USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > Loretto > Souvenir of Loretto centenary, October 10, 1899 : 1799-1899 ,Saint Michael's Catholic Church > Part 7
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Family Surname.
No. of Familles,
No. of Children Baptized.
Family Surname.
No. of Fuitlies.
No. of Children Baptized.
Adams
12
57
Litzinger
19
69
Bradley
25
93
McConnell
20
52
Brown
11
28
McCoy
13
61
Burgoon
= =
of
MeDermitt
12
44
Burke
10
36
McGough
15
66
Byrne
13
McGuire
25
114
Christy
34
MeMullen
17
55
Conrad
13
5.5
Miller
11
30
Coons (Kuhus)
12
Myers
23
114
Dimond
10
Nagle
=
56
Dougherty
57
Noel
23
98
Eckenrode
23
107
('Neill
10
33
Flick
10
49
Parrish
12
6]
Glass
20
94
Skelly, O'Skally
12
Hertzog
10
39
Smith
14
21
LORETTO CENTENARY.
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Paimity
No. of Familie.
No of Children Baptiz .d.
Family Surname.
No. of Families.
No. of Children Baptized.
Hoover ( Huber)
=
Stevens
11
19
Kane, Kean, Cain. 12
Storm
12
Kayhır
12
Sweeney
Jo
Kelly
三
21
Weakland 14
55
Little
Will
20
3.
During the nine months absence of Father Kittell in Rome in 1896, the parish was in charge of Rev. Patrick J. Hawe.
THE BOROUGH OF LORETTO.
This town was so named by Father Gallitzin after the famous Loreto on the Adriatic coast, Italy. A plan of the town is on file in Vol. 1, page 503, Recorder's office, Ebens- burg. Pa. It is a neat village, containing three rows of lots, divided by two principal streets, sixty feet wide, running fifty-three degrees east of north. St. Mary's street is at present the main thoroughfare, and it runs parallel to the lower street, St. Joseph's, which was the original highway. Three cross streets, cach sixty feet wide, intersect the two named streets at right angles within the plot of the borough. The central row of lots between St. Mary's and St. Joseph's streets contains forty-eight lots, each one hundred and sixty feet in depth. The exterior rows contain the same number of lots, forty-eight, but these are two hundred feet in depth. The first eross street, as one goes north through the town, is named St. John's street, the second, which leads on to St. Francis' College, St. Peter's, and the third, St. Paul's. Half way between the cross streets there is an alley : and an alley also at the rear of each of the exterior rows of lots. The lots are numbered from North to South in each row. Thus the town is divided into twelve squares, of twelve lots each.
The above is according to an old drawing entitled: "A plan of the town of Loretto, in the County of Cambria, and State of Pennsylvania, laid out by the Reverend Demetrius Callitzin, " and is certified to as follows :
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" Be it remembered that on the tenth day of May, in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, before me, the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Cambria, personally appeared the Rev. D. 3. Gallitzin, and acknowledged the within plan of the town of Loretto to be his act and deed, for the end the same may be recorded as such according to law. In testimony whereof I have heromto set my hand and seal, the day and year aforesaid.
LUKE MCGUIRE.
Though laid ont in 1816, the town was not incorporated as a borough until 1845.
ACT OF INCORPORATION. No. 93. -
An Act to Incorporate the Village of Loretto, in Cambria County, into a Borough.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the au- thority of the same, That the village of Loretto, in the County of Cambria, shall be and the same is hereby erected into a borongh, which shall be called the Borough of Loretto, and shall be bounded and limited as follows, viz: Beginning at a point on the Philipsburg road, six perches north of the widow Walter's honse; thence cast to a point which includes the church and parsonage of St. Michael's: thence south to a point from which the line running west will include the town lots laying south of St. Mary's street ; thence west to a point opposite to the place of beginning; thence north to the place of beginning.
Sperox 2. That the inhabitants of the said borough entitled to vote for members of the general assembly, having resided within the bonds of said borongh at least six months immediately preceding the election, shall have power, on the Friday preceding the third Saturday in March next, to meet
LORETTO CENTENARY.
at the public school honse, and on the same day annually thereafter at the, place aforesaid, and shall then and there, between the hours of one and six in the afternoon of said day, elect by ballot, one respectable citizen residing therein, who shall be styled the burgess, and five citizens of said borongh to be a town conneil, and shall elect also as aforesaid one citizen as high constable: but previous to said election the citizens qualitied as aforesaid shall choose one citizen to act as judge, and two citizens to act as inspectors, one of whom shall act as clerk of said election; and the election to be conducted throughout according to the general election laws of this commonwealth, and the officers of the same shall be subject to the same penalties for malpractice, as by the said election laws are imposed; the said judge and inspec- tors, before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take the same oaths or affirmations before any justice of the peace of the same county, as are prescribed by the laws of this commonwealth, and after the election shall be closed shall declare the persons having the greatest num- ber of votes to be duly elected, and the certificates required by the general election laws shall be duly made out and signed by them, and filed amongst the records of said bor- ongh.
·
SECTION 3. That from and after the first day of April next, the burgess and town council, and their successors in office, shall be one body politie and corporate, by the name and style of the " Burgess and Town Council of the Borough of Loretto," and shall have perpetual succession, and shall be capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in any court of law of this commonwealth in all manner of actions whatsoever, and to have and use a common seal.
SECTION 4. That if any person, duly elected to the office as burgess, member of town council, or high constable as aforesaid, shall refuse or neglect to take upon himself the duties of said office, he shall forfeit and pay for the use of said borough the sum of ten dollars, to be collected in like manner as sums of like amount are now recoverable by law.
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SECTION 5. That all officers of said borongh, before en- tering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take and subscribe before any judge or justice of the peace of said county, to "support the Constitution of the United States, and of the State of Pennsylvania, and to perform the duties of his office with fidelity," and the certificate of the same shall be filed among the records of said corporation.
SECTION 6. That the said burgess and town council shall meet on the first Monday after their election, in each year, and appoint a clerk of said borough, whose duty it shall be to take charge of all the papers, records and common seal of said borough, and be responsible for the same; and shall keep a fair record of all proceedings, resolutions, by-laws and ordinances of said council; and the said burgess and town conneil shall have power to make, erect, alter, revise, repeal or amend all by-laws, rules, regulations and ordi- nances as shall be determined by a majority of them, neces- sary to promote the peace, good order, benefit and advantage of said borough, and particularly providing for the regula- tions, improving, repairing and keeping in order the streets and alleys. They shall have power to assess and apportion such taxes as shall be determined by a majority of them, and also to appoint a street supervisor, treasurer and such other officers as may be deemed necessary, from time to time: Pro- vided, That in the assessment of taxes, such tax shall not ex- ceed one-half of the tax assessed for county purposes, on the citizens of said borough.
SECTION 7. That the burgess is hereby empowered to issue his precept to the high constable as often as occasion may require, commanding him forthwith to collect all taxes so assessed, and the same to pay over to the treasurer.
SECTION 8. That the treasurer, street supervisor, and high constable, shall, before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, enter into bonds with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the burgess, conditioned for the faithful performance of their duties.
SECTION 9. That the high constable of the said borough, shall, on giving surety and being qualified in the court of
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quarter sessions of the county, have and exercise all the powers appertaining to the offices of township constable. FINDLEY PATTERSON,
Speaker of the House of Representatives. WILLIAM P. WILCOX. Speaker of the Senate.
Approved-The eighth day of March, one thousand eight Inindred and forty-five. FRS. R. SHUNK.
No. 141.
A Supplement to an Act, Entitled " An Act Erecting the Vil- lage of Loretto, in the County of Cambria, into a Borough.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by authority of the same, That the said borough of Loretto shall hereafter be bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a post on the Church farm ; thence north thirty-one and one-half de- grees, west one hundred and twenty-nine perches; thence north fifty-eight and one-half degrees, east twenty and one- half perches; thence north thirty-one and one-half degrees, west forty-nine perches; thence south eighty-eight and one- half degrees, east thirteen perches; thence north ten perches; thence east seventy-five perches; thence south twenty-three degrees, cast one hundred and fifty-one perches ; thence north eighty-eight and one-half degrees, west nine- teen and one-half perches; thence south fifty-eight and one- half degrees, west sixty-four and one-half perches, to the beginning.
SECTION 2. That so much of the act to which this is a supplement which is hereby altered or supplied, be and the same is hereby repealed. FINDLEY PATTERSON,
Speaker of the House of Representatives. DANIEL L. SHERWOOD, Speaker of the Senate.
Approved-The twenty-fourth day of March, one thou- sand eight hundred and forty-six. FRS. R. SHUNK.
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LORETTO NOTES.
In 1880 boretto contained a population of only seventy- one people; on the 15th of August of the current year, the resident population numbered 209 souls, all Catholies. The number of honses is fifty-nine, of which six are untenanted. There are six stores for general merchandise and one for Furniture: one livery stable, one undertaking establishment, the barber shop, two blacksmith shops; and several carpen- ters and painters, but no butcher or shoemaker within the limits of the town. Within the limits of the parish outside the town there are three stores, as many saw-mills, one grist-mill, and some shoemakers, blacksmiths and other tradesmen, the rest of the people living on farms. The whole population of the parish, which covers an area of about seventy square miles of rough mountain territory, numbers 1234 souls, of whom all, with very few exceptions, are Cath- olies.
Loretto is situated on a ridge, just six miles from Gal- litzin to the cast, Ashville to the northeast, Chest Springs to the north, and Ebensburg to the west; five miles from Cres- son to the south, and eight miles from Wilmore to the south- west. It is an ideal place of residence, there being no public works in or near the town, and enjoys exceptional advan- tages. A public hack runs twice a day to and from Cresson, on the main line of the Pennsylvania Central railroad, and on each round trip takes and brings the mail. Just one mile West of the town is Loretto Road station on the Cambria and Clearfield Division of the Pennsylvania railroad.
One of the wonders of the district is "the big pine tree" in the yet unbroken forest, two miles out of town, near the road to Cresson. It has four prongs, which, starting from the trunk, reach to a great height. Its age cannot be calenlated.
Three miles cast of Loretto, on the road to Gallitzin, stands Sybert's, formerly Dawson's, grist-mill, which is on the site of the old John Sturm mill, the first in the county. Early in the century Father Gallitzin built a grist-mill a short
LORETTO CENTENARY.
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distance below his residence and its ruins were visible until quite recently.
One mile east of Loretto is the site of the once famous "Loretto Springs." At this place there are several springs of excellent water; and sometime prior to 1880, a mill-race had been dug, diverging from the left bank of the creek about half a mile above, and crossing the road now leading to Gallitzin no less than four times, and supplying water to a neat, dam which furnished the power for a saw-will a short distance below. The farm on which the mill was erected belonged to Henry J. MeGinire, who constructed the race and built the mill and operated it for many years. It was later sold to Mr. Forrester, and still later operated by Mr. Samuel Stoy, and then soll to Mr. William Hurd.
The "Loretto Springs" hotel was famous in its day as a summer resort. The buildings were erected about the year 1857, and were capable of accommodating about 150 guests. The proprietor was Mr. Francis Gibbons. The annual re- treat for the diocesan clergy was held here for some years, the last being held in 1872. The place was then sold to Mr. Robert Burdine, and on the third day of May, following, while preparations were being made for the usual influx of city guests, fire broke out and consumed the entire estab- lishment.
The old "Plank Road " between Loretto and Cresson was built and managed by a private company, and supported and kept in repair until abandoned as an unprofitable speculation, by the revenue from a toll-gate located at McManamy's "Half-way House."
For some years the Franciscan Brothers taught the Loretto public school for boys, and the Sisters of Mercy the school for girls. When the new school house was built the Sisters had charge of both boys and girls until 1891, since which tine it has been conducted by the following lay- teachers: Mr. Andrew J. Sanker, 1891-93; Prof. R. H. Biter, with Misses Lizzie Sweeney and Tillie Bradley, 1893-96; Prof. J. S. Foley, with Miss Mary Cramer, 1896-97; Prof. A. P. Weakland, with Misses Mary Cramer and Loretto Sar-
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geant, 1897-99; and for the present term (1899-1900), Mr. W. J. Little and Miss Sargeant are employed as teachers.
One of the earliest enterprises of any kind for Loretto was a foundry for the manufacture of all kinds of castings useful in that age and locality. It was erected in the years of 18-49-50 by Peter J. Little, a son of Barnabas Little, one of the earliest pioneers of Allegheny Township. Peter J. Little moved From Bedford County and occupied the honse for- merly owned by Lewis Storm, the first undertaker of Lo- retto. Mr. Storm was one of the assistants at the last mass said by Rev. D. A. Gallitzin, and was the undertaker who had charge of the mortal remains after his death, May 6, 1840. Shortly after this he was succeeded by Mr. Sebastian Fry, who carried on the undertaking business until the year 1899, when he made it over to Mr. James Biter, who continues to ably conduct it.
The Loretto Hattery, at which were made felt hats of fine quality, worn by almost all the residents, was an enterprise of the town for many years prior to and after the death of Dr. Gallitzin. This business was owned and managed by Mr. John Riffle, who died in 1852, and of whom John, James and George were sons. His establishment was on the corner of St. John's and St. Joseph's streets, on lot No. 37, just op- posite the present home of Mrs. Margaret McElheny.
OBITUARY NOTICES.
REV. MATTHEW WILLIAM GIBSON.
Father Matthew William Gibson was born in Hexham, England, in 1817. and received his primary education at Ushaw College in the County of Durham, after which he was sent by Cardinal Wiseman to the Propaganda in Rome, where he remained eight years. In 1832 he came to the United States and was ordained priestin Philadelphia in 1841, by Bishop Kenrick. His first charge was at Lorette, Cam- bria County, where he acted as assistant to Rev. Lemke, the shecessor of Father Gallitzin, remained there until he was
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LORETTO CENTENARY.
appointed pastor of St. Bartholomew's Church, Wilmore, in 1812, where he remained for several years. His name is found in the Baptismal and Matrimonial Registers of St. Michael's, Loretto, until 1844. He wasnext appointed pastor of St. John's Church, Worcester, Mass., and had charge of three other congregations in that vicinity, where he remained eight years and then went to Racine, Wis., where he con- tinued his ministrations during the War of the Rebellion. After the war he returned to England and was appointed by the Bishop of "Hexham and New Castle," pastor of Monk- wearmouth, in Sunderland, where he built a large stone church. After some years he was appointed Chaplain of Callaly Castle, Northumberland, where he remained about four years. Returning to this country he took charge of the congregation at Beverty, N. J.
In the latter end of March, 1888, he went to Ebensburg, Cambria County, Pa., where he intended to live the remain- der of his days, his health having become much impaired. He had been a great traveler, having crossed the ocean seven- teen times, and had traveled through Ireland, Scotland, Prus- sia, Belgium, Switzerland and France.
Father Gibson was a highly educated man and spent an active and busy live in ministering to the spiritual wants of the various congregations in this country and in England committed to his charge. He was a sincere and zealous priest and was loved and respected by all who knew him.
He died at the residence of his niece, Mrs. J. A. Shoe- maker, in Ebensburg, Pa., June 9, 1888, in the 22nd year of his age.
MEMORANDA OF REV. M. W. GIBSON. (Copied from a paper in his own hand writing).
I am the priest who said the first mass in Fitchburg, Mass. I was appointed pastor of Worcester in 1843. Pre- vious to my going to Fitchburg Father Strain, from Waltham, had attended a few sick calls.
I attended a sick call at Mr. Manam's woolen mill, where a few Catholics were employed, and in a week or so after-
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wards said the first mass in Fitchburg. That was in 1843, and from that time I was recognized as pastor of Fitchburg, in fact, of nearly the whole county. I have no notes or records whatever to refer to, but I remember it well. I was always on the move, officiating in all the towns in Worcester County.
Mr. Cahill, an Irish contractor, when he completed his contract on railroad from Fitchburg to West, gave me the shanties of his men, which I took down and built a small church with them on the spot where the house stood which I afterwards built a short distance south of the present Church of St. Bernard. It was a long, narrow building, capa- ble of holding 100 people. It got the name of "The Cathedral Shanty." When I blessed foundations of it, Fathers Reardon, my assistant then, and Williams and O'Brien assisted. O'Brien preached on the occasion from a chair with the American flag over his head on a Liberty pole. We tried to make a great memorable day of it, but I cannot give the dates: it was in the year 1844.
When the church was up we opened it with a solemn high mass. A few months after there were two windows in the sanctuary, one on each side of the altar, with turkey red curtains and a borrowed carpet. The church held all the Catholics of Fitchburg and surrounding country. This shanty church was used until the new church of St. Ber- nard's had a foundation up, which we covered and used as a church and school. I afterwards got a grave yard on the other side of the river.
I was born in Hexham, Northumberland, England, May, 1817, and educated in Propaganda, Rome.
I was ordained by Bishop Kenrick, in St. John's Cathe- drul, Philadelphia, Pa., August, 1841. First mission, Loretto; succeeded Rev. Dr. Gallitzin. In 1843 went to Worcester, Mass.
Built. St. John's Church, Worcester; also St. Am's Church, Worcester; St. George's, Saxonville; St. Polycarp's, Leicester; St. Bernard's, Fitchburg; St. Luke's, West Boyls-
REV. JOSEPH A. GALLAGHER. PASTOR 1852-55.
SI
LORETTO CENTENARY.
tom: St. Louis', Webster: St. Bridget's, Millbury: St. Martin's, Templeton.
Bought St. Leo's Church. Leominster, from Protestants. Founded the congrega- tions of Southbridge, Spen- cer, Holden, Leicester, Gard- ner, Barre, Uxbridge, Graf- ton, Whittinsville, Holliston, Framingham, Hopkinton, Winchenden, N. H.
In Wisconsin built St. Charles', Cassville: St. Pat- rick's, Racine: St. Lawrence O'Toole's, Mt. Hope; St. Clement's, Lancaster.
Built Church of SS. Jo- seph, Patrick and Cuthbert, in Coonforth, County Dur- ham, England. Built the Presbytery of Coonforth, England, and of Beverly, N. J.
WILLIAM A. M'GUIRE ..
REV. ANDREW P. GIBBS.
Father Gibbs was a native of Queens County, Ireland,- where he was born in 1815. He entered on his studies for the sacred ministry in St. Charles Borromeo's Seminary, Philadelphia, and on the conclusion of his theological course was ordained priest on the 20th of September, 1840, by Bishop F. P. Kenrick, of Philadelphia. For at least forty-five - years prior to his death he was on the Missions of Western. Pennsylvania. From some time in 1844 until 1846 he was an assistant at St. Michael's, Loretto, during the pastorate of Father Lemke. In 1846 he became the first pastor of the Summit. For thirty-one years just prior to his death, which. occurred July 19, 1885, he was pastor of St. Mary's congre- gation, Lawrenceville, Pittsburg, which he organized in 1554. Since that time four congregations, two English and two ..
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German, have been organized out of the original territory of his parish.
No one worked with more earnest zeal in the Lord's vine- yard than did Father Gibbs. Wherever he labored during the forty-five years of his ministry the good fruits are visi- ble to this day. But the greatest monument which he leaves behind to perpetuate and endear his name to a grateful peo- ple is St. Mary's Church, with its convent, school buildings and pastoral residence, and the ample grounds around them. At his death he was the oldest officiating priest in the diocese. He died Sunday morning, between the hours of 2 and 3 o'clock, at his residence on Forty-sixth street, Pittsburg, in the 70th year of his age, after an illness of only a few days.
His mortal remains were consigned to their last resting place in St. Mary's cemetery.
REV. HUGH PATRICK GALLAGHER.
Father Gallagher was born in Killygordon, County Done- gal, Ireland, on Easter Sunday, in the year 1815. Having been elevated to the holy ministry, he labored in the mission of the Diocese of Pittsburg for about eight years while the diocese was yet in its infancy. His last field was that of Loretto, where he became pastor September 27, 1844, and remained until 1852, breaking the bread of life and directing the spiritnal affairs of that part of the Lord's vineyard up to his departure for California'in the latter part of the year. Among people of all creeds and classes, and wherever he was known, he was highly esteemed, and all who had the pleasure of his personal acquaintance loved "Father Hugh" for the purity of his life, the edification of his example, the charity of his heart, and above all, the zeal with which he de- voted his life to the spread of the true faith and the enduring glory of God. He was truly a priest of God.
In word and work, with prudence and perseverence, his whole energy was devoted to the propagation of the faith and the founding of institutions which would give Catholic instruction to the youth, save the fallen sinner from further iniquity and shelter the orphan from the rude blasts of the heartless world.
LORETTO CENTENARY.
83
Having been in California for twenty-nine years after severing his connection with St. Michael's, Loretto, Father Hugh Gallagher resigned his pastorate of St. Joseph's Church, San Francisco, and on advice of his physician, started on a journey to eastern States and Ireland to recruit his health. Returning he finished his course on earth and died in St. Mary's Hospital, San Francisco, on Friday morn- ing, March 10, 1882, in the 67th year of his age.
It is to be regretted that no biographical notes of his esteemed brother, Rev. Jos. A. Gallagher, who succeeded him in the pastorate of St. Michael's Church, Loretto, are at present to be found.
REV. WILLIAM POLLARD.
Father Pollard was born in the "Isle of Saints, " having first breathed the air of the County Kilkenny. He anxiously looked forward to the goal of his ambition, the sacred priest- hood; and with this end in view he labored to adorn his mind and to cultivate his heart. America appeared to him as the place in which God had destined him to work for His honor and glory. Though with no prospect before him but one of hard work and much suffering, he affiliated himself to the Pittsburg Diocese, under its then Bishop, Rt. Rev. Michael O'Connor, by whom he was raised to the priesthood in May, 1850.
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