"THE HISTORY OF THE CRADLE LAND"
By T. H. Kinsella, 1921

Pope Pius VII sat in the chair of Peter at the time Father de la CROIX passed this way on his first visit to the Osage tribe in 1822; Napoleon I had died the previous year, May 5, 1821.

Pope Leo XII was in office when Father VAN QUICKENBORNE, S.J., journeyed through this section on his way to the same tribe in 1827.

Pope Pius VIII was reigning during his visit in 1830.

Pope Gregory XVI was Pope at the time of his visit to the Miamis on the Marais des Cygnes river in 1835. It was under this Pope that Father AELEN, S.J., first preached the Gospel to the Peorias, where Paola now stands, in 1839.

Pope Pius IX was head of the Church when Father SCHOENMAKERS, S.J., came in 1847; also when Father PONZIGLIONE, S.J., came in 1851, and Father SCHACHT in 1858. Then followed the regular line of pastors to our own day.

Pope Leo XIII reigned from 1878 to 1903.

Pope Pius X from 1903 to 1914, and the present Pope, Benedict XIV, followed. It can thus be seen that eight Popes have reigned since the Missions in Kansas began in 1822.

First Bishop - Most Rev. Louis William Valentine DUBOURG, Archbishop of the Cardinalatial See of Besancon; consecrated in Rome, Sept. 24, 1815; Bishop of Louisiana, Upper and Lower, took his first residential seat in St. Louis, January 6, 1818. On July 18, 1826, the Diocese of Louisiana was divided and the Sees of St. Louis and New Orleans erected. Bishop DUBOURG, having resigned the See of Louisiana, was transferred to the Discese of Montauban in France, August 13, 1826, and made Archbishop of the Cardinalatial See of Besancon, February 15, 1833, where he died December 12 of the same year.

Second Bishop - Rt. Rev. Joseph ROSATI, C. M., Bishop of St. Louis; consecrated Bishop of the titular See of Tenagra and constituted Coadjutor of Bishop DUBOURG of Louisiana at Donaldsonville, La., March 25, 1824. When the See of Louisiana was divided Bishop ROSATI was made Bishop of St. Louis and Administrator of New Orleans. He died while on business in Rome on September 25, 1843.

Most Rev. Peter Richard KENRICK, D. D., Archbishop of St. Louis, cons. November 30, 1841, Bishop of Drasa and Coadjutor of Rt. Rev. Bishop ROSATI; Bishop of St. Louis, 1843; Archbishop, 1847; Titular Archbishop of Marcianopolis, May 21, 1895, died March 4, 1896.

The first Bishop to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation within the confines of what is now known as Kansas was the Right Rev. Peter Richard KENRICK of St. Louis, who officiated at Sugar Creek Mission, Linn County, on June 19, 1842. He confirmed 300 Indians.

Bishop BARRON, acting for the Right Rev. Bishop KENRICK, visited the same Mission on December 17, 1845. He remained two weeks and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to eighty Indians. (Right Rev. Edward BARRON, D. D., Bishop of Upper and Lower Guinea, Africa, on his return to the United States, where he had formerly resided, visited Archbishop KENRICK of St. Louis.)

Right Rev. John Baptist MIEGE, S.J., the first bishop to reside in the section of country now known as Kansas, arrived soon after March 25, 1851, the date of his Consecration at St. Louis, Mo. He established his home at Leavenworth in August, 1855. Up to this date he resided at St. Mary's College, Kansas.

Right Rev. Louis Mary FINK, O.S.B., his immediate successor and long his co-worker, was consecrated in Chicago on June 11, 1871.

Bishop MEIGE resigned in 1874 and Bishop FINK filled the office until May 22, 1877 as Bishop of Eucarpta, when he became the first Bishop of Leavenworth with Kansas exclusively as his diocese. In 1887 this immense diocese was divided, and Concordia and Wichita were erected into independent Sees.

Bishop FINK died on the 17th of March, 1904, arter thirty-three years of strenuous but most successful labor for the upbuilding of the church n Kansas.

Right Rev. Thomas Francis LILLIS, D. D., succeeded Bishop FINK on December 27, 1904, and was transferred to the See of Kansas City, March 4, 1910.

Right Rev. John WARD, D. D., was appointed to succeed Bishop LILLIS November 24, 1910, and was consecrated February 22, 1911.

The first Catholic Church at this point was erected by the Indians and was in existence in 1846. The second, "the old stone church," was begun in 1859 and completed in 1866. The third, or brick church was begun in 1880 and was, unfortunately, destroyed by fire on the 14th of January, 1906. The corner stone of the fourth or present church was laid May 27, 1906, and was dedicated April 1, 1907,by Rt. Rev. Thomas F. LILLIS, bishop of Leavenworth.

The priests who were appointed pastors of Holy Trinity Church and the Missions in all of Miami and Linn Counties were the Reverend Fathers Ivo SCHACHT from 1858 to 1862, FAVRE from 1862 to 1865, Francis J. WATTRON from 1865 to March, 1874, Anthony Joseph ABEL from March, 1874 to August, 1877, Daniel J. HURLEY from August, 1877 to March, 1883, Aloysius CARIUS from April, 1883 to August, 1885, M. J. GLEASON from August, 1855 to April 1889, J. J. O'CONNOR from April, 1889, to February, 1891, Nicholas NEUSIUS from March, 1891 to August, 1891, Thomas QUICK from September, 1891 to September, 1892, T. E. MADDEN from September, 1892 to September, 1893, Maurice BURK from October, 1893, to October, 1894, Anthony DORNSEIFER from October, 1894, to July, 1895, Francis TATON from July, 1895, to August, 1903, Maurice BURK from August, 1903, to December, 1914, Thomas H. KINSELLA from December 4, 1914 to April 14, 1919. At this time Osawatomie was raised to the dignity of a parish and Paola stood alone as the parish of Holy Trinity with Very Rev. Adolph J. DOMANN as pastor.

Reverend Ivo SCHACHT, a Belgian priest, "a man full of zeal and spirutuality," was appointed Ecclesiastical Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Nashville, Tenn. When the Sisters, at the invitation of Bishop MIEGE, moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1858, Father SCHACHT visited them, and while in Kansas he exercised his remarkable missionary zeal by going out on horse-back to visit the scattered people of the plains. Kansas was still a territory, and the on-rush of new settlers was very marked at this time. There were many Catholics amongst the first settlers. In some places regular settlements were formed, but a vast number picked up claims wherever an opportunity offered. It was this class that kept the horse-back missionary continually in the saddle.

Father SCHACHT passed through Miami County at the end of December, 1858. Paola was nothing but a cluster of humble dwellings then. It was not incorporated nor had it any modern improvements whatever. Baptiste PEORIA, the Indian Chief, was the most important personage of the place as he owned all the land on which the town was built. Father SCHACHT was the first secular priest to say Mass in Paola. The date is presumed to be the 30th of December, 1858, as on that day he "baptized solemnly in domo paterne, Richard, born Sept. 28, son of Thomas LAFONTAIN and Mary BECK." There are six records of baptism over his name in the old Indian book of records, the last being dated the 10th of April, 1861.

Paola was a Catholic center from the earliest missionary days and was especially beloved by Father PONZIGLIONE.

Father SCHACHT's visit to Paola and his continued interest in the place led the settlers of the surrounding country to plan the erection of a church either at the latter place or at Osawatomie. It seems that Osawatomie was chosen for the site and the rock was hauled there for the foundation but on account of defect in title to property the church was never built and the stone was disposed of for other purposes. It is supposed too that the atmosphere of the place was hostile, as Osawatomie, like Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan and other towns, was founded by New Englanders of the old school.

Soon afterwards, Father SCHACHT called a meeting of the Catholic settlers at Paola, the chief, Baptiste PEORIA, was present. After the Father had explained the object of the meeting the chief arose and said: "We must have a church. I will give the place for it and I will give three hundred dollars; the new people will give some, also. Our old church has fallen down; we must build here at Paola where the Black-gowns came long ago, and preached religion to my people."

The facts as here stated are given by Michael CUNNINGHAM, one of the first settlers who is now over ninety years of age.

In the meantime the Catholics continued to meet in private houses to hear Mass; first at the home of Thomas HEDGES situated on ground now occupied by the People's National Bank; then at the house of Baptiste PEORIA, a long, low building, which stood about where the Commercial Hotel is built and, finally, as the number of worshippers increased, the use of the Town Hall was obtained. This hall was in the second story of a modest frame building which stood at the corner of the square on ground now occupied by the Miami County Bank.

The foundation of the proposed church was laid in 1859 and the building, afterwards known as the "Old Stone Church" was enclosed in 1860. All manner of difficulties arose about this time which prevented the completion of the bulding for the next five years.

The great drought of 1860, the consequent failure of crops followed by a veritable famine; the chronic unrest and, finally, the great Civil War of 1861 to 1865 were more than sufficient to dampen the zeal of the people and crush the heart of one of the bravest and most unselfish missionary priests that ever labored in Kansas.

The two RYAN brothers were the builders, assisted by the farmers of the surrounding county. A certain Fonsaint Cartissere was appointed by Father SCHACHT to collect money from the Catholics of the surrounding counties for the bulding of the church and one at Strong City.

The collector disappeared and, it is said, fled to France. The amount collected was never known but the effect of the defalcation was far reaching and added greatly to all the other difficulties that confronted a poor but willing people in their efforts to establish the first Catholic Church in Miami County.

Father SCHACHT's sentiments were with the South in the great Civil struggle. He left Kansas and returned to his old home in 1861 or possibly in 1862. He spent the remainder of his life on the Missions in Kentucky and finally became pastor of St. Stephen's Church, Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1870, and died there on the 10th of April, 1874.

Hon. Ben. J. WEBB, in his "Centenary of Catholicity in Kentucky," gives such a faithful and just estimate of Father SCHACHT's character that we quote his words: "Father SCHACHT was esteemed in every congregation served by him as a laborious and successful priest. I knew Father SCHACHT and it is my conviction that a more earnest and faithful priest never labored for the good of souls on the soil of Kentucky." The same may be said of his short sojourn in Kansas from the end of 1858 to 1862. He was destined by Providence to be the link that united the Jesuit Mission period to the present order of things in Miami County and surrounding missions. He was the founder of Holy Trinity Parish, Paola, and thus made this church the inheritor of all the labors and traditions of a glorious past.

The venerable J. B. HOBSON, a member of the original Town Company, states in his notes on the churches of Paola that, "The church of the Holy Trinity may be considered to be a continuation of the labors of the Jesuits, who established a mission among the Confederate tribes extending out to the New York Indians in 1845, under charge of Father HOECKEN.

"In 1859 the Catholics began the erection of a stone church and completed it, with the exception of floors, doors and windows, in 1860. The first year of the Civil War interfered materially with religious affairs in this part of Kansas, and the unfinished church was used for a stable until 1863 (1865?) when it was finished and used for religious purposes."

The writer visited Father SCHACHT's grave in the beautiful Catholic cemetery at Owensboro in 1920. He carried home with him to Paola some of the myrtle that grew on the grave and had it planted on the grounds of Holy Trinity Church. The name of this venerable priest is greatly revered in all that country. The name "Ivo" is common in Owensboro now, the church he built there is preserved as a relic and his grave is a place of pilgrimage.

This young Frenchman came in 1862 and at once succeeded Father SCHACHT in his missionary circuit with headquarters at Lawrance. He traveled through several counties on horseback and suffered untold hardships on account of the winter's cold and the summer's excessive heat but more especially on account of the poverty of the people and the disturbed condition of affairs during the Civil War. He was succeeded by Father WATTRON at the end of 1865 and after some time, retired to Saint Meinrad's Abbey, Indiana, where he died clothed in the habit of the Benedictine order, on September 3rd, 1885.

Rev. Francis J. WATTRON was born in Alsace, France, on July the 8th, 1833. At the age of seventeen he came to this country with the intention of studying for the priesthood. Soon after his arrival here he entered St. Benedict's College, Atchison. After a successful course at St. Benedict's he went to St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, and after completing his theological studies he was ordained priest by Bishop MIEGE at Leavenworth, Kansas, on the 8th of August, 1865.

Paola was his first appointment. He remained here nine years, and during that time accomplished much for the salvation of souls and for the welfare of religion. An unrecorded chapter in the life of Father WATTRON is written in the hearts and memories of the older inhabitants of Paola. In 1865 the war had ceased its deadly stife, and people began to seettle down to normal habits of peace. New families began to move on the land and the population increased daily. North of Paola, along the Bull Creek district, several Catholic families had bult their homes, and these together with the people of the "Irish Settlement" on the south, made Paola a center of church activity. Father FAVRE, who had succeeded Father SCHACHT on the mission, found himself powerless to do anything towards the completion of the church which stood there as an abandoned building - a shelter for cattle, swallows and pigeons. The end of its desolation was, however, near at hand, for Divine Providence was shaping all things for a most auspicious future.

Father WATTRON came in his youth and vigor. He came as first resident pastor of Paola in the fall of 1865, and found no residence nor church, except - as afterwards at Fort Scott - the shell of a weather-beaten building which was soon set in order, plastered, furnished and otherwise beautified. The bell was swung into its tower, the little organ piped its soft notes, and Mass was sung by the happy pastor in tones of sweetest music, for Father WATTRON had a beautiful voice. The deep-toned bell was heard far out on the prairies and great numbers came, of all creeds, to witness the dedication of the first Holy Trinity Church. The date of this event is not recorded, but future research may yet establish the exact date of an event which future generations may deem important.

A pastoral residence was the next thing undertaken. A modest frame building was soon under roof, and the people vied with one another to make it homelike and comfortable. The ladies left nothing undone to make "the good Father" contented and happy. The years passed pleasantly and the congregation grew in numbers. The people were very faithful in their attendance at Mass in all kinds of weather. Many came great distances, for eight or ten miles were not thought much of in those days. Heavy four-wheeled wagons were much in use in getting to church, and the horse and saddle were considered high class. The people came, they always came, they never missed Mass. Father WATTRON loved his people and was beloved by them, as living witnesses can now testify. In 1874, however, an occurrence took place which changed it all. One evening while in his study, sitting near the window, a pistol shot was fired from without, piercing the chair on which he sat just a second before. He had risen for some purpose, and the change of position saved his life. The affair was a great shock to Father WATTRON. He never got over the fear it inspired, and the result was that he requested the Bishop for a change. It is supposed that the calling out of the names of non-paying members from the altar led to the dastardly act.

During his nine years at Paola, Father WATTRON recorded in most beautiful handwriting 187 baptisms; the first occurring on January the 8th, 1866, and the last on March 12, 1874. There were 22 marriages in that time, and the last one was on January the 21st, 1874. In those early times it was difficult to get many of the necessary things of life anywhere in the county. Corn bread was the food of the people; flour was a luxury and tea and coffee precious commodities. On one occasion, it is related, that Michael ALLEN and Maurice CUNNINGHAM made a raft to cross the flood tide of the Marais des Cygnes River and, then, from the north bank started on foot to Richmond, twenty-two miles away to buy flour. Each man shouldered a sack of fifty pounds and walked back to the raft and to their homes in the "Irist Settlement." - A remarkable feat! It is also related that on one occasion there was no flour in Paola on Christmas eve, a load was on the way from Kansas City and the next morning each family received nine pounds of the precious meal for their batch of Christmas biscuits.

After the Civil War prices arose to a prohibitive degree; the poor suffered and as Father WATTRON was one of that class he felt the pinch of poverty to an extent that is scarcely believable today. On a certain Sunday morning Michael ALLEN found the old housekeeper grieving over the empty wood box in the kitchen; she had no wood to cook the priest's breakfast. There was not a stick of wood anywhere. After Mass Mr. ALLEN hurried home - eight or nine miles - and began to chop wood for the priest. By next morning he had loaded his wagon and hurrying on, he was back in Paola by noon, Monday. He stated that he found Father WATTRON at table with nothing but a piece of rough, cold cornbread and a glass of water. There was no coffee and no fire with which to make it.

Long years afterwards Mr. and Mrs. ALLEN were sitting on their porch one evening when they saw a stranger approach. Mr. ALLEN said in an undertone to his wife, "It looks like Father WATTRON." Like two children they rushed down the lawn, and falling on their knees they kissed his hands. The little party wept with emotion, and when they found speech, Father WATTRON said: "Michael, I have come to have a long talk with you before we die. This may be my last visit to Leavenworth, and I stopped off the train at Fontana and walked over (three and one-half miles) to spend the night with you both and talk over old times."

The venerable Michael FENOUGHTY relates that the first Sunday he attended Mass in the old Stone Church in 1866 he heard Father WATTRON announce from the altar that he could not live on less than $250.00 a year, and that he would be compelled to ask the bishop for a change unless the people would pay their dues. This gives a good idea of the poverty of the people and, as a consequence, of the priests who for many years eked out a precarious existence on the Missions of Miami and Linn Counties.

Newman, Jefferson County, Kansas, was Father WATTRON's next appointment. After nine months in this place, he was transferred to Fort Scott. He arrived at Fort Scott on Decmeber the 9th, 1874. At that time the shell of the new church was already built. It remained for Father WATTRON to complete it. By his untiring efforts he succeeded. When he arrived in Fort Scott there was a debt of $7,000 on the church, but before many years not only was the church completed and the debt paid off, but a splendid rectory was built. For thirty years Father WATTRON lived at Fort Scott, and passed to his reward on the 19th, December, 1904.

The following account of his death is taken from the Fort Scott Tribune: "Father Francis J. WATTRON, Pastor of the Catholic Church in this city for almost thirty years, and a priest for forty, died this morning at his home, 413 Crawford Street, of a complication of diseases, at the age of 71 years. The expected end came at 7:15, and it was pleasant and peaceful, surrounded by Father B. J. MCKERNAN, who had been his friend for twenty years; his faithful housekeeper, Mrs. Annie HUGHES, and her sister, Mrs. CRONIN; Sister ANGELA of the hospital, and Carl WILLIAMS, who had been waiting on him for a couple of weeks. * * * Father WATTRON had been in ill health for more than ten years, suffering from a weak heart. Seven years ago he showed signs of fast failing and he was compelled to give up his life's work at the church. * * * Father WATTRON was a man of retiring disposition, but he was a faithful worker and always at labor for the interests of his church and the welfare of his parishioners. He never took a prominent part in the outside world, and whenever he was not conducting services at church he was found in his study. He was a profound student of all that was good, and many good works along such lines were found in his library. He was loved by all of his people and respected by the community at large. His church was his life. He had a faithful trust to perform in this world and he fulfilled his mission, and did it well."

As the first pastor of Paola, the name of Rev. Francs J. WATTRON shall remain forever enshrined in the hearts of the people of this parish.

The following deed gives legal titles, under the Town Company, to the tract of land donated by Baptiste Peoria in 1859:

This Indenture, Made this 24th day of August A.D. 1865, between the Paola Town Company, party of the first part and John B. MIEGE, party of the second part, Witnesseth, That the party of the first part in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars in hand paid by the party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained and sold, and do by these presents hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey to the party of the second part, the following described real estate, situated in Miami County in the State of Kansas, and bounded and described as follows:

This is to say Lot Numbered one (1) two (2) three (3) four (4) and five (5) in block number one hundred and thirteen (113) in the city of Paola in said county and state as the same are designated on the plat of said city. To Have and to Hold the above described premises with the appurtenances to the party of the second, and to his assigns and successors forever, Hereby convenanting that the title hereby conveyed is free, clear and unincumbered and further that the party of the first part will forever warrant and defend the same to the party of the second part and to his successors or assigns against the lawful claims of all persons except as against taxes assessed on said lots.

In Witness Whereof, the Paola Town Company have affixed their corporate seal and hereunto signed the same by their agent.

(SEAL) W. R. WAGSTAFF, Agent Paola Town Company

In Presence of R. W. MASSEY.
The State of Kansas, Miami County, ss.

Before the undersigned, acting Notary Public in and for said County and State, personally appeared W. R. WAGSTAFF, to me known as the acting agento of the Paola Town Company, and who is the identical individual whose genuine signature appears to the within and foregoing deed, and who is agent of the Paola Town Company, executed the same, and such agent acknowledged the signing and sealing of the foregoing deed of conveyance to his own free acts and deed, for the uses and purposes therein expressed. Witness my hand and official seal this 24th day of August, A.D. 1865.

(SEAL) R. W. MASSEY, Notary Public.

Filed for record August 26, A.D. 1865, at 9:00 o'clock. United States Revenue Stamps 50 cents.

W. T. SHIVELY,
Register of Deeds Miami County, Kansas

The Right Reverend Bishop MIEGE Administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to the Following in Paola, Kansas, on May 14, 1871, Rev. F. J. WATTRON, Pastor.

This was the first class to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Paola. They were gathered in from all the surrounding country and Mrs. Alice MCGRATH housed and fed thirty-one of the young people the night before.

---NOTE--The lists of the Confirmation classes are not complete but as many as have been found are inserted in their proper places.

Reverend Anthony Joseph ABEL, who came to Paola in March, 1874, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1830. He attended elementary schools there and absorbed the gymnasium course in the same country. He came to Canada when about eighteen years old and attended a Jesuit school at Montreal. He also took the Seminary course in Canada and was ordained priest at Cleveland by Bishop RAPP. His first service was on the Ohio Missions. Later he came to Missouri, and to Leavenworth Discese about 1872.

He was thoroughly equipped in everything necessary to make him a wonderfully successful missionary priest. His education was thorough, not only in theology, but in science. He spoke English, French and German fluently, and had a working knowledge of Spanish. It goes without saying that he was a thorough Latin scholar.

He did wonderful work in Miami Coutny in gathering together the scattered Catholic families. No condition of weather or roads would keep him from appointments at his various missions. While residing at Paola he was at home less than half of his time, as he had charge of the Wea Church, where he had services every other Sunday;. He also gathered together a number of Catholic families in and about Louisburg and said Mass for them at a private house in Louisburg. He did the same in Sugar Creek Township, where he had regular services at the home of the late Andrew GORMAN.

Many of the children of the Catholic families in this vicinity had never had the chance to hear Mass, or to be taught in the Catholic religion by a priest. He gathered these children about him, taught them the catechism and imbued them with a Catholic spirit.

He frequently walked to a settlement six miles northwest of Paola to teach the children. In fact, no hardship ever kept him from being at his appointments. On Christmas Day, 1874, he celebrated the first two Masses at Wea, one of them being a High Mass, then rode to Paola on horseback, twenty miles, over very rough roads, with the thermometer fourteen below zero, and celebrated High Mass at Paola at eleven o'clock on the same day, and in spite of his fatigue after these services, he was cheerful and gathered about him a class of youngsters in the afternoon for a musical entertainment. A thorough musician himself, music was his hobby. He trained a splendid choir at Wea and at Paola. He was an excellent organist and a very creditable performer on the flute and violin.

After leaving Paola he went to Boulder, Colorado, again engaged in Missionary service, but on account of the continuous strain of it, the Bishop of Denver retired him as Chaplain of a Denver hospital, but he later returned to Kansas and was active in the Wichita Discese for a number of years and finally was again appointed Chaplain of a hospital in Wichita. Here he remaind until his death, which occurred December 11, 1907.