Ch. V Resident Pastors at St. Peter's
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CHAPTER V.
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RESIDENT PASTORS AT ST. PETER’S

   Father Roupp was received with great demonstrations of joy and good will. He was assured the heartiest co-operation of the parish. He immediately set to work to beautify the church interiorly. The temporary altars were replaced by more substantial ones. The side altars were built by Mr. Heil for $75, the parish furnishing all the material, and in the early spring of 1854 Roman Indlekofer built the high altar for $50, the parish likewise supplying the material required. These three altars remain in the church to the present day. Roman Indlekofer also built the present baptismal font, receiving $35 for his work. The school was placed under the efficient management of Mr. Anton Kappes, but had so increased in number of pupils that an assistant teacher had to be employed for part of the year. A sinking fund was started for the purpose of building a pastoral residence. The parish was constantly increasing. The only indication as to the size of the parish is the baptismal register, which shows during the short pastorate of fifteen months, Father Roupp baptized 117 infants. Father Roupp commenced a register of marriages, and the first recorded is that of Patrick McGinn and Ellen McGaughrin; the witnesses were John and Margret Brady; dated July 23rd, 1853.

   The councilmen elected in January, 1854 were Charles Roth, Joseph Wonderley, Frank Pahl and Jacob Reamer. Joseph Wonderley was made treasurer and Charles Roth secretary.

   On New Year’s day, 1854, a Ladies’ Altar Society was organized with eighty-one members at the outset, who each paid five cents per month for alter decorations, and promised to lend assistance in keeping the sanctuary tidy and the vestment in good repair.

   But in the midst of this bright prospect of a plenteous spiritual harvest came the dreaded demon of an epidemic. On August 3rd, 1854, the word cholera was heard on all sides. People turned ghastly pale and were paralyzed with fear. Father Roupp labored day and night in his endeavors to alleviate the suffering, and minister to the spiritual wants of the poor dying people, and he has since received the recognition his

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services so richly merited. But at that time it was different. Father Roupp had thus far boarded at the house of Sebastian Venus, and it so happened that in the latter part of July he had spent a few days in Toledo, and returning to the home was suddenly taken very sick. While he was still sick in the house of Mr. Venus, a person came to the door asked to see the priest, and exclaimed “the cholera is in town.” Fright seized the Venus family. Mrs. Venus took sick, but soon recovered. Mr. Sebastian Venus, however, died at 11 o’clock that same forenoon, and immediately it was flashed through the town that the “priest had brought cholera from Toledo.” Dr. Weber, a nominal Catholic, was among the first to be stricken with cholera. The pastor hastened to his bedside and offered to administer the sacraments, but in vain. Weber refused, before witnesses, to receive any consolation of religion at his hands, declared that he did not want to be buried in the Catholic cemetery, and died impenitent. Notwithstanding all this his relatives at once prepared a grave on St. Peter’s cemetery, and took the corpse thither for burial. Father Roupp refused them admission, when some one dealt him a heavy blow, prostrated him and otherwise maltreated him; after which they calmly proceeded with the funeral. A suit of ouster was begun at law, which was lost by Father Roupp, and the feeling in town was so bitter against him, that he was obliged to leave town on September 1st, 1854, when the epidemic, although abated, was by no means over. His last entry on the baptismal record was dated September 1st, 1854, and was the baptism of Frederick Kunzelmann, who was born that very same day. Three others had been baptized that day.

  Conservative estimates place the number of deaths among the Catholics of St. Peter’s parish, adults and children, during the five weeks epidemic, at 100, and from obtainable facts relating to it this seems to be about correct. Other accounts place the number of deaths at 200, and even 300, but these figures are certainly exaggerations. The mortality seems to have been largest among the children. The death toll of non-Catholics appears to have been proportionately about the same as among the Catholics. Among the Catholics there were frequently four and five funerals a day; occasionally even more.

   The pastorate of Father Roupp, which had begun so propitiously, had for an entire year progressed so well, and promised much good for the future, closed in the deepest sorrow and distress. He has, however, long ago been vindicated. It has been proven beyond a doubt that he did not bring the cholera to Norwalk, that the dreaded scourge had existed here, though in mild form, for some time prior to his trip to Toledo, but that it had been kept a secret in order to avoid alarm, in the hope that it would not become an epidemic. It has also been shown the Father

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Roupp’s sickness was not cholera, but only a billious disorder brought on by the intense heat. During the five weeks of epidemic Father Roupp was given a home at the house of Mr. Joseph Wonderley.

   Honorable mention ought to be made of Mrs. Sebastian Venus, who after losing her husband, and all her children but one, devoted her time, purse and energy to alleviating the wants of the cholera victims, and, in heroic charity seeking the most neglected, ministered to them till death claimed them for his own.

   Father Roupp was next stationed at Maumee, O., and Rev. Jacob Hamene, pastor of St. Alphonsus’, Peru, took charge of St. Peter’s as a mission, saying one mass there on every Sunday and Holy Day. The school was for some time discontinued. The scourge had passed away but its fearful results were not speedily obliterated, and the cemetery was for months more frequently visited than the church. However, the restorative power of time soon produced a normal condition; men resumed their work; business revived; families, who have fled, came back, new ones came in, and by spring time, 1855, St. Peter’s once more assumed its natural trend. The school was opened in the basement where it had begun before, but the attendance was small. On April 10th, 1855, Father Hamene attended St. Peter’s for the last time, and a few days later, he was transferred to St. Mary’s, Sandusky, O.

   Rev. John Peter Dolweck succeeded Father Hamene at Peru, and for a few months attended St. Peter’s as a mission. He officiated here for the first time on April 23rd, and for the last time on July 1st, 1855. On the last date he announced to the people that Rev. N. Ponchell had been appointed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop as second resident pastor of St. Peter’s, and that he would arrive there in a few days. He came two days later. A residence had been procured for him on South Pleasant street, which he occupied for nearly two years, when the present St. Peter’s parsonage was rented from Joseph Carabin, and on April 1st, 1857 he moved into it, in order that he might be nearer to his work. About eight years later, namely on February 7th, 1865, this same house and lot were bought from Joseph Carabin for a consideration of $2,000. and has ever since remained the pastoral residence of the place, though, quite a number of times, without a pastor to occupy it.

   From its origin St. Peter’s had been a mixed parish, that is, composed of both English and German speaking Catholics, though the Germans always formed the majority. The pastors who had attended there so far, were all Europeans, from either Germany or France, and were all able to speak the German language fluently, but could hardly make themselves understood in English. They perceived the necessity of speaking English, and often made heroic efforts to do so. How well

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they succeeded is best told by an anecdote of Father Evrard’s time. He had just finished a long English dissertation when one man said to his neighbor: “It is awfully hard for our priest to speak English,” whereat the other replied: “But it is a deal harder for us to make him out.”

   Father Ponchell was a native of France, but had come to this country in youth, and had here acquired a fair knowledge of the English language. He was sent to Norwalk with instructions from the Rt. Rev. Bishop to organize an English speaking parish, as he had often petitioned to that effect.

   The formation of a purely English speaking parish in Norwalk had been in contemplation for several years, and Father Roupp had, as early as October 1853, taken the first steps in that direction by the purchase of a lot 60x300 feet for a consideration of $200. which was liquidated just prior to the breaking out of the cholera scourge. This project, like many another, received a severe back-seat because of the epidemic, and it required strenuous efforts on the part of Father Ponchell to infuse the energy necessary for its normal development. It was 1857 when the erection of a brick church building, measuring 60x40 feet, was begun, and it was two years later, namely Easter Sunday 1859, when it was sufficiently advanced to be used for divine services, and in 1860 Father Ponchell had the happiness to see it completed. The cost was $8,000. and speaks volumes in praise of the self sacrificing spirit of the few English speaking Catholics, who at that time composed St. Mary’s parish.

   Father Ponchell was a very busy man. He was pastor of two parishes, and although the greater portion of his time was taken up with St. Mary’s he did not neglect St. Peter’s. The church basement was found to be inadequate for school purposes, and was moreover injurious to the pupils’ health. A new school house was needed. In July, 1857, he purchased of George and Sophia Tillotson a plat of land three rods wide, laying along the eastern line of the church property, for school purposes, and also a plat eleven rods square, in the rear of the church, to enlarge the cemetery, making the church and cemetery plat one compact whole, 11x25 rods, just as it now is. The consideration for this land was $250. which was to be raised by extra collections in the church. It was soon paid, for the collection book shows that on the first Sunday after the purchase $335.50 was received.

  The building of a brick school house was immediately begun, and on September 1st, 1859, was ready for occupation. From January 1st, 1858, till January 1st, 1859, the school was in charge of Francis Schiffer, who also presided the organ. There were then

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more than 100 pupils in school, and Mr. Schiffer was at first assisted by his younger brother Jacob, and later on by his daughter Mary. After the departure of Mr. Schiffer, the school was placed in the charge of Mr.

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ST. PETER’S SCHOOL, ERECTED 1858-59
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Staufer and Mr. Wolf who are said to have been the first to teach in the new school-house. The new school building cost about $1,000. and was soon paid.

   The separation of the English speaking Catholics from St. Peter’s congregation caused no friction whatsoever. The only question open for discussion was that of re-imbursement. The English speaking element had contributed towards St. Peter’s till January 1st, 1856, when they began a separate organization. They had, therefore, contributed financial aid towards the original plat, 8x14 rods, towards the erection of St. Peter’s church, towards the furniture there was at that time in it and towards the basement school. It seemed but just that they should have a portion of their money refunded, because the Germans retained the property. Consequently, in October, 1858, Bishop Rappe visited St. Peter’s, conferred confirmation on about 150 children, blessed the new cemetery, and in the afternoon presided at a meeting of the councilmen to adjust the matter of re-imbursement. After mature deliberation it was decided that St. Peter’s should pay Father Ponchell $500. for St. Mary’s, and the latter should forever relinquish all claim on St. Peter’s.


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  Although much occupied in material betterments of his two parishes Father Ponchell did not forget to improve the spiritual condition as well. He resolved to awaken the slumbering faith of many indifferent members of St. Peter’s by a mission. In the autumn of 1858 he invited the veteran missionary Father F.X. Weniger, together with two other members of his order, to Norwalk, to give his people a ten days mission. The mission was strong and powerful. To make its effects more lasting a huge mission cross, of solid oak logs hewn square, was erected in the church yard, about midway between the school and church building. The cross was thirty-five feet high; the perpendicular beam measured fourteen inches square at the base, and gradually tapered a little from base to summit. The horizontal beam was about ten inches square. There was an elevated platform near the lower extremity, and twelve steps leading up to it on all four sides. This cross stood there about ten years, when, on account of its defective foundation, it became dangerous, and had to be taken down.

   September 1st, 1859, Father Ponchell was relieved of the pastorship of St. Peter’s and permitted to give his undivided attention to the care of St. Mary’s, which he had reared with such fostering anxiety. He continued, however, to reside in St. Peter’s pastoral residence, and each day, when able, walked to St. Mary’s, a distance of over two miles, to celebrate mass, to organize a school, and to attend to the other duties of his pastoral office. Surprise is often expressed as to why he retained St. Peter’s parsonage after resigning the parish, the more so because it was so very inconvenient for him and because it was needed by the parish for his successor. His reason for so doing will very likely never be known.

  Rev. A.X. Mauclerc succeeded Father Ponchell at St. Peter’s, and began his pastorate September 1st, 1859. He took up his residence in a house belonging to Mr. Rudolph Wagner, on South West street, being the second house from Main Street on the left hand side of the road that leads to the present St. Paul’s cemetery. He was a long distance from the church. The arrangement must have been an awkward one. It is said of Father Mauclerc that he was lacking in zeal, yet the evidences now at hand do no warrant that assertion. In his short pastorate of less than eleven months, the pulpit now in the church was procured. It was made by Roman Indlekofer, who received $60 for his work; the material for the same was found by the parish. A still more notable monument to his labors is the pipe organ, which has rendered services in the church from that day to this. The organ had been built for St. Joseph’s church, Tiffin, O., but proved to inadequate to the requirements there, and was offered for sale. Father Mauclerc bought it,

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had it conveyed to St. Peter’s, remodeled, and put in position at a total cost of $800. There were many adverse criticisms to this purchase at that time, yet they all proven evanescent, and the investment stands approved as a wise one.

   Up to this time no record of interments had been kept. Father Mauclerc began one immediately. The first funeral he had was on September 4th, 1859, just three days after his arrival. Ferdinand Steier, of Milan, aged 34 years, was buried that day. He had twenty-six funerals in eleven months of his administration. Although this record was continued after him, it was, with a few exceptions, kept so imperfectly as to be of very little value. The last funeral that Father Mauclerc had, was that of Mary Anna Pahl, who was buried on July 26th, 1860, the very day of which he was relieved of duty. His records are all in first class order; his financial accounts are not extant, though it is said there were no debts of any moment when the care of St. Peters was taken from him. On July 26th he received a document from the Rt. Rev. Bishop suspending him from the ministry; the cause remains a profound secret. He remained in Norwalk till the following October when he was re-instated and given pastoral charge of Louisville, O. He died in his native France on May 6th, 1876.

   The councilmen elected in January, 1860, were: Martin Sattig, Charles Roth, Frank Pahl, and Anton Bonnert.

   With scarcely vitality enough to take care of one parish, Father Ponchell had, once more, two on his hands. His health, however, was notably declining, and it was little indeed that he could do for either parish except worry over the responsibility. His neighboring priests kindly came to the rescue. Revs. F.X. Obermueller and John P. Dolweck assisted him during August; Revs. L. Hoffer and Charles M. Coquerelle during a part of September, and Father Obermueller was again at his bedside when he breathed his last, September 15th, 1860.

   Father Ponchell had been pastor of both parishes during the greater portion of his career at Norwalk; he had all the while resided in St. Peter’s parsonage, and had died there, yet his greatest efforts were made in behalf of St. Mary’s parish, whose church he had successfully completed, and it was his earnest request that his remains be interred beneath the building that owed its existence to his conception and labor. It was done according to his wishes. His remains were taken in solemn procession from St. Peter’s parsonage to St. Mary’s church, and there, after the celebration of high mass and funeral rites, were laid to rest beneath the sanctuary, where they yet repose. The following priests are said to have been present at the obsequies: Very Rev. Alexis Caron, Very Rev. James Conlon, Revs. F.M. Boff, E.M.

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O’Callaghan, N. Roupp, Chas. Evrard, Joseph Lais, J.P. Dolweck, Jacob Hemene, C. Coquerelle, F.X. Obermueller, A.X. Mauclerc, Louis Molon, Louis Hoffer, John B. Uhlmann and Maria Anton Meyer.

   Rev. John Peter Dolweck, pastor of Peru, once more took charge of St. Peter’s as a mission. His services began on September 24th, 1860, and continued till March 31st, 1861, on which date he was here for the last time. On January 10th of this year an election of councilmen took place and resulted in placing Frank Pahl, Konrad Indlekofer, Rudolph Wagner and Anton Bonnert in office for one year. The school at this time was in charge of Louis Fiesinger and Benedict Kuenz, and there were about one hundred and twenty-five pupils.

  From April 1st will September 1st, 1861, the spiritual wants of St. Peter’s parish were attended to by Rev. Maria Anton Meyer, who at this time had left the Sanguinist Order, was the guest of Rev. Dolweck at Peru, under whose supervision all his work in this parish was performed.

   The successful pastorate of Rev. F.X. Obermueller, who had now become a secular priest, commenced on September 1st, 1861 and lasted till December 15th, 1865. St. Peter’s parish was now at its very best stage. It was also entirely German. Although diminished by the formation of a parish in Monroeville in 1863, and again by that organized at Milan, in 1864, it still continued to be a large parish, as is evidenced by the Baptismal register, which shows that on an average, 80 infants were baptized each year. Father Obermueller was a very busy priest. The organization of the two parishes in neighboring towns was entirely due to his efforts. He did much for the material advancement of St. Peter’s. He converted the church basement, which for 18 years had been used for school rooms, into a chapel of the Sorrowful Mother, and enlarged it by a twelve feet brick addition to make room for the altar, that the week-day mass might henceforth be celebrated. This chapel was completed early in 1863. Mr. William Durst deserves to be remembered for his large donations in money and labor towards fitting up this neat chapel. A remarkable statue of the Sorrowful Mother was procured from Germany and placed over the altar of this chapel. It is reported that miracles have been wrought here at various times in the past. During certain seasons of the year the attending priest still celebrates mass in this chapel on Saturdays, but it is beginning to show unmistakable evidences of decay.

   Under the supervision of the pastor, there was an election of councilmen on January 5th, 1862, at which Dominic Meyer, Blasius Brunner, Frank Pahl and Rudolph Wagner were chosen for that office; Dominic Meyer was declared secretary and Blasius Brunner treasurer for the ensuing

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year. In the same month the Ladies’ Altar Society was reorganized with 135 members, who were assessed five cents per month for altar decorations.

   In the spring of 1863 the men of the parish organized an Aid Society. This society had its first meeting on May 3rd, 1863, adopted its constitution, the first article which states that the name of the society shall be “St. Peter’s Aid Society.” The second article states the object to be “The greater honor of God, the love of neighbor, and the salvation of souls.” The constitution contains six articles and after its ratification, the members proceeded to elect their officers as follows: Rev. F.X. Obermueller, spiritual advisor; Jacob Humbel, president; Blasius Brunner, vice-president; Vitus Bischof, secretary; Joseph Wonderley, treasurer; Dominic Meyer, marshal.

   The society started out with eighty four members, and has had a long and useful career. At the formation of new St. Peter’s parish on Hester street, it immediately affiliated with the new parish, and later on with St. Paul’s, under the original name, which it retains to this day.

   In January, 1863, Dominic Meyer, Blasius Brunner, Frank Pahl and Rudolph Wagner were re-elected to the council for another year.

   During all of Father Obermueller’s time the receipts of moneys averaged over $2,000 per year, which was invariably all expended in the same year that it was obtained. The school was in charge of Benedict Kuenz and was comparatively prosperous. Mr. Kuenz taught from June 10th, 1861, till July 1st, 1866, and again from September 1st, 1869, till July 1st, 1872. Mr. Gottesleben taught the school from September 1st, 1866 until July 1st, 1869. There was all this while an assistant teacher, who was frequently changed. Mr. Wolf was employed in that capacity for a while, and in 1870 and 1871 Mr. Karl Adam held that position and also presided over the organ. The names of the other assistant teachers are forgotten, except that of Anton Bonnet, who later on taught at the new St. Peter’s also, but the date of his teaching here cannot be accurately ascertained.

  In the early spring of 1864 new oil print stations were bought to replace the old ones that had rendered their services for nearly twenty years, and that were now put to use in the chapel. On February 7th, 1865, the pastoral residence was bought from Joseph and Mary Carabin for $2,000. although this place had been occupied by the pastors of St. Oeter’s for eight years, it had not been bought, but only rented up to the date of purchase here given. From June 8th till September 5th, 1862, St. Alphonsus’ had no pastor, and Father Obermueller, in addition to all the multitudinous work of his parish, also attended Peru as a mission.


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  The successor of Father Obermueller was Rev. Amadeus Dambach, who assumed charge of St. Peter’s parish on December 20th, 1865. Three weeks after his arrival an election of councilmen took place and

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ST. PETER’S PASTORAL RESIDENCE.
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the following men were placed in office: Charles Roth, Peter Joseph Deutsch, Anton Bonnert and Benjamin Gruenfelder; of these Mr. Roth was declared secretary and Mr. Deutsch treasurer. The parish was large and prosperous, and the career of Father Dambach was noted for peace, harmony and quietude. In May, 1866, a very large class received first holy communion, some of whom are still residing in Norwalk. This was the last pastorate at which the German Catholics of Norwalk were all contented to assist in divine worship in old St. Peter’s.

   Father Dambach’s pastoral care of St. Peter’s was brief. On May 16th, 1867, he took his departure, and was a few days later succeeded by Rev. Andrew Magenhahn, who for nearly three years previous had been pastor of St. Alphonsus’ church, Peru. Great dissatisfaction with the location of St. Peter’s church was at this time manifesting itself in some quarters. A large number of German Catholic families had settled in the city and these expressed much reluctance towards attending mass at the farthest limits of the town, and positively refused to lend any aid to the project, then under contemplation, of building a new church edifice to replace the one that had for twenty-six years rendered services

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at the old place. Two factions came suddenly into existence. The one was agitating the feasibility of erecting a substantial church edifice on a central location; the other was for retaining the old place at all hazards. No one then thought of dividing the parish, nor of forming a new German parish, but the intention of the majority was to transplant the entire parish into a more congenial soil. Men’s passions were once more aroused, harmony was banished, and drastic measures resorted to, but still a division was not yet contemplated. The Rt. Rev. Bishop’s permission was obtained, and a new location secured by the purchase of two and one-half lots from Charles and Elizabeth Roth on Hester street for a consideration of $1,300. The transfer to the Bishop was made by warranty deed on February 19th, 1868. A two-story brick building was immediately begun, and work was pushed forward so rapidly by the contractor, Dominic Meyer, that by September of the same year it was ready for occupation, both for church and school; the church was the second story, the school in the first. The cost of this building was about $8,000. Although only about two-thirds of the German Catholics in Norwalk had concurred in the erection of the new church, yet it was seriously expected that sooner or later all would be reconciled, would abandon the old and come to the new church. As an inducement the location on Hester had been chosen, and the new church was called St. Peter’s. Father Magenhahn held equal services

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NEW ST. PETER’S, OR HESTER STREET CHURCH, 1868.
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at both places and this gave umbrage to old St. Peter’s, who henceforth found serious fault with the pastor. Consequently in the autumn of 1868 Father Magenhahn vacated old St. Peter’s parsonage and took up his residence in a rented house on Hester street, being the first brick house north of new St. Peter’s. A few months later he moved into a house belonging to Charles Roth, No. 113½ Hester street, where he abode till the expiration of his pastorate, about September 1st, 1869.

   The first councilmen of New St. Peter’s were Peter Joseph Deutsch, Charles Roth, Anton Bonnert and Joseph Troendle. The first teacher and organist was Anton Bonnert, who had previously, for several terms, taught at old St. Peter’s school. There were now two German Catholic parishes in Norwalk when there were scarcely members enough to form one. Each began to clamor for a pastor, each wanted to be independent of the other, and each stubbornly refused to surrender its autonomy.

   One day after the departure of Father Magenhahn, namely, September 2nd, 1869, Rev. James A. Kuhn arrived here, showed the credentials of his appointment as pastor and immediately entered upon his duties as such. From the time of his coming till Janury 1st, 1870, he resided in the house on Hester street, which had just been vacated by his predecessor. He then, in order to save paying rent, moved into the parsonage of old St. Peter’s, where he remained till the voice of his superior

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PARTIAL VIEW OF ST. PAUL’S CEMETERY
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called him elsewhere, and from whence he attended to the wants of both parishes, giving each of them half services. The hope of bringing the recalcitrant members of the old St. Peter’s over to the new parish had not yet been abandoned, and Father Kuhn thought he could reconciliate them by a compromise. With this object in view he purchased grounds for a new cemetery nearly midway between the two parishes. The plat thus bought contained the six acres laying on the west side of South West street, which at present constitutes St. Paul’s cemetery. The land was bought from Constantine and Tryphone Parker, through the mediation of Peter J. Deutsch, who thereby incurred the displeasure of both parties, though from widely different motives; of one because of its opposition to the compromise; and of the other because of its aversion to the locality.

   The instrument of conveyance was dated November 19th, 1870, and the consideration was $1,100. Interment was begun here at once. Old St. Peter’s objected to the compromise, and consequently refused to contribute one penny towards the payment of this cemetery, and continued to bury its dead on the former cemetery. Father Kuhn remonstrated with them but it was to no avail; finally he invoked compulsion and in 1871 prevailed on Rev. Edward Hannin, administrator, to interdict old St. Peter’s cemetery. This intensified the bitter feeling, matters became daily worse, the interdict was disregarded and interment took place there without the ministration of the priest.

   In the meantime the scheme of compromise was going on in another direction. It was proposed to abandon the Hester street property, and to buy a new location on west Main street, that would be easier to access and therefore less objectionable to old St. Peter’s. The site selected was on the north side of West Main street, and directly west of the W.&L.E.R.R. This plat was secured in November, 1870, by Joseph Troendle for $4,000. with the expectation of presently conveying it to the Rt. Rev. Bishop for new St. Peter’s. But as old St. Peter’s refused to ratify the purchase, and likewise refused to contribute towards paying for it, Mr. Troendle agreed to retain the property for himself at the purchase price, the congregation losing $80 interest, which they had in the interim paid.

   The pastorate of Father Kuhn was a stormy one throughout, and proved beyond all doubt that a union of the two parishes could not be expected for many years to come, and in order to allay the excitement which had been evoked by the attempts to coerce submission to compromise, Father Kuhn was transferred to a parish in Cleveland on September 10th, 1871. Thus far new St. Peter’s had great financial success. About $10,500. had been expended in acquiring the Hester

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street property and the new cemetery, and at the departure of Father Kuhn the debt amounted to only $1,400.

   The councilmen during 1870 and 1871 were Joseph Troendle, Jacob Humbel, Anton Bonnert, and F. J. Fiesinger. New St. Peter’s school was during this time in charge of A.J. Baumgartner.

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