USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > Conewago in Adams County > Conewago : a collection of Catholic local history : gathered from the fields of Catholic missionary labor within our reach. > Part 11
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There is a fine brick parsonage adjoining the church .- The church bears evidence of age. Rev. Huber, of the York missions, has lately been transferred to Carlisle.
The early Jesuit missionaries also had a log church at Chambersburg before 1800, where the present stone church stands, built in 1812. There are several old missions belong- ing to the Chambersburg charge, one in Path Valley, at Waynesboro, The Mountain Church, and at adjoining towns. The present pastors are Revs. Schleuter and Kaelin.
THE KEYSER CHURCH.
Keyser is situated on the B. & O. R. R., 215 miles from
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Baltimore. It was formerly called New Creek, and was a place of little note until the B. & O. made it their Second terminal division in 1874. The Catholic mission was opened by Rt. Rev. J. O'Sullivan, Bishop of Mobile, Ala., then pastor of Westernport, five miles west of Keyser. Owing to a want of priests in his diocese, Bishop McGill could not supply either Keyser or Piedmont, a large and prosperous town across the Potomac River from Westernport. Father O'Sullivan began the erection of a little church in Sept., 1874. At that time, Mrs. Thompson, a widow with six orphans, were the only Catholics in the town. Terence Corrigan and Daniel Maloney then lived about a mile east of the town. These three fami- lies comprised the congregation. The carpenter work was begun Sep. 14th, and the first Mass was said Sep. 20th. The little church stands almost on the very spot where Col. James A. Mulligan, Twenty-Third Illinois Volunteers, Irish Brigade, erected a temporary chapel during the late war, in which Dr. Butler, of Chicago, officiated. Rev. H. J. McKeefry, of the Richmond Diocese, took charge of the congregation Dec. 19th, 1875, then numbering 225 persons. During his pastorate, besides paying off a debt of $443, Father McKeefry enlarged the church to twice its original size, and erected a parsonage. He also organized a school, which he himself taught for five months. This good priest suffered many privations, for shortly after his arrival the terminal division of railroad was removed baek to Piedmont, leaving scarcely a dozen families to main- tain a priest. But this true shepherd remained with his little flock, when finally the railroad shops were again located at Keyser. After a successful pastorate of nearly three years, Rev. McKeefry was succeeded in Oct. 1878, by Rev. P. Fitz- simmons, assistant pastor at Staunton, Father McKeefry tak- ing his place. During Rev. Fitzsimmons' pastorate the church at Paw-Paw, Morgan Co., (Keyser is in Mineral Co .. ) West Va., 48 miles east, was assigned to Keyser as an auxiliary mission. After carrying on the work of his predecessors for nearly two years, Father Fitzsimmons was called to his eter-
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nal rest Aug. 4th, 1880. He is buried in St. Joseph's Ceme- tery, Martinsburg, where a neat marble stone marks his last resting place. After an interval of eight months, Rev. P. J. Hasty, assistant pastor of Lynchburg, Va., was called to take charge, April 15th, 1881. This brilliant young priest, after a stay of four months, was removed to St. Vincent's Hospital, Norfolk. where he died Dec. 30th, 1881. from the effects of the amputation of his right leg, rendered necessary by an ab- scess from blood poisoning. In Aug., 1881, Rev. Eugene Mahony, assistant at Martinsburg, became pastor, who, during the short period of his stay, eight months, built a handsome parsonage and school house, the greater part of the work be- ing done by himself in person. He was recalled to his own Diocese, Brooklyn, in April, 1882. May 29th, 1882, Rev. H. J. Cutlor took charge, and remained until Jan. 3d, 1883. He paid the remaining indebtedness, $700, incurred in build- ing the Pastor's house and the school house. Jan. 3d, 1883, Rev. Cutlor was transferred to Norfolk, as assistant to Rev. M. O'Keefe. On the same day, Rev. J. Frioli took charge of Keyser, and has proven a faithful and worthy pastor, still presiding, Oct. 12th, 1885. In the Summer of 1882, a mis- sion was started in Elk Garden, a mining town, 13 miles from Piedmont, on the W. Va. C. & P. R. R. Father Cutlor said Mass there several times. This mission is attended from Keyser. A church, 30x55 feet, was built there in the Fall of 1883. There are now 52 families, numbering about 270 souls. Besides Paw-Paw and Elk Garden, Catholic families, eleven in number, in Hampshire and Hardy Counties, W. Va., are ministered to several times a year by the Pastor of Keyser. During all these years, from 1876 to the present, a Catholic school has been maintained in Keyser, though the number of school children never exceeded 35. It is now taught by Miss Bee Ahern, of Martinsburg, where she was principal of the Catholic School for a number of years, and also at Winches- ter. The Keyser congregation now numbers 51 families, and about 250 souls. At Paw-Paw there are eleven families and fifty-three souls.
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The Catholic church in West Virginia is just in its mis- sionary state, but great progress is being made everywhere. The Diocese of Wheeling will one day be an important one. There are several fine churches in Wheeling, and a large re- ligious scholastic institution at Mt. de Chantal. At Parkers- burg, Charleston, Clarksburg, Weston, Morgantown, Fairmont, and at most of the towns in the State, are flourishing Catholic congregations and zealous laborers. For want of missionary priests in the early settlement of this Little Mountain State, the church lost many of its faithful. Quite a number of Catholic families from Southern Pennsylvania settled through the Eastern Panhandle counties in the latter part of the last century and the beginning of the present. The Maryland and Conewago Jesuits followed them up as long as possible, but increasing age and labors, and removals by death, in course of time confined the limit of their ministry east of the Blue Ridge. The children of these emigrants, some in Hampshire and adjoining counties, drifted away from the faith through the negligence of their parents and the want of religious in- structions. The seed of faith is still there, and being now cultivated by good laborers, will bring an abundant harvest to the church.
We have not time to extend our researches much farther. At Grafton, Taylor Co., 100 miles from Keyser, the Catholics are well established. St. Augustine's was the first religious organization in the town. Father Dillon celebrated Mass there in 1853. A church was built in 1856, and Revs. Cun- ningham and Malone visited the Catholics in the surrounding communities. The first church is now used as a parish school for the girls, and the first parsonage is now occupied as the Sisters' Home. Rev. Malone died and was buried there in 1867. Revs. Duffy and Welsh succeeded. Father Walters. a wealthy priest, built the present fine church at his own ex- pense in 1872. He died several years ago. Rev. Keleher took charge in 1879. Since that schools, societies and church work generally, have been carried on very prosperously .- There are a number of Sisters at the Home, Mother Staney, Superior. Sister Genevieve conducts an excellent music department.
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THE MARTINSBURG CHURCH.
When the Diocese of Richmond was divided in 1850, Mar- tinsburg and a few adjoining churches in West Virginia fell to the old Diocese. and are now under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Richmond, Va. There were Catholics among the first settlers of the Shenandoah Valley, who crossed the Blue Ridge into Virginia from Maryland and Pennsylvania as early as 1750. Many of the early Catholics families have died out or removed farther Westward, and not a few turned their backs upon the religion of their fathers from wordly motives. There have been many converts to the church since the first establishment. The first missionaries through here came from Frederick, Taneytown and Conewago. Fathers Frambach, Gallitzin and Zocchi rode a circuit of two hundred miles be- fore 1800, which extended to Cumberland and south to Win- chester. There is a tradition that French priests traveled through this valley, doing missionary work among the Indians. We have not been able to trace anything positive of them, except in regard to the Abbe Jean Dubois, who landed at Norfork in 1791, traveling from there to Frederick and on to the mountains where he founded Mt. St. Mary's. It is evident that he said Mass in the house of the McSherry's, who were among the first Catholic settlers of this valley ; and also with a family in the vicinity of what is now known as Orleans Church, where there was an old log church at an early day. The tradition of the French priests may also refer to Brad- dock's expedition, and the French and Indian wars at that time, and later to the French allies under Washington, as many of the troops in those wars traversed this country, and where there were French soldiers there were Catholic priests.
Another priest who did active missionary work through this valley, from Hagerstown to Winchester and from Fred- erick and Middleway to Martinsburg and West, was Rev. Denis Cahill. Business transactions also called him here as
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early as 1800, as some of the law proceedings in the Berkeley Courts will show. He celebrated Mass in a private house from time to time, until the spring of 1806, when he left for his native Ireland. It is said the first marriage celebrated in Martinsburg was by Father Cahill, and that it caused consid- erable interest among Protestants, who at that time yet en- tertained peculiar ideas about the appearance of Catholic priests. It is very likely, therefore, that he also said Mass in Martinsburg, either at the McSherry's or at the house of John Timmons. It is the supposition of some that Father Carroll visited this section, but there is no record of his labors except at Middleway. Richard MeSherry, Sr., had a homestead near there, called " Retirement Farm," which was a well-known stopping place for the missionary priests before 1800. He was born in 1747, died in 1822. Wm. McSherry was also born in that year, died in 1834; they were probably broth- ers' children. Richard McSherry, Jr., lived in Martinsburg, nearly opposite the present Catholic Church. The Catholics were attended occasionally by priests from Frederick and Hagerstown. Mass was said in the house of John Timmons for the period of nineteen years, probably from about 1810 to near 1830.
From the time Father Cahill left, 1806, to about 1820, we can ascertain nothing definite, but are of the opinion that several priests on the Maryland missions passed through the valley occasionally. In those early days before there were churches or congregations, the missionaries had different points through the country which they visited, where Mass was said. and baptisms and marriages and other ceremonies of the church performed. These places were mostly the houses of well known Catholic families. Priests from Georgetown may have been occasionally called to these places by sickness or death. The name of Anthony Kohlman is remembered by some .- He was Superior of the Maryland Missions in 1817, and Rec- tor of Gonzaga College in 1821. From the baptismal registers we gather some names and dates, which are reliable as far as
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they go. The missionary field to which Martinsburg belonged, was extensive, and it is not likely that the priests were resi- dent anywhere much before 1840. To give some idea of the extent, there are entries of baptisms, marriages and deaths at the following places, taking them as they come : Harper's Ferry, near Clarksburg, Valley River, North River, Bath, Upper Dam, Martinsburg, Leetown, Dugan's, Waterford, Smithfield, Sleepy Creek, Hillsboro, Shepherdstown, Boland's, Winchester, Lovettsville, Loudon Co. Frederick Co., Wash- ington Co., Warren Co., Romney, Hampshire Co., Berkeley and Jefferson, Front Royal, Strasburg, &c. This was especi- ally the field covered by Father Whelan, though Father Plunkett yet attended many of these places. Is there not a priest or anyone in the Virginias who will do justice to the life and labors of Richard Whelan ? For many years he kept the faith alive from the Ohio to the boundaries of the Poto- mac and the Shenandoah. He traversed hills and mountains, through rain and shine and cold and heat ; many a death-bed was gladdened by his presence. many a heart made happy and a soul saved through his labors. Great and grand was his charity, sincere his life and disinterested his sacrifices, for he sought no temporal reward and received no earthly pay. He is the Frambach or the Gallitzin of the Virginias. Though a stranger to us in a strange country, his life's work challenges our admiration.
The first record is that of Rev. James Redmond, May 30th, 1819, and his last Aug. 13th, 1821. In 1820, Father Redmond married a couple " in the chapel room." Whether he commenced the building of the old stone church. is not known. Rev. John Mahoney's name appears in 1822. Then there is no record until 1834, in which year are the names of Revs. Geo. Flautt and Francis B. Jamison. In 1835, the lat- ter baptized eight children, slaves, the property of Miss Ann O'Neal, of Montgomery Co. Rev. Richard Whelan's name appears Jan. 3d, 1835, and continuously until 1840. In 1838. there is the name of an assistant, Rev. Jos. Strain. Rev. P
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Danaher signs himself temporary pastor in 1841. Rev. John O'Brien pastor from 1842 to '44, and occasionally in '45, 6 and 7. Rev. Jos. H. Plunkett was pastor continuously from 1844 to 1851 ; from that year until 1853, Rev. Andrew Talty was with him; from that time until Jan. 5th, 1856, Rev, Plunkett's name appears alone. Sept. 19th, 1845, baptism in Moorefield by Bishop Whelan. After he was Bishop of Rich- mond he traveled through Western Virginia more like a mis- sionary than a Bishop, and there are baptismal and marriage records by him as Bishop on many of the missions. There is the signature of Rev. A. Grogan once or twice from 1848 to '52. The only Jesuits whose names are found are Fathers Ciampi and Bague, about 1850. Rev. Father Leitte signed in 1854. Bishop McGill baptized Joseph Plunkett, of Mobile, in 1851. Rev. L. E. Leonard took charge Feb. Ist, 1856, remaining a few months. Rev. Andrew Talty was pastor from that until 1860, with the names, occasionally, of Revs. Plunkett and W. Kenney. Rev. Thos. A. Becker was pastor from Jan. 1860, until 1863. So much for the records.
The date of the erection of the first church building is put by some at 1828; others make it 1830, by Father Red- mond. He must have been a Virginia priest, as his name is strange to us. There were about fifty Catholic families here, who aided liberally in the work, as did also their Protestant friends. The church cost about $4,000, and was located on the ground of the present Catholic Cemetery. He was called to Rome, before the church was completed. He died there, much beloved and regretted by the Catholics of Virginia.
Rev. Patrick Kelley was appointed Bishop of Richmond when the Diocese was formed in 1820. He resided at Nor- folk. The Laity's Directory of 1822, says that the Catholics of Martinsburg, Winchester, Bath, and Shepherdstown were formerly attended by priests from Maryland, but in the future would be in charge of the priest stationed at Winchester .- Rev. J. B. Gildea attended the missions from 1830 until 1835. Besides completing the Martinsburg Church, he built St. Peter's
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at Harper's Ferry, and St. Vincent's in Baltimore. His name is not on the records. Rev. Richard Vincent Whelan took charge in 1836, remaining four years. He was a noble priest and a true missionary. He was the second Bishop of Richmond, consecrated March 31st, 1841. In 1846, he visited Wheeling, and seeing the great need of laborers in the vine- yard at that place, he never returned to his See. He became the first Bishop of Western Virginia, and labored, died and is buried at Wheeling. Rev. John McGill became Bishop of Richmond in 1850. The Rt. Rev. James Gibbons, now Arch- bishop of Baltimore, succeeded him in 1872. Bishop Keane is the present prelate in charge of the Diocese, a very elo- quent and learned man, much beloved by priests and people. Rev. John Kain succeeded Bishop Whelan in the West Vir- ginia Diocese. His parents resided in Martinsburg, where he spent his childhood years. He had three sisters, one living, one in religion, and another one died from the fright of sol- diers entering the house during the war. His aged mother has just been buried at Wheeling; she was in her 81st year, and came to Martinsburg from Ireland fifty years ago.
Rev. J. O'Brien succeeded Father Whelan as pastor at Martinsburg. about 1840, and remained seven years, Rev. J. H. Plunket was sent in 1845, who commenced the erection of the present St. Joseph's Church on South Queen St. The subscription paper is dated Feb. 17th, 1850. The corner- stone was laid in 1850. The church was dedicated Sept. 30th, 1860, by Bishop McGill ; it cost about $40,000. It is a very substantial building, with a beautiful marble altar. The plan of architecture provided for a steeple, the massive stone front at the church being intended for its foundations.
It is said that the old church at Martinsburg was built by Rev. J. B. Gildea ; he may have finished it. St. Peter's Church, Harper's Ferry, was built by him. He attended Martinsburg and the missions along the canal route. He died in Baltimore and is buried under the altar in St. Vincent's Church. This priest frequently said Early Mass at the Ferry,
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then rode on horse back to Martinsburg and said Late Mass. The Frederick priests attended Harper's Ferry for many years. It is related that some fanatical Virginians in pursuit of Rev. James Frambach, S. J., made him swim his horse across the Potomac, under fire of their guns. As we have seen, Harper's Ferry was served by many priests who attended Martinsburg and the other missions. So was Shepherdstown, which has never yet had a church, services being held in private houses. An effort is now being made to build a church. Rev. Denis Cahill said Mass there before 1800. Among the late pastors of Harper's Ferry, are Revs. Kain, Van de Vyver, O'Reilley ; and Wilson, lately from Petersburg, Va. He has several missions in Loudon, Frederick and Jefferson Counties.
The ground for the cemetery and old church at Martins- burg, was given by Richard MeSherry. His house was a home for every one in need ; priests and people, all found in him a friend. Mrs. McSherry, (the Anastasia of Wizard Clip.) would send word far and wide to gather together the few Catholics, so they could receive the Sacraments. His charity was unbounded ; many a poor Irishman owes his start in life to him, and she was equally good to poor girls.
Among the priests who occasionally attended Martins- burg from the Western Maryland missions were Revs. Flautt, Jamison and Myers, and perhaps others. Rev. John O'Brien left the Virginia Missions about 1858, and went to Lowell, Mass., where he died. The Sisters of Charity were establish- ed in Martinsburg many years ago, probably under Rev .. Whelan ; they left for want of support, as the congregation was small and poor. One of the Sisters. (Victoria we believe,) died and was buried here, but whether she was afterwards removed to Emmettsburg. we can not ascertain. Father Whelan was a hard worker. He fenced in the graveyard, and laid a stone walk from Pendleton's corner to the church- yard gate. With his own hands he made the large double cistern, still used at the new church. Unlimited was his care for the poor, for whom he solicited in person, and with his own
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arms would take them wood and supplies,-when going to say Mass in early winter mornings, some poor widow would find an armful of wood at her door when she awoke. He would give when he was in want himself. Father Plunkett was also a faithful missionary priest. He began the stone work of the present church ; for want of means work was suspended and the walls covered over. He was removed to Portsmouth ; where he built, or partly so, a large church, and died there, much beloved by all who knew him. Rev. Andrew Talty, his assistant at Martinsburg, finished the church here as far as funds would allow. He put wooden steps before the church, which were replaced with stone by Rev. J. J. Kain, who also finished the basement. During the War it was used by the Jessie Scouts for a stable for sixty horses, and the sacristy rooms were used as prisons. Capt. Kyd Douglass was con- fined there six months. The church was only used twice by the soldiers, as the wooden steps were too frail and ineonven- ient. Rev. Talty died in Washington, in the hospital. Bishop Becker was a convert under Father Plunkett ; he was bap- tized in Winchester, made his First Communion at the Ferry and was confirmed in St. John's (the old church, ) Martinsburg, Nov. 6th, 1853, by Bishop John McGill. Bishop Kain was confirmed by the same in 1851. He was born " near Bath," (probably near North Mountain,) May 22d, 1840. His par- ents were Jeremiah and Ellen Kain. He was ordained about 1866. Bishop Becker was sent through the lines to Balti- more by Gen. Stevenson, for praying for President Davis .--- He was ordained in Rome about 1860; became Bishop of Wilmington in 1868.
There is mention of Rev. E. O'Flaherty having been sent to Martinsburg in Jan .. 1856, but nothing is known of him here.
Rev. Oscar Sears succeeded Father Becker. He remained until compelled to leave by ill health, when he went to Lynch- burg, where he died Oct. 30th, 1867. He was a convert .- The present parsonage was purchased when he was pastor, in
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1866. Father Kain succeeded. He improved the church in many ways; built the stone steps, finished the basement so it could be used for school rooms, frescoed the church, estab- lished parochial schools and paid off many debts. He built the present church at Berkeley Springs, which is also an old Catholic mission. It was famous for its springs before the Revolution, and the Carrolls, Washington and other great men visited the place. There was a brick church there before the present one was built, and before that an old log church .- There was a Jesuit priest named Brady had a property there, known as the priest's place. Some Sulpitians were also there years ago. It is now attended several times a month by Rev. H. J. McKeefry, from Martinsburg.
Rev. P. J. O'Keefe was for a time the assistant of Father Kain at Martinsburg, and succeeded him. Ill health compelled his removal. Rev. J. Kelley, of Richmond, took charge Jan. 19th, 1874 ; he continued the good work and paid off some of the debts. He was succeeded Nov. Sth, by Rev. C. Van Quackelburg, of Natchez, Tenn. He built the church at Paw- Paw, and made many improvements in Martinsburg. Here- turned to Natchez in 1877, and died there of Yellow Fever. He is kindly remembered as " Father Charles." Rev. John Docherty, of Warrenton, Va., followed and remained until 1880 ; paid off considerable of the debt, and was much be- loved and respected by the people. He is now stationed at St. Patrick's, Richmond. Rev. O'Donohue was an assistant of Father Kelley, and remained with Father Charles; he was appointed pastor of Warrenton and surrounding missions .- Rev. J. B. O'Reilley then came for a short period. He then became pastor of Harper's Ferry, and is now at Winchester, where he succeeded the learned Dr. O'Connel, Secretary of the late Council of Baltimore and now Rector of the Ameri- can College at Rome.
Rev. H. J. McKeefry, the present pastor, came from Norfolk in 1881. He was born at Kilsea, County Derry, Ireland; took his classical course at Visnage College, Belfast ;
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studied philosphy and theology at St. Vincent's College, Pa., and was ordained at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, by Bishop Becker, June 28th, 1871, for the Richmond Diocese. He is a young man, full of energy and zeal in his church work. He is a prudent manager, a successful financier in the raising of money and the payment of purchasing and building prop- erty,-abilities that may point him out in course of time for more important ecclesiastical stations. He is well liked by his congregation, who work together with him in perfect harmony in all church work.
Years ago there were a good many Germans in St. Jos- eph's congregation, but since the building the B. & O. R. R. the Irish form the greater part of the congregation. Their native fidelity to the church shows itself here. They are mostly poor workers on the railroad and in the shops, but in raising a church subscription we have seen poor men sub- scribe far more than they were worth. We note this in vol- untary testimony to their liberality and their true Irish faith, which have always challenged the admiration of the christian world.
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