NEGenWeb Project
Church/Catholic
Franciscans

Bruno Zuerlein did the mason work ---- $107.50
Eschelbacher did the tin work, Henry furnished the lumber ---- $147.50 and $733.50
Mr. Stoffel did the plastering and white-washing ---- $145.00
On January 1, 1886, St. Joseph's total in-debtedness was ---- $1,698.49
On March 11, 1886, Rev. Boniface comonically erected the Stations of the Cross at St. Joseph's.

The first church stood just north of the second church (1899). The first floor was used for school purposes, the upper floor for religious services.

DEDICATION AND CONFIRMATION

The first combination church school and Sisters' residence was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. J. O'Connor on Sept. 22, 1885. On the same day he confirmed a class of 59. After the Solemn High Mass, he also blessed the bell.

ST. ANN'S ALTAR SOCIETY

St. Ann's Altar Society was organized August 15, 1895. The following are the charter members: Mrs. Thomas Mylet, Mrs. Michael Dugan, Mrs. Henry Burke, Mrs. John Hennessey, Mrs. John Maher, Mrs. Robert Gentleman.

NATIONAL PREJUDICE

Although part of St. Patrick's parish seems to have welcomed the Franciscans, in fact people spoke of getting up a petition to the Bishop to get a Franciscan pastor, still, this was by no means the general sentiment, as the following letter shows, even though it is possibly pessimistic.

Platte Center, Neb., March 16, 1885.
Rt. Rev. Bishop O'Connor, Omaha.
Rev. Father:

"I take the liberty of addressing you with these few lines for the purpose of informing you of the affairs of Church matters in our parish. I suppose you are well aware of the dissatisfaction that has been here ever since Father Flood left here. St. Patrick's Church or Parish and St. Joseph's Parish in Platte Center is almost entirely composed of Irish people and as you are well aware they ought to be furnished with a priest of their own nationality. The people here are falling away from the church and the day is not far distant when out of eighty families here there will not be ten families you could call good Catholics. Now the reasons are these people want an Irish priest and until they get one, the matter stands as it does now. There is no way a priest can compel people to go to Mass, if they are obstinate enough to stay away and regardless of priest and Bishop they will certainly do this until there is some other arrangement made.

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(larger view)

St. Joseph's School, Platte Center

"As far as I am concerned I have always regarded our priest Bonifacius as a good and pious man and he has certainly worked for the interest of the parish, but that is not the question in issue. The people here of St. Patrick's parish are the best and wealthiest families in both parishes and the way things are arranged now, they have Mass only once a month, which you will very readily admit that no family can be good practical Catholics and only see the Church, as you may term it, twelve times a year. "The rules of the church as I understand it is

Second St. Joseph's Church, Platte Center, 1899

Rev. Salvator Lehman, O. F. M.

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this, in regard to a man attending Church, he has the privilege of staying at home if he chooses, or going to Mass when he chooses. Now when it comes to this stage of the day, when people of the parish turn out in mass and want something done in the way of having an Irish priest or turning away from the Church or staying at home, that it is high time for something to be done. The way things are situated now suits me well enough. I am not at all dissastisfied (sic) with the priest we have; but there is a general dissatisfaction and the only reason they have is because he is a German.

"Hoping you will not make my letter known to anybody, as I would not like our Fathers here to know that I have done this, I am,

"Respectfully, N. N. (follows signature).

"NB. Would like to hear from you."

That some stayed away from Church seems to be true from information I received from the late Rev. Daniel Moriarty, of Norfolk, who seems to have had relatives at Platte Center. He told of one man, who had stayed away from church for many years and said one day:

"Thanks be to God! Here is one Irishman, who has not gone to the church since the German priests are here."

As to demanding a priest of the same nationality as the parishioners, it is a wrong one, especially in a country, where so many nationalities exist often in the same locality, where only one church is possible. It is usually a matter of prudence and a common practice to give a parish a priest of their own nationality, though it is claimed that at times, when the reverse is the case, pastor and people get along better than with a priest of their race and nation. A good Catholic accepts the priest the Bishop sends irrespective of nationality, especially when there is a dearth of priests or a mixture of various nationalities and the Rt. Ordinary has done his best. In case of real grievance, redress should be sought from the chief shepherd of the diocese and only in extreme cases with higher authorites (sic).

In another letter Fr. Boniface relates how he planned to celebrate St. Patrick's day at the old church, but the driver would not show up. Besides St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's, Fr. Boniface had also the Albion parish to take care of. This will at least in part explain the Mass said once a month at St. Patrick's. There were few priests and many missions springing up everywhere to look after.

Fr. Boniface was succeeded at Platte Center by Rev. Rudolph Horstmann, O. F. M. But let us first tell the life story of Platte Center's first Franciscan pastor.

BIOGRAPHY OF REV. BONIFACE DEPMANN, O. F. M.

Herman A. Depmann, son of Herman and Josephine (Trenkpohl) Depmann, was born in Muenster, Germany, on June 29, 1841. He finished the regular course of study at the gymnasium of his native city in the fall of 1860, and continued his philosophical studies, together with a year of theology in the same city. At the invitation of Rt. Rev. Jas. F. Wood, Bishop of Philadelphia, he came to America in August, 1862. Already in October, 1863, he was ordained deacon and on February 2, 1864, he was raised to the dignity of the priesthood.

The young priest was assistant at St. Alphonsus' Church, Philadelphia, only six weeks, after which he was given charge of St. Boniface parish in St. Clan, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. After a pastorate of five years he was allowed to make a visit to his native country. On his return in fall, 1869, he was placed in charge of the parishes at Bridesburg and Tacony, Pennsylvania. Three years later he was pastor of St. John's parish in Pottsville, receiving an assistant in the person of Rev. A. Nathe two years later.

FR. DEPMANN BECOMES A FRIAR MINOR

During these years Fr. Boniface had been officiating as a secular priest of the diocese. On May 9, 1877, after a long deliberation, he, by letter, petitioned the Very Rev. Gregory Janknecht to be admitted among the followers of the holy Seraphic Father St. Francis. He motivated his petition with the reason that ever since his student years he had an ardent desire for the Order, but that the duty of supporting poor parents prevented the execution of this wish. Now that his father was dead and his mother was amply provided for, he asked for the favor and protection of a religious life, although 35 years of age, of which he had spent 13 in the priesthood. "Though I know", he wrote to the Provincial, "that younger elements are, for just reasons, more desirable, still do not reject my humble petition. I assure you that I shall earnestly try to prove by my conduct that 1, totally forgot the independence of a secular priest and came to practice the obedience of a religious."

His request was granted and the promise made to the Provincial was carried out fully by his new life as a Franciscan. His investment took place February 9, 1878, and his simple profession on February 10, 1879. Fr. Boniface, the name given him as a Franciscan, received his first appointment as assistant to Fr. Augustine Henseler in St. Peter's Church, Chicago. On

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February 10, 1882, he made his solemn vows as a Franciscan.

In 1882, he was sent to Columbus, Nebraska, from where he attended the Butler County missions and Platte Center. He remained in Nebraska until July, 1886, when he was appointed vicar of the Quincy monastery, assistant of St. Francis parish and master of clerics. The latter office he relished least of all; since he himself had never been a cleric of the Order. After two years in 1888, he was transferred to the monastery at Cleveland, where he labored untiringly, partly as assistant of the parish, partly and principally in the many institutions connected with the monastery. On April 9, 1889, he was made Vicar of the Monastery and remained in this office for 23 years under seven different guardians until his death on April 4, 1912.

HIS DEATH

His death was a sudden but an enviable one. On Maundy Thursday, when about to receive Holy Communion, he suffered a stroke of apoplexy in the choir. There was just sufficient time to administer Extreme Unction to him, when he breathed his last. His funeral took place April 8th, Rt. Rev. Bishop Farrelly officiating.

The Cleveland monastery chronicle says of Fr. Boniface: "He was a true Nathaniel, in whom there was no guile. He was a strict observer of the holy rule and always present at the divine office in choir. He was beloved by all both seculars and regulars."

THE SUCCESSORS OF REV. FR. BONIFACE, O. F. M.

The successors of Rev. Boniface at Platte Center were: Rev. Rudolph Horstmann, O. F. M., July, 1886-January, 1887; Rev. Ignatius Reinkemeyer, O. F. M., January, 1887-January, 1888; Rev. Godfrey Hoelters, O. F. M., Jan., 1888-July, 1891. With the approval of the Rt. Rev. Bishop, Febr. 4, 1888, he organized the Young Ladies' Society Dec. 8, 1888. A mission was preached by Rev. Augustine McClory, O. F. M., and Rev. Victor Aertker, O. F. M., Oct. 5-13, 1890. In a meeting held February 16, 1890, a committee of seven men and young men was selected to assist in assessing fairly the parishioners for an annual parish income of $1,200 and to get slackers to do their part.

The above committee consisted of Messrs. M. Maher, P. Dugan, J. A. Kehoe, C. C. Carrig, Max Brueckner, T. F. Lynch, John Hennessy; D. D. Lynch, collector for one year.

REV. TITUS HUGGER, O. F. M.,
JULY, 1891-JULY, 1893

Father Titus sold the buildings of Old St. Patrick's Church and labored zealously.

Henry Hugger was born February 1, 1864, at Boonville, Missouri, in the diocese of Kansas City, the son of Frederick and Sophia Fessler Hugger. When Henry was but eight months old, his father was killed in a battle of the Civil War, in one of the last skirmishes of the rebellion fought near his home town. After finishing the parochial school at Boonville. Henry Hugger followed the blacksmith trade for three years, after which, at the encouragement of his uncle, Rev. Hugo Fessler, O. F. M., he entered St. Joseph's College at Teutopolis, Illinois, in 1880.

At the age of twenty, July 22, 1884, Henry entered the novtiate and was given the name of Titus. In 1885, he was sent to Quincy, Illinois. After the completion of required studies, Titus was on May 26, 1890, raised to the priesthood at St. Louis by the Most Rev. P. R. Kenrick.

Fr. Titus' first charge was that of St. Joseph's at Platte Center and St. Anthony's in Burrows Township, which missions he attended from Columbus until July, 1893. He labored in Sacramento, California, July, 1896, until September, 1900. In 1900 he was called to St. Louis, Mo., to serve as missionary. For many years he has been stationed at St. Augustine's in Chicago. He has given more than 500 missions and many retreats in almost every state of the Union. At present he is president of the Sacred Heart Province Missionary Band.

REV. SALVATO LEHMAN, O. F. M.,
JULY 16, 1893-AUGUST, 1897

St. Anne's Altar Society was organized August 15, 1895, with 46 charter members. From that day till January 1, 1900, they contributed $151.50 in dues. These were used to procure an alb, a benediction veil, book case and writing desk, sanctuary carpet, new chalice, wardrobe, etc.

The next pastor of St. Joseph's Church was Rev. Jerome Hellhake, O. F. M., August, 1897-1900.

THE BUILDING OF THE SECOND ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH

Rev. Jerome on January 1, 1898, organized the Guardian Angel Sodality with 89 members. He began the erection of a new and more spacious church edifice. The plans were drawn by Fr. Adrian Wewer, O. F. M.

The plans called for a frame church, the main auditorium to be 36x64 feet, with an auditorium on the east side of 16x52 feet and an extension on the west side of 10 feet or total

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length of 90 feet. The steeple was to rise to a height of 92 feet. This made the total length of the church ninety feet. The rectory in the rear 16x32 feet.

LAYING THE CORNERSTONE

With the Rt. Rev. Ordinary's permission the cornerstone of the new church was laid August 17, 1899, by the Very Rev. Dean Marcelline, O. F. M. The sermon for the memorable occasion was preached by the eloquent P. Raynerius Dickneite, O. F. M., of St. Bernard, Nebraska, who had formerly been a well-known missionary among the people in the United States. The clergy present were: Rev. Marcelline Kollmeyer, O. F. M., dean of Columbus; Rev. Maurice Baukholt, O. F. M., and Rev. Theobald Kalamaja, O. F. M., of Omaha; Revs. Florentius, Edmund Roediger, Ladislaus Czech, and Bartholomew Feldmann, O. F. M., of Humphrey; Cyril Mitera, O. F. M.; Herbert Stotter, O. F. M., of St. Bernard; Rev. John Mueller of Raeville, Rev. P. Stephen Scholz of Quincy, Illinois; Rev. Sylvester Buschkuehler, O. F. M., of Teutopolis, Illinois.

THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH

The dedication of the new church built by Mr. Lis of Tarnov, took place October 12, 1899, by Rev. Marcelline, O. F. M., of Columbus.

REV. JEROME HELLHAKE, O. F. M.

Henry Hellhake was a native of St. Boniface Parish, Quincy, Illinois, and was the first boy born in Quincy, who became a Franciscan. He first saw the light on August 22, 1854. After completing his classical studies, he took the garb of the Seraphic Saint and the name of Jerome on June 16, 1871. After the necessary studies had been made, he took the garb of the Seraphic Saint and the name of Jerome on June 16, 1871. After the necessary studies had been made, he was ordained priest by the Rt. Rev. P. Ryan at St. John's church, St. Louis, Missouri, July 25, 1877.

Fr. Jerome remained a year longer than usual in St. Louis, during which time he was chaplain of the :County Farm, which included the Poor House, Insane Asylum and Female Hospital. These places the Franciscans took charge of many years before that time, and they are in charge to the present day.

From 1878 to 1880 he taught at St. Joseph's College, Teutopolis, Illinois. While stationed there, Fr. Jerome was given charge of two missions, San Elmo and Altamont, both backward places. At Altamont he built a parochial school, and at San Elmo he found about 12 families upon arriving there.

St. Joseph's Church, Platte Center, Nebr. Interior of Second Church. (Erected 1899).

Traversing the wilderness of the woods and taking in the length of the Kaskaskia Valley, Fr. Jerome managed to win back a great number of former Kentuckians who had fallen by the wayside. At his departure, the congregation numbered about 125 families.

After a year spent in St. Louis, he came to Hermann, Missouri, to assume charge of the two missions, Morrison and Chamois. On week days he also visited Bailey's Creek, likewise Rhineland (Starkenburg) and Hancock's Prairie, north of the Missouri River, after the departure of the secular priest until the coming of the new pastor, Rev. George Hoehn.

After nine years spent at Hermann, Fr. Jerome was transferred to Humphrey, Nebraska, and given charge of St. Leonard's parish, Madison, and of St. Anthony's Parish, Burrows Township. His next appointment was to Columbus with St. Joseph's Parish, Platte Center, as his charge. At Platte Center he built the second church. The governor of Nebraska appointed Fr. Jerome a delegate to the convention of charities in the year 1900.

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Fr. Jerome next labored at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Superior, Wisconsin, 1900-1903; St. Joseph's Hospital, Joliet, Illinois, 1903-1906; and has since then been stationed almost 25 years at Cleveland, Ohio. Most of these 25 years have been spent at St. Elizabeth's church for the Hungarians, where he still has charge of the young people. Fr. Jerome celebrated his Golden Sacerdotal Jubilee in Quincy, July 24, 1921.

REV. SALVATOR LEHMANN, O. F. M.,
1900-APRIL 24, 1901

Fr. Salvator, who had been very popular at Platte Center, returned once more; but his frail health did not permit him to stay long, and after a few months he left St. Joseph's parish for St. Louis.

BIOGRAPHY

Mathias Lehmann, or "Matsey", as he was generally called through all his life, was born in Joliet, Illinois, May 14, 1863. His father, George, died when "Matsey" was still a boy. In 1878, he and Joe Schuessler were sent by the Rev. Gerard Becher to St. Joseph's College, Teutopolis, Illinois. Both entered the Order on July 21, 1883, and received the names of Salvator and Remy respectively. His profession was made on the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, 1884. From 1885 to 1887, he studied philosophy in Quincy. The entire class consisted of Fratres Polycarp, Salvator and Titus. After three years of theology, he was ordained priest in St. Louis by Archbishop Kenrick, May 26, 1890.

Fr. Salvator's first appointment was to Bishop Creek, near Teutopolis, Illinois, his second one to St. Bernard.

At the Chapter of 1894, Fr. Salvator was transferred to Columbus, Nebraska, and given charge of Platte Center. In August, 1897, he was made pastor and praeses in Superior, Wisconsin. In 1900, he returned to Columbus, where he remained until June 25, 1901, when he was transferred to Memphis, Tennessee. "Here he labored faithfully as assistant to Fr. Hugo and chaplain of the Sacred Heart Institute until October, 1902, when he took sick. He made an heroic effort to celebrate Holy Mass on Christmas, which, he had prophesied, was his last mass." (Memphis Year Book, 1904).

Fr. "Matsey" succumbed to Bright's disease in St. Joseph's Hospital, Memphis, March 30, 1903. The Rt. Rev. Thomas Byrne, Bishop of Nashville, officiated at the obsequies and celebrated Pontifical Requiem.

REV. HYACINTH SCHROEDER,
APRIL 26, 1901-AUGUST, 1906

Fr. Salvator was succeeded by the pious and zealous Fr. Hyacinth, who sought the dignified celebration of Divine Worship.

DONATIONS FOR 1901

Lantern, iron post, sanctuary chairs--Mrs. J. A. Kehoe.

Sacristy bell in memory of Mrs. Mary Shea--Her children.

Statues of St. Joseph, and B. V. M.--vol. contributions, collected by Mrs. M. E. Clother and Mrs. H. N. Zingg.

Gilding chalice in memory of Mary Schumacher--Matt. Schumacher.

Gilding ciborium, Bl. Sacr. in memory of Pat and Johanna Burke--John Burke.

New Bell for church ($164.84) in memory of Michael Maher--Maher family.

Crucifixion figure in memory of Thomas Lynch--Lynch family.

Gilding sanctuary lamp in memory of parents, wife, and child--Thomas Dean.

Candelabra for Benediction--Mylet (young ladies).

Easter candlestick--Michael Cronin.

Set of dalmatics--J. Brier, Mrs. H. N. Zingg.

Table throw (scarf), chalice pall, flowers for the altar--Sisters of St. Joseph's Parish School.

MORE DONATIONS

White Cope in memory of Pat and Mary Gleason--Gleason family, 1903.

Benediction veil--John Moffett and wife.

Red chasuble--Mr. and Mrs. John McGuane.

Black chasuble--Duggan family in memory of D. D. Duggan.

White Benediction stole--First Communicants of 1903.

Red cope--C. J. Carrig and wife in memory of their deceased parents.

White chasuble--Max Bruckner in memory of his deceased mother, Barbara.

A set of black dalmatics--Sarah Perkinson in memory of her parents.

Fine altar cards, cruets, and gilded lace for the main altar--Guardian Angel Society.

A Roman Seraphic Missal--First Communicants of 1904.

On August 7, 1904, Agnes Carrig, etc., donated $217.68 for the side altars. A new harmonium cost $85. The school roof was re-shingled and the church painted on the outside.

In 1905 Fr. Hyacinth paid off the last $400 of the indebtedness of, the church. Three new chasubles were donated: by Mr. Eugene Macken (figure of St. Anthony); John Purchal (figure of St. Ann); and J. Caraher (figure of St. Francis). T. Bruckner and C. M. Gruenther donated a chasuble with the figure of St. Clare, and Henry Schumacher, six processional torches.

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© 2004 for the NEGenWeb Project by Sherri Brakenhoff, Ted & Carole Miller