Sandusky County, Ohio - Chapter 22: Religious and Educational Development, 1909

Chapter 22: Religious and Educational Development

The real pioneers of the clergy among the sparse settlers of Lower Sandusky were 'three missionaries, the Revs. Joseph Badger, James Hughes and James Montgomery. Rev. Joseph Badger was a member of the Presbyterian Synod of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, laboring in the Western Reserve, and in 1805 made a tour west as far as Michigan. June 14th he crossed the Sandusky River at the lower rapids, swimming his horse by the side of a canoe. He speaks in his diary of meeting with Rev. James Hughes and conferring with the Indian chief about preaching. He then found a temporary house with Mrs. James Whittaker down the river about three miles. On his way back from Michigan in 1806, he located at Lower Sandusky and he and Mr. Hughes preached to the Indians there, most likely, from the knoll where Fort Stephenson was afterward erected. We have seen from the field notes of the survey in 1806, that Mr. Badger's house was on this knoll and that he had a small corn held along the west bank of the river just east of the The Inhors of this missionary consisted, not only, of a 'ag and teaching, but also, helping the Indians in their work. raising crops. He speaks in ag diary of making his own boat, and making a plow for Mrs. Whittaker, hoeing in the earden, digging for water, writing letters and administering to the sick: | was here for a number of years, eee among the Indians. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Fie beeame a soldier in Gen. Simon Perkin's Brigade, im the War of 1812, and was chaplain therein. It is believed that his influence with the Wyandots caused their neutrality during that war. He died at Perryburgh in 1847, and lies buried there, with a stone marking his grave, placed there by the Presbyterian Synod. Of the services of Mr. tIughes there seems to be no further account to be found.

In 1819 Rev. James Montgomery, a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Indian agent at Fort Seneca, came to Lower Sandusky and preached the first sermon ever preached there by a Methodist preacher. Ele continued to preach there at stated intervals until 1820, when he organized himself, his wife and daughter into a "class" which was really the nucleus of a church. A letter (1880) from Mr. Montgomery's daughter, Mrs. Sallie Ingham, then of Tiffin, says: "At the first communion service the communicants were the above mentioned three persons, with held, Ohio, named Moses Hinkle." James Montgomery proceeded regularly to organize the firs class of the Methodist Episcopal Church ever formed in Lower Sandusky. He had been ordained by Bishop Asbury, and was a local preacher for thirty years; he died at Fort Seneca in ane

In the year 1822 Rev. Jacob Bowlus of the United Brethren Church came to the vicinity of Lower Sandusky from Marvland and preached to the new settlers, as he had opportunity. A few classes were formed and a few preaching places .ere established through his efforts. In 1829 a circuit, evled the Sandusky Circuit, was formed by the general conference of that church, and Jacoh Bowlus was made . ges elder, and a minister by the name

John Zaha appointed "circuit rider." The next vear Mr. Bowlus was re-elected prestding elder and Israe! Harrington and J. Harrison were assigned to the circuit. These four, Bowlus. Zahn, Harrington and Harrison are

The ministerial labors of Mr. Bowlus extended throughout nearly all the western portion of the county. He was the first resident preacher authorized by law to solemnize marriages. Elder John Mugg, of York Township, in 1829, organized a church society in that township known as the Free-will Baptist Church, composed of several prominent persons there. It will be seen, in the history of the townships where the subject is further considered, that from these small beginnings large and flourishing churches have been established, and gospel privileges extended to every section of the county.

St. Ann's Catholic Church represents the oldest religious organization at Fremont and its history, identified as it is with the stirring events of the early settlement of this section of Ohio, is replete with interest. On a stormy day in March, 1823, an earnest priest came all the tortuous distance from Detroit, to say mass to a little gathering of faithful French Catholics, in their rude little log cabin in the frontier village of Lower Sandusky. The natural beauty of Sandusky County with its noble river and its teeming forests and advantages for hunters and trappers, had early appealed to adventurers from every section - brave men who were willing to dare much in order to find a livelihood and found homes for their loved ones. Hence, by 1816, Lower Sandusky's population numbered 200 white settlers and here really begins the history of the venerable St. Ann's Church. Three brothers, Joseph, Anthony and Peter Momenay, French Catholics, had come to this point from Detroit and it was through their representations that John B. Beaugrand, then a prosperous merchant in the Michigan town, cast in his lot with the people of Lower Sandusky. In 1822 he made his first visit and in the following year he returned to locate, bringing with him his wife and seven children, all faithful Catholics.

Mr. Beaugrand found all things as he had anticipated in the new home, with the exception of religious privileges and as quickly as possible he went about securing these. He in-

COUNTY 295 vited his late pastor, Rev. Gabriel Richard, of St. Ann's Church, Detroit, to pay him a visit and bless' his home, his house being a twostory building, located a short distance east of the present Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway station. In the latter part of March, 1823, Father Richard came as requested, and in the Beaugrand home said the first mass ever celebrated in the village of Lower Sandusky. His stay was for only a few days during which he also visited the French families at La Prairie, eight miles from Lower Sandusky. After Father Richard's departure no priest visited the village for some years, but between 1826 and 1831 Bishop Fenwick, on his way to Michigan, stopped over at Lower Sandusky two or three times, and looked after the spiritual wants of his neglected little flock.

On one of these visits he was accompanied and assisted by the Rev. S. T. Badin. In 1831 Lower Sandusky was also visited a few times by Rev. Edmund Quinn, pastor of St. Mary's at Tiffin, Ohio. After another lapse of time the Redemptorist father, F. X. Tschenhens, attended Lower Sandusky from Peru, as a station, from 1834 to 1837. During 1835-6, Rev. FE. Theinpont, from Tiffin, also visited Lower Sandusky occasionally.

In July, 1834, Bishop Purcell, accompanied by the Rev. J. M. Henni, of Canton, and F. X. Tschenhens, of Peru, paid his first Episcopal visit to Lower Sandusky; and his second, in 1836, when the Revs. S. T. Badin and H. D. Juncker assisted him on his missionary tour through northern Ohio. The Rev. Joseph Mc- Namee, of St. Mary's, Tiffin, paid a few pastoral visits to Lower Sandusky, between September and November, 1839, when the Rev. P. J. Machebeuf, stationed at Tiffin from November. 1830. to December, 1840, was commissioned by Bishop Purcell to look after many missions and stations in northwestern Ohio, Lower Sandusky was included among these; he attended it about one month, at first from Tiffin, beginning in November, 1839, and after that (January, 1841-5) from Sandusky.

Mass was celebrated in Mr. Beaugrand's house by all the visiting bishops and priests until 1838, and during the following vear in Joseph Hunsinger's residence. By this time the Catholic population of the town.and vicinity had grown too large to be accommodated in private houses and Pease's Hall was then rented and was used as a place of worship until 1843, when the turner shop of John Christian was rented and fitted up. Father Machebeuf in the meantime raised a subscription for a church edifice and in this received liberal assistance from Mr. Beaugrand's two sons-inlaw, L. Q. Rawson and A. Dickinson, although they were not of the Catholic faith. A site was purchased for $200, on State Street, from L. Brush, who gave the deed December 13, 1841, and the church was commenced in the fall of 1843. :It was a plain, frame structure, 30x40 feet, and cost about $2,500. Although at the time the interior was not completed mass was said in the church in May, 1844. At that time the mission comprised about thirty families, the larger number living on farms in the neighborhood and few of them being possessed of large means, but their liberality attested their zeal. From 1845 until January, 1846, Rev. P. Peudeprat, assistant to Father Machelbeuf, had charge of a number of his missions and among these was Lower Sandusky, which he attended monthly. Father Peudeprat was succeeded in February, 1846, by Rev. Amadeus Rappe, formerly of Toledo, and he at once had the interior of the church finished and it was dedicated by Bishop Purcell, to St. Ann, on June 8, 1846.

Father Rappe had as his assistant in his vast field of missionary work, extending over northwestern Ohio, Rev. Louis De Goesbriand, who visited Lower Sandusky from the latter part of 1846 until 1848, when he was transferred to Cleveland. Rev. Morris Howard, of Tiffin, was then in charge for a few months, when Rev. William L. Nightingale was appointed first resident pastor of St. Ann's Church, at Lower Sandusky, this being about the time the name was changed to Fremont. During his pastorate, which lasted until the early part of 1850, a frame house, located at the corner of Croghan and Wood Streets, was bought for his residence. About 1849 the grade of State Street was considerably lowered, in consequence of which it was difficult to reach the church, which had been built on an eminence,

In 1850 Rev. A. Carabin succeeded Father Nightingale, and remained in charge until July, 1852, when, stricken with paralysis, he was obliged to give up all pastoral work. His successor was Rev. Thomas Walsh, who remained until June, 1856; Rev. John Roos taking his place in July. About this time the German members of St. Ann's asked Bishop Rappe's permission to organize a separate parish and as he did not deem it expedient to comply ill feeling arose and in April, 1857, there was open opposition to the bishop. This led to his leaving the parish without a pastor.

In the meanwhile the Germans organized, collected funds and built a brick church, costing $7,000, making the new property far more valuable than the old. After about six months, when Bishop Rappe found the seceders from St. Ann's still determined to have a German parish, to be known as St. Joseph's, he finally yielded and sanctioned their organization in December, 1857, by appointing a pastor for them, in the person of Rev. Louis Molon, who at the same time was charged with St. Ann's as a mission. In July, 1859, Rev. George Peter was appointed assistant. In March, 1861, Father Molon severed his connection with St. Joseph's. Bishop Rappe then assigned him to the pastorate of St. Ann's and he served until July, when Rev. Michael O'Neill was appointed his successor and remained in charge until May, 1865. During his pastorate St. Ann's was enlarged by an addition of thirty feet, making its dimensions 35x 70 feet. In August, 1864, he bought a tract of land for a cemetery, covering about fifteen acres, St. Joseph's parish taking the north half of it and both parishes dividing the expense of $1,400. In May, 1872, Father Carroll bought three lots fronting on State Street, at the intersection of Rawson Avenue, for the purpose of there eventually erecting a new church. He was succeeded by Father O'Callaghan, who remained until August, 1877, and during his pastorate the first school building was erected at a cost of nearly $3,000. Rev. J. V. Conlan succeeded and during his pastorate many needed improvements were pushed to completion. In April, 1883, Rev. J. D. Bowlus took charge and in November of that year he bought three lots adjoining those purchased by Father Carroll, on the west and a very comfortable frame house on one of these was so changed and remodeled that it became suitable for a parochial residence for the Sisters of St. Joseph, who have had charge of the school since that time.

In August, 1887, Rev. T. P. McCarthy was appointed priest at St. Ann's. He was not satisfied with the progress the parish had made and soon made it evident that he expected to bring about many changes, all for the better. He appointed a building committee to consider concerning the erection of a new church and the plans of priest and committee were approved by Bishop Gilmour and the foundation for the present imposing structure of Gothic architecture, was begun in the fall of 1888, and the good bishop was able to lay the corner-stone on June 9, 1889. This church with its fine finishing of antique oak, its beautiful frescoes and stained glass windows, is one of the fine buildings of Fremont. It was dedicated on Sunday, July 26, 1891, by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Boff, at that time administrator of the diocese, the priest in charge at that time being Rev. A. E. Manning, who succeeded Father McCarthy in March, 1890. In April, 1893, the old church, so long a landmark, was torn down, mass having been celebrated in the ancient structure for the last time on Sunday, July 19, 1891.

Father Manning was succeeded by Rev. Patrick O'Brien, Rev. C. V. Chevraux taking charge in 1897, and Rev. J. McClosky in 1900. In 1906 Rev. Edward M. O'Hare took charge of St. Ann's, and a sketch of this well beloved and efficient priest will be found in this work. He has still further extended the work begun by his predecessors and in the past three years has impressed himself vitally on the parish. His work is heavy, St. Ann's having grown into one of the important churches of the diocese, the growth, even under many disturbing circumstances, having been slow but. sure. There are now in the parish 200 families, some 600 souls and the flourishing school has an enrollment of 125 pupils. This school 1s one of

In recalling the present prosperity of old St. Ann's it were well to place on record, in this connection, the names of those whose early efforts and zeal contributed as the humble instruments of bringing St. Ann's into existence: John B. Beaugrand, Peter Beaugrand, Jacob Gabel, Joseph Andrews, Dennis Lane, Michael Gleason, Joseph Hunsinger, Joseph Baumgartner, George Rimmelspacher, John Kenny, Dennis Doran, Balt Kiefer, John Powers, Gabriel La Pointe, Joseph, Anthony and Peter Momenay, Peter Beaugrand, Patrick Hayes and Casper Hodes.

St. Joseph's Church at Fremont, representing the religious home of 600 families of earnest Catholics, has an exceedingly interesting history. Its beginning dates away back to 1856. Until that year St. Ann's was the only Catholic Church at Fremont ministering to all Catholics for miles around, regardless of nativity, but each year, as the country became more closely settled, the German element began to be important and the German Catholics began to hope for a church of their own. In 1856 a celebrated missionary of the Society of Jesus, Rev. F. X. Wensinger, gave a mission at St. Ann's, and it was in following his advice that the German contingent began preliminary measures to organize for an exclusive German church.

When the matter was laid before Bishop Rappe it met with his disapproval, which caused great disappointment and subsequently led to the withdrawal of the Rev. John Roos, then pastor of St. Ann's and from June to December, 1857, the church was without a spiritual director. The German people, however, were not entirely discouraged and they entertained the hope that when Bishop Rappe saw how deep was their desire and how willing they were to practically prove their zeal that his interdict would be withdrawn, and such proved the fact. They collected the funds, purchased land and on it erected a substantial brick edifice. 48 x 100 feet in dimensions, at a cost of $8,600. Other minor difficulties arose but, owing to the wisdom of the bishop and to the energetic spirit of the people, these were all adjusted satisfactorily and the property was deeded to the bishop and on December 8, 1857, St. Joseph's congregation, was recognized as a parish and Rev. L. Molon was assigned to its pastorate as well as to St. Ann's. It is right, seemly and proper that the names of those earnest men who organized this flourishing church and whose descendants still worship at its altar, should be preserved in every record concerning it. They bore the following names: Andres, Buchmann, Baumgartner, Binsack, Duerr, Gabel, Giebel, Gompert, Geschwind, Haberstroh, Heim, Haser, Ochs, Reinick, Rimmelspacher, Stuber, Schmidt, Schwartz, Toeppe and Wilhelm. Of this honorable list especial mention is due Joseph Stuber and Godfrey Buchmann, both of whom through influence and personal effort did much to bring St. Joseph's Church into being. The church, however, had yet some stormy days ahead, the recital of which need not be inserted here, but a better and quieter era came about when Rev. Nicholas Moes, succeeding Father Molon and Rev. George Peter, came as pastor, in 1861. During his pastorate of a little more than one year he had brought peace and tranquillity of his parishioners and his name is still held in sweet memory.

On September 21, 1862, Rev. Seraphin Bauer was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's. He found the parish encumbered with debt and he set to work immediately to clear it off. He also bought property and in every way proved himself a wise and judicious priest. There was, however, still a measure of dissatisfaction and this resulted, in 1864, in the withdrawal of thirteen families from St. Joseph's. These families lived in or near what was then the village of Hessville, but is now known as Lindsey. Although they had permission from neither the bishop nor Father Bauer, they determined to build a church for themselves, contributed the money and actually erected a brick - structure, 40x70 feet in dimension. Before it was entirely completed it was destroyed by a cyclone on October 4, 1864. No effort was made to rebuild, but the disaffected members, later, became identified with what was then the parish of Greensburg, now Millersville. In spite of the loss of these families and of others whose business interests had caused them to remove to other sections, St. Joseph's made a steady advance and fully justified its original organizers.

In 1859 the church was provided with a bell and a very fine organ and in that year was This school has continued its good work and kept pace with the growth of the parish in providing for the intellectual and moral needs of the young. The Notre Dame Sisters, of Cleveland, supplanted the lay sisters in 1876. For a number ot years, however, a first-class school building was needed to take the place of several buildings which had been utilized for the purpose, and in June, 1903, three lots were purchased at a cost of $8,250. They adjoin the rectory lots and face the present fine church. The magnificent new school building was completed under the supervision of the present pastor, Rev. Frederick Rupert, in September, 1908, at a cost of $74,000.

In 1864 the present pastoral residence was built and the land for a parish cemetery purchased, a tract of six acres, which, in 1897 was increased by the purchase of two and one-half additional acres. In 1870 a beautiful Calvary of the Crucified on His cross surmounting it. Father Bauer blessed it on the Feast of All Souls of the same year, in the presence of a large concourse.

The two lots on which the present church stands were bought in 1873, for $4,000. In 1878 a fine brick house was erected which was intended to be the pastoral residence, but was first used as a school building and will be used as a club room and library. Improvements and repairs were continually made on the old church, entailing large expenditure. In 1874 new windows had to be put in to take the place of the old ones which had been shattered by a storm; the old organ was practically rebuilt in 1876; in 1878 a new slate roof was put on and many other improvements testified to the faith, earnestness and pious zeal of both priests and people. However, it became a burning question - the erection of a new church, one that would be a testimonial of the strength of St. Joseph's. On September 8, 1881, on the Feast of Our Lady's Nativity, ground was broken for the imposing structure which now shelters the congregation of St. Joseph's. On April 30, 1882, Bishop Gilmour blessed the corner-stone of the new edifice, and the late Rutherford B. Hayes, formerly President of the United States, set the stone in place. The church was put under roof that year, at a cost of $50,000. On July 9, 1893, Bishop Horstmann dedicated this superb edifice and it is one of the most beautiful and complete church buildings in this section of Ohio. Its total cost could not have been less than $100,000. To briefly mention some of its interior - the three fine altars are of oak and the pews of Canadian cherry birch. The sanctuary windows and the Stations of the Cross are choice examples of Munich and Innsburck art.. The beautiful sanctuary, the vases for the altar and the rich vestments were imported from Europe. In .1899 a new organ was installed at a cost of $6,000.

A grand ostensorium was imported from Paris, in 1894. The dimensions of the new church are 71x 162 feet and the beautiful spire, 250 feet high, can be seen from any part of the city. In November, 1893, the old church was converted into a hall for the use of the church societies, and in 1898 a residence was built for the parish sexton. St. Joseph has been particularly mindful of the needs of all its members, establishing confraternities and societies for youth, middle life and age. In 1878 was established the Society of Holy Infancy, for the children; in 1881, the Court of Mary, for young girls; in 1871, a sodality for young ladies and in 1872 one for young men; in 1889 was established the St. Stanilas Union, for boys and young men; in 1873, the confraternitv of the Blessed Sacrament, for married women and widows. The first society was established in 1867, for men of mature years and has been one of the most helpful organizations of the church. In the same year was founded the Confraternity of the Living Rosary, an organization which numbers more than a thousand members.

Pioneer Schools And Teachers

Lower Sandusky. The first schoolhouse of rough unhewn logs was built about 1816, and was located a few rods west of Fort Stephenson and on the site of the present school grounds, about where the recently dismantled old Central School Building stood. Soon after it was (1817) replaced on the same site by a more substantial structure of hewn logs fronting east, with glass window panes, a row of desks around the walls and a fireplace. This building afterwards served as a place for holding courts for many years, as has been stated in a previous chapter. It was burned in the fall of 1834 by the authorities, on-account of the death therein of a person afflicted with the cholera. The names of some of the early teachers have been given by Mr. Everett in his history as Mr. Jocelyn, Dr. Gooding, Dr. Brainard, a Miss Beebe, Ezra Williams, and. Justice Williams. In the winter of 1818-19 Mrs. Lysander C. Ball taught a select school in one of the rooms of the old fort - one of her pupils being an Indian boy, and it is said that he was a bright pupil.

In 1829 came Samuel Crowell, from Virginia, who taught here in that and the succeeding year. He afterward became sheriff of the county. Edson Goit taught in the hewed log schoolhouse before mentioned, in 1830. The writer has conversed with a few of those who were among the pupils in this schoolhouse, and remembers the deep ravine that, in those days, ran through the eastern portion of the grounds on which the new high school building is being erected. In this log house the missionaries preached, the teachers taught and the judge administered the law. The studies pursued in those early schools consisted of spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic, with a little grammar and geography sometimes added. Among the school books of that day the Elementary Spelling Book by Noah \Webster is remembered with affection by many pioneers, who became so proficient in its use that they could spell nearly every word in it "by heart.' They also still remember with what absorbing interest they read the stories in this spelling book of the rude boy in the apple tree, who would not come down till the old owner of the tree pelted the ''young sauce box" with stones, after failing in the use of softer missiles; and of the milkmaid who, by a proud toss of her head, on which she was carrying a pail of milk, caused the milk to be spilled and suffered the consequent loss of the elegant new green colored gown she was fondly anticipating, to the envy as she supposed of all her associates.

There were but few school children, of course, in those early days, and but little if any public school money. The schools prior to 1821 were mainly "subscription" schools, the teacher receiving from the patrons or subscribers a certain sum for each pupil, or scholar as they were called, for the term, which was generally twelve weeks.

Before 1821 dependence for the support of schools was placed on the income from the lease of school sections and other school lands, which proving insufficient, the first law providing for a tax in Ohio was passed in that year. The provisions for carrying into efhcient effect this law being defective, the law of 1825 with mandatory provisions in this regard was enacted. It made it the duty of every organized township to lay off the same into school districts, as a condition of receiving annual election of three school directors in each district, whose duties were to build schoolhouses, employ teachers, manage the schools, make needed assessments and to receive and expend all funds. A penalty was affixed for a failure to employ a teacher.

In 1838 an act was passed making the township clerk superintendent of the schools of his township, and the county auditor superintendent of the schools of the county, and provided at least six months good schooling. It also provided for the organization of schools in incorporated cities and towns, not under special charters.

In 1847 the citizens of Akron obtained a special law, "for the support and better regulation of the common schools in the towns," and the next vear the General Assembly gave the council of any city or town authority to adopt the Akron law, on the petition of twothirds of its voters. In 1849 a law was passed entitled "A General Law for the Schools in

Cities and Towns." It gave boards of education power to establish high schools as well as the lower grades, and to determine the branches of study to be taught in the schools.

From about this time till 1855 was a period of progress in the history of education in Ohio. Many cities and towns organized and graded their schools under the Akron law and the law of 1849, and in many districts schools were placed under the direction of a superintendent; teacher's institutes were established in some of the counties, which by 1855 had increased to over forty, with an attendence of 4,000 teachers.

In 1873 boards of education of townships were given permission to employ a superintendent, but it seems that it remained a dead letter for years, and in Sandusky County even at this time a superintendent is not employed in all township districts.

[In 1888 the important law requiring instruction to be given on the nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, in all grades of schools, was enacted. Space will not permit the mention of all school laws but among important school legislation may be mentioned the socalled 'Workman Law," making the township the unit in school administration, like the city and town; the '"Boxwell Law," providing for the graduation of pupils in rural schools and their admission to high schools of near cities or towns; the law authorizing kindergartens as a part of the public school; the law to compel the elementary education of children; and creation of the office of truant officer to enforce the same; the law giving women the right to vote and be voted for as school officers; the school book law with its option of free books and the law of 1898 authorizing centralization of schools and transportation of pupils.

Just when the Sandusky County Teachers' Institute was first organized there seems to be no record to show, but one has been successfully operated for many years, promoted by the ablest teachers of the county. At its last annual meeting, August 9 to 13, there were enrolled 202 persons connected with the publit schools in the county as superintendents and

Tuition

The school youth in the county are, boys 4,779, girls 4,538, making a total of 9,316. The enrollment in the elementary schools are, boys 2,991, girls 2,802, and in high schools, boys 169, girls 234, making a total enrollment of 6,197.

There are twelve township districts with 134 sub-districts, and seven separate districts, making nineteen districts in all. The number of teachers required to supply the schools is, elementary 195, high schools sixteen. The only high schools in the county are in Fremont, Clyde, Gibsonburg and Woodville.

Receipts And Expenditures For All Purposes

The total receipts in township districts during the year amounted to $63,603.97 and their total expenditures $67,022.74, but there was a balance in the treasury at the beginning of the year of $59,536.98. The total receipts in the separate districts during the year amounted to $94,501.72 and their total expenditures amounted to $73,869.51. These had a balance on hand at the beginning of the year amounting to $48,712.56. At the beginning of the year 1908-1909 there was in the aggregate a balance in the township district treasuries of $56,118.21 and in the treasury of the districts of Fremont, Clyde, Gibsonburg, Woodville, Helena, Lindsey and Rollersville, the sum in the aggregate of $69,- 344.77. The schools will be further considered in the history of the townships, villages and the city of Fremont.