USA > Texas > Galveston County > Galveston > Diamond jubilee, 1847-1922, of the diocese of Galveston and St. Mary's Cathedral > Part 10
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"N. STEHLE, Cong. Miss."
Then follows the record of the baptism of a slave, viz. :
"I, the undersigned, this ninth day of December, eighteen hundred and forty, baptized Marie Rose, born March 12, 1840, of Joe and Adelaide, servants of M. B. Menard. The sponsors were Medard and Susanna Menard.
JOHN TIMON, P. A T."
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DIOCESE OF GALVESTON
Others baptized in 1840 were: Sarah Labadie, Charlotte Labadie, Robert Alexander McCallum, Margaret Bergstrom and Maria Ounnen.
For the year 1841 we find recorded the baptism of Caroline DeLacy, Daniel Cochin, Mary Ann Fortney, Stephen Campion, Louise Ill, John Kreiner, Henry Reed, Mary Morrison, James Kehoe, Peter William Dinkelaker, James K. Klahn, and the fol- lowing two, the first baptisms administered here by the future bishop of Galveston, then vice-prefect apostolic, the Very Rev. John Mary Odin :
"I, the undersigned, priest of the Roman Catholic Church, the seventh of July, 1841, in the city of Galveston, baptized Anna Josephine, daughter of Denis Campion and Anna Murphy, born on the 18th of June, 1841. The sponsors were John M. Odin and Mary Murphy.
"J. M. ODIN, Vice Prefect Apost.
"I, the undersigned priest of the Roman Catholic Church, on the eleventh of July, 1841, baptized Mary Cicily, born on the twenty-fourth of May, A. D. 1841, of Nicholas D. Labadie and Mary Norman. The sponsors were Charles F. Labadie and Rosine J. Menard.
"J. M. ODIN, V. P. A. T."
The first baptisms in 1842 were those of John Hefferman, Edward Francis Byrne, and Marie Felicite Romaine.
The Republic of Texas was elevated from a prefecture apos- tolic to a vicariate apostolic March 6, 1842. The first baptismal entry of the vicariate reads as follows :
"Die 17 Maii, 1842, ego Joannes Maria Odin, Cong. Miss., miseratione divina et Sanctae Sedis Apostolicae gratia episcopus Claudiopolitanus et vicarius apostolicus Texensis, baptizavi Jo- annam Theresam Elizabeth, natam die 17 Martii, 1842, filiam Joannis B. Moser et Mariae Magdalenae Illig. Patrinus fuit Petrus Hyacinthus Moser et matrina Joanna Moser.
"JOANNES MARIA, Epis. Claudiopo., "Et Vic. Apos. Texensis."
The other baptisms of 1842 were those of Mary Magdalen Smith, Ann Elizabeth Reed, John Adoph Ute, Pauline Henrietta Cobb, Henry Francis Cobb, Susan Earl, Josephine Ann Officier, Elizabeth Slaven, Stanislas Maykowsky, Catherine Harriet Fort- ney, Sarah Butler, and Caroline Huete de Conde, whose baptis- mal record reads :
"12 Septembre, 1842, j'ai baptise Caroline Francoise Huete de Conde, nee le 10 Septembre a bord du grand Conde, fille de
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Barthelemy Denys Huete et de Marie Maurean. Le parrain a ete M. Charles Hyacinthe Maria Rogerie, et la marraine Fran- coise Piot.
"JEAN MARIE, Eve. de Claudiopolis, "Et Vic. A. du Texas."
The sacrament of baptism was administered, in 1843, to Mary Lecompte, Stephen Albardier, William Keogh, John Fahey, Margaret Fahey, Benjamin Daniel Conden, Louis F. Officier, Anthony, F. Clausen, Theresa De Young, John De Young, Josephine Seitz and Mary Ann Byrne.
The year 1844 shows the baptisms of Louisa Schneider, Sophie Hannaur, Julius P. Philipp, Sarah Elizabeth Lang, Mary Schmitt, Elizabeth Arsega, Rosa Billmann, Adolph Billmann, Joseph Marie, Isidore Gustave Menard, Joseph Stetson, Anna Mary Stetson, Mary Ellen Stetson, Thomas Gilbert, Pauline Harriet Villemain, James Edward Campion, Sophie Amelia Soehnlen, Francis Oliver Stetson, Coralie Testard, Michael B. Baudin, Mary Ann Lux, Mary Rooney, Adeline Michel, Peter Kappas, Mary Brucker, Michael Ohnschlaeger, Henry Netzen- heim, Nicholetta Meixner, and Pauline Hede. Likewise the fol- lowing interesting entries :
"On the 8th of September, 1844, I, the undersigned R. C. priest, baptized Richard, born March 10, 1844, of Louisa, servant of Nicholas Fitzsimmons. The sponsors were William and Theresa.
"JOHN BRANDS, C. M.
"On the 8th of September, 1844, I, the undersigned R. C. priest, baptized Martha, born June 5, 1842, of Louisa, servant of Nicholas Fitzsimmons. The sponsors were Jack and Ma- thilda.
"JOHN BRANDS, C. M.
"On the 8th of September, 1844, I, the undersigned R. C. priest baptized Richard, born March 10, 1844, of Louisa, servant of Nicholas Fitzsimmons. The sponsors were Jack and Melinda. "JOHN BRANDS, C. M."
The persons baptized in 1845 were: James Samuel Hunt, Mary Catherin Jay, Joseph Labadie, Leo Anthony Drouet, Oc- tave Simeon Spear, August Richard, Mathilde Richard, Joseph- ine Richard, William Dickinson, Frances E. Schevalm, Laura Fitzsimmons, John Condon, Mary Jane Laws, Mary Ann Quinn, Erasmus Brown, Margaret Cahill, Mary D'Abadia W .... Philn. mena Moser, Elizabeth Nash, Mary Ann Jordan. Emelie Claire, Matthew Cahill, Charles Peter Hotz, Mary Ann Daum, Mar-
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DIOCESE OF GALVESTON
garet Ziedermann, Margaret Rodsch, Elizabeth Wening, Anna Erk, Mary Catherine Heimann, Alexander, born of a servant woman belonging to Nicholas D. Labadie.
The year 1846 saw the baptism of thirty-one slaves, twenty- eight of whom belonged to John Gillard, of Liberty, Texas. On baptizing a certain colored woman, Rev. R. Hennesy, C. M., re- corded :
"She is a colored person, but free."
The names of the remaining seventy-four persons christen- ed in 1846 are :
Mary J. De Young, Catherine Reinhart, Peter Hehl, An- toinette Officier, Agnes Jane Byrne, Mary Layendecker, John Henry Sandscreiper, Johanna Wedig, Frances Fastelling Mary Geroult, Mary Ann Dirks, Caroline linz, Robert Hillebrant, Mary Ellen Campion, Anna Mary Schmidt, Ellen Cleary, Mary Kleck, Josephine Keller, Elizabeth Rothemer, Mary Giles, Eliza- beth Aeiman, Emma Schneider, Philumena Rollet, Peter Resch, August Reiley, Vincent Plittner, Catherine Nester, Mary Con- den, Robert Henry Neal, Jane Keogh, August Bruhn, Catherine Slevin, John Darage, Octove Dupas, Joseph Aull, Magdalen del Breuille, Anthony Leonard, Mary Falvey, Frederic Leinmiller, Joseph Brandis, Robert Stanger, Catherine Stanger, Mary Fran- ces Dirks, Elizabeth Kramer, Mary Philumena Dirks, Godfred Heidrich, Joseph Bonot, Mary White, Catherine White, Joseph White, John Gillard, John de Blanc, Appolinaris Gillard, John Gillard, Joseph de Blanc, Catherine Jones, John Markey, Peter Markey, Sarah Chism, Anne Chism, Fanny Abshier, Alexander Jackson, James Jackson, Patrick Adams, Jane Adams, Robert Adams, Emma Dunman, Sarah Dunman, Rebecca Dunman, Mary Gillard, Mary de Blanc.
Slaves are indicated in the early register by the letter S. Thus :
"On the 17th of January, 1847, in St. Mary's Church, I, the undersigned, baptized John Price, two years of age, born of Diana Williams, servant of Widow Moore. The sponsors were Henry Benjamin, S. (slave of) Cobb and Antoinette Marie S. (slave).
"B. ROLLANDO, C. M.
"The 23rd day of March, A. D. 1847, in St. Mary's Church. I, the undersigned, baptized Richard, 3 years old, son of Mar- garet Melinda, slave of Widow Moore. The sponsor was Telen Blossman.
"B. ROLLANDO, C. M.
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HISTORY OF THE
"The same day, ibidem, I baptized Thomas, 16 months old, son of Margaret Melinda, slave of Widow Moore. The spon- sor was Eliza Blake.
"B. ROLLANDO, C. M."
On the margin of the records these names appear thus :
JOHN PRICE, S. RICHARD S. MOORE. THOMAS S. MOORE.
The St. Mary's Church mentioned in these baptisms is the old St. Mary's Church, a wooden structure, which stood on the site of the present Cathedral, and was moved out into the street during the erection of the present edifice. The corner-stone of St. Mary's Cathedral was laid a few days before the last two baptisms were administered, viz., on March 14, 1847.
The first persons baptized in St. Mary's Cathedral were Francis Delbrel, Carlos Delbrel and Celina Delbrel. On the margin of the register we find this note in Bishop Odin's hand- writing: "These two brothers and sister were the first children baptized in the new church of St. Mary."
INTERMENT REGISTER - SOME MORE RECORDS FROM THE OLD ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL SHOWING EARLY DEATHS.
During the seven years (1841-1848) in which the wooden St. Mary's Church stood on the site of the present St. Mary's Cathedral, the mortality of the parish was very light. In fact, while the registers of baptisms and marriages open with the year 1840, the first entry in the Liber Mortuorum was made in June, 1842. It reads as follows :
"On the 2d day of June, 1842, I, the undersigned, interred, according to the rites of the Catholic Church, the remains of Mrs. Jane Smith who departed this life this morning. fAl
"J. M. ODIN,
"Bishop of Claudiopolis and Vicar Apostolic of Texas."
The cornerstone of St. Mary's Cathedral was laid March 14, 1847. Up to that time we find recorded only eighteen deaths, five children and the following thirteen adults: Gaspar Frank, John Copley, Henry Edward Reisacher, Peter Kapps (July 27, 1844; three days later his wife), Elizabeth Kapps, Gabriel Dol- quis, Louisa Rossi, Martin Muller, Elisa Roddy, Mary Sand. scheiper, Catherine Fink, Frederic Brandis and Catherine Keller.
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DIOCESE OF GALVESTON
Yellow fever, it would seem, raged in 1847; for within the space of three months we find recorded as many as seventeen deaths :
Catherine O'Neil, Jacques Tacquard, Henrietta Jeannotot, Francis Betz, Leonard Schneider, Francis Jeannotot, Joseph Kirker, John Igonet, Nicholas Lodie, Catherine Fuchs, Mary Jane Menard (consort of Col. M. B. Menard), Max Joseph Mol- ler, John Leinmiller, Lutgarda Moller, Herman Moller and Jo- hanna Stofehl.
From 1848 to 1853 the entries are few. They show the deaths of Susan Long, August Tegely, Francis Nash, Francis Doyle, David Gilbert, Terence Nugent, an infant slave, Fidelis Tegely, Jean Leonard Wilkin, Mary Lender, Charles Moser (the first person buried from the present Cathedral), Mary Laws, John Lender, Mary Lindenberg, Estelle Leroy, Mary Lender, Johanna Hartosy, James Nash, Mary Boatman, Henry Coeurs, Sarah McGee, John Waters, Eliza Joannet, Maria McDonnell, Mat- thew Gauthier, Margaret Guyot Ballard, Desire Gollifet, Ed- ward Cannon, Francis Moreau, Timothy Molloy, Adelaide Ego- 11x Cardon, Sophia Marke, James Conlan, Emma Sauter, Ar- mentine Henoc, Sarah Hale, J. Adolphe Toumie, Emily Gutierez, Emeline Bieling, Louis Funke, Catherine Gengler, Joseph Ricke, Mary Hoffmann and Louis Neetsch.
Of the funerals in 1853-54, Father Hug conducted those of Theresa Soller, Frederic Edeling, Louisa Hutz, Odelia Kimley, Isidora Leclere, John Nieblin and Mary Vonbein ; Father Baud- ran that of the Rev. Joshua Dixon; Father O'Driscoll those of Margaret Henratty and Elizabeth Walsh; Father Feltin those of John Hermann, P. J. Carroll and Mary Knapp: Father Metz. those of William Schaeffer, Louisa Wehmeyer, Caroline Ricke, Mrs. Fortener, Mary Ricke and Louis Marke: Father Vignalle those of John Peter Lacosta, Theresa Lienart, Francis Frote and Peter Lienart ; Father Chambodut those of Chapuis Jean Detour, George Weaver, John Boibieux, Margaret Salter, Joseph Bieling. and the following, which are summarily recorded as follows :
YELLOW FEVER OF 1854.
"The following persons were buried by the undersigned :
"Aug. 8-Mr. Fitzpatrick. "Aug. 30-Mary Kleiber. "Sept. 1-Mr. O'Brien.
"Aug. 13-Mrs. Fitzpatrick. "Aug. 23-Mary Comdon, 3 years old.
"Aug. 27-Ann O'Driscoll.
"Aug. 29-Elizabeth Miles.
"Sept. 2-Mr. M. Downy.
"Sept. 4-Thomas Kerow.
"Sept. 6-Catherine Kelly.
"Sept. 6-Ann Dayly.
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"Sept. 9-Mrs. Jockusch.
"Sept. 9-A German girl, name unknown.
"Sept. II-Mr. Baulard.
"Sept. 12-George.
"Sept. 12-Julius Hermann.
"Sept. 15-Johanna Hecker.
"Sept. 15-John Hecker.
"Sept. 17-Mary Froba.
"Sept. 18-Michael Hayn.
"Sept. 18-Mary Frost
"Sept. 26-Mr. Gay Jean, age 40
"Sept. 29-Marchand.
"Sept. 29-Valerio de Gondolfo
"Sept. 30-Marchand. "Oct. I-Marchand.
"Sept. 12-Bridget O'Driscoll. "Oct. 2-Margaret Froba.
" Oct. 3-M. Froba.
"Oct. 16-Mrs. Kerker.
"Oct. 16-Mary Waters.
"L. C. M. CHAMBODUT, V. G."
MARRIAGE RECORDS - INTERESTING DATA CON- CERNING EARLY MARRIAGES IN GALVESTON. RECORDS OF SLAVE MARRIAGES.
"O, that hallowed form is ne'er forgot which first love traced ; Still it lingering haunts the greenest spot on memory's waste.
'Twas odor fled As soon as shed ;
'Twas morning's winged dream,
'Twas a light that ne'er can shine again on life's dull stream ! O, 'twas a light that ne'er can shine again on life's dull stream !"
Thus in Moore's sweet rhythms the widowed consort may sing the heart's plaint, as today memory opes her mystic door and dreams of youth return. Others, long since laid low, in their children's girls are courting and go wooing in their children's boys.
The first marriage recorded in the Cathedral register is as follows :
"I, the undersigned priest of the Roman Catholic Church and prefect apostolic of Texas, have this 9th day of December, 1840, united in marriage Nicholas D. Labadie, son of Antoine D. Labadie and Charlotte Barthe, with Agnes Rivera, daughter of John Lang and Jeannette Hoekness. The witnesses were Peter J. Menard, Medard Menard, and many others.
"JOHN TIMON, P. A. T."
Then follow in quick succession the plighted vows of Andrew Jackson Van Winkel and Jane Lawrence, James W. DeLacy and Caroline Winship, Edmond Quirk and Elisa Kelley.
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DIOCESE OF GALVESTON
In 1842 and 1843 we find recorded only six marriages in all- Joseph Arsega and Mary Martin, Louis Thuner and Louisa Bart, Charles Giesecke and Margaret Schlosser, William Newell and Elizabeth Ward, Kosciusko Morgan and Caroline Cox, Peter Kapps and Augusta Moser.
But the year 1844 was a leap year, and leap year evidently meant for the young ladies of the early days what it means for their granddaughters today. The result was a happy one. Twenty couples marched up to the altar. They were: Peter Lawson and Elizabeth Heimann, Alexander McCleland and Cath- erine Rooney, Jacob Matossy and Marie Bauliere, Henry Edward Reisacher and Anna Pauline Parguet, John Kircher and Mary Figely, Peter Delbrel and Theresa Thompson, John De Young and Theresa Wetzel, John Stephan and Anna Schmidt, Andrew Holtz and Henrica Beckmann, Isaac D. Knight and Anna Haff, Henry Reiser and Sophie Oualline, Felix Testar and Julia Oual- line, Joseph Aull and Catherine Desalme, Lawrence Schaeffer and Theresa Denny, Peter Reis and Mary Catherine Michel, Valentine Fey and Catherine Eckart, John C. Heidet and Jeanne Bonat, Frank Dirks and Catherine Franklin, Michael Jordan and Mary Corcoran, Peter D'Abadie and Emilie Natalie Ratisseau, Edmond Logre and Jennie Bricheux.
The record for 1845 is adorned with the magnificent signaturc of W. B. Ochiltree, who was married by Father Brands. The entry is as follows :
"On the 17th of June, 1845, I, the undersigned Roman Cath- olic priest, joined in the bonds of matrimony the Hon. William B. Ochiltree, 34 years of age, son of David Ochiltree and Corialı Ann Beck, and Maria Louisa Reid, 24 years of age, daughter of Nathan Smith and Jane Hamilton. The witnesses were Gen. M. Hunt and Henrietta Moffitt.
"W. B. Ochiltree, M. L. Reid. Witnesses : Memucan Hunt, H. Moffitt.
"JOHN BRANDS, C. M."
The other marriages of the year were those of James Mc- Kinley and Margaret Morris, Andreas Holtz and Marie Biterle, H. B. Jakes and Rebecca Grayson, Martin Keller and Catherine Burrer, Charles Baehling and Ursula Weinot, Jean Cartier and Magdalen Desalme, Nicholas Fitzsimmons and Elizabeth Carter, B. Matthews Balderschwitter and Theresa Dennis, John Bonnot and Florence Carron, George Delbrel and Magdalen Desalme, Pierre Francois Blondeaux and Virginia Euphrasia Barri, Law- rence Bruhn and Josephine Mueller, John P. Christian and Chris- tiana Oualline, John Pfeifer and Johanna Wiehmann.
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The first slave marriage contract entered on the Cathedral records is the following :
"On the 15th of February, 1846, I, the undersigned R. C. priest, married John Waters, servant of. and Helen, a servant girl of Mr. J. Leclere. The witnesses were Edward and Mary Kelley.
"JOHN BRANDS, C. M.".
In the year 1847, we run across another slave marriage :
"On the 2nd day of October, 1847, I, the undersigned priest of the R. C. Church, joined in the bonds of matrimony Martin, 30 years old, son of Nancy, slave of Mr. O'Connell, and Henri. etta, 37 years old, born of Silvey, slave of Mr. O'Connell. The witnesses were Mr. Thorn and Matilda Thorn.
RICH HENNESSY, C. M."
The last slave marriage recorded reads :
"On the 27th day of December, 1857, I joined in the bonds of matrimony Jack, 21 years old, servant of Thomas Westrop, and Ann, 16 years old, servant of John Brown. Witnesses, Thomas Brown and Kate Carter.
"J. M. ODIN, Bishop of Galveston."
But to return to the marriages of 1846. They were: Bernard Hagemann and Johanna Schwalenberg, James Doling and Doris Rochteheber, Martin Paeske and Francisca Bulechal, Peter Moser and Elizabeth Schumacher, George Net and Anna Staesker, Law- rence Wittmann and Anna Ertel, Peter Ertel and Theresa Bruner, Bernard Stokenburg and Catherine Bockman, Peter Nielsen and Catherine Butzhel, Henry Adeling and Ernestina Deiman, Fran- cis McHugh and Charlotte Silsbury.
Father Brands must have been very busy on Jan. 6, 1847, for, on that day, he performed the marriage ceremony for no fewer than six couples: Leonard Truth and Theresa Wolf, Anton Pfeifer and Mary Tienhart, George Seger and Catherine Gnauer, Jolın Herring and Catherine Meyer, Michael Sielpe and Mary Pfeifer, Michael Herring and Elizabeth Fiste. These couples were apparently dear friends, if not relatives, for they stood as witnesses for one another. Two days later Father Brands married John Rohrmiller and Theresa Mausner, Martin Bretner and Mary Disner.
Before the laying of the cornerstone of St. Mary's Cathedral, March 14, 1847, there were three more marriages: Anthony Morgante and Mina Yonka, Charles Lang and Mary Cabe, Michael Chalz and Magdalen Men,
T1-41
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DIOCESE OF GALVESTON
We come now to the first marriage ceremony performed by the Very Rev. L. C. M. Chambodut :
"On the 4th of May, 1847, I, the undersigned, joined in the lawful bonds of matrimony Peter Darras, aged 21 years, and Cecile Hectorn, aged 15 years. The witnesses were Francis Bachelier and John Francis Petit.
"L. C. M. CHAMBODUT, Miss., Tex."
In his day, this beloved rector of the Cathedral assisted at no fewer than 469 marriages. His last marriage entry reads as follows :
"Die 29 Septembris, 1879, ego infrascriptus omissis denunti- ationibus et mutuo contrahentium consensu habito, per verba de praesenti matrimonio conjunxi B. L. Morse, ex loco New York, et Luciam Johnson, ex loco Galveston, filiam Judge R. Johnson et Mary Johnson; praesentibus testibus Col. H. McCaleb, Mrs. Mary McCaleb et Mrs. Sarah Pearson.
"L. C. M. CHAMBODUT, V. G."
While St. Mary's Cathedral was building, the following mar- riages took place in the old wooden church, moved out into the street : Jean Leonard Wilkin and Jeanne Pierre Gayot, Desire Greaux and Marie Bouchard, Ludwig Petri and Gertrude Hard- enberg, Henry Ruwalt and Helen Reinarts, John Menton and Catherine Hoeflin, Philip Schaefer and Catherine Gengler, An- dre Emile Bourge and Anna Metzger, Benjamin C. Franklin and Bernice Maxwell, John Herling and Wilhelmina Koh, Marc Ber- trant and Helen Kraus, John Dandt and Theresa Brokopf, Wil- liam Warner and Catherine Elwert, William Baker and Caroline Funke, Max Pannifax and Louisa Moeller, Daniel Philips and Jane Opperman, Nicholas Elpert and Louisa Ditmer, Frederic Stoppelberg and Eliza Weber, John Jockusch and Elisa Moeller, Gustave Young and Frances Schneider, Theodore Giraud and Catherine Thorne, Christian Schaefer and Anna Maria Scheng, Francis Metzger and Anna Lindmann, Daniel H. Palais and Mary Sheng, William Dunkin and Elisa Gillard, Joseph Tac- quard and Lucine Guyot.
The first couples to be, married in the new St. Mary's Cathe- dral were: Leonard Hirtzfelder and Barbara Denzer, Hubert Wohland and Elizabeth Kuntz, Andrew Verberne and Frederica Hitzfeld.
But here this review must end, for the new St. Mary's Cathe- dral connects the past with the present, as is shown, too, by the marriage records. Notice the familiar names of R. McNamara and Mary Pritchard, Peter Maurer and Lucia Rabler, Peter A. Ratisseau and Rosa A. Gondermann, John Leduc and Joseph-
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HISTORY OF THE
ine Baulard, Victor J. Baulard and C. L. Gillett, Jean Gay and Armance Gadifet, Charles H. Leonard and Adeline B. Reilly, Solomon B. Wallis and Sarah Labadie, Clement Girardin and Justine Hectorn, Leonard C. Baudenon and Sophie Rousseles, John Michels and Mary Magdalena Maurer, J. B. Stubbs and Catherine L. Kauffman, J. B. Borelly and Eulalie Denois, F. J. Gillet and Ambrosine Bavoux, Peter Gengler and Helena Her- mann, Thomas Dignan and Bridget Stack, Bernard Tiernan and Mary Ann Conlan.
BISHOP C. M. DUBUIS Second Bishop of Galveston
CHAPTER X.
THE DIOCESE OF GALVESTON-1847.
In 1845 both Father Timon and Bishop Odin were in France. The good Bishop wrote to his friend from Paris, May 30th, tell- ing him that he had presented his memorial to the Council of the Propagation of the Faith, but "as yet I do not know what will be the result ; I have given them as good an idea as I could of the wants of Texas," and in a postscript he tells him that "Mr. Etienne is very much opposed to the erection of a Bishopric in Texas. I shall say nothing about it when in Rome. Mr. Castro came to see me last week and told me that seventeen thousand Swiss were going to move to his grant. There will be twenty or thirty vessels sailing for Texas next winter from Antwerp to Port Lavaca."
On August Ist, 1845, he again wrote to Father Timon from Turin : "I have asked the Superior General for the Sisters of Charity at Galveston and San Antonio. I do not know if he will let them come. Insist upon my request, perhaps you may be able to obtain it. I have found at Lyons five or six subjects for the Mission of Texas. They are all deacons or sub-deacons. I shall send them to Missouri to complete their theology and to learn English." He was solicitous about Castro's colonists and thought of going to Vienna and asking the Redemptorists to come out to care for them.
On August 8th, 1845, he again wrote to Father Timon from Turin: "Mr. Durando, whose zeal is known to you, advises me to open a college at San Antonio. The Alamo would be an admirable place for the site. I have there more than four acres of land."
In September he wrote from Rome: "I have been here since the 5th." The Holy Father Gregory XVI and Cardinal Fran- soni, Prefect of the Propaganda, showed him the greatest con- sideration and honor.
He spent the winter traveling about Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany and France seeking priests and religious women and was at Havre on the 23rd of March to witness the departure of Fathers Dubuis and . Giraudon, Messrs. Domenech, Lacour, Chambodut, Charion, Chazelle, Padey, deacons or clerics of the diocese of Lyons, with other ecclesiastics of Spain, Ireland and Italy, who sailed on the Elizabeth-Ellen.
He went to England and afterwards to Ireland to visit the
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HISTORY OF THE
seminaries and make an appeal for laborers. "Four will leave after Easter, and others will follow later. My trip into Bel- gium has secured for me five hundred thousand bricks which will be transported free to Galveston. I hope to construct soon a beautiful church at Galveston, the principal city of the dio- cese." In Belgium he secured much help and several vocations. Germany furnished him with some workers. "The German priests who are destined for Texas will leave from Antwerp with the immigrants. The greater part of the eclessiastics who are to accompany me are already here with the exception of the Piedmontese and Irish, who will leave after Easter."
In 1847 the whole State of Texas was erected into a diocese and Bishop Odin was named as the first Bishop of Galveston. There were thirteen priests in the diocese. The Ursuline Sis- ters, whose glorious story has just been told in their Diamond Jubilee, had opened their convent in Galveston. He had al- ready commenced the construction of his Cathedral and on March 14, 1847, the cornerstone was laid.
Laying of the Corner-stone of St. Mary's Cathedral, March 14, 1847. DOCUMENT. Anno reparatae salutis MDCCCXLVII, pridie Idibus Martii, SS. Pii Noni Summi Pontificatus anno I, Americae Independentiae declaratae et vindicatae anno LXXI, Jacobo K. Polk Americae septentrionalis statuum unitorum praeside, Pinkney J. Henderson status Texani gubernatore, Joanne D. Sydnor civitatis Galveston praefecto, Revmus. et Illmus. Joannes Maria Odin Episcopus Claudi- opolitanus et Vicarius Apostolicus de Texas, Assistentibus Revdis. admodum Joanne Timon, Congregationis Missionum in America visitore, et Joanne Brands, C. M., Vic. Gen., Et Revdis. Dnis. Bartholo maeo Rollando, C. M., Ludovico Cluadio Maria Chambodut, Matthaeo Chazelle et Antonio Maria Chaurion, Revdo. admodum Dno. Joanne Timon coram magna populorum multitudine Congregata sermonem habente, Lapidem istum primarium Ecclesiae, Deo Optimo Maximo, sub invocatione Sanctae Mariae Semper Virginis Aedificandae, Solemniter benedixit et in fundamentis
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