Our History

History of the Province

The Early Years - Progress in Kansas

(9) In the Far West Once More

The Province of Pennsylvania was now established on a firm basis. The story of the next twenty-five years is void of stirring events, being chiefly a recital of the development of the foundations already described. The Seraphic School at Herman gave promise of a slow but steady growth of membership, the various congregations entrusted to the Order increased and prospered, and several new charges were added in the course of time. The most striking progress was witnessed in Ellis County, Kansas, whither our Fathers had gone in 1878. In the summer of 1883 Bishop Fink had formally ceded the church property at Victoria and, at the same time, granted the care of souls in all that part of Ellis County lying north of the Smoky Hill River to the Capuchin Order in perpetuity. The grant was ratified by the Congregation of Propaganda October 21, 1883, and finally accepted by our Superiors in Rome, in May of the following year.

We need not here recount the hardships and trials which our pioneers suffered in these parts, nor the difficulties and privations under which they carried on their missionary labors; but how well they have done their work is proved by the flourishing condition of the Church in Ellis County today. The county now forms an important part of the Diocese of Concordia (the territory of which was separated from the See of Leavenworth in 1887), and the mission comprises three monasteries and as many parish churches and schools in Victoria, Hays City, and Munjor; churches and schools in Catherine (where a Hospice is to be erected shortly), Ellis, and Walker; and churches in Emmeram, Antonino, and Hyacinth. This does not include a number of other flourishing parishes founded and built up by our Fathers and later turned over to the Ordinary and now in charge of diocesan priests.

In Victoria, which at present has a flourishing congregation of about 270 families, chiefly German-Russians, whose history has already been briefly told in these pages, the old stone church built by the Lords Maxwell was replaced, through the energetic efforts of Father Anthony Maria, by a new and much larger edifice, which was completed and, being free of debt, also consecrated by Bishop Fink, October 14, 1884. The generosity of the parishioners enabled the succeeding pastors, in the course of time, to equip the church with a number of fine altars, statues, bells, reliquaries, etc., etc. Still it is the intention of the progressive people of Victoria to replace even this present church, a very creditable building though it be, by a more ambitious structure in the near future.

In 1885 the congregation purchased five acres of ground for a cemetery, which was blessed by Bishop Scannell October 20th. The remains of Father Matthew, the first pastor and superior of Victoria, were transferred to St. Fidelis Cemetery about the same time.

There can be no doubt that the chief reason for the happy growth and present prosperous condition of this, as of most of the parishes of Ellis County, is to be found in the zeal which pastor and people displayed in establishing Catholic schools, in many instances even before a church building was thought of. The first school in Victoria (or rather Herzog) was taught in the house of Mr. A. Dreiling, by Mr. Peter Linnenberger, who had spent a few years at the seminary of Saratov, Russia. The school, though it might not pass muster before the severer diocesan boards of today, did very good service at the time. In 1879, Sisters of St. Agnes from Fond du Lac, Wis., took charge, turning the church into a classroom for lack of better accommodations. A school building with four classrooms was erected in 1889, and replaced by one of eight rooms, in 1898.1899, by Father Gabriel, O.M. Cap., who was Pastor and Superior in Victoria at the time. At present the school is in charge of six Sisters and has an attendance of about 300 pupils.

Of the first primitive dwelling of our Fathers in Victoria we have spoken in a previous number. The few little rooms built to the rear of the Maxwell church by Father Calasance were replaced in 1880 by a hospice erected on the newly-acquired property in Victoria township. In 1902 the present spacious monastery was built under the direction of our skilled architect, Father Emmeram, O.M. Cap., and dedicated May 23, 1903, in presence of all the Capuchin Fathers of Ellis County. In the same year the house at Victoria was raised to the rank of a Guardianate, and Father Chilian, formerly Superior of Munjor, appointed first Guardian of the new monastery. In the fall our class of philosophy took up their abode in the Victoria monastery, Fathers John and Francis presiding over the school as Lectors.

A spacious garden surrounds the monastery of Victoria, and a modest arbor, the fruit of the incessant labors of clerics and brothers, pleasantly breaks the monotony of the Kansas prairie.

From Victoria the Fathers attend the missions of Emmeram and Walker. Emmeram, formerly called Nord-dorf, or North Village, because it lies about eight miles to the north of Victoria, numbers about forty-five families, which until 1901 belonged to St. Fidelis Parish. The church was begun in 1899 by Father Gabriel, completed by Father Emmeram in 1901, and dedicated by Bishop Cunningham May 30, 1902. Emmeram has regular parochial service on all Sundays and feast days of the year and is at present attended by Father Andrew, O.M. Cap.

Walker, four miles east of Victoria, has a congregation of about 45 families, chiefly Westphalians, who settled in Ellis County about the same time as the German-Russians. They, too, belonged originally to St. Fidelis Parish in Victoria, of which they remained loyal and devoted members until 1903. Beginning with Christmas of that year they had regular parochial service on Sundays and £cast days in the schoolhouse, which they had built as early as 1893. A church, which would be a credit to many a larger and richer congregation, was built here by Father Emmeram in 1904-1905, and dedicated by Bishop Cunningham, November 30, 1905. The edifice cost about $13,000.00. The parochial school was until very recently taught by the Sisters of SI. Agnes, the annual enrollment being between 50 and 60 pupils. A cemetery of about five acres was purchased in 1904. The present pastor of SI. Anne's Church, Walker, is Father Pancratius, O.M. Cap., who has made many improvements in the little parish since his appointment in August, 1906.

For the sake of clearness we shall now interrupt the chronological order of our history and, instead of returning to the foundations of the East, continue our account of the remaining missions of Ellis County.

Among the places entrusted to our Order by Bishop Fink, in 1878, was Hays City. The town is situated in the very center of the county, on the left bank of a little stream called Big Creek. The first settlers had pitched their tents on the right, or southern bank of the stream, in or about the year 1867. They had given the colony the somewhat ambitious name of "Rome," doubtless expecting the settlement to develop into a metropolis that would justify this lofty appellation. These hopes were inspired by the fact that the Government had erected a fort nearby (Fort Hays), and that the Kansas Pacific Railway was about to extend its line through the settlement to the State of Colorado. The same hopes had led a number of St. Louis people to purchase three sections of land in the neighborhood for colonization purposes. This land, however, lay along the right bank of the creek, and was partly laid out in lots, which sold so rapidly that the settlement, which was named Hays City after the neighboring fort of that name, could boast of more than a thousand inhabitants in less than a year. It is unnecessary to speak here of the rather doubtful quality of some of the first settlers of Hays City, but like all new frontier towns Hays seemed to be more concerned just then about establishing saloons than erecting houses of worship. A chronicler says of these early days that at one time thirty-seven liquor licenses were granted within two hours. When after some time the first adventurers departed "to fresh woods and pastures new" conditions were much improved. Hays City soon became the county seat of Ellis County, though the courthouse was built only as late as 1873. The ambitious city of "Rome" disappeared altogether.

As stated previously, Hays City was not overstocked with churches in its earlier days. There were but few Catholics among the first settlers, as also among the soldiers garrisoned at the fort. These were visited now and then by priests from Salomon City, Salina, and other places. Father Sommereisen took up his residence in Hays City for a while, purchasing part of the present church property, building a small residence for himself, and even laying the foundations for a church, in 1876. But his plans were somewhat too ambitious for the young colony, and like the "Rome" across the creek the first Catholic church of Hays City, or rather its beginnings, soon faded from view.

When, in 1878, the Capuchin Fathers took up their residence in Victoria they also attended to the spiritual wants of the Catholics of Hays City, the first visit to the place being made by Father Anastasius, May 16, 1878. At first, Mass was said at the courthouse, or in the public school building, and sometimes also at the fort, until a frame church was built in the following year, a very humble affair, but still an earnest of the good will of the few Catholics in residence there. When, owing to the large influx of Catholic settlers, chiefly German-Russians from other colonies, the little congregation was steadily increasing Father Anastasius decided to erect a stone church, the cornerstone of which was laid August 15, 1886. The new church, being free of debt, was consecrated by Bishop Fink September 4, 1887, and placed under the patronage of St. Joseph. The edifice soon proving much too small a little side chapel was added subsequently, and dedicated to Our Blessed Lady.

In those days the people of Hays City generally had divine service on two Sundays of the month and frequently also on week days. The mission was in charge of Father Anastasius until August, 1888, when he was succeeded by Father Anthony, who attended the place until Trinity Sunday, 1891, when Father Martin became pastor of Hays City.

In 1893 the residence of the late Father Sommereisen, together with four adjoining lots, having been purchased by the parishioners a Hospice was established in the town, Father Martin being the first resident pastor and superior of the new monastery. In 1897 Father Martin was succeeded by Father Emmeram, who was in turn followed by Father Mark. Upon the latter devolved the difficult task of replacing the existing parish church by a new and larger and more ambitious structure, this step being made imperative by the constant growth of the congregation. The new St. Joseph's Church, the third within twelve years, was begun in June, 1901. It was nearly completed when, in August, 1903, Father Mark was succeeded by Father Richard, under whose administration the edifice received its last finishing touches and was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Cunningham of Concordia, June 12, 1904. The ceremonies were attended by an immense concourse of people from all sides. The Rev. J. Maher, of Salina, preached an eloquent dedication sermon in English, Very Rev. Ex-Provincial Hyacinth preaching in German. The church is a credit to the people of Hays City, whose generosity deserves unstinted praise, all the more so as other pressing needs of the parish made further claims upon their liberality, as we shall see presently.

The establishment of a parochial school may be said to be a difficult task in all newly-formed parishes. The small number and poverty of the Catholics of Hays City did not 'end to make this task easier for its pioneer priests. Until 1882 the Sisters of St. Agnes, who conducted a school in Victoria, would take their temporary abode in Hays during the long vacations which are a regrettable necessity in country parishes. They would rent a house in town and teach school in the church. In 1882 Father Anastasius built a small frame dwelling for the Sisters, and since then Hays City has had its own parochial school. Until 1884 the church continued to serve as a classroom. In that year a schoolhouse was built. The old frame church, which had meanwhile been replaced by a stone structure, was moved to the school grounds and likewise for teaching purposes. Neither the "convent" nor the school buildings were models of beauty and comfort, but the heavy debt with which the congregation had been burdened by the building of the new church, made any improvement in this direction next to impossible. Relief came at last from Fond du Lac, Wis., the seat of the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Agnes, when the Mother Superior purchased a spacious and comfortable residence in the neighborhood of the church and converted it into a convent and academy. The school accommodations, however, still left much to be desired. Help came at last from the East. In 1893 the Capuchin Fathers had made an attempt to establish a High School in Hays City, in which the boys and young men of the parish might obtain a higher education, and thus be kept abreast with their non-Catholic neighbors, who enjoyed the advantages of the State Normal School nearby. Twenty-two boys were enrolled, but circumstances compelled the Fathers to give up the school, or rather to defer its continuation until more favorable times. The plan was taken up again at the Provincial Chapter in Pittsburg, in the summer of 1906, and it was decided to erect, at once, a modern and up-to-date college building in Hays City; the lower story of which was to serve as a parochial school and the second story as a High School. The new building is expected to be ready for occupancy by next fall. Several priests of the Province are at present taking commercial courses at one of the foremost colleges of Pennsylvania, preparatory to their taking up educational work at the new institution at Hays. Thus after many long, long years of patient waiting the metropolis of Ellis County is to have adequate school facilities.

For many years the priest attending to the spiritual wants of the Catholics of Hays City enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Andrew Meier, a prominent member of the parish, whose family, so far, is the first in Ellis County that has given a priest to the Capuchin Order, viz., Father Fidelis, Director of our college at Herman. After the completion of the first (frame) church Father Anastasius made his home in an addition built to the rear of the sanctuary, which, like the founder of the Capuchin Reform, he shared with a flock of pigeons. The latter had their "rooms" in the loft above, but they preferred to chum it with their kind landlord, who made them ever welcome in his abode, which, by the way, was scarcely more comfortable than their own. This partnership lasted until 1887, when Father Anastasius, during his visits to Hays City, took up his residence in another addition built to the rear of the new stone church. When Father Martin became the first resident pastor and superior of Hays, he, and his little monastic family occupied the dwelling purchased for that purpose from the estate of the late Father Sommereisen. At last, on March 25, 1893, Father Provincial Joseph Anthony was able to bless the cornerstone of a real monastery, which was completed in September of the same year. The monastery was erected under the supervision of our Kansas architect and builder, Father Emmeram. It is a two-story structure, seventy feet long and forty feet wide, and accommodates about twelve Friars. It is, therefore, large enough for a more numerous religious family than has hitherto been stationed at Hays, but all the available room will be needed once the Faculty of the new college will wend their way westward.

The spiritual labors of the priests of St. Joseph's Parish in Hays may be said to differ but little from the work of other parishes of its size. The congregation numbers 200 families, some twenty-live of which are English-speaking, which, in many respects, renders the work of the priests more burdensome. The usual societies and confraternities are established in the parish, to which must be added a congregation of Tertiaries, of some sixty members. The parochial school has about 200 pupils and is taught by nine Sisters of St. Agnes. Since the establishment of a monastery in Hays City the following Fathers have been pastors and superiors there: Father Manin, 1893-1897; Father Emmeram, 1897-1900; Father Mark, 1900-1903; Father Richard, 1903-1906; Father Cassian, since August, 1906. During the last few years the pastors of Hays have, by episcopal appointment, acted as incumbents of the Victoria Deanery (which comprises seven counties), and held various other diocesan offices.

Among the memorable events in the history of St. Joseph's Parish are the mission held by Rev. Father Disder, C.SS.R., during the Christmas Season of 1892, and another very successful mission preached by the Jesuit Fathers Joseph Jordans and John Spirig, of Prairie du Chien, Wis., from December 31, 1905, to January 14, 1906. On June 19, 1898, Father Fidelis Meier, O.M. Cap., already mentioned in this sketch, celebrated his First Mass in St. Joseph's Church.

Fr. Gabriel Speath, OFM Cap

Fr. Emmeram Kausler, OFM Cap

Fr. Chilian Lutz, OFM Cap