USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > A history of the Catholic church in the dioceses of Pittsburg and Allegheny from its establishment to the present time > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible.
Google books
http://books.google.com
A history of the Catholic church in the dioceses of Pittsburg ...
Andrew Arnold Lambing
Digitized by
STO
SHL
SOCIETY
UNDED 184
C
....
Digitized by
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
from the author Sex. 17. 1886
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
Digitized by Google
RT. REV. JOHN TUIGG, THIRD BISHOP OF PITTSBURG AND ADMINISTRATOR OF ALLEGHENY.
Digitized by Google
A HISTORY
c
CATHOLIC
NISMOOSIM JO
OF THE
ETY
1886
5
LE
S7
IN THE DIOCESES OF
Pittsburg and Allegheny
FROM ITS
ESTABLISHMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.
BY 1 REV. A. A.' LAMBING,
AUTHOR OF "THE ORPHAN'S FRIEND." "MIXED MARRIAGES,"
" THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER'S MANUAL," ETC.
"Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost."
NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, AND ST. LOUIS: BENZIGER BROTHERS, Printers to the Holy Apostolic See. 1880.
Digitized by Google
APPROBATION.
WE hereby cordially approve of the work entitled "A HIS- TORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE DIOCESES OF PITTSBURGH AND ALLEGHENY," etc.
The author, Rev. A. A. LAMBING, a most worthy Priest of this Diocese, and Rector of the Church of St. Mary of Mercy, this city, is entitled to great credit for the care and labor which he has bestowed on its compilation.
Believing this History to be as faithful as it was possible to render it with the material at hand, we take pleasure in recom- mending it to the clergy and laity, and we hope that it will meet with the success which so useful and meritorious a production deserves.
+ J. TUIGG,
Bishop of Pittsburgh and Administrator of Allegheny.
PITTSBURGH, PA.,
May 20, 1880.
Imprimatur :
JOHN, CARDINAL MCCLOSKEY, Archbishop of New York.
COPYRIGHT, 1880, BY BENZIGER BROTHERS.
Digitized by Google
-.
BX 1417
P6 23
PREFACE.
IT is my good fortune to be a descendant of one of the first Catholic families that penetrated the wilds to plant the faith in western Pennsylvania, and to have been early familiar- ized with accounts of the privations and sufferings to which both priests and people were subjected in those early days. From childhood these narrations possessed a charm which, while it made them interesting at the time, aided also in engraving them on the memory. Acquaintance with the history of the Church increased as time went on, and when I became associated with others in the publication of the Catholic Journal a few years ago, I ventured upon a few historical articles of a general character. Finding they proved interesting to many readers, they were continued. Different congregations and institutions in the diocese were then sketched in a series of articles, amounting in all to more than sixty, until the publication of the paper was suspended.
Seeing that a large amount of historical data had been collected, and that the publication of the articles in the Fournal had elicited further information and enabled me to correct erroneous statements ; and having been at pains and expense in bringing the information together, I determined to recast whatever had been written, supply what was still wanting, and publish a history of the two dioceses. Infor- mation was then carefully sought from every available source, and such scraps of time as could be spared from the care of a large congregation and other duties were devoted to the work. But writing a consecutive history was found to be different from penning a newspaper article; and a work of this character especially is surrounded with more and greater difficulties than people are apt to imagine. Materials are
Digitized by Google
1
PREFACE.
meagre, are scattered in many places, and collected with difficulty ; for the first priests on the mission were content to labor and to leave the record of their deeds to God, and there was as yet no local Catholic periodical by which they might have been permanently recorded and transmitted to future generations. Hence we have to depend upon tradition for many things, and while there are few persons left to transmit it from the beginning, even their accounts do not always agree, and tradition is found at variance with tradition. In our own day the history of the Church in our midst is being made, events are transpiring before our eyes, and it is diffi- cult to estimate them at their proper value. The actors are yet on the stage, and it is a delicate matter to speak of them always in such a manner as to give entire satisfaction, and generally impossible not to speak of them at all. Besides, from the condition of the Church in this part of the country, where it is rapidly developing, where new congregations are constantly being formed and priests ordained, and where frequent changes and promotions are rendered necessary by the very nature of things, records of important events are seldom systematically kept, and it would be impossible in many cases for the pastor now in possession to give more than a general outline of the history of the place before his arrival. The history is too recent to be found in any printed record, except perhaps in fugitive newspaper articles.
Another difficulty is the impossibility of avoiding a certain degree of sameness in the description of the churches and the sketches of congregations, which must of necessity resemble each other in many respects.
Why then did I undertake the history ? The reason has in part been given. As a further. reason I may be permitted to state-if the reader will accept it in a mercenary age like the present-that the difficulty I found in collecting materials for the sketches in the Journal, in cases in which it depended on oral tradition, made me feel that what was a difficulty now would be an impossibility a few years hence; and that con- sequently much more that is interesting and useful would be irrevocably lost than is already buried in oblivion. I wished, as the motto on the title-page puts it, to collect the fragments
Digitized by Google
5
PREFACE.
that remain, lest they too be lost. Besides, the privations and sufferings endured by our fathers who planted the faith in our midst could not, it was felt, but be a matter of interest to us who are reaping the fruits of their sacrifices.
The following are the principal sources from which infor- mation has been drawn :
Registres des Baptêmes et Sepultures qui se sont faits au Fort Duquesne pendant les années 1753, 1754, 1755, et 1756, from which we learn nearly all that is known of Catholicity during the French occupation of the present site of Pittsburg.
Leben und Wirken des Prinsen Demetrius Augustin Gallitzin, a valuable work by Rev. Henry Lemcke, who was for six years the companion and spiritual director of the illustrious subject, and who inherited all the letters and papers that he left at his death.
A Memoir on the Life and Character of the Rev. Prince Demetrius A. de Gallitzin, etc., by Very Rev. Thos. Heyden. This work, although containing a certain amount of informa- tion, is not of great value to the historian.
Life of Demetrius Augustin Gallitzin, Prince and Priest, by Sarah M. Brownson, a work the principal value of which is found in the numerous original letters and documents it pre- sents to the reader.
St. Vincenz in Pennsylvanien, compiled by one of the fathers of the Benedictine order. Although inartistic in its general make-up, it is replete with valuable information, and contains several original documents relating to the history of Catho- lıcity in Westmoreland County from the earliest settlement to the present time. It also gives a sketch of all the congrega- tions at any time under the jurisdiction of the Benedictine fathers. I have been kindly permitted to draw at pleasure from this work.
Letters of Bishop Kenrick of Philadelphia, of which I have a number relating to the German Catholics of Pittsburg between the years 1835 and 1840.
Notes of Bishop O'Connor of Pittsburg, contained in a small blank-book, and relating principally to his sojourn as Vicar-General from 1841 to 1843, and to his visitation of the diocese in 1846 and 1847.
Digitized by Google
6
PREFACE.
Diocesan Register, by the same prelate, which though brief, and evidently written a short time before his resignation, yet contains valuable information.
Catholic Directories. I have a series almost complete, which, although at fault in some minor details, may yet be consulted with profit.
The Catholic. Through the kindness of the publisher, Mr. J. Porter, I have been able to examine and take notes on the entire file, embracing a period of almost thirty-six years. Its columns are not so replete with local intelligence as might be desired, but yet nothing of importance transpiring in the diocese is passed over in silence.
To these may be added the United States Catholic Miscel- lany, the Catholic Herald, and the Catholic Telegraph, which were frequently consulted in matters relating to our early history ; scraps of manuscripts of Very Rev. J. A. Stillenger; a brief sketch of the different places he visited, by Rev. Jas. Bradley, the venerable pastor of Newry; and other works referred to in the course of the history. But the principal . source of information were the visits I paid to nearly all the churches and institutions of the diocese, when whatever in- formation was to be had was collected on the spot.
As regards the secular portion of the history, it has been drawn in a great measure from the following sources:
Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania, by Sher- man Day, 1843. This work is very valuable, and contains accounts of all the counties and the principal towns and villages of the State from the earliest times to the date of publication.
The Monongahela of Old. The copy I have is incomplete, and relates principally to the early history of Fayette and Somerset counties.
The Annals of the West, a work compiled by James R. Albach, 1856. It is a standard work of great value, and is rare.
History of Allegheny County, 1876. This, though to some extent a picture-book of fine houses, etc., as such works too often are, is yet of some value. The historical part is from the pen of S. W. Durant, and contains a considerable amount of information.
Digitized by Google
7
PREFACE.
The Olden Time, by Neville B. Craig, a monthly publica- tion issued in 1846 and 1847 and afterwards bound in two 8vo volumes. It is composed principally of original docu- ments relating to the settlement and early history of the country around the head of the Ohio River.
The History of Pittsburg, by the same author. This work was published in a small volume in 1851, and is very rare and valuable.
As regards the plan of the work, some difficulty was found in hitting upon the one that would be least open to objec- tion ; for while Catholicity was introduced from the east, the episcopal see that would seem to be the starting-point was established in the west. The following is the plan adopted. After laying a general foundation of civil history, as briefly as possible, the manner in which the first Catholics came and the places where they settled are pointed out. The history of Pittsburg is then taken up. The history of the Cathedral is made to some extent an epitome of that of the diocese. After it come the churches of Pittsburg and Allegheny City and Allegheny County. Then, as the best way of returning to the east to sketch the early settlements, the counties lying on the southern boundary of the State, in which the Catholic population is small, are taken up from west to east. From that point a more natural return is made to the west by the northern and central counties. The religious orders and edu- cational and charitable institutions close the work. Obituary notices of priests are inserted in the history of the church in which they last served, and at the time of their death.
Some readers may regret that so few anecdotes are inter- spersed throughout the work. But it could not be otherwise if the book was to be confined within proper limits. The object has been to record facts and dates ; for while anec- dotes might be more interesting to some readers, the more judicious will seek after something of greater historical value. Not that anecdotes do not sometimes serve even bet- ter than facts to illustrate a subject or a character ; but being generally handed down by popular tradition, they are fre- quently of doubtful authenticity.
Again, it may be thought that undue importance has been
Digitized by Google
8
PREFACE.
attached to the effects of the financial panic of 1873. In reply to this it would be more than sufficient to point to the condition especially of Pittsburg and the mining districts before and after that notable event. And it affected the Catholics both as individuals and as congregations more than it did the general population; for it is with the Chris- tians of our day as it was with those in the time of St. Paul, there are not many rich nor great among us. While the capital and the cunning are furnished by those not of the one fold, it is the Catholics in a great measure who perform the manual labor and depend upon it for a living. Any one can readily imagine how great a calamity that must have been which in a single day, it might be said, threw thousands of honest laborers out of employment and forced them to walk the streets day after day in a vain attempt to find work enough to keep themselves and their families from starvation .* And to make matters worse, not a few of those who by toil and frugality had been able to lay up a few hundred dol- lars in the banks saw these suspend in many cases and rob them of the fruit of their industry. As a single instance I may say that, in the little congregation now entrusted to me, there were in the winter of 1874 and 1875 at least a hundred families in extreme want, whose only support beyond the hand of charity was one or two days' washing which the wife was able to procure and a few cents which a boy de- rived from selling newspapers, while the husband, a strong, sober, industrious man, walked the streets in a fruitless at- tempt to find even a single day's employment. Out of the same little flock I have every opportunity of knowing that thousands of dollars were taken by the suspension of banks. I have known several instances in which day-laborers lost from $1200 to $1500. What effect this must have had on the
* The following list of the manufactories of Allegheny County only, as fur- nished to the Secretary of the Interior, in the summer of 1879, will afford an idea of the industrial interests upon which Catholic laborers more than any others depended. There were 155 coal and coke companies, 14 blast-furnaces, 5 forges, 53 rolling-mills, 58 glass-houses, 4 glass mould and press manufactories, 52 iron foundries, 17 brass foundries, 44 engine and machine shops, 17 boiler-yards, and 647 miscellaneous manufactories, such as saw-mills, locomotive works, carriage and wagon shops, car works, breweries, cabinet manufactories, etc.
.
Digitized by Google
9
PREFACE.
spirit of poor men grown old in providing a staff for their declining years it is not difficult to imagine. What effect it must have had on the progress and the building up of religion will appear upon a moment's reflection. Yet this is but a single instance, and there were others perhaps even worse. Reflection on these will present the effects of the panic in their true light.
I do not profess to have written a perfect work, nor to have avoided every error. On the contrary, I am conscious that there may be a number of minor inaccuracies. It could hardly be otherwise. All that I claim-and for this I may be pardoned for expecting credit-is to have carefully col- lected what was within my reach from written records, and to have sifted and weighed oral traditions so as to do what lay in my power to arrive at the truth. Nor do I expect to escape criticism ; on the contrary, I would wish to have any misstatement pointed out, provided that sufficient evidence is given that it is an error. But while fault may be found with what has not been done, the reader should not overlook the amount of labor, expense, and research necessary to pre- pare the work, imperfect though it may perhaps be in a few minor details. Errors, too, may be only apparent. Where statements depend upon tradition-and this it is well to bear in mind-it is sometimes extremely difficult to arrive at the truth ; for any one who will be at pains to try the experiment will find that there are generally half a dozen different, sometimes conflicting, traditions in the same locality regard- ing the same occurrence, and this perhaps an event that transpired within ten or fifteen years from the present day. And I have found persons not only differing from others in the accounts they gave of past events, but at variance even with their own previous statements. No statement has been made in these pages, no matter how trivial, without proof or what appeared to be the most reliable tradition. I have studiously sacrificed everything to truth, for this I regard as the one thing necessary in the historian.
In conclusion I have to thank the Right Reverend Bishop, the reverend clergy secular and regular, the other members of religious orders, the religious and secular press, and a number
Digitized by Google
10
PREFACE.
of laymen to whom I applied for information, for the kindness and courtesy with which they furnished me with whatever was in their power and expressed their interest in the under- taking.
PITTSBURG, PA., Feb. 26, 1880.
Digitized by Google
CONTENTS.
PAGE iii
PREFACE.
CHAPTER I. - THE INTRODUCTION OF CATHOLICITY INTO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
First settlers, Dutch, Swedes, Finns - The territory of Pennsylvania granted to William Penn-His treaty with the Indians-Irish and German immigration-The Jesuits in Maryland-Early Catholic settle- ments in Eastern Pennsylvania-The Catholics suspected of disloyalty -and persecuted-Catholics in Western Pennsylvania-The nationality and character of the settlers .. 17
CHAPTER II .- PITTSBURG.
Early history of Pittsburg-French and English claims-Indians-Major Washington's mission to the French - English occupation - Fort Duquesne and its capture by the English-Baptismal register of Fort Duquesne-Fort Pitt-The town laid out-The Whiskey Insurrection -First Catholic settlers-Rev. B. J. Flaget-Rev. F. X. O'Brien-First Catholic church-Very Rev. F. De Andreis-Rev. Ch. B. M'Guire-The Church enlarged-St. Paul's Church begun-The Nuns of St. Clare- Visit of Bishops Kenrick and Conwell-Death of Father M'Guire- Biographical notice. 29
CHAPTER III .- ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
Rev. John O'Reilly, pastor of St. Paul's-The church finished and dedicated -A description of it -- The Germans take possession of St. Patrick's- The nuns of St. Clare withdraw-The Sisters of Charity arrive-An orphan asylum opened-New congregations formed-Withdrawal of Father O'Reilly-His death-Sketch of his life-Arrival of Very Rev. Michael O'Connor-His works-He visits Rome.
49
CHAPTER IV -HISTORY OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL FROM THE ERECTION OF THE SEE OF PITTSBURG TO ITS DIVISION AND THE ERECTION OF THE SEE OF ERIE.
The manner in which the Church was first governed in the United States- Pittsburg an episcopal see-Very Rev. M. O'Connor consecrated first Bishop-Sketch of his early life-Condition of the Church on his arrival -The first ordination-The first synod-The colored chapel-The Catholic published-St. Michael's Diocesan Seminary-The Bishop visits Europe-The first visitation of the diocese-The Cathedral in danger- Statistics-The Cathedral destroyed by fire- A new Cathedral commenced -The Bishop visits Rome-Erection of the See of Erie-Bishop O'Con- nor transferred thither-Statistics.
55
Digitized by Google
12
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V .- HISTORY OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL FROM THE ERECTION OF THE SEE OF ERIE TO THE RESIGNATION OF BISHOP O'CONNOR. Visit of Cardinal Bedini-Know-Nothingism-Bishop O'Connor returns to Pittsburg-He visits Rome-Consecration of the Cathedral-A descrip- tion of the building-Decline of the Bishop's health-He travels in Europe and the Holy Land-Petitions for a coadjutor-Travels in Mexico -Thinks of resigning-Visits Rome-Resigns-His episcopate-Death -Biographical notice.
71
CHAPTER VI -HISTORY OF ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL FROM 1860 TO 1873. Statistics of the diocese-Appointment and consecration of Rt. Rev. Michael Domenec-Biographical notice-He visits Rome and Madrid- Rev J. Hickey, rector of the Cathedral-Father McMahon retires to Philadelphia-The new organ-The Bishop again visits Rome-The towers built-Consecration of Bishop Mullen of Erie-The Golden Age of Pittsburg-The Bishop again visits Rome to attend the Vatican Council-Death of Dr. Keogh. and biographical notice-The Sisters of Charity and the Ursuline Nuns-Death and sketch of Rev. D. Devlin- Little Sisters of the Poor-Sisters of the Good Shepherd-The Catholic Institute
85
CHAPTER VII .- HISTORY OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL FROM 1873 TO THE PRESENT TIME.
The new episcopal residence-Death of Father McMahon, with sketch of his life-The Italians-The Bishop visits Rome-Division of the diocese -Statistics-Consecration of Rt. Rev. John Tuigg, with sketch of his life-State of the diocese-The Cathedral on fire-Death of Rev. P. Cas- sidy, with sketch of his life-Bishop Domenec visits Rome-Resigns his sce-Returns to Spain-His death-Closing scenes of his life-Reunion of the two dioceses-Improvements .. 96
CHAPTER VIII .- CONGREGATIONS FORMED FROM ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. St. Patrick's Church-Death and sketch of Rev. Jas. Byrnes-St. Mary's Church-Church of the Sacred Heart-St. John the Baptist's Church-St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral, Allegheny City. 106
CHAPTER IX .- CONGREGATIONS FORMED FROM ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL (Concluded)
St. Andrew's Church, Allegheny-Death and sketch of Rev. Denis O'Brien -St. Bridget's Church, Pittsburg-St. Joseph's (colored) Church-St. James' Church-St. John's Church-St. Stephen's Church-Death and sketch of Rev. P. M. Ward-St. Agnes' Church-Death and sketch of Rev. P. Kerr-St. Mary of Mercy's Church-Death and sketch of Rev. J. A. O'Rourke-and of Rev M. F. Devlin-St. Malachy's Church-St. Mary of the Mount. I21
CHAPTER X .- GERMAN CHURCHES OF PITTSBURG AND ALLEGHENY.
The advent of German Catholics in Pittsburg-Formation of a German congregation-St. Patrick's a German church-St. Mary's Chapel- Establishment of the Redemptorist Fathers in Pittsburg-St. Philomena's Church-Formation of new congregations-St. Michael's Church-The
Digitized by Google
. 13
CONTENTS.
Passionist Fathers-St. Joseph's Church, Mount Oliver-St. Martin's Church-St. Peter's Church. 145
CHAPTER XI .- GERMAN CHURCHES OF PITTSBURG AND ALLEGHENY (Concluded).
St. Mary's Church, Allegheny-Death and sketch of Rev. John Stiebel- St. Joseph's Church-Church of the Holy Name of Jesus-St. Winces- laus' Bohemian Church-Holy Trinity Church, Pittsburg-Death and sketch of Rev. Fr. Grimmer-and of Rev. Charles Schuler-The Carmel- ite Fathers-Sts. Peter and Paul's Church-Death and sketch of Rev. A. Hune, D.D .- St. Augustine's Church-Death and sketch of Rev. Philip Schmidt-The Capuchin Friars-St. Joseph's Church-St. Stanislaus' Polish Church. 165
CHAPTER XII .- CHURCHES IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY.
St. Joseph's Church, Verona-Chapel of the Sacred Heart, Plumb Creek- St. James' Church, Wilkinsburg-Braddock's Field-Chapel at Tarra Hill-St. Thomas' Church-Death and sketch of Rev. P. Hughes-St. Joseph's German Church-M'Keesport-St. Peter's Church-Death and sketch of Rev. N. Hores -and of Rev. Cajetan Klocker-St. Agnes' Church, Bull's Run - St. Patrick's Church, Alpsville - St. Michael's Church, Elizabeth-Death and sketch of Rev. M. J. Brazill-Transfigura- tion Church, Monongahela City, Washington County 186
CHAPTER XIII .- CHURCHES OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY (Concluded). St. Philip's Church, Broadhead-St. Luke's Church, Mansfield-Death and sketch of Rev. J. O'G. Scanlon-St. Joseph's German Church, Mansfield -St. Patrick's Church, Noblestown-St. Mary's German Church, Chartier's Creek-St. James' Church, Sewickley-St. Mary's German Church, Glenfield-St. Alphonsus' Church, Wexford-St. Teresa's Church, Perrysville-St. Mary's Church, Pine Creek-Death and sketch of Rev. M. Eigner-St. Joseph's Church, Sharpsburg-St. Mary's German Church-St. Anne's Church, Millvale 205
CHAPTER XIV .- CATHOLICITY IN SOUTH-WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. General remarks-St. Anne's Church, Waynesburg-St. James' Church, West Alexander-Death and sketch of Rev. D. Hickey-Church of the Immaculate Conception, Washington-St. James' Church, Claysville- Other stations in Green and Washington counties-Fayette and Somer- set counties-Scenery, aborigines, Indian paths-First settlers-Browns- ville-First Catholic settlers-Pittsburg visited as a station from Browns- ville-St. Peter's Church, Brownsville-Uniontown-St. John's Church- Farmington Mission-General Braddock's grave-Church of the Immacu- late Conception, Connellsville-St. Aloysius' Church, Dunbar-Le Mont Furnace Mission-St. John the Baptist's Church, Scottdale-St. John the Baptist's Church, New Baltimore-St. Matthew's Church, Meyersdale -Death and sketch of Rev. Thos. Fitzgerald-Stations: Ursina, Sand Patch, Wellsburg, etc .. 225
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.