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 2
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CHAPTER XV .- BEDFORD AND HUNTINGDON COUNTIES.
General remarks on the early Catholic settlements-Bedford-St. Thomas'
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CONTENTS.
Church-Death and sketch of Very Rev. Thos. Heyden-St. John's Church, Clearville-St. Mary's Church, Shade Valley-Huntingdon- Early Catholic settlement-Holy Trinity Church-Death and sketch of Rev. P. B. Halloran-Mount Union-Church of the Immaculate Con- ception, Broad Top .. 253
CHAPTER XVI .- BLAIR COUNTY.
General remarks-St. Patrick's Church, Newry-Rev. Jas. Bradley-St. Luke's Church, Sinking Valley-Hollidaysburg-Early Catholic settlers -St. Mary's Church-Conversion of Heyden Smith-St. Michael's Ger- man Church-Williamsburg-St. Joseph's Church- Altoona-St. John's Church-Lloydsville Mission-German Church of the Immaculate Con- ception-St. Matthew's Church, Tyrone. 265
CHAPTER XVII .- CAMBRIA COUNTY.
General features of the county-First settlers Catholics-Captain M'Guire -First visit of a priest-First appearance of Dr. Gallitzin-His parentage and early life-He visits America-Resolves to become a priest-Is ordained-His first missions-M'Guire's settlement-He takes up his residence in the future Loretto-St. Michael's Church-His estates- Loretto. . 282
CHAPTER XVIII .- CAMBRIA COUNTY (Continued).
Dr. Gallitzin as a land agent-As a pastor-Regulations for Mass, etc .- Sermons-Troubles-Death of the Princess Gallitzin-Wolves in sheep's clothing-Settlement of the litigations regarding his estate-Gradual ex- tension of the colony-Bishop Egan visits Loretto-Dr. Gallitzin as a writer-A new church-Scanty remittances from his estate-He asks aid from his friends-The crisis-Relief-The little chapel-Bishop Kenrick of Philadelphia-Rev. Henry Lemcke arrives at Loretto-Fr. Lemcke at Ebensburg-Other writings of Dr. Gallitzin-The end approaching-Last illness-Death of Dr. Gallitzin-Remarks on the Loretto settlement- Church property-Dr. Gallitzin's successors. 299
CHAPTER XIX .- CAMBRIA COUNTY (Continued )-CONGREGATIONS FORMED FROM LORETTO.
St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore-German Church of the Immaculate Conception, New Germany-St. Aloysius' Church, Summitville-Death and sketch of Rev. Thos. M'Cullagh-and of Rev. John Hackett-St. Patrick's Church, Gallitzin-St. Augustine's Church, St. Augustine- Death and sketch of Rev. Ed. Burns-St. Monica's Church, Chest Springs. 328
CHAPTER XX .- CAMBRIA COUNTY (Concluded).
Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Ebensburg-Carrolltown-St. Joseph's Church, Hart's Sleeping Place-St. Benedict's Church, Carrolltown-St. Laurence's Church, Glen Connell-St. Boniface's Church, St. Boniface- St. Nicholas' Church, St. Nicholas-Johnstown-St. John Gualbert's Church-Death and sketch of Rev. P. Brown-St. Joseph's German Church-German Church of the Immaculate Conception, Cambria City .. 343 -
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXI .- WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
The place it occupies in our history-First Catholic settlement in Western Pennsylvania-The first Mass-The first priest-The first church-Death of Rev. Theodore Browers-Troubles-Rev. P. Heilbron-New settle- ments-Death of Father Heilbron-Rev. Ch. B. M'Guire-Trustees- Rev. Terence M'Girr-Arrival of Rev. J. A. Stillenger-The Bishop and the trustees-The new church 359
CHAPTER XXII .- WESTMORELAND COUNTY (Continuea)-THE BENEDIC- TINE ORDER AT ST. VINCENT'S.
Departure of the Benedictines from Germany and their arrival at St. Vincent's-Condition of the place-Taking possession-The first ordina- tion-Spread of the order-St. Vincent's an independent priory-Improve- ments-A seminary and college opened-St. Vincent's an exempt abbey -Further improvements-The congregation-Present state of the order -Church of the Most Holy Sacrament, Greensburg-St. Boniface's Chapel, Chestnut Ridge-St. Vincent's Chapel, Youngstown-Ligonier, Church of the Holy Family-Bolivar Station-St. Mary's Church, New Florence. 373
CHAPTER XXIII. - WESTMORELAND COUNTY (Concluded) - INDIANA COUNTY.
Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel-St. Martin's Church, New Derry- Church of the Holy Family, Latrobe- St. Boniface's Church, Penn. -Church of St. Mary of the Assumption, Irwin-Sutersville Mission -Smithton Mission-Indiana County-St. Patrick's Church, Cameron Bottom-Church of the Seven Dolors, Strongstown-St. Bernard's Church, Indiana-Blairesville-Sts. Simon and Jude's Church-Death and sketch of Very Rev. J. A. Stillenger-St. Matthew's Church, Saltzburg 387
CHAPTER XXIV .- THE DONEGAL SETTLEMENT-ARMSTRONG COUNTY. Character and nationality of the colonists-Crossing the ocean and coming West-Settlement-The first visit of a priest-Armstrong County-St. Patrick's Church, Sugar Creek-A resident priest-The church farm- Death and sketch of Rev. P. O'Neil-and of Rev. P. Rafferty-and of Rev. Jos. Cody-and of Rev. P. M. Doyle-Church of St. Mary of the Nativity, Freeport-St. Joseph's Church, Natrona, Allegheny County- St. Patrick's Church, Brady's Bend-St. Mary's German Church-Kit- tanning, St. Mary's Church-Holy Guardian Angel's Church, Easly's Set- tlement-Parker City, an oil-country town-Church of the Immaculate Conception 409
CHAPTER XXV .- BUTLER COUNTY.
The Indians and Moravians-Location of the Catholic inhabitants-St. Peter's German Church, Butler-St. Paul's Church-St. Bridget's Chapel, M'Neil's Settlement-St. Wendelin's Chapel-St. Mary's German Church, Summit-St. Joseph's Church, North Oakland-St. Joseph's German Church-St. John's Church, Clearfield-Church of the Mother of Sorrows, Millerstown-St. Alphonsus' Church, Murrinsville-Death and sketch of Rev. Jos. Haney-Chapel at Fairview-St. James' Church, Petrolia ..... 439
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVI .- BEAVER AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES.
Visit of a French missionary-Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, Beaver-Death and sketch of Rev. Jas. Reid-St. Cecilia's Church, Rochester-St. John the Baptist's Church, Baden-St. Joseph's Church, New Brighton-St. Rose's Church, Cannelton-St. Mary's German Church, Beaver Falls- St. James' Church, New Bedford-St. Mary's Church, Newcastle-St. Francis Xavier's Church, Stonerstown-St. Teresa's Church, Clinton .... 454 CHAPTER XXVII .- COLLEGES-RELIGIOUS ORDERS OF MEN.
Remarks-St. Michael's Seminary-The Brothers of the Presentation-St. Vincent's Abbey and College-The Franciscan Brothers-St. Francis' College-The Congregation of the Holy Ghost and the Immaculate Heart of Mary-The Pittsburg Catholic College-Other religious orders-The Passionists-The Oblates of St. Charles Boromeo-Death and sketch of Rev. P. M'C. Morgan 470
CHAPTER XXVIII .- RELIGIOUS ORDERS OF WOMEN-ACADEMIES.
The Nuns of St. Clare-St. Clare's Academy-The Sisters of Charity-The Sisters of Mercy-St. Xavier's Academy-St. Aloysius' Academy-The Sisters of St. Francis-The Sisters of St. Joseph-Mount Gallitzin Semi- nary-The Benedictine Nuns-The Ursuline Nuns-Other religious com- munities. 483
CHAPTER XXIX .- CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS-RELIGIOUS ORDERS OF WOMEN.
The Mercy Hospital, Pittsburg - St. Francis Hospital, Pittsburg - Asylum of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Allegheny-St. Paul's R. C. Orphan Asylum, Pittsburg-St. Joseph's German Asylum, Allegheny -St. Michael's German Orphan Asylum, Pittsburg-House of the Good Shepherd, Allegheny-Conclusion. 496
SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER .- ERRORS IN OUR EARLY CATHOLIC HIS- TORY.
" The old priest" mentioned by Wm. Penn in 1686-The first priest to say Mass in Philadelphia-The first church in Philadelphia-Miss Elizabeth M'Gawley's Chapel near Nicetown. 521
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A HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
IN THE
DIOCESES OF PITTSBURG AND ALLEGHENY.
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 settlements in Eastern Pennsyl- vania-Suspicion and legislation against Catholics-Catholic settlements in Western Pennsylvania-The nationality and character of the people.
BEFORE entering upon the history of Catholicity it will be necessary to glance briefly at the civil and political history of the State, that the reader may be better prepared to form an idea of the field in which the Church labored, and the difficulties she had to encounter. The first attempt at a colonization of the territory embraced within the present State of Pennsylvania was made by the Dutch, under the auspices of the East India Company, who began a settlement in the south-eastern part of the State in the year 1609. A large body of Swedes and Finns followed about thirty years later, and settled in the same place. But the power of the latter soon predominated, and they continued to rule until 1664, when the territory passed into the hands of the English. It was granted to William Penn, a member of the Society of Quakers, or Friends, by King James II., by royal charter, dated March 4th, 1681, in payment of a debt of £16,000 due his father, Admiral Sir William Penn, from the British Govern-
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HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
ment. The charter vested the perpetual proprietaryship of the vast region in him and his heirs, on the fealty of the annual payment of two beaver-skins. He designed at first to call the territory New Wales, and afterwards suggested Sylvania, but the king peremptorily ordered the name of Pennsylvania to be inserted, in honor, as he said, of his late friend the admiral. Aided by the advice of Sir William Jones, and Henry, the brother of Algerton Sydney, he drew up a.liberal scheme of government and laws for the colony, by which all who believed in God were permitted to worship him according to the dictates of their own consciences. He embarked for America, and landed in October, 1681. After several meetings with the Indians he made his famous treaty with them at Shackamaxon, now Kensington, at the end of November-a treaty that was never sworn to and never broken .* There was at this time, according to the most re- liable authority, a little less than 50,000 Indians within the limits of the colony, being for the most part Delawares and their descendants.t Having settled the affairs of the govern- ment, Penn returned to England in 1684, leaving a population of about 7000 Europeans in the colony.
The first large accession to the population next to the Quakers was an immigration from the north of Ireland, from 1715 to 1725, which was gradually diffused over the whole colony, but which finally settled most thickly in the western and south-western portions. They were Presbyterians of the most illiberal school, as will be seen in the sequel. The next accession was a German immigration, begun about the year 1730, which peopled several of the eastern counties, and which has given prominence to that nationality in all the subsequent history of the State .;
The colony was governed by the provisions of Penn's con- stitution till the breaking out of the war of the Revolution.
The truths of our holy religion were first preached in Pennsylvania by the Jesuit fathers from Maryland. A brief sketch of the advent of the Society into that State will conse- quently not be out of place. As early as 1570 Father Segura,
* American Cyclopedia, art. William Penn. + Hist. of Allegheny County, p. 12. # Amer Cycl., art. Penna.
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THE FIRST ENGLISH MISSIONARIES.
with eight other fathers of the Society and an Indian con- vert whom they had educated and named Don Luis, sailed from Florida and entered the Chesapeake Bay, which they named St. Mary's. But after landing and travelling a con- siderable distance into the interior they were betrayed into the hands of hostile Indians by the treacherous Don Luis, and murdered. The soil thus watered by the blood of the martyrs lay uncultivated for sixty-four years until the colony under Lord Baltimore, the pioneer of religious liberty in the New World, landed and took possession of Maryland on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25th, 1634. The date was auspi- cious, and the pious reader of American history cannot but observe from this and many kindred occurrences the manner in which the Immaculate Queen of Heaven claimed the New World for her own from the days of Columbus, and still claims it. Accompanying Lord Baltimore were two Jesuit fathers, Revs. Andrew White and John Altham. They were the first English-speaking missionaries who labored for the salvation of the Indians in the Western Continent. Father White justly merits the title of Apostle of Maryland .* Amid every vicissitude the Society of Jesus has since held posses- sion of the territory purchased with so much blood.
Catholics were found at an early date in Eastern Pennsyl- vania. The first chapel in which Mass was offered up was a small frame building that stood south of Walnut Street and east of Fourth, near the site of the present St. Joseph's Church, Philadelphia. But after the dethronement of James II., in 1689, the penal laws began to be enforced ; and Penn, who was looked upon with suspicion for his attachment to the cause of the late king, wrote from London, under date of July 29th, 1708, to James Logan, his colonial governor: "There is a complaint against your government that you suffer public Mass in a scandalous manner.t Pray send the matter of fact, for ill use of it is made against me here."; In a subsequent letter he returned to the same subject, and said: " It has bc-
* Shea's Hist. of the Church in the United States, pp. 22 et seq.
t In a small chapel on Walnut Street .- Note of the Editor of the Memoirs.
# Memoirs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, vol. x., being the Penn and Logan Correspondence, vol. ii., p. 294.
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THE CHURCH IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
come a reproach to me here, with the officers of the crown, that you have suffered the scandal of the Mass to be publicly celebrated."*
Nothing further is known of the condition of the Catholics there until 1730, when Rev. Josiah Greaton, S.J., was sent thither from Maryland. He at first celebrated Mass in the chapel already mentioned ; but in 1733 he bought a lot on Fourth Street and built a chapel. The authorities took umbrage at the erection of a Roman Mass-house contrary to the statutes of William III., and opposed its being so used in so public a place.t It is not, however, known to what extent the opposition was carried. Father Greaton labored for twenty years in Philadelphia, and is justly regarded as the Apostle of that city.
The celebrated German mission of Goshenhoppen, Berks County, forty-five miles north-west of Philadelphia, is more interesting to us as being one of the points from which Catholic emigration set in towards the western part of the State.# It is said to have been founded in 1741 by Rev. Theodore Schneider, S.J., who built a church four years
* Watson's Annals of Philadelphia.
t Colonial Record, vol. iii. pp. 546, 563.
# The importance which this settlement played in the history of Catholicity in western Pennsylvania will add to the interest of the following curious document, signed by five justices of the peace of Berks County, and presented to the Governor of Pennsylvania during the French war, soon after Braddock's defeat :
"As all the Protestant inhabitants of Berks County are uneasy at the behavior of the Roman Catholics, who are very numerous in this county, some of whom show great joy at the bad news lately come from the army, we have thought it our duty to inform your Honor of our dangerous situation, and to beg your Honor to enable us by some legal authority to disarm or otherwise disable the Papists from doing any injury to the other people who are not of their vile principles. We know that the people in the Roman Catholic Church are bound by their principles to be the worst of neighbors, and we have reason to fear just at this time that the Roman Catholics of Cussahoppen, where they have a magnifi- cent chapel and lately have had large processions, have bad designs ; for in the neighborhood of that chapel it is reported and generally believed that thirty Indians are lurking with guns and swords and cutlashes. The priests at Reading as well as at Cussahoppen last Sunday gave notice to their people that they could not come to them again in less than nine weeks, whereas they constantly preach once in four weeks to their congregations ; whereupon some imagine that they've gone to consult with our enemies at Fort Duquesne. It is a great unhappiness at this time to the people of this province that the Papists should keep arms in their
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CONEWAGO AND LANCASTER.
later, and remained in the settlement for twenty years. This was from an early day a very flourishing mission. In the same year, 1741, Rev. William Wapeler, S.J., the companion of Father Schneider, founded the mission at Conewago, in York, now Adams County .* It soon rivalled Goshenhoppen, and became, like it, the parent of new western missions. Both were at first composed principally of Germans, but an Irish element was soon introduced into them. The same Father Wapeler is said to have purchased ground at Lancaster, in 1741, on which to erect a church ; but it was left to his suc- cessor, Rev. Ferdinand Farmer, whose original name was Steinmeyer, and who came in 1758 or 1759, to carry his designs into execution.
But the sons of Erin, whose record is so illustrious in every part of the world, were not slow in finding their way into the wilds of Pennsylvania, to plant the faith which they had nurtured amid so many difficulties at home. In 1725 nearly 6000 of these exiles-some of whom doubtless were Catholics -landed at Philadelphia to join those of their countrymen who had preceded them.
These were the first and principal settlements in the eastern part of the State of which Catholic historians make mention.
Although umbrage was taken, as we have seen, at the few Catholics who had settled in the colony of Pennsylvania for opening chapels, or " Mass-houses" as they were called, it appears certain that no active measures were taken to curtail their liberties prior to the commencement of hostilities be- tween the English and French in America. But during the period of this war, that is from 1753 to 1763, the Catholics were regarded with suspicion owing to an opinion, as opposed to right reason as it is to the teaching of history, that they must necessarily be disloyal subjects. And because the
houses, against which the Protestants are not prepared ; who, therefore, are sub- ject to a massacre whenever the Papists are ready. We pray your Honor, would direct us in this important business.
" Heidelburg, July 23, 1755."
On examining into the matter, the Provincial Council replied, August 9th : "We apprehend there is very little foundation for that representation."-Colonial Records, vol. vi. pp. 503, 533.
* Caughnawaga is an Indian word signifying " the rapids."
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CATHOLICS SUSPECTED OF DISLOYALTY.
French were looked upon as a Catholic people, and the Eng- lish were conscious of their persecution of their Catholic subjects at home, the latter were regarded as persons ready to sell their country to her enemies.
Frequent reference to the Catholics, or Papists as they were called even in public documents, may be found at this time by any one who will be at the trouble of consulting the "Pennsylvania Archives" (Old Series) and the "Colonial Records."
Thus Dan. Clause, in a letter to Governor Morris of Penn- sylvania, under date of October, 1754, warns him against a certain man who is a dangerous character because the writer is certain of his being a Roman Catholic, for he was seen making his confession to a priest in Canada .* Governor Morris of Pennsylvania, writing to Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia, August 19th, 1755, complains of the defenceless state of the country against the inroads of the French, " who," he says, " might march in and be strengthened by the German and Irish Catholics, who are numerous here" (in Philadelphia).t The latter governor replies, September 20th, 1755 : "I have not omitted writing to the ministry the unaccountable conduct of your Assembly, the dangers we are in from the German Roman Catholics, and I have no doubt the next session they will seriously consider of it, and make some alteration in your constitution." # They did consider it, and made alterations as we shall see. In a letter from Governor Morris to Governor Hardy of New York, of July 5th, 1756, the former writes : " The Roman Catholics in this and the neighboring provinces of Maryland are allowed the free exercise of their religion." Governor Hardy, in his reply of the 9th of the same month, commenting on the French war, thinks that certain facts regarding the colonists had transpired "through the trea- sonable correspondence of the Roman Catholics with the French," and adds: " I hitve heard you have an ingenious Jesuit in Philadelphia."§
The suspicion of Catholic loyalty which the foregoing extracts evince found its full expression in "An Act for
* Pa. Archives (Old Series), vol. ii. p. 176.
t Ibid., p. 390. # Ibid., p. 423.
§ Ibid., p. 694.
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PERSECUTION OF THE CATHOLICS.
Regulating the Militia," passed by the Provincial Assembly, March 29th, 1757, from which the following extracts refer- ring to the Papists are taken. The act provides that the local authorities shall immediately take a list of all persons in their several districts fit for military duty except "religious socie- ties or congregations whose tenets and principles are against bearing arms, and all Papists or reputed Papists." These were to be designated by marks opposite their names in the roll-book. Again, it is "provided always that no Papist or reputed Papist shall be allowed or admitted to give his vote or be chosen an officer of the militia within any of the dis- tricts within these provinces."
"And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid that all arms, military accoutrements, gunpowder and ammunition, of what kind soever, any Papist or reputed Papist within this province hath or shall have in his house or houses, or elsewhere, one month after the publication of this act, shall be taken from such Papist or reputed Papist by warrant, etc., . . . and if any such Papist or reputed Papist shall attempt to conceal such arms, etc., .
. . every such person so offending shall be imprisoned by a warrant from said justices for the space of three months without bail or main-prize.
" And whereas all Papists and reputed Papists are hereby exempted from attending and performing the military duties enjoined by this act, and nevertheless will partake
. thereof, . Be it, of and enjoy the benefit
therefore, enacted . .
. that every male Papist or re- puted Papist between the age of seventeen and fifty-five years . pay the sum of twenty shillings."*
Other instances might be given from the same source and of the same tenor ; but these are deemed sufficient. It may be added, however, that this feeling of hostility to the Catho- lics remained for some years after the close of the war with the French and the extinction of her claims to all land east of the Mississippi. For example, in the beginning of 1769 the colonial government refused to pass " An Act to enable John Cottringer and Joseph Cauffman to hold lands in this .
* Pa. Archives (Old Series), vol. ii. p. 120 et seq.
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POPULATION OF TIIE CATHOLIC MISSIONS.
province," because the rulers " have considered that the per- sons mentioned in the bill are Roman Catholics."*
As the result of the act regarding the militia and the census taken of the Catholics, we have the following inter- esting figures relative to the Catholic population :
"A LIST OF ALL THE ROMAN CATHOLICS IN PENNSYLVANIA, 1757- That is, of all such as receive the sacraments, beginning from twelve years of age or thereabouts.
Men. Women.
Under the care of Robert Harding :
In and about Philadelphia, being all Irish (or English). ...
72
78
In Chester County .
18
22
Under the care of Theodore Schneider :
In and about Philadelphia, being all Germans 107
15
IO
Berks County
62
55
Northampton County.
68
62
Irish
17
12
Bucks County
14
II
Chester
13
9
Irish
9
6
Under the care of Father Farmer :
In Lancaster County, Germans. "
Irish
22
27
" Berks County, Germans.
41
39
" Chester
Germans.
3
6
6
Under the care of Matthias Manners :
In York County, Germans
54
62
"
Irish
35
38
692
673
Total sum
April 29, 1757."
Let us now turn to the west. Apart from the gradual encroachment of the pioneers on the domain of the red man, which must, in process of time, have subjected it to the ad- vancing civilization, circumstances were not wanting to give an additional impetus to settlement. In 1748 the Ohio Com- pany obtained a charter granting it 500,000 acres of land on
* Colonial Records, vol. ix. p. 596.
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103
94
Irish
5
3
23
17
" Cumberland County, Irish.
1365
121
Philadelphia County, but up country.
25
SETTLEMENT OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
the southern bank of the Ohio River between the Monon- gahela and the Great Kanawha, with the additional privilege of occupying lands north of the first-named stream. This territory embraced a large portion of South-western Pennsyl- vania. Preparations were being made for taking immediate possession of it, when public attention was forcibly drawn to the west by the threatened encroachments of the French from the vicinity of Lake Erie. This subject will be treated at length in the history of Pittsburg. From that time for- ward "the Forks," as the site of the present city of Pittsburg was then designated, became familiarly known throughout the colonies. A dispute also arose between Virginia and Pennsylvania regarding the boundary line between the two colonies, which drew still further attention to the west. It was at length settled by arbitration, August 31st, 1779. Pioneers continued to encroach on the Indians, till at the time of the excise troubles which ended in the " Whiskey Insurrec- tion," in 1794, that portion of the State embraced within this history, was generally, though sparsely, occupied by settlers.
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