Franklin County, Indiana - Chapter 18: Ciiukches of Franklin County, 1915 (part 2 of 2)

At Brookville and vicinity occasional preaching' commenced aljout 1893 by a United Brethren preacher of this conference, and in 1896 the clas.i that had just Ixien formed purchased the old German Methodist church building. Since then there has been occasional, though by no means regular, stated preaching- services. The church has never had a large memljcrship. Many resided in the country, and by removals and deaths the class has Ijeen <lecreased until it now has but a!x)Ut eighteen members. K'ev. John Seelig. now of Dublin, was prominent in the work of this class. The first minister was Rev. John Jackson, wdio was pastor at the date of buying the building. He never lived in Brookville, but on a small farm in the country, near the town. Then came Rev. John Seelig, who was succeeded by Rev. Golden, after whicli came Rev. McCarty. At the time of the flood of 1913 Rew Levi was pastor. Since then the work has been in charge of Rev. Bray, who in fact has charge of nearly all the United Bretliren churches in the county, including the one at Oak Forest, and the one west of Brookville, near the \\'est P'ork Mcth'xli>t Episcopal church. Of recent years there has not been regular service in any of these churches. Usually (mce a month services are held in all the l.'nited Brethren churches of the county. Rev. Bray manages to hold services occasionally in each of the churches in the county, and thus keeps alive a small class in the neighborhoods in which they are located. There is no resident pastor in the county at this date.

The United Brethren srxriety built a log church on Snail creek near the western line of that township. This church is still standing an<l is occasionally used for services, although the congregation h5"s recently erected a new church about a mile dow-n Snail creek. The congregation bought a frame schoolhouse in Bath townsliip, tore it down and set it up at its present site in Brookville township. The old church was called Liberty church, while the new building is known as Center chapel. There was a cemetery- at the old church, but there has never been one established at the new site. This church is served by the pastor in charge of the United Brethren church in Brookville.

that is known as Old l-'ranklin chapel, located three miles southeast of Fairfield. About 1819 Jacob Antrim and John I-'etterhoff bc^an to i)reach in the w-estern part of the Wayne Purchase. Their first regular preacliiny place in the White Water valley was at the house of Henry hVy on Templeton's creek. Mr. Fry had been a member of this church in the East. Throuj,^h hi.s influence, Bishop Krumler was induced to attempt the organization of a church here. A class was established at the home of Mr. PVy, camp meetings were frequently held in the grove and in due time a place for worship was provied. This church was dedicated by Rev. Michael Bathenburg on Mav 31. 1831. The builing was made of brick burned on the ground and generous donations allowed the pioneer church to be buiU and furnished. The i)rer-ent pastor is Rev. W. T. Sanders, of Muncie, Indiana, who preaches everv two weeks.--

On Saturday, May 30. 19 14, memorial services were held at two o'clock in the afternoon, that being the eighty-third anniversary of the church. .\ fine program was had and the attendance was very large.

The Christian Endeavor Society of Franklin church was organized .August 4, 1912. by C. F:. Hunt, the pastor. Its first officers were: Roy V. Davis, president : Orris Davis, vice-president; Anna Anthony, secretary'; J'jhn N. Norman, treasurer. The program coinniittee was Minnie Burke. The membership committee, wdth Irene Linkei as chairman, was Susie Brauchia, Pearl Bockover, Mabel Brauchia, Walter Sawer. Charles Bockover and Elsie Howell. The charter members were as follows: Rev. C. E. Hunt (honorary founder). Anna Anthony, Clara Linkei. Roy V. Davis, Walter Sawer, Murray O. Spenney, George O. Davis, Loretta Norman, Anna Leman. Bessie MuUin. Levi Mullin. John H. Norman, T. B. Thackery. .\llison Bockover. Jr., Sanniel Lemar. Edith Templeton, T. F. Thackery, Nora Davis, W. E. Thackery, Asa Davis, Irene Linkle, Laura P. Anthony, Coleman, Delia M. Anthony. Oliver Linkei, Mary Thackery, Elsie Newell. Minnie Burke, Elsie Brown, I£va Thackeiy. Altha Thackery, Gertrude Watterson. Rev. E. B. Cunningham. Herbert R. Thackery, Francis Linkei, LanTly Lemar, Ralph Martin, Herschel Martin. Edgar Shaffer. Everett Watterson, Harry Watterson.

The present officers are: President. Mary Thackery; vice-president. Olive Linkei; secretary, Delia Anthony; assistant secretary. Irene Linkei: treasurer, Orris Davis; program committee. Eva Thackery.

On May 18, 1913. Anna .Anthony and Clara Linkei were elected as delegates to go to Anderson, Indiana, to attend the twenty-first annual Christian Endeavor convention on June 10. 11 and 12. On June 14. 1914, Irene Linkei and Elsie Howell were elected delegates to the Young People's Societv of

The report of the Sunday school connected with Franklin United Brethren church for the twenty-seven Sundays in 191 5 was as follows: Members enrolled, 71; avera,!:,''e attendance per Sunday, 38; total amount in treasury, $14.50; total amount of missionary money, S4.20; average collection per Sunday, 54 cents; number on Cradle Roll, 22; money taken, 17 cents; number in home department. 17; money collected, 80 cents. The collection the first Sunday of each month is given to missions.

One special feature of Old Franklin church is the care taken of the cemetery near the church. It is an old burying ground and has Ix-en kept in the best condition, and is said by many to be the best country cemetery grounds in all Indiana. Here the little mounrls are kept sacred. The return of each ^femorial-day occasion finds the grounds and the graves in order, and the Decoration-day services have come to be of great interest, all of which bespeaks well for the Christian spirit of the community in which this quiet city of the dead is located. The beginning of the decoration. of soldiers' graves at this point was in May, 188S. when Henry H. Miller walked across the field from the farm known as the Samuel Howell place and placed flags on the graves. In 18S9 the old soldiers of the neighborhood met and appointed a committee and arranged to meet on Saturday following the national day and decorate the graves. The old war veterans gave interesting and pathetic talks. But the congregation kept increasing until it was necessary to procure better talent for speakers. In 1895 ^^e services were conducted in conjunction with the annual meeting of the church. The same speaker addressed the people both Saturday and Sunday. The speaker was Doctor Bell. Since then the annual speakers have been as follow: 1896, J. T. Roberts: 1897, Rev. Weekly: 1898, J. E. Shaimon: 1899. Dr. W. R. Funk; 1900. Rev. Mathews: 1901, Rev. D. O. Darling; 1902. Rev. Brook: ,1903, Rev. J. E. Shannon; 1904. Rev. Brook; 1905, Rev. C. Parker; 1906, Rev. Gable: 1907, Rev. Brook: 1908. Rev. Alonzo Myer; 1909. Bishop Carter; 1910, J. F. Reynolds; 19TI, Rev. J. E. Shannon: 1912, Rev. C. L. D. Brain: 1913. Rev. Ida Cunningham; 1914. Rev. W. O. Fries.

At present there are buried in this cemetery^ nine Civil war soldiers and one soldier of the War of 18 12. Two "unknown" graves are also decorated.

Another church of this denomination was organized in the extreme western part of Brookville tov^mship, where a small chapel was erected and a class held for manv vears, btit was finallv dissolved.

Franklin' Colnty, Indiana The Univeksalist Church

The first Universalist church in FrankHn county was orj^anized at Fairfield August 20, 1848, ahliough as early as 1841 a few meniljcrs of tliis denomination had engaged the services of Rev. Henry Gifford to preach for them "one sermon in each month on the Sabbath at a salary of thirty-six dollars per annum." Before the church was formally organized two other ministers served the small congregation at Fairfield. Rev. W. Y. Enimctt followed Rev. Gifford at the same salary and labored for two years and three months. He was succeeded by Rev. C. Crane, who served the congregation for nine months, for which he received a salary of eighteen dollar-;. Rev. W. C. Brooks was called in 1847 ^"^ was the pastor when the church was finally organized on August 20, 1848.

Rev. Brooks preached one sermon a month for two years and a half and was paid fifty dollars a year for his services. His third year he preached twice a month and was paid seventy-five dollars for the year. In January. 1849, the society bought a lot of William ^Moore, of Fairfield, fur which ihcy paid one hundred dollars, and in the spring of the same year the building of a church was begun. It was finished and dedicated in June, 1850, the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Henry Gifford. This church cost two thousand dollars and all of the money was raised by voluntary contributions. The church was burned down several years ago. The charter members v.ere Hezekiah Ogden, Lydia Ogden, Air. and Mrs. Thomas Thomas. James Barrickman, Thomas Hayward, George Fish, Daniel St. John, Harrison Buckles, James Wright, Daniel Landon, Henry Flusted and Caroline Buckles.

Another Universalist church was one of the earliest organizations in Posey township, in the neighborhood of Andersonville, but there are no facts as to it further than that it had an existence a few years, and, like most of this denomination, was unable to survive.

At Mt. Carmel another Universalist church sprang into existence Septemljer 15, 1850. M. V. Sinionson, an ardent believer in salvation for all mankind, donated a substantial brick edifice which he erected, partly for his own use and partly for church uses, with the understanding that when he was through with the toils and trials of life, the entire proi>erty should go to the church of his choice. Rev. J(jnes and his wife, who is also a minister, have served the church at .Mt. Carmel for the past several years.

Moravian Missionaries In Brookville

Few people e\er heard of the two .M(.»ravian missionaries who passed through Franklin county in the spring of 1801, and cam|jcd for a few days on the site of the present town of Brookville. It is true that they left no impress upon the life of the count\ , and yet their trip u]) tlie White Water is not without interest to the students of the county's hi.-^tory.

The two missionaries in rpiestion were traveling northward to locate a mission on the banks of White river near the present site (if Anderson. They left Cincinnati on .April 14, iSoi, and, according to the diary which they kept, reached Franklin count}' about ten days later. The part of their account which falls within the pur\iew of this article begins on April 24, and is as follows :

"In the morning early one of our white people shot a large deer of which we (&) our India-is received a share. When all had breakfasted we started. At noon we passed a large Indian camp ground ( & ) al3<jut 3 P. M. we finally, safely reached the forks. Here our journey by water came to an end & everything was unloaded from the canoes. ^Ir. Harper & the other white man now l)id us a friendly fareweH. They wished us God's blessing & hastened home with the canoes. \\'e at once built a hut of bark for our things ( &' ) put them under shelter in this dry ])lace. Then pitching our tent we thanked the Lord that we had come thus far. with his assistance. Now we still had a distance of 100 miles by land before us (&) we did not yet know how we would accomplish it. Our messenger had not yet returned but we trusted the Lord that we would find ways 1 &.) means so that we would at last reach the place of our destination. The White W^ater creek separates here into two arms, the one from the west & the other from the north. Between these arms or forks we encamped on a stretch of land through which the trail to Woapicamikunk passes, quite near our camp. Quite near there is a fine bottom where our cows find a

"25th. - A shot was heard early in the morning (&:) our Indian brethren at once returned it 'several times. ' SoOn after a young, painted Indian arrived. He was encamped only a mile from us CS:) belongs to the ^ame family as that of our messenger, the head of which had gone for us to Woapicamikunk.

"Sunday 26th. - The entire heathen family today visited us. During the afternoon Br. Kluge held a service, after which our Indians asked us whether they couUl give some flour to the wife of our messenger because they have had no bread for a whole year; living in the woods, they have only meat. Not only did we allow this but also gave some of ours, for which they were very thankful.

:-- - "27th. - Our Indian brethren went hunting (&) we. white people, made use of the fine weather for unpacking our camp clothes. At the same time we anxiously awaited the return of our messenger from Woapicamikunk. In the evening Br. Joshua told us that this Indian family, of which the head had gone as a messenger, had offered their horse, if during the absence of the messenger, we wished to continue our journey, so as not to remain the whole time at one place. She also offered herself, with her children, to carry anything in order to help our advance. We considered the matter with our Indian brethren. They were all in favor of it so that we could move on. We accepted the voluntary offer of these heathen (&) decided to make a beginning next day.

"28th. - They brought a hor.se to our camp (&) just as we were busy packing, a strong bay horse came running, as if by accident, from the woods, without anyone being with it. The Indian brethren recognized it as an Indian horse. Without knowing to whom it belonged we caught it at once (&) loaded it also. In this way we now had two horses, with which ue transported a good part of our things for five miles. Late at night the Indian brethren returned with the horses (&) brought us the unpleasant news that the messenger had returned from Woapicamikunk. but had brought no horses for our journey. He had found neither the chiefs nor the Indians at home. The former had gone to Fort Vincent to make a treaty (&) the latter have not yet returned from the hunt. He said further that he had sent our tobacco down the river to the other Indian towns, yet he did not know whether we would receive help, because he thought the Indians were also not at home. This news was ver>- depressing (&) we were not a little worried about our journey, because we were in the w'oods where

These four days ( .\pril 24-28; seemed to have been spent somewhere upon the ridge separating the forks of White Water, but the e.\act location will never be known. It should be added, in conclusion, that the missionaries finally reached their destination on the banks of White river near Anderson and maintained a mission there for about five years.

St Michael '.S Catholic Church

St. Michael's church, of Brookville, has the largest membership of any church in the county, and the most valuable church property. However, it is not the oldest church in the county. A few Catholics came to Brookville as early as 1838, and were regularly visited by the Rev. Joseph Ferneding. of New Alsace, Indiana. When he left the diocese in 1842, he reported the condition of his missions to the bishop, mentioning Brookville as having fourteen families, but no church. About 1844 Kev. William Engeln began visiting the Catholic families regularly each month, and held di\ine services in private houses. Michael Schrank and Melchior Witt were among the pioneer members of the church, and services were usually held in the home of the former by the visiting -priest. It was in the following year that the church bought its first jiroperty. The court records at Brookville show that on January 2},. 1845, ^ ^ot with a small brick building thereon was purchased for the sum of fi\e hundred dollars. This building was fitted up for the first Catholic church of Brookville. This site is now occupied by the present church building.

From this time the congregation was regularly attended by the priests who resided at St. Peter's, St. Leon and St. Mary's of' the Rocks. In 1850 an addition to the church grounds was purchased, and eight years later the present St. ^lichael's church was erected under the direction of the Rev. Januarius Weisenberger. He was a man of great energy and zeal and had the good will and assistance of his parishioners in this great undertaking. Something of the magnitude of the task which faced him may be understood when it is known that there were then only about fortv families in the congregation. The original cost of the church was ten thou.sand dollars, and thus it will be seen that the building of the edifice must have meant great sacrifices for the loyal members of the church. However, the congregation continued to increase and within a comparatively short time the church was enabled to purchase additional ground and make other improvements.

In 1863 the Rev. G, f f. Ostlangcnberj^er became the first resident priest. Previous to his assumint^ charjje the congregation had purchased a frame residence north of the church for a parsonage. As s<K>n as Father Ostlangenberger was installed he began to hasten the completion of the church building, and within a short time opened a parochial school under the direction of the \'eneral)le Sisters of OldenlHirg, who have had charge of the school down to the present time. During his inciiml>ency he purchased a cemetery at the north end of the town.

In 1868 leather Ostlangenberger resigned and took charge of a parish near Covington, Kentucky, where he remained until his death. June 4, 1S85. He was succeeded by the Rev. Meinracl Flei.schmann. who remained here for twenty-nine years. In the year following his assumption of the charge, he purchased two lots near the church, on which a school building was erected in 1S73. Father Fleischmann purchased and installed the l>eautiful altars and bells in the church and built the brick parsonage at a cost of four thousand dollars. Fie was a man of wonderful energy and enthusiasm and worked with great success for the welfare of the parish. When he was transferred, in 1897, to a larger field of labor, the congregation, then numbering about one hundred forty families, was entirely free of debt. During his long pastorate he watched faithfully over his flock and the congregation prospered. -

Rev. Anthony Schenk followed Father Fleischmann and, as he was a very zealous man for the work of God, he accomplished great things for his parish. In 1902 he rebuilt St. Michael's church at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. He saw that the growing congregation could no lunger be accommodated and, be it said to his zeal and credit, it is the finest cb.urch edifice in the county. He assisted generously with his own means in the remodeling of the church. During his pastorate the chapel in St. Michael's cemetery was erected through the munificence of Mrs. Mary A. Benusee. Father Schenk had other plans in view, but death claimed this pious and zealous priest, on March 21, 1910. As he had not provided a monument for himself the congregation, in greateful remembrance,, erected one to his memorv.

Rev. Andrew Schaaf, who had been the pastor of the church at Poseyville, Indiana, for fifteen years, succeeded Father Schenk upon the latter's death. He at once took up the work left by his Avorthy predecessor and to the best of his ability followed in his worthy footsteps. His first thought was to pay ott the remaining debt on the church, which was less than three -thousand dollars. In 191 2 he rebuilt St. ^Michael's school, which was made necessary on account of the increasing number of children in the parish. It is a modern building in .every respect and was erected at a cost of seventeen thousand dollars. He has taken a great interest in the cemetery of the church, and in 191 i purchased from William Smiester four acres, for which he paid two thousand dcjllars. Another addition was made to the cemetery in 1913 at a cost of seven hundred and fifty dollars, so that the cemetery now contains a total of nine acres.

Father Schaaf has also made extensive improvements to the church. The fact that the congregation, after having raised twenty-five thousand dollars or the rebuilding of St. Michael's church in less than ten years, from 1902-1912, has since then raised an additional fifteen thousand dollars for improvements above the regular current expenses, speaks well for the generosity of the parishioners of St. Michael's church. The membership in 191 5 embraced two hundred and seventy families of eleven hundred ancl seventy souls. There were one hundred and eighty-seven pupils in the parochial school during the year 1914-15. Tuition is free in the St. Michael's school for all Catholic children, as all e.xpenses for its maintenance are paid out of the church treasury.

The Catholic church provides a number of societies for the benefit of her members. There are societies for the children, separate organizations for the young people, societies for the married as well as the unmarried women and societies for men of different ages. Practically all of the membership of St. Michael's is found in one or the other of the several societies under the auspices of the church.

Guardian Angel Society

All children of the parish under the age of twelve are included in the Guardian Angel Society. This includes the children of both sexes and at the time of their solemn communion the girls become eligible to membership in the Young Ladies" Sodality, while the boys may join the Young Men's Sodality.

The membership of the Young Ladies' Sodality includes the young unmarried ladies of the parish. They receive holy communion in a body on the second Sunda}- of each month. The membership now includes one hun- dred and sixteen girls. Tlie officers for the current year are as follow: Ella Dudley, president: Edith Peters, vice-president; Hilda Kochler, secretary; Mary Ritzi. treasurer; Pauline Fehlinger and Antonetta Weber, councillors.

The Young IMen's Sodality society includes the young men of the parish and now has a membership of ninety. They receive holy communion on the fourth Sunday of each month. The officers for the current year are as follow: David Senefekl, president: Edwin Baker, vice-president; John Ritzi, secretary-treasurer; Leo Selm and PJerbert Geis, councillors.

The Holy Rosary Society

The Society of the Holy Rosary includes the married ladies of the parish and now has a membership of one hundred and forty-three. They receive holy communion on the first Sunday of each month and hold conference after vespers on the same day. The present officers are as follow : Mrs. Albert Ferris, president; Mrs. F. J. Baker, vice-president, and Mrs. William Baudenditle, secretary-treasurer.

The membership of the St. Michael's Society includes the men of the parish. They receive holy communion on the third Sunday of each month and hold meeting after high mass of the same day. They now have fiftytwo members. The officers for the current year are as follow: Tvl. A. Jacobs, president; Michael Gartner, vice-president; FIenr}J Gagle, secretary; William Burkhart, treasurer.

The St. Peter's Benevolent Society (incorporated) is made up of the men of the parish and holds a regular meeting on the second Sunday of each month. The society now has a membership of one hundred and fifteen. The present officers are as follows: Frank Geis, Sr., president; Otto Roth, vice-president; Henry Gagle and Louis Aulbach, secretaries, and William Burkhart, treasurer.

The Third Order of St. Francis is restricted to the unmarried women of the parish. They receive holy cr.nimnnioti on the third Sunday of each month. They now have a membership of twenty-five.

Knights Of Columbus

Brookville Council Xo. loio, Knights of Columbus, was organized May 14, 1905, with a class of forty-four candidates, namely: Lewis J. Ariens, Anthony J. Biltz, Frank J. Baker, John F. Burdick, Robert Clauier, Ray J. Dudley, Joseph F. Dudley, Joseph C. Dudley, John L. Dietz, \'alentine Eckerle, Flenry Eckerle, F"rederick Eckerle, Harry Fries, Joseph A. Fries, Jr., Carl Gagle, George A. Geis, William M. Geis, Frank J. Geis, Alexander M. Hall, William Haubold, August Hackman, Joseph Hannan, John Haman, Michael A. Jacob, Frank L. Klotz, Henry J. Meyer, ^Matthew , Phelan, Albert Riedman, Frederick J. Riedman. Otto J. Roth, Charles G. Reifel, Rev. Anthony Schenk, Jacob J. Schuck, Anthony J. Suhre, Joseph P. Samoniel, John Stenger, Albert R. Stenger, Edward F. Stenger, Francis J. Tulley, Martin Weber, Ferdinand Werst and ^lichael William.s. The first degree was conferred by the Connersville Council, the second by the Cincinnati Council and the third by the Richmond Council. There were several hundred visiting members of the Knights in Brookville on that Sunday, including the Rushville Council, which attended in a body. At the close of the installation a banquet was given in the town hall for the new members and their visiting brothers. Doctor Averdick, of Covington, Kentuck\-, acted as toastmaster. During the banquet Anna ^lollaun sang "I Wait for Thee," Mrs. George Geis sang "Sing Me to Sleep," and Mrs. F. J. Geis furnished the piano music.

The first officers of the local council were as follow : Frank Tulley, grand knight; Mathew Phelan, deputy grand knight; Frank J. Baker, chancellor; Harry Fries, recording secretary; John Burdick, financial secretary-; Frank J. Geis, treasurer; William Haubold, lecturer; Edward Stenger. advocate; Joseph C. Dudley, warden; Albert Riedman, inside guard: Ray J. Dudley, outside guard ; Rev. A. A. Schenk, chaplain ; trustees. Otto Roth, one year, Joseph F. Dudley, two years, and William Geis, three years. The officers for the current year are as follow: Harn,' Fogel. grand knight; Otto Roth, deputy grand knight; Thomas H. Feltz. recorder; Joseph P. Samoniel, financial secretary; Frank Geis, Jr., treasurer; Joseph F. Dudley,

Pius C. Selm and Hugo Tettenborn, trustees. The council meets tlie second and fourth Thursdays of each montli in their hall in the Carter building.

By far the greater majority of the farmers of Butler township are rpembers of the Catholic church, for the most part descendants of Germans who emigrated to this country in the early forties of the last century. The original settlers, not a few of whom are still living, realizing their spiritual needs, begin at once to erect a suitable house of worship.

In 1844 the original Catholic community, numbering but fourteen families, built a log church on a hill overlooking the picturesque valley of Pipe creek. The congregation was at that time in charge of Rev. William Engeln, who resided at St. Peter's. The church was dedicated the same year under the title of St. :Mary"s of the Rocks, and twelve years later received its first resident pastor in the person of the Rev. Januarius Weissenberger.

In the year 1859 Father Weissenberger, seeing that the small log church could no longer accommodate the growing congregation, began the erection of the present large brick church. In December of the same year he was succeeded by the Rev. John P. Gillig, under whose pastorate the new church was completed. It was blessed by Bishop de St. Palais on September 8, 1862. Father Gillig departed in June, 1863, and was followed by the Rev. Leo Osredkar. O. S. F., residing at St. Peter's. The next resident priest was the Rev. Joseph Kaufmann. who was stationed here from 1866 till 1868. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. Nonnenmacher, 1S6S till 1871, who built the present priest's residence of eight rooms. The Rev. Joseph Roesch was the pastor from 1871 to 1873 and the Rev. John M. Gabriel from January to August, 1874. The Rev. I. H. Girolt's pastorate extended from 1874 to 1888; his successor, the Rev. Martin Andres, was pastor from 1S8S to 1902. He was followed by the Rev. C. P. Baron, 1902 to 1906. In May, 1906, the church was destroyed by fire of unknown origin, nothing but the walls remaining. His successor. Father E. J. Zirkelbach. in the same year began the rebuilding of the church and, thanks to his energy and zeal, succeeded in completing the new church, after spending more than twenty thousand dollars in its construction. The new church is the pride of the people of the parish, now numbering seventy-five families, who may well point to it as a monument of their self-sacrificing charity and perseverance in erecting so beautiful a temple of worship.

tinies of the parish have been directed since October 12, 1907, has added a number of needed improvements to the church, school and residence from time to time. In 1910 a new school building was erected, at a cost of more than four thousand dollars. The building is large and spacious and ample for the accommodation of the children.

Father Weishaar was born in the city of Chicago, March 13, 1876, and is the second youngest of a family of fifteen children. He was educated in the parochial schools of Chicago and at the age of thirteen entered the Jesuit College of that city. lie also spent three years in a college near Kirkwood, Missouri, and completed his theological training in the seminary at St. Meinrad, Spencer county, Indiana, where he was ordained in 1904. His first charge was in St. Patrick's church. Terre Haute, Indiana, where he remained as assistant pastor for eighteen months. Ill health necessitated a change of climate, and in the fall of 1905 he went to southern California, where he remained for nearly a year, doing missionary work among the Indians and Mexicans. Upon his return to Indiana in 1906, he took charge of St. Mark's and missions in Perry county, in the southern part of the state. He remained there until 1907, when he became pastor of St. Mary's of the Rocks.

St. Philomexa Church, Oak Forest

There have been two churches of this name in Franklin count>', the first one being located in Brookville township, on Wolf creek, about three miles southwest of the town of Brookville. The first St. Philomena was organized in the early forties and by 1844 the congregation was worshipping in a log church. The church was attended by the priest from Brookville, and as the years went by the membership increased to such numbers that it was deemed advisable to build a new church.

This was about 1S70 and it was at this time that the second Philomena came into existence. The desire for a new building was communicated to the Bishop at Vincennes, and after carefully examining the situation, he finally selected a new site, the one now occupied by St. Philomena at Oak Forest The Bishop felt that the location in Butler township was for the best interest of the church and its subsequent history has revealed the wisdom of his choice. The church at the new site was, of course, called St Philomena, since the Bishop ordered that the members who had attended the little log church in Brookville township must ally themselves with the church to be established at Oak Forest. There were, unfortunately, some who were not resigned to the wish of the Bishop and, at the same time the church was being erected at Oak Forest, started to build a large brick church on the old site on Wolf creek. Of the fifty-seven families who composed the old congregation in Brookvillc township, forty decided to build a new church on the old site, despite the orders of the Bishop.

Seventeen families composed the little congregation which erected the first building at Oak Forest. The bell in the church was dedicated and blessed January 15, 1871, and high mass was read at that time by Father Nonnemacher. The church was not quite completed at the time, but was finished during the summer of 1871. The congregation has increased and now embraces about forty families. The church has never had a resident pastor, but has always been attached to the church at St. Mary's of the Rocks. In 1908 Rev. L. Weishaar remodeled the church, spending about four thousand dollars in beautifying it. In 1913 a splendid pipe organ was installed and the church is now second to none of its size in the state in beauty and complete equipment.

In the early forties a number of Catholic families in the vicinity of section i, township 9, range 3, organized a church on the banks of Wolf creek, about three miles southwest of Brookville. A log church was erected and services were held there continuously^ until 1874. While Rev. Janaurius Weisenberger was pastor of the church definite steps were taken toward the acquisition of a lot on which to erect a new building. On December 8. 1858, the trustees of St. Philomena, as the church was called from the beginning, bought a tract of land on the site above mentioned and there they erected a log building. A school building was erected just south of the church. The trustees in charge of the church and school were John Senefeld, Conrad Honecker and Conrad Huth.

By the first part of the seventies the congregation had so increased in membership and material prosperity that they felt justified in erecting a new church. Owing to tlie proximity of St. ^Michael's church at Brookville and St. Mary's church at Haymond. there was some opposition to the erection of the proposed church at the old site. The Bishop refused to give his permission for the erection of the church on the old site, yet despite his refusal forty families resolved to go ahead and build on the old site. Plans for the building were drawn up by Michael A. Jacob, who is still living in Brookville. When the building was completed, in 1874, the Bishop, of course, refused to dedicate it inasmuch as it had been erected without his consent.

Consequently, it was never used for the purpose for which it was designed. It was a substantial brick building, thirty-three by sixty-six by twenty-two feet and had a steeple ninety-six feet in height. It remained unused until it was torn down in 1906.

A few Cathfjlic families settled in Highland township, near St. Peter's, as early as 1834 and in 1837 began to erect a little log church, which was dedicated as St. Peter's by Bishop Brute, in 1838. This little church was attended by the Rev. Joseph Ferneding, of New Alsace, until 1842, when he left the diocese in 1842 and reported to the Bishop the condition of his missions, mentioning St. Peter's as having sixty acres of land and ninety families. From 1842 to 1844 Revs. [Michael O'Rourk and Charles Oppermann, resident priests of Dover, attended the church. In 1844 the Rev. William Engeln became the first resident priest of St. Peter's and remained in charge until 1854. During his time the brick church and residence were built, which are substantial buildings to this day. In 1853 Bishop dc St. Palais dedicated the church. From 1854 to 1859 the congregation was attended from Oldenburg by the Rev. Joseph Rudolf and at times from St. Leon by the Rev. Henry Koering. In 1859 the Rev. Leo Osredkar came to St. Peter's and remained till his death, ]\Iay 4, 1882. During his long pastorate of twenty-three years the brick school was erected, the church neatly furnished and many improvements made. The congregation prospered and, due to his kind disposition, he was held in high esteem by all the members of his congregation.

After his death, the Rev. William Kemper took charge and remained until 1886. During his pastorate the new residence was erected. When he resigned, in 1886, the Rev. Ferdinand Hundt was assigned to St. Peter's, but, owing to opposition to him in the congregation, he left in 1S89. The congregation was then without a resident priest until January, 1891, when the Rev. Joseph A. Fleishman was assigned to St. Peter's. He remained there for seventeen years and during his long pastorate he made manv improvements, such as frescoing the church, installing new pews, providing beautiful stained glass windows and enlarging the sacristy. He resigned in 1908, owing to ill health, and died at Vincennes in 1910. When he left the congregation, the church was free of debt, as he was a man of great zeal and hard work. He was succeeded in 1908 by the Rev. Charles A. \\'agoner, who remained till 1912, when, owing to ill health, he resigned, to the great

The churcli census of iQi-i f^ives St. Peter's one hundred and twenty families, of five huiidred thirty-five souls, and a school attendance of eighty pupils. The church buildings are all in good repair and well furnished.

St. Anne Church, Hamburg

About 1868 Wesley Alartin, who owned a large tract of land in Salt Creek township, Franklin county, Indiana, laid out the present village of Hamburg. He offered to donate five acres of land provided a church would be built at once.

There were in the neighborhood about thirty-five Catholic families. These had been attending the Holy Family church at Oldenburg. The distance was rather great, the roads were bad and when Salt creek was high they were impassable. The Catholic farmers came together and decided to accept Martin's offer. Bishop M. de St. Palais gladly consented to the erection of the church. The Franciscan Fathers of Oldenburg directed the work. In the spring of 1869 the corner stone was laid and in the same year, on October 19, the church was dedicated. The church is of brick, measuring in the interior eiglity-three by fifty-three feet, with a height of thirty-three feet in the clear. Other Catholic settlers then came, mostly Germans, and in a few years the congregation numbered about ninety families. In the last two decades, however, there has been a slight decrease. At present there are about eighteen families, of four hundred and twentyfive souls, belonging to the parish. The church property is free of debt. "Twenty-five thousand dollars is not a too high estimate of the value of the property.

In 1876 a commodious two-story brick rectory was built, at the cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars ready for occupancy, and since then the congregation has had a resident pastor. Prior to that time the parish was taken care of by the Franciscan Fathers of Oldenburg. The names of the Fathers that appear most frequently in the records are as follow : Revs. Bonaventure Hammer. Louis Haverbeck, Clement Steinkamp, Dionysius Abarth, Eberhard and Gabriel Lipps.

Rev. Gabriel Lipps, under whose direction the rectory was built, became the first resident pastor in 1876. He remained until 1S79, and was succeeded by Rev. Paul Alf, from 1879 to 1880; Rev. Eberhard. 1880-82; Rev. Qcment Steinkamp. 1882-S3: Rev. Beda Oldegering, 1883-84. All the Fathers mentioned above are Franciscans.

In February, 1884, the congregation came in charge of the secular priests. Rev. Matthew A. GilHg was pastor from 1884 to 1890. He was followed by Rev. John Schoentrup. After a few weeks, however, Father Schoentrup had to resign on account of ill health. He died shortly afterward and was buried in the parish cemetery. Rev. Frank Xeuhoffer was pastor from 1890 to 1S97; Rev. A. Dannenhoffer, 1898-99; Rev. John Scheefers, 1899-1910. Father Scheeiers, zealous priest, made many improvements. He purchased new pews and a good organ. Besides, he greatly reduced the heavy debt that had been a burden to the congregation. In June, 1910, Rev. George G. Eorries, the present pastor, took charge of the parish.

Many years prior to the building of the church, a log building had been erected, which served as a school house and was considered a branch of the parochial schools at Oldenburg. In 1873 ^ one-story brick school building, fifty by thirty feet, containing two school rooms, was built. Two secular teachers had charge until 187S. In that year a two-story frame house was purchased to serve as a residence for the Sisters. Since then tlie Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg have taught the schools. The present enrollment of pupils is eighty-eight. The parish cemeter\- is about a half mile to the northeast from the church. The ground for it was donated in 18^39 by Bernard H. Luesche and wife. In 19 12 the members of the congregation took it upon themselves to improve the road to the cemetery with crushed stones. In 1914 additional ground was purchased and an ornamental fence and gate put around it. The parish has five prosperous societies: St. Joachim, for the men ; St. Anna, for the women ; St. Sebastian for the young men, and the Guardian Angel Society, for both children and adults.

The congregation has given to the Catholic church three priests. Rev. Peter Alcantara Welling and Rev. Theodosius Meyer, both of whom belong to the Franciscan order, and Rev. John Haskamp, of the diocese of Indianapolis. The present councillors of the parish are FIenr\' Effing, Bernard Leising, John Usimer and Frank Ricke. The statistics for the year 19 14 showed fifteen baptisms, ten fimerals and five marriages.

In the year 1837 the German Catholic pioneers of Oldenburg and vicinity were formed into a congregation by the Rev. Joseph Ferneding and immediately erected a log church. Until 1844 they were occasionally visited

On October 29, i8'4-i, the Rev Francis Joseph Rudolph, a native of Alsace, was installed as resident pastor. Filled with true missionary zeal, he built a small school and immediately started a subscription for the purpose of building a large stone church. His own name headed the list with a very generous amount from his own patrimony.

On September 8, 1S46, the corner stone was laid and on April 14, 1850, the new church was consecrated in honor of the Floly Family. The church built, Father Rudolph secured the services of the Rev. F. X. VVeninger, S. J., for a ten-day mission. This was Father Weninger's first mission in the United States.

Father Rudolph now turned his attention to the obtaining of more competent teachers for his schools at Oldenburg and the other missions, which he regularly attended. With this end in view, he made a trip to Europe in 1850. He applied in many places and succeeded at last in obtaining the consent of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, in Vienna, to "settle at Oldenburg and take charge of the schools. The Rev. Mother Teresa arrived at Oldenburg, January 6, 1851, and laid the foundations of that community which has been, and continues to be. such a great power for good in this and many other dioceses of the United States.

The church built in 1848 soon proved to be too small for the congregation, which had now increased to one hundred fifteen families. Accord'ingh', on the 20th day of May, 1861. the corner stone for the present splendid church was laid by tlie Very Rev. Augustus Bessonies, and was solemnlv consecrated by Bishop de St. Palais, assisted by Bishop Carroll, of Covington, on December 14, 1862. The church is one hundred sixty-five feet long bv sixt>-- five feet wide, forty- four feet high from floor to ceiling, and has a' seating capacity of one thousand. It is built of red brick, manufactured at Olden"^ burg, and is surmounted by a beautiful, tapering steeple one hundred eight}-- seven feet high, the highest church tower in Franklin county.

After the death of Rev. F. J. Rudolph in 1866, the Franciscan Fathers of the Province of St. John tlie Baptist, Cincinnati, took charge of the congregation at the request of Bishop Palais.

The following is a complete list of Franciscan pastors: Rev. N. Wachter. 1866-69; Rev. P. Louis ITaverbeck and P. Dennis Abarth 1869-79- P Peter B. Englert. 1879-S2; P. Pius Nichaus. 1882-85; P. Anthanasius Lingemann. 1885-90; P. Luke Gottoeboede, from January. 1890, to September,

To give a complete account of the faithful work and many improvements made by each of these zealous pastors and their many able assistants, would take us far beyond the limits of this sketch. Sutihce it to say that they have ever been untiring in their efforts to foster and cultivate the true Catholic spirit and sturdy piety which Father Rudolph, by word and example, instilled into his congregation. And while cultivating the spiritual, they have not neglected the temporal. In 1868 a new two-story school was built, containing four large classrooms. It has an attendance of about one hundred seventy-live children, taught by the Sisters of St. Francis. There are two hundred families embraced in the congregation. Other improvements on church and school have l)een added from time to time to the amount of thirty-two thousand dollars.

In September, 1912, the congregation celebrated the diamond jubilee of its foundation and the golden ju!)ilee of the present cbnrcli. The Right Rev. Bishops Chatard and Chartrand and very many of the clergy, secular and regular, graced tlie occasion with their presence. A masterly sermon was delivered by the Very Rev. Anthony Scheideler, vicar-general. In anticipation of this celebration, the church was refrescoed, a marble communion rail installed and other improvements made, costing thirty-five hundred dollars.

The Holy Family cemetery is a beautiful spot of consecrated ground, containing about five acres, and the pride and faith of the parish is manifested in keeping it in faultless order. The school, church and premises are in the best of repair and present a scene of thrift and care and general prosperitv.

The branch of the Catholic Knights of America, at Oldenburg, was given the number 693. It was organized several years ago and now has a membership of about forty. The members meet in the town hall on the first Sunday in each month. Mortality insurance is the chief object of this order, and policies are issued in amounts from two hundred and fifty dollars up to three thousand dollars each. The only such lodges in Franklin count}' are located at Brookville and Oldenburg.

The 1915 otificers are: FVank Flodder, president: J. H. Wittenburg, recording secretary; A. J. Hackmann. financial secretary- and treasurer.

Franklin Cotntv, Indiana Knights Of St. John

The Catholic order known as the Knights of St. John is in existence at Oldenburg, and is no where else represented in this county. It was organized January 12, 1893. with charter members as follows: Rev. Tred Ilernzman, chaplain; Hy W'ittenburg. first lieutenant; John Lamping, John Rohe, Clem Fischer, F. W. Pence, Frank Geisting, Benj. J. Ressing, Joseph B. Mollaun, John Huerman. A. Kleinmeyer, Louis Ferry, August Haverkos, Henry Schmidt, John B. Gehring, second lieutenant, Peter Pistner. John Wessling, II. H. Kessing, Alois Springman.

The lodge, which is known as St. Joseph's Commandery Xo. 220. had a membership in February, 1915. of fifty-eight. When the lodge was first organized it met in the basement of the school house, but now the Knights have a hall over Blank's store, to which place they moved in ^^lay, 1913. with a lease of ten years on the place. The uniform rank (militar}') is the principal feature of the order. In this there are now twenty-five members, active, and a few more retired. There is also a ladies' auxiliary of thirtv-Uvc members, of which !Mrs. Joseph Freihage is the president.

The officers in the spring of 1915. were: President, F. W. Peine; .6rst vice-president, Harry ]\Iollaun; second \ ice-president, John Struewing; recorder and corresponding secretary. F. J. Hoelker ; financial secretary, Joseph Wittenburg; treasurer, Theodore Heidlage.

The militarv' officers are: Captain. Harry Mollaun; first lieutenant. Joseph Wittenburg; second lieutenant. Joseph W. Gehrung; first sergeant, Theodore Heidlage; clerk, George Obermeyer.

The energetic, soul-loving founder of the Oldenburg Community of Sisters of St. Francis was the Rev. Francis Joseph Rudolf, of sainted memory, a native of Strassburg, Alsace. In 1S42, in recognition of his holy zeal, he was appointed to the United States missions, where, after two vears, he was put in charge of the Oldenburg primitive mission.

By the most cordial approval of the Bishop of Vincennes, Rt. Rev. Maurice de St. Palais. Father Rudolf secured the Holy See's (Pope Pius IX) consent to and sanction of his heart's desire, the foundation of a convent at Oldenburg for the Christian education of vouth.

The mother superior of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Vienna, Austria, proposed the American Oldenburg mission to her Sisters for consideration and choice. Brave, noble Sister Teresa answered the call most heroically and arrived in Oldenburg, January 6, 185 1.

Three postulants were awaiting Mother Teresa's arrival to relinquish themselves unreservedly to her care and guidance. God's blessings rested visibly upon the community. Despite the numerous privations, hardships and sufferings of untold poverty and trials, members came in numbers and the work of self-sanctitication and education of the young went on apace under God's providence and blessing.

In 1854 Mother Teresa opened an orphanage, and eleven orphaned little ones became its tirst inmates. From this time on till the diocesan orphanage was established, the Oldenburg Sisters, irrespective of their own dire poverty, cared for their loved orphans most devotedly. The following year the Sisters took charge of their first mission school, at Dover, Indiana. Three other missions were accepted this same year.

Man proposes and God disposes. On January 23, 1857, the prosperous, happy, little community, alas! was forced to witness the total destruction of their loved convent, chapel and school. A few hours' devastating fire reduced to a heap of ruins the material conquests of six years' unabated toil and economy. Nothing daunted, however, the courageous band took up the work anew with unbounded trust in Divine Providence. Generous donations poured in from various sources, and by November 19, of the same year, the Sisters were again sheltered, now within new convent walls. In 1858 the corner stone of the chapel was laid, and anon blessings inundated the community. On September 27, 1869, however, God called gentle Mother Teresa to her eternal reward. Ardent ^Mother Antonia took up the devoted work, and continued the happily entrusted charge most successfully till her death, March 23, 1872. The third superior-general, humble ]^Iother Michaela, governed the community for twelve years, until called by death, April 9, 1884. The unanimous choice of the community- then selected the present superior, ^Mother Olivia, under whose able guidance the devoted community continues most blessed in the Lord.

The Oldenburg community now nmnbers over six hundred Sisters, having charge of academies and parochial schools in seventy-eight missions in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Ohio and Kentucky.

Academy Of The Immaculate Conception, Oldenburg

The Academy of llie Immaculate Conception at Oldenburg, under the entire control of the Sisters of St. Francis, was chartered by an act of the General Assembly of the state of Indiana, April 8, 1885. It is accredited by the state board of education, and affiliated with the University of Cincinnati and with the Catholic University of America.

The academy is situated in the pleasant little town of Oldenburg, near the southwestern border of Franklin county. An excellent turnpike of four miles connects Oldenburg with Batesville, the nearest railroad station on the Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis division of the Big Four route.

The buildings constituting the academy are models of architectural skill and foresight, and are replete with all that modern science holds out to the world by way of school equipments and educational aids. The main building is a four-story-and-basement, fireproof structure, and contains the various halls, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, dormitories, lavatories and private rooms. The Immaculate Conception chapel is a gem of art and beauty. St. Cecilia's hall is equipped with a large auditorium and contains the music department of twenty-four rooms. To promote the literary work of the institution, a fine library, containing standard works of the best authors in English, French, German and Spanish, is at the disposal of the students.

The course of study embraces everything which can conduce to the acquisition of a solid and accomplished education. The courses include college preparation, academic, business, domestic science, music and art. The complete laboratory and science rooms are noted possessions of the academ.y. Each year adds to the apparatus and to the attractions of the academy gymnasium. Lessons in physical culture form part of the regular routine.

The Academy Alumnae Association meets annually at the loved alma mater in grateful, loving acknowledgment of the truly refined education received there. Here they receive a new impetus to continue to practice vigorously the wholesome lessons instilled by their ahiia mater, while under her excellent system of discipline and instruction.

Holy Guardian Angel Church, Cedar Grovte

The Catholics living in and near Cedar Grove attended church at St. Peter's, St. Leon and Brookville up to the year 1872. By that time their members had increased to twenty families, and they felt able to support a church of their own. Consequently they organized the church of the Holy Guardian Angel, under the direction of the Rev. .Meinrad Fleischmann, of Brookville. He conducted the first service in Cedar Grove at the home of Philip Eschenbach, in November, 1872.

A meeting was held after the services on this occasion and a building committee appointed, consisting of Philip Eschenbach, Jacob Meyer, Philip Riester and G. Felig. Three acres of ground were purchased by the committee and a brick church, thirty by sixty feet, was erected. This building has served as a school since the building of the present church in 1894.

The corner stone was laid on Septeml)er 8, 1873, ^^Y ^^^ Very Rev. Scheideler, Rev. H. Sieberts and the pastor. On the third Sunday in January, 1874, divine services were held for the first time in the new church. In the fall of 1874 the Rev. Joseph Fleischmann came to Brookville as assistant and took charge of the promising little congregation at Cedar Grove, which had by that time increased to thirty families. In 1877 the church erected a parochial school, to provide instruction for the children of the parish. Father Fleischmann continued to attend the church with marked success until iSS'j. In that year he was transferred to a larger field of labor in Dubois county, Indiana. He was succeeded on June 24, 1S83, by the Rev. Harmon Tegeder, who ministered to his people until his death, November 24, 1886. As soon as he took charge of the church he began the erection of a handsome parsonage, but shortly after its completion he was called to his reward. For the next two years the Rev. A. Koesters and Rev. George Loesch had charge of the churxrh at Cedar Grove, being follow^ed, on August 15, 188S, by the Rev. P. S. Mesker. As the parish was constantly growing, it became apparent that a larger church was necessary. In 1894 the erection of a building was begun and it was ready for the dedicatory services by the Right Rev. F. S. Chatard, on August 11, 1895. This church is a credit to the able and enterprising pastor, to the loyal and generous congregation and to the town in which it is located. An interesting article covering the growth of the church of the Guardian Angel appeared in the Brookville Democrat, August 8, 1895.

Father IVIesker remained in charge until 1906. when, upon the death of Father Rudolph at Connersville. he was transferred to the latter city, a welldeserved promotion in view of the good work he had accomplished at Cedar Grove. He was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Clever, who at once took up the good work. As he is a man of great zeal, he has accomplished a great deal for his people in a spiritual way. In 19 12 he purchased an addition of three acres immediately west of the church and school. Father Clever, who is much cstcemd by liis good people, now has a congregation of about seventy-five families, numbering about four hundred souls. He has a fine church, a good school building, a comfortable residence, and si.x acres of ground on which there is very little indebtedness.

Catholic Order Of Foresters

On March 28, 1915, the Catholic Order of Foresters established a subordinate court at Cedar Grove. Twenty-four members were initiated and the new court promises to be a great success.

The German Catliolics began to settle in Ray township in the middle of the thirties. The early history of the church at Enochsburg is rather obscure, although it is known from "Die Chronik des Vater Rudolf" that he was serving the congregation at Enochsburg in October, 1844. Father Rudolf mentions in his chronicle that he dedicated the church at Enochsburg on December 22, 1844. From accounts handed down it is known that this was a log church and it is further known that it was a mission attached to the Oldenburg parish. It continued to be served from the Oldenburg church until 1862. when Rev. Lawrence Oesterling, a Franciscan priest, became the first resident pastor.

As early as 1853 the church had built a small stone school building, thirty by thirty-five feet in size. Immediately after this was completed it was decided to erect a stone church and it was completed and dedicated in 1856. The church is built of dressed gray limestone and is fifty by one hundred and five feet. It has a spire one hundred and thirty-five feet in height and in the tower are three bells. ^lany improvements have been made in the church since it was erected and especially during the pastorate of Father Pfeiffer (1882-99), who frescoed the church, installed new altars, purchased new statues, put a slate roof on the church, installed an organ and made many extensive improvements in the grounds surrounding the church property.

Following Father Oesterling, in 1868, was Rev. ^Michael Heck, who remained until 1879. During his pastorate a brick residence of eight rooms was erected and in 1872 he had the satisfaction of dedicating a school building for the children of the parish. He secured the Venerable Sisters of

Oldenburg as teachers and from that time down to the present a flourishing school has been maintained. During the current year, 1914-15, there were seventy-seven children enrolled in the school.

Father Heck was removed in 1879 to a larger field of labor and remained at his new post, St. Wendel, Posey county, Indiana, until his death, in 1899. Rev. John Stolz followed Father Heck, but remained only a fewmonths. Rev. J. W. Kemper became the permanent pastor of the church in 1879 and remained until 1S82. Rev. James Pfeiffer was in charge of the church from 1882 until 1889, this being the longest pastorate of any priest at Enochburg. He was transferred in 1899 to St. Wendel, Posey county, Indiana, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Haas, who remained ten years. In 1909 Rev. Plenry Verst became pastor and continued to minister to the people of the parish until July, 1914, when the present pastor, Rev. Mathias Schmitz, assumed the charge. The official census for 1914 gives St. John's church a membership of three hundred and seventy souls. It should be mentioned that while the church is usually associated with Franklin county, it really stands in Decatur county, being just over the line. The residence stands on the Franklin-Decatur line, while the school house stands in Franklin county.

Drees Chapel

One of the most interesting Catholic chapels in the state is located along the roadside about half a mile southeast of Oldenburg. This quaint little chapel owes its existence to Siegfried Koehler, a very pious and devout Catholis, who came from Germany and settled in the vicinity of Oldenburg. On his voyage to this country the ship in which he chanced to be a passenger was caught in a heavy storm and for a time it looked as if it would be destroyed. With death facing him 'Mr. Koehler made a vow that if he were spared that he would build a chapel in honor of the Mater Dolorosa. His life was spared, but when he finally got located in Franklin county he was so poor that he could not fulfill his vow for several years. As soon as he was able he secured a statue of the Mater Dolorosa, which he kept in his own house until it finally found its present resting place in the little chapel. By 1871 Mr. Koehler had saved enough money, which, with donations from charitable friends and neighbors, enabled him to build a small brick shrine, sixteen feet square and twelve feet in height. Mr. Koehler was sacristan to Rev. Rudolf and his successors as long as he lived.

The statue of the IMater Dolorosa which had been in his own house for several years was noAv transferred to the chapel and here it still remains.

Franklin Countv, Indiana

The statue is protected by a railing and in front of the railing is placed the step on which devout Catholics pay their devotions to the Sorrowful Mother. The roof projects several feet in order to protect the inside of the chapel. The building is placed about two hundred feet from the road on the top of a small eminence and is a well chosen place for those seeking seclusion for private devotions. The chapel is frequently visited by residents of Oldenburg and by parties spending their summer vacations there. Great praise is due to the Sisters of St. Francis for their services in cleaning and decorating the altar of their beloved ^Mother. ^Most of the expenses are borne by the Sisters, although donations are frequently made by those who have been relieved of their troubles as result of a visit to the Sorrowful Mother.

The chapel was built on the corner of Mr. Koehler's farm, who sold to Frederick Drees. The latter owned the farm for many years and the chapel has been known as the Drees Chapel ever since he became the owner of the farm on which it is located. After the death of Mr. Drees, Joseph Schmidt became the owner of the farm and he, in turn, deeded it a few years ago to his son, Leo, the present owner. All of these men have shown commendable zeal in keeping the shrine in good repair. The chapel was dedicated in 1871 by Rev. Bonaventure Hammer, O. F. M.

A few Irish Catholic families settled at Laurel while the canal was being built and up to 185S were regularly visited by a priest from Shelbyville. From 1858 to 1874 the mission was in charge of a priest from Connersville. During most of this time mass had been said at the home of William Early. In 1869 a church was erected, Edward Zacharias being the prime mover in the building of the new^ church. It is a handsome little frame building, well finished on the interior, and cost fifteen hundred dollars. From 1874 to 1883 Rev. Joseph Fleischmann, of Broolcville. conducted regular services here. The priest from Cedar Grove had charge of the mission from 1883 to 1906, and since the latter year the little congregation has been served by the priest from Cambridge City.