NEGenWeb Project
Church/Catholic
Franciscans
tain. J. P. Daleiden furnished the same for $102.
BIOGRAPHIES OF PASTORS
I. VERY REV. THEODORE ARENTZ, O. F. M.
Adolph William, son of William and Christine Humberg Arentz, was born at Lippramsdorf, diocese of Muenster, in Westphalia, Prussia, or January 7, 1849. He attended the parish school from his sixth to his fourteenth year and helped his poor parents to support the large family by working on their little farm, till his next two brothers were old enough to take his place. Having always cherished a desire to become a religious priest, he took private lessons in Latin and other studies from several priests, taught a parochial school for a time and, after receiving an unconditional exemption from military service, he entered the novitiate at Warendorf as a candidate about May 24, 1871, but left soon after in company with several others, for the American Commissariate, landed in New York on July 24, 1871, and two days later came to St. Joseph's College at Teutopolis, Illinois. Mr. Arentz was invested on March 7, 1872, and received the name of Theodore, and made his simple vows on March 8, 1873. He studied philosophy there, and later was sent to St. Louis, to pursue his theological studies, and on June 4, 1876, was ordained priest by the Rt. Rev. Patrick Ryan, D. D., and said his first Mass at St. Anthony's church four days later. While completing his studies he said Mass and gave instructions at the County Farm (city institutions for the poor and sick) and after one year was sent to Teutopolis monastery to attend Edgewood and St. Patrick's at Trowbridge, Illinois. He also assisted the Master of Novices to train the recruits of the Order. In July, 1879, the First Provincial Chapter sent him to Chillecothe, Mo., to assist Fr. Francis Moenning, and to administer the missions of Utica, Breckenridge and Brunswick, Missouri. He also gave instructions in religion to the young ladies at the Academy of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and taught Latin to the boys at the high school. After January, 1882, Fr. Theodore attended St. Mary's from Columbus, Nebraska, organized St. Francis' parish at Humphrey, built a church, school and monastery at Humphrey (1883-July 25, 1888). He next labored as guardian of the friary and pastor of St. Joseph's of Cleveland, Ohio, and made it one of the largest and most popular churches of Cleveland. Soon after Fr. Theodore was called to the higher offices of his province and held such almost continually until his death. Thus he served as definitor 18941897; as provincial, 1897-1900, etc. During his Provincialate he purchased the St. Joseph's Diocesan College at Teutopolis, from the diocese of Alton, Illinois, and transformed it into a Seraphic College for aspirants to the Franciscan Order. And when Pope Leo XIII united the four Franciscan families of the Recollects, the Reformati and Observants and Discalced into one Order of Friars Minor in 1897, the compilation of the New Provincial Ordinances was chiefly Fr. Theodore's work. At the expiration of his term as Provincial, he was sent as Commissary Provincial to California and was made master of novices at Santa Barbara. Already in January, 1901, he became Superior of the Watsonville, California, Orphanage and pastor of the parish attached. He completed the new church begun by P. Placidus Krekeler, O. F. M., and renovated all the buildings of the institution. In December, 1904, he was transferred to Fruitvale as guardian of the friary and pastor of St. Elizabeth's parish.
In his office of Commissary of the houses on the Pacific coast and in Arizona, he threw himself whole-heartedly into the work of consolidating the existing establishments, opening a novitiate for the aspirants to the Order, and introducing a complete course of philosophy and theology for the professed clerics, whose number kept constantly increasing from year to year. He was thus contributing no small share to the work of successfully laying the,, foundation for the eventual establishment of what is now the vigorous young province of Santa Barbara, which embraces several scores of parishes and missions in the four states of California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington. trusty counsel to guide it in its career of usefulness and service in the cause of God.
APPOINTED VISITOR GENERAL
In the summer of 1905, Father Theodore was entrusted with the important and difficult task of visiting officially, in the name of the General Minister at Rome, all the Franciscan friaries in the Republic of Mexico. He was accompanied on this mission by the famous historian Zephyrine Engelhardt, O. F. M., as secretary. The latter was thus enabled to gather invaluable material for his historical works.
The visitation was very beneficial and highly commented on in Rome. The very next year Father Theodore was chosen to visit the Cincinnati Province of St. John the Baptist. From June, 1908, till his resignation in 1910, and again from 1912, till April, 1916, he held the position of guardian at the famous "Old Mission." at Santa Barbara, California. When on November 7, 1915, the new Province of Santa Barbara on the Pacific coast and in Arizona was established, he was made one of the four
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definitors and later on held the office of Custos or Vice-Provincial. In April, 1922, Father Theodore, together with Brother Peter Haberlin, O. F. M., commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of his entrance into the Franciscan Order. Father Theodore passed away to a better life on April 10, 1923, in the 75th year of his age, the 51st of his profession and the 47th of his priesthood.
Fr. Theodore was ever a lover of books and of studies and a patron especially of historical studies referring to the Franciscan Order. "He enriched the libraries of the Old Misson (sic) with many volumes, both old and new; he built up
First Mass of the Rev. Peter R. Pfeifer, O. F. M.,
and of the Rev. Francis Solanus Eckholt. O. F. M.
and organized large archives, which will prove a valuable mine for historical research work, and which already, for some time past, has been gratefully visited by more than one writer on Californian affairs. Fr. Theodore himself has collected vast historical material as chronicler of his Order, and has given invaluable assistance to more than on historian among his own brethren. Moreover, since the year 1902, he has held the office of Commissary of the Holy Land for the Pacific coast, in which capacity he has been untiringly engaged in providing the Holy Places in Palestine with much needed support.
REV. JAMES (PHILLIP) NOLTE, O. F. M.
"A venerable and familiar figure has disappeared from the Old Mission at Santa Barbara in the person of Rev. James Nolte, O. F. M., who died here on Sunday, July 16, 1916. Fr. James was born at Geseke, in Westphalia, August 8, 1851. He made his classical studies at Geseke and Paderborn and was received into the Franciscan Order at Warendorf, November 5, 1872. In July, 1875, Fr. James cames (sic) to this country, and two years later was ordained priest at St. Louis, Missouri, (July 25, 1877). After completing his theological studies he taught as professor to St. Joseph's College, Cleveland, Ohio, and at St. Francis Solanus' College, Quincy. Ill. At this place, besides teaching, he also attended several small parishes in the vicinity notably St. Antonius, Illinois; St. Joseph's at Palmyra and Clarksville, Missouri. From the fall of 1886 till the spring of 1892, he filled the office of superior and pastor of the Franciscan church at Humphrey, Nebraska, and collected the first funds for the splendid new church which has since been erected there. Poor health (owing to the consequences of a sick call) compelled him to go to California, where he continued to labor in various parishes: St. Turibius Mission, St. Boniface' at San Francisco, until 1902, when he retired to take up his abode at the Old Mission of Santa Barbara, remaining here until his death. Here he celebrated his silver sacerdotal jubilee. Unable, owing to heart trouble, to do any parochial work, he spent the time not given to his religious exercises in cultivating the flowers in the inner or so-called "sacred garden" of the Old Mission, the beauty of which, under his loving care, attracted the admiration of the numerous tourists that visit the Old Mission daily. On July 6, he suffered what at first appeared to be a slight stroke of apoplexy but soon his condition became so
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alarming that the last sacraments were administered. The end came on July 16, the feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel. The solemn funeral services were held the following Tuesday by the Very Rev. Prov. Hugolinus Storff, O. F. M., and the remains were interred in the friars' vault in the Old Mission cemetery." R. I. P. (Franc. Herald, Vol. IV, 1916, p. 375).
REV. RUDOLPH HORSTMANN, O. F. M.
Franz Clement Horstmann was the son of a teacher, Joseph Horstmann, and Francisca Griesedieck Horstmann. He was born in Stromsburg, in the Diocese of Muenster, in Westphalia, on February 21, 1842. In 1857 he was confirmed by the bishop of Muenster, Rt. Rev. John George Mueller. In November, 1866, after serving his term as a soldier, he came to America and was invested in Teutopolis as a Tertiary brother on December 8, 1867, making his profession on December 25, 1868. Brother Rudolph, for this was his new name in the Order, was engaged as a school teacher. From 1868-1869 he taught school in St. Louis in the basement under the sanctuary of old St. Anthony's Church. At that time the students numbered 117. Brother Rudolph also taught school in Teutopolis.
Brother Rudolph was admitted to the First Order as a cleric on May 8, 1871, and as such made his simple profession on May 9, 1872, and his solemn vows on May 19, 1875. After finishing his studies at Quincy and St. Louis, he was ordained priest on June 4, 1876, together with Fathers Stanislaus Riemann, John Gafron, Joseph Sievers, Eustace Vollmer, Symphorian Forstmann, Clement Moormann, Victor Aertker and Theodore Arentz.
PRIESTLY LABORS
After his ordination Father Rudolph was active in Memphis from 1876-1878; in Rhineland, Missouri, from 1878-Nov. 1879; Hermann, Missouri (pastor of Morrison November, 1879October, 1881). From October, 1881-1882 he had charge of Chanhassen and Victoria, two stations near Chaska, Minnesota. From 1882-1883, he attended St. Anthony's from St. Bernard's, Nebraska; from 1883-1885 he visited Brightwood, Indiana, from Indianapolis; from 1885-1888 he had charge of Marystown, Minnesota, from Jordan.
When Fr. James Nolte was obliged to resign his office as pastor at Humphrey, Nebraska, in 1892, on account of a sickness contracted on a sick call in severe winter weather, Fr. Rudolph was appointed his successor. He arrived in Humphrey, March 9, 1892. Already in the following year he took upon himself the task of erecting a new church. In 1894, the beautiful and spacious building was finished at the price of $32,116. At the dedication the Bishop of Omaha pronounced it the finest church in Nebraska.
At the chapter of 1895, Fr. Rudolph was transferred to Waconia and took charge of St. Boniface. With the exception of a year and a half (from December, 1892-September 1900) spent in Wien, Missouri, he remained in Waconia until 1909. When, in 1909, the parish of Waconia, together with the parish of St. Boniface, was returned to the diocese, Fr. Rudolph was changed to. Chaska and took charge of Victoria. Later he retired to Jordan.
In 1922, Fr. Rudolph had the happiness of reaching the year of his Golden Jubilee in the Order. About 1915 he suffered a stroke, but recovered, and on Sundays could still help out in White Bear and in St. Paul. Five months before his death, however, he suffered another stroke of apoplexy which disabled him to say Mass, but left him able to receive Holy Communion. A third stroke on March 18, 1925, brought about his end on Friday, March 20. Funeral services, in which the entire clergy of the neighborhood, both secular and regular, took part, were conducted by Father Provincial Martin Strub, on Monday, March 23rd, at Jordan, where interment was made.
Fr. Rudolph always had the erect bearing of a soldier, was possessed of pleasant features, reserved in talk, prompt and exact in his work, a pious religious, a zealous priest and a true Franciscan.--R. I. P.
REV. ANGELUS BILL, O. F. M.
On December 16, 1916, there passed away at St. Joseph's hospital at San Francisco, California, Fr. Angelus Bill. Five days before he had said Holy Mass at the same altar, where now the Requiem was sung for the repose of his soul. Very Rev. Provincial Hugolinus Storff, O. F. M., was the celebrant. The Most Rev. Archbishop M. Hanna blessed the remains and also spoke a few words of eulogy, touchingly protraying (sic) the sacrifice the departed priest and friar had made in following the footsteps of St. Francis. The interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Oakland. Many priests and religious attended the funeral; likewise a large congregation of the laity, who had gathered to pay their last tribute to a priest, who had brought to many of them solace and cheer in their dark hours of doubt and illness.
August Bill was a native of Merzen, diocese of Osnabrueck, Province of Hanover, Prussia. His birth occurred on January 4, 1856. After the completion of his studies preparatory for the priesthood, August Bill, on September 2, 1877, entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained priest on May 22, 1884, in St. Louis, Mis-
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souri. Being of frail health, he mostly acted as chaplain of various institutions or as assistant priest.
Among other places he labored from 188?-1893 at Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was in charge of Martinsville, Greenfield and Fortville, Indiana; at Petosky, Michigan; next at Humphrey, Nebraska, as pastor and superior, 1890-January, 1896; at Joliet, Illinois, January, 1899; at St. Peter's, Chicago, 1905-1909; at Columbus (St. Joseph's, Platte Center, Nebraska, 1909-1910.
After a severe illness, he was sent to the Pacific coast, but he never fully recovered. He courageously and patiently bore his ill health and did considerable work at St. Mary's Hospital, St. Catherine's Training School and for 18 months at the City and County Tubercular Hospital, despite his frail condition, frequently binating (sic) on Sundays. The late Archbishop Riordan had chosen Fr. Angelus for his confessor. Fr. Angelus finally succumbed to his malady (tuberculosis) in the 60th year of his age, the 39th of his profession and the 25th of his priesthood.--R. I. P.
Ven. Sr. Charitina Groeger, O. S. P.; Ven. Sr. M. Willebrorda Groeger; Bro. Placidus (Carl) Groeger,
REV. FLORENTIUS KURZER, O. F. M.
Rev. Florentius (John) Kurzer, O. F. M., is the son of the late blacksmith Joseph Kurzer and his wife Hedwig nee Koenig. John Kurzer is a native of Saubsdorf, Czecho-Slovakia, diocese of Breslau. He first saw the light of day on December 18, 1857. His classical studies he made at St. Annaberg (Mount St. Anne), Prussian Silesia, under the excellent teachers Bonaventure Machuy, O. F. M., and others, and was invested at Warendorf, Germany, on October 13, 1874, was admitted to his simple profession at Teutopolis, Illinois, on October 16, 1875, and to his solemn vows on October 28, 1878. After the completion of the prescribed philosophical and theological studies his ordination occurred on May 28, 1882.
His first pastoral charge was at Altamont and San Elmo, Illinois, missions attended from Teutopolis. Temporarily he also assisted at St. Peter's, Chicago, during the illness of Rev. Anselm, Puetz, O. F. M., and was in charge of Pesotum, Illinois, for a short time. Transferred to Minnesota, he attended Chanhessen, 1887-1894. Father Florentius was appointed superior and pastor of St. Bernard's, Nebraska. In January, 1899, he succeeded Father Angelus Bill at Humphrey (1899-1909). Father Florentius soon cancelled the indebtedness and, as the parish grew and prospered during his administration,
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he was soon compelled to erect a more modern and larger school, one of the best equipped parochial schools of the time in Nebraska. At Humphrey the popular pastor also observed his silver sacerdotal jubilee. After serving for one year and six months as pastor of the large St. Francis Solanus congregation and as guardian of the monastery at Quincy, Illinois, Father Florentius was recalled to Humphrey, where he put up the fine new Monastery and pastoral residence in 1912. In 1919 he was sent to Chaska, Minnesota, again to take charge of Chanhessen. In 1922 he, with many confreres, made a trip to his old home in Europe, which he had not seen since he came to America in 1875.
REV. HILDEBRAND FUCHS
Rev. Hildebrand (Ferdinand) Fuchs was born at Riedern, Baden, Germany, on June 11, 1868. He made his classical studies at Teutopolis, Illinois, joined the Franciscan Order there on July 31, 1897, made his simple profession on August 1, 1898, his solemn profession on September 7, 1901, and after finishing his philosophical and theological studies, was raised to the priesthood on June 30, 1902. Among other places he labored at Victoria, Minnesota, one year; took sick; spent some months at Memphis, Tennessee; came to Humphrey, having charge of St. Leonard's, Madison (1905-1910). He bought the old side altars from Lindsay for the basement church and paid off the $8,000 indebtedness, in three years. Fr. Hildebrand next succeeded Fr. Florence at Humphrey, where he opened the first class of the high school with Sr. Egfrieda in charge. At Bayfield, Wisconsin, he labored as pastor and superior for 6 months; then at two different times (10 years) at St. Benedict's, Minnesota, 1913-1923, and collected a fund for a new house. Made pastor at Hermann, Missouri, he was soon transferred because his voice did not fill the church. Again made superior at Bayfield, he remained two years till summer, 1925. After six months at Teutopolis and a few weeks at Cleveland and Chicago, he made a trip to the fatherland, whereupon he returned to Minnesota to labor at St. John's, Union Hill.
REV. ANDREW BUTZKUEBEN, O. F. M.
Stephen Butzkueben was the son of Henry and Gertrude Koll Butzkueben. His birth occurred November 19, 1848, at Paffendorf, diocese of Cologne, Germany. After receiving a good pious education from his God-fearing parents, and after having made his first holy Communion, Stephen was entrusted to the tutorship of a learned clerical uncle, after which he attended the Gymnasia at Bergheim and Juelich for four years.
Then, owing to ill health, following an interruption of four years. During this period of enforced rest, the young man resolved to dedicate his life to God's service in the Order of the Friars Minor.
On October 6, 1870, Stephen was admitted into the novitiate at Warendorf, Westphalia. After making his simple profession on October 31, 1871, and taking his solemn vows on November 3, 1874, Frater Andrew-such was his religious name--continued his studies at Wiedenbrueck and Duesseldorf and, at the end of June, 1875, with many confreres, he came to the liberty-radiating shores of America.
PRIESTLY LABORS AT GREEN CREEK AND SIGEL, ILLINOIS
Ordained at St. Louis, Missouri, on July 25, 1877, Father Andrew was first assigned, in 1878, to Teutopolis monastery, from where he attended Green Creek (1878-1879) and Sigel (1879-November 6, 1883). At this last place he introduced the Franciscan Sisters of Joliet. Here he also had trouble twice with the fire demon.
On December 13, 1879, the church was consumed by the flames. When the erection of the new church was well under way, on October 30, 1880, the voracious element destroyed the school and even the few vestments he had saved from the first fire. Services had to be held in a private dwelling until the church was completed. Soon the school was also rebuilt.
In 1883, Father Andrew succeeded the Rev. Nazarius Komerscheid, O. F. M., as pastor of St. Francis Solanus at Quincy, Illinois, and remained in charge there for twenty-six years, from November, 1883, to 1909. Here the new pastor erected the fine church which Father Nazarius had been planning, and a fine new brick school and hall in 1893. By 1902, the ill-fitting furnishings taken over from the old, church had been replaced with beautiful furniture and artistic statuary, so as to make St. Francis' church one of the finest in the diocese of Springfield. In the year 1902, Father Andrew celebrated his silver sacerdotal jubilee and, in :1908, his silver jubilee as pastor of St. Francis church, with extraordinary splendor. While at Quincy, Father Andrew also served several terms as guardian or vicar of the monastery.
Nine months later, Father Andrew was called to the administration of the Sacred Heart parish in Indianapolis, Indiana, while Father Florence Kurzer succeeded him at Quincy.
During his incumbency of six years. Father
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Top Row (left to right) : Sr. M. Veronica Wilde (of Wisconsin); Sr. M. Ottilia Schneider, O. S. F.; Sr. M Petrona Eisenmenger; Sr. M. Beatrix Eisenmenger.
Second Row: Sr. M. Abundantia Fuchs, O. S. F., and Sr. M. Conradia Fuchs, O. S. F.; Sr. M. Edwarda Fitzpatrick and Sr. M. Beatrix Magsamen.
Third Row: Sr. M. Carmelita Froemel, O. S. F.; Sr. M. Victoria Heesacker, O. S. F.; Sr. M. Oda Preister.
Bottom Row: Sr. H. Rega Haschke, O. S. F.; Sr. H. Cecilia Eisenmenger, O. S. F.; Sr. M. Pauline Eisenmenger, O. S. F.; Sr. H. Virginia Preister.
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Andrew erected the fine new Sacred Heart School and high school, costing $100,000. After spending about two years at Dubuque, Iowa, Father Andrew came to Humphrey, to assist Father Florence in the parish. Soon after, despite his frail health, the aged Father was appointed rector of St. Francis parish and superior of the residence at Humphrey. The school and the children were his chief solicitude. He also installed a fine laboratory in the High School. Soon after the celebration of his golden religious jubilee in 1921, he resigned and re-
Ven. Bros. Pius Werner, O. F. M,, And Osmund Werner, O. F. M.
tired to St. Joseph's hospital at Omaha, where on the morning of March 5, 1922, he was found dead in bed. The obsequies were held at St. Joseph's. A delegation from Quincy accompanied the remains to that city, where they rest among those of his former confreres and parishioners in Calvary cemetery, which he had been instrumental in securing for the parish. R. I. P.
BIOGRAPHY OF FATHER JOSAPHAT KRAUS, O. F. M.
Vincent Kraus was born on the twentieth day of November, 1872, in Preiskretscham, Silesia, Germany. Here he spent his childhood and received his early training in the parochial schools. Of a religious family, his thoughts early turned from the world to those of a spiritual nature, and when his uncle, Vincent Czech (now Rev. P. Dennis, O. F. M.), came to the United States in the spring of 1887, Vincent accompanied him to Teutopolis, Illinois, there to make his classical studies preparatory to the priesthood.
He was clothed with the habit of the Franciscan Order in 1893, and received the name of Josaphat. After taking the simple vows in 1894, he studied philosophy at Quincy, and theology at St. Louis, Missouri, where, on the second of July, 1899, the Most Rev. J. J. Kain, Archbishop of St. Louis, raised him to the dignity of the priesthood.
His health being rather delicate at the completion of his studies, he was sent to St. Boniface Church at San Francisco, California, as assistant to Rev. Maximilian Neumann, O. F. M. Here he labored most zealously for many years also caring for the Poles there, and directing the dramatic club.
After presenting a series of Nativity Tableaux, he often desired to re-tell the life of Christ in tableaux and music. Happening to see a motion picture of the Passion Play, and thinking it lacking in reverence, he conceived the idea of staging a Passion Play.
A mammoth play was the result. A stage 243 feet in width and 65 feet deep was required. One hundred and two characters performed in the play, and an orchestra of forty pieces assisted. It took four nights to present the Passion Play of Father Josaphat, on October 11, 12, 14 and 15, and October 17, 18, 20 and 21. Maxwell S. Alexander, of London, had charge of the scenic part. The scenery included 1,000 frame pictures, 60 hanging pieces and 60 platform pieces. The music was under the direction of Rev. Peter Huesges. The soloists were assisted by a chorus of 200 voices; thirty-seven vocal numbers were given by these combined singers.
In 1914, Father Josaphat was transferred to Los Angeles and, after some months, to St. Louis, Missouri. After his pastorate of six years at Humphrey he was, in August, 1927, sent to St. Peter's Church, Chicago, Illinois, to take charge of the English Tertiaries, numbering several thousands. In the summer, 1929, he succeeded the Rev. Alphonse Bergener, O. F. M., as pastor of St. Boniface parish in Sioux City.
Josaphat is now again in Chicago.
REV. BENVENUTE MUELLER, O. F. M.
Gustav Mueller--such was Father Benvenute's former name--is the son of William and Anna Schaefer Mueller, being a native of Kuellstedt, Eichsfeld, in the province of Saxony and (formerly in the diocese of Paderborn now in the diocese of Fulda), Prussia. The day of his birth was July 11, 1881. After completing his elementary course and beginning his higher studies, he came to St. Joseph's College, Teutopolis, Illinois, to finish his classical studies preparatory for the priesthood. After graduating, he was admitted to the local Franciscan noviate on June 13, 1902, to his simple vows on June 25,
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