, and remained about one year, when failing health compelled him to resign his charge.
He was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1820; at the age of fifteen. entered St. Xavier's College, Cincinnati, afterward studied theology. at the Diocesan Theological Seminary, then located in Brown County, Ohio, and was ordained a priest December 20, 1834.
His first mission was Steubenville, his second Springfield, his third Hamil- ton. and his fourth and last Urbana, Ohio, where he labored until his death. February 10, 1878.
He was noted for his generous hospitality and unaffected piety; was popu- lar among his clerical brethren, aud seldom failed to win the esteem and conti- dence of all with whom he came in contact. He was earnest in God's service, and did good and lasting work for the church throughout the scenes of his . labors.
Some time before Father Kearney took charge of the Springfield mission, ground was purchased and a church eregted by Michael P. Cassilly, a zealous Catholic of Cincinnati, who presented it to the congregation solely for church purposes, but he was afterward compensated to some extent for his noble and timely generosity.
It was a good while, however, after the erection of the church before it was fully finished, and up to this period service was held in the basement.
The first regular parish register was opened in August, 1819, by Father Kearney, as before that date, there being no resident Pastor, the record of births, marriages, etc., was probably carried to the point from which the visiting priest came.
In 1850, the Rev. Maurice Howard succeeded Father Kearney.
He was born in Ireland January 4, 1813, where he was also educated, and studied for the priesthood at "St. Mary's of the Barrens," Missouri; was or-
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dained in Cincinnati. by Bishop Purcell, October 23, 1842, and was appointed to a mission in Wayne County, Ohio; afterward attended the following counties: Ashland, Richland, Crawford, Medina, Summit, Portage, Mahoning, Tuscarawas, and part of Stark and Huron, up to February, 1846, in that year going to Cleve- land, and attended Lorain, Lake and Geauga Counties until October, 1817, remaining in Cleveland until January, 1848, at which time he took charge of Tiffin, Seneca County, attending Wyandot, Sandusky and part of Huron, until coming to Springfield in May, 1850.
For thirteen years. Father Howard watched over his flock, laboring hard and earnestly for his people, and during his ministry the church was finished and dedicated, receiving the name of St. Raphael, the ceremonies being per- formed by Father Howard and an assistant, the Bishop not being able to be present on that day.
He also attended Greene, Madison, Champaign, Logan, Hardin, Warren, and parts of Delaware and Montgomery Counties, and, in February, 1864, was transferred to Galesburg, Knox Co., Ill .. attending several counties in that vicinity, and in 1878 went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he is now in charge of the church of St. Francis De Sales.
In 1863, the Rev. D. J. Cogan became Pastor of St. Raphael's. remaining but a few months, and in January, 1864, the Rev. J. N. Thisse took charge.
He was born in Lorraine, France, April 12, 1532, made his preliminary studies at Tout A'Mousson, in the diocese of Nancy, and, about 1850, came to Cincinnati, finishing his classical course at "St. Mary's of the Barrens," Mis- souri. and his theological studies at " Mt. St. Mary's Seminary," Cincinnati, where he was ordained in 1855 or 1859; soon after ordination, was appointed to Chillicothe, Ohio, went from there to Piqua, thence to Circleville, and lastly to Springfield.
He was a zealous Pastor, an earnest, eloquent preacher, and as a scholar had few superiors.
His zeal and liberality, however, exceeded his financial judgment, and his over-confidence in humanity made him an easy victim of unscrupulous men: therefore, his management of the financial affairs of St. Raphael's was poor, and bore hard upon the congregation, which, at his death, was deeply in debt. Yet he was well liked by his people and the citizens generally for his whole-souled and generous nature, and his sad death was a calamity for which all sincerely mourned.
On the 29th of May, 1873. while returning from a sick call, his team took fright, ran away and threw him from his buggy, killing him almost instantly, he having lived but an hour after that terrible accident.
Besides those priests mentioned, in the first portion of this history, who ministered to the Catholics of Clark County, the following came transiently and officiated: Father Duffy, in 1848 ;. Rev. Thomas Blake and Rev. Thomas Boulger. in 1850 -- the latter of whom is now in Urbana: Rev. C. A. Doherty and C. F. Shellhamer. in 1868: Rev. N. B. Young and J. H. Jutting in 1869: Father De Cailie in 1873: and perhaps a few others.
Up to the year ISGS, there was but one priest for St. Raphael's, but the growth of Catholicism throughout the county made it necessary to have an assistant who would be able to attend to the missions of South Charleston, Tre- mont, Plattsburg and Enon in Clark County, and Yellow Springs in Greene County; so, early in that year. the Rev. J. A. Maroney became Assistant Pastor of St. Raphael's, but in 1872, he was appointed resident Pastor at South Charleston, and his successor in Springfield was the Rev. J. A. Burns, who ro- mained until January, 1576, when he was sent as Pastor of Yellow Springs Church, and the Rev. C. M. Berding became Assistant, remaining until the fall
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of 1877, at which time Rev. T. A. Conway was appointed as his successor, aud he, in May, 1878, was succeeded by the Rev. Francis Mallon, who was followed, in September of the same year, by the Rev. J. D. Dickhous, and he. in January, 1879, by the Rev. Michael Ahern, who remained until March, 1SS1, when the Rev. William B. Miggeel became Assistant, and he is the present one.
The priest's residence was in the rear of the church, in a few rooms fitted up for that purpose. until 1865, when Father Thisse purchased a residence across the street from the present school building, but, the title being made in his own name, the property was sold by his administrator after his death.
The church was remodeled in 1865 and 1866 by Father Thisse: is located on East High street, and is a large brick and stone structure, 40x125, with a seating capacity of about 700. The main tower is surmounted by a handsome gilt cross, the emblem of Christ crucified, and is furnished with a bell weighing 1,600 pounds. The building and ground are valued at $30.000.
The interior of St. Raphael's will compare favorably with most Catholic Churches in towns the size of Springfield.
Its main altar is a handsome piece of carved and gilt wood-work, contain- ing a number of spires. the central one of which reaches to the top of the nave in which the altar stands, and over the sanctuary is placed the crucifix, emblem- atical of Catholic Christianity.
Near the summit of the nave is a round window of stained glass, that casts its shaded light over all, in the center of which is a large eye, symbolical of the all-seeing eye of God.
On either side of the main altar stands the lesser ones of St. Mary and St. Joseph, of the same design and finish as the central ones, only smaller.
The church windows are all of stained glass, the whole interior presenting a finished appearance, and is heated throughout by hot-air furnace.
The first Catholic school was taught in the basement of the church during the pastorate of Father Howard; afterward, a frame building was purchased by Father Thisse, which stood on the site of the present school building, and which served for school purposes for several years.
The present Pastor of St. Raphael's, the Rev. W. H. Sidley, is a native of Geauga County. Ohio: began his studies at Notre Darie, Ind., where he spent two years; went thence to St. Mary's Seminary, Cleveland, Ohio, remaining there seven years, afterward spending one year at Mt. St. Mary's, Cincinnati, where he was ordained in June, 1870, and immediately sent to Sidney, remain- ing there until Jume, 1578, at which time he became Pastor of St. Raphael's.
On taking charge, he found a debt of $7.000, a small frame school building, and no residence for the priest; but. with a brave heart. he almost imme- diately began the erection of a priest's house, which was completed June 1, 1874, at a cost of $7,000.
It is a handsome building, containing, twelve rooms, with bay window and every modern convenience, and is a credit to the congregation.
Not contented with the school, and ambitious to have a building that would favorably compare with other public educational institutions of Spring- field. Father Sidley, in 1876, began to build the present imposing structure, and so perseveringly did he prosecute the work that it was opened for scholars in September. 1877. It is 45x82, three stories high, containing eight school- rooms, besides a hall in the third story the full size of the building, which is used for exercises. lectures, fairs, and for the general use of the congregation.
The school is heated by hot-air furnace, and the building. furnished com- plete, cost $12,000, and the lot $7,000.
Domis C. Lehan, assisted by nine Sisters, has charge of this institution, with an enrolled scholarship of over 600; all the common branches are taught,
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besides singing, rhetoric, plain and fancy sewing, and one of the Sisters has eighteen pupils taking lessons on the piano.
This school is supported by St. Raphael's congregation, at a cost of $3,000 per year, besides paying their share of the taxes toward the support of the pub- lic schools of the county.
There is not, perhaps, in Ohio, a Catholic congregation of its size whose financial condition can compare with St. Raphael's, owning as they do nearly $60.000 worth of property. free from debt, and $3,000 to their credit in the bank. which facts and figures speak louder than would mere praise of the Pas- tor or congregation -- which to-day numbers about 3.500 souls.
St. Bernard's Church .- In September, 1861, the German Catholics of Springfield, desiring to have a church where the German language would be preached at all times. organized a congregation, which met at 166 and 16S East . Main street, in a building which was bought for that purpose by Nicholas Spangenberger, Joseph Bauer and John A. Shuette, the building being fitted up and used for church, school and residence.
Father Volmer ministered to the Germans for awhile, but the first mass was celebrated in this building November 1, 1561, by the Rev. Father Manclerke. who came from Dayton for that purpose, coming afterward once or twice per month.
In 1863. Rev. William Deiters, a native of Germany, where he was also edu- cated and ordained, was appointed Pastor, he being the first regular Pastor of this church.
He remained until 1566, and, in February of that year, was succeeded by the Rev. J. Weissenberger, who began the present church building, laying the foundation in the fall of 1867, when the work was abandoned.
In 1868, the Rev. J. H. Jutting became Pastor, and was succeeded, in June. 1869, by the Rev. B. H. Engbers. who remained but a few months, though in the meantime he began to go forward with the building, letting the contracts for the work.
He was succeeded. July 9, 1869, by the Rev. John M. Schuchardt, who immediately took in hand the erection and completion of the present handsome and commodious church, which was finished early in 1870, and dedicated July 3 of that year by the Rt. Rev. Sylvester H. Rosecrans. of Columbus, the Arch- bishop being at that time in Rome, Italy, attending the Ecumenical Council.
The church is 60x130. is located on the corner of Columbia and Lagonda avenues, will seat about 900. and cost $24.000. The interior is very beautiful. being handsomely frescoed throughout. and in the nave over the altar is a soul- inspiring painting of the crucifixion. In fact. St. Bernard's will favorably com- pare with most city churches in design and finish.
At the same time as the church. a two story brick was erected in the rear of the church for the Pastor's residence. and in 1874. Father Schuchardt built a school which cost $3.000. and is taught by three Sisters, with an enrolled schol- aship of 115.
This congregation numbers about 800; is growing rapidly, and is in a good financial condition.
Father Schuchardt was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, there educated, and. in 1862. ordained in Baltimore, Md .. where he remained a short time, then came to Covington. Ky .. and from there to Springfield.
In reviewing the history of Catholicism in this county and State, we are forcibly strack by its rapid and steady growth. and where fifty years ago not a single Catholic family existed in Clark County. to-day their members reach nearly 5.000. In 1817. at the first mass celebrated in Cincinnati. seventeen Catholics were all that could be found to attend divine service; to-day, the dio-
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cese contains eighty schools, 18,000 scholars, 213 priests, and 150,000 Catholics; and the whole State, 219 schools, 44.128 scholars, 453 priests, and 350,000 Cath - olics, besides societies innumerable for the propagation of faith and the encour- agement of social intercourse, temperance and reform, nearly every church having a number of such societies that work in harmony with the Pastor and assist him in his labor of duty and love.
EDUCATION.
The schoolhouse dates almost as far back in Springfield as the " earliest inhab- itant." In 1804, there were but eleven houses, most of them built of hewed logs: yet, in 1806, we learn that there was a church organized in Nathaniel Pink- hard's Schoolhouse, on the northeast corner of Main and Market streets. In this house the owner taught the first school in the town. From 1812 to 1824 or 1823. Samuel Smith taught the principal school, first in the New-Light meeting house-southwest corner of Main and Center streets-afterward in a house owned and built on a lot owned by him on the north side of Main street. west of Mill Run.
In the year IS19 or 1820. a Mr. Higgins opened a school in a frame house --- south side of Main street -- on or near the lot where John P. Allen's jewelry store is now located. A little later Mrs. Minter, wife of a lawyer resident in the town, had a school on Main street, in a small brick house on the lot known as the homestead of the late John Bacon, Esg. Mrs. Minter was succeeded by Mrs. Foster, who occupied the same small brick building. Isaac Teller. Esq., was a teacher of note, who taught about the year 1830, in a frame house, north of Main street, on the grounds known as the Seibert stand. now owned and occu- pied by William Burns' liquor store. Mr. Teller was left-handed. and his sur- viving pupils say he was rightly named, for with that left hand he made his strokes "tell" with lively effect. One of his pupils says that he was seldom free from marks so inflicted. A little later, two schools were taught in the old Methodist Episcopal Church, situated on the northwest corner of Market and North streets -- one by Napoleon Platt and the other by Miss Eliza Cary. The building was an old style frame house, a part of which is still standing. IL the autumn of 1821, James L. Torbert located in Springfield and opened a school. He was a man of fine classical education, and while he taught mainly the common English branches to meet the demand of the times, he took great pleasure in bringing up a number of his pupils into the higher branches, both in mathematics and the ancient languages. In the latter he was particularly proficient. He taught a number of years and was admitted to the bar, practiced law many years, was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and after- ward Judge of the Probate Court. Reuben Miller was also a teacher of note from the year 1828. He and Judge Torbert taught in the same school. on the northeast corner of Market and North streets, for a time. He acted a part of the time as County Surveyor. He taught a number of years and afterward served as County Auditor for eighteen years. But as the town increased in population and schools and teachers became more numerous, it is now difficult to name the teachers, their location, etc. Following the two teachers last named. from about the year 1838, we find the names of Cheshunt. Lancey. Me Williams, Stimson, Robert Black. William King, William Reid, Jane Reid, Richard Mor- ris, Miss Brown, Miss Lee as teachers, extending over a period of ten or twelve years, up to 1848 or 1850. A contemporary says, that " schools were kept in a little frame house, corner of Spring and Columbia streets: a one-story brick, between Factory and Mechanic streets on Columbia; in the basements of the Universalist and Associate Reform Churches, and up-stair rooms." They were called subscription schools, by which it was meant that the teachers were paid
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by the voluntary subscriptions of the parents and guardians of the children. This was entirely so during the first years of the schools, and largely so up to 1828. and to some extent thereafter.
It should here be stated that no record can be found giving any informa tion touching the public schools of the town before the year IS50. All the facts given have been obtained from those left among us, whose lives commenced with the early years of the century. We have, therefore, been the more careful to put in permanent shape this small gleaning of early school history, from the fact that up to the time when the town of Springfield was merged into the city of Springfield. no record whatever is left showing even the existence of schools in the town, much less their character. But this will appear less remarkable when it is stated that no record can be found showing that the town of Spring- field had any legal existence .any town council or municipal organization what- ever --- while it was a town only. But when it became a city, at once it sonmed to realize its new importance. and commenced to keep up its own biography. And it is from this journal record of the City Council, that we find any written recognition of the existence of our schools. The first meeting of the City Coun. cil occurred May 18, 1850. The first notice of the schools appears in the jour- nal of the City Council of December 25, 1850, as follows: " On motion, Robert Black and John Ludlow were appointed managers of the public schools, and it is agreed that said managers receive as compensation for their services S1 each per day, for the time actually employed in said schools, provided the services so charged, do not exceed $15, each, for six months."
Up to this time, it does not appear that the teachers were employed by a Board of Directors, but that each teacher furnished his own school room, and that parents and guardians "subscribed" the number of pupils, each, that they desired to send to his school, and that the managers appointed by the Town or City Council. twice a year, took the number of pupils attending each school, and, upon this basis, made an estimate of the amount to which each teacher was entitled to be paid out of the public funds, and reported accordingh. And whatever additional compensation was received by the teacher. was paid by the parent or guardian according to the number of children sent to the school. The schools appear to have been kept six months each year, and the reports of the managers were made for the first and second quarters, as no report can be found of the third and fourth quarters.
The journal of the City Council of April 2, 1851, contains the following , record, viz .: "Robert Black and John Ludlow, managers of common schools. presented the certified account of the teachers of public schools for the first quarter; thereupon said account was audited by the council and found to be correct, and the Recorder ordered to draw orders in favor of said teachers on the school fund for the amounts respectively due them as follows: Samuel Wheeler, $60.13: Sarah Ann Foos, $40; William King. $46.27: Mossrs. Rey- nolds & Co., $105.50: J. C. Scholze, $13.12: William Reid. $75.54: Emily Osborn, $40.41: Alvina H. Woods, $44.87: Caroline- G. O. Heal. $30.14; Virginia Peters, $25; Sarah J. Rea. 828.12: Marie Johnson, $34.37: E. Parker, 857.70: making a total of $643,67. expended for first quarter." A like report was made ยท by the managers, twice a year. up to June 12. 1853. In the meantime the sub- ject of building schoolhouses at the public expense began to be agitated. and. on the 5th of February, 1551. the City Conneil passed an order directing the " Mayor to give notice to the householders and resident tax-pavers to vote at the normal election for or against a tax to purchase one lot and build two school- houses, for the purpose of common schools." On the following March !. the journal shows the following result: "372 votes given for a school tax and So votes against a school tax, and it was declared to be carried." . The Council pro-
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