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struction work. The members of the Financial Committee were Henry Lohaus, Thomas Ottis, Adolf Schmid, and Nicholas Thille. The parishioners donated either their services or money toward the building project.

The new church was finished and dedicated on July 10, 1883, by the Reverend Seraphin Lampe, O.F.M., of Columbus. Many gifts of furnishings were made at this time by the parishioners, among which was a gift from John Creighton, of Omaha.

The first regular church services were held that summer by Reverend Servatus Rasche, O.F.M., the assistant to Father Theodore, at St. Mary's parish. The two priests alternated in serving Humphrey until Father Servatus was appointed pastor.

Among the first names recorded in the church records are: First Baptism -- Thomas Werner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ignatz Werner, July 15, 1883. First Marriage -- William Duesman and A. Mary Knipping. First Funeral and Burial in St. Francis Cemetery --- Richard Dunn, November 3, 1883. The first son in the parish to be ordained was Reverend Cyrinus Schneider, O.F.M., son of Mr. and Mrs. Erhard Schneider. He was born at Humphrey, October 8, 1884, and said his first Mass there, June 26, 1910.

Another native son of note in Nebraska is the Reverend Nicholas Wegner, son of Herman and Christina Dobmen Wegner, who said his first Mass on July 28, 1925. In 1948, Father Nicholas Wegner became the head of "Boys Town," at Omaha, Nebraska.

The St. Francis Parochial School was opened in 1884, with the Sisters of St. Francis, of Lafayette, Indiana, in charge. In 1888, the school was remodeled. In 1906, a second school was built. In 1909, the high school was added.

In 1924, the new St. Francis School and Convent were built and dedicated. The first Friary for the Monks was built in July, 1886. A second Friary was built in 1913. The second Church of St. Francis was dedicated on September 20, 1894.

On October 25, 1908, the St. Francis Parish celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary. In 1933, the Golden Jubilee was celebrated by the parish.

PASTORS OF THE CHURCH SINCE 1886

Pastors of the church, since 1886, were: 1886-1888, Reverend Theodore Arentz, O.F.M.; 1888-1892, Reverend James Nolte, O.F.M.; 1892-1896, Reverend Rudolph Horstmann, O.F.M.; 1896-1899, Reverend Angelus Bill, O.F.M.; 1899-1909, and 1911-1918, Reverend Florentius Kurzer, O.F.M.; 1909-1911, Reverend Hildebrand Fuchs, O.F.M.; 1918-1921, Reverend Andrew Butzkueben, O.F.M.; 1921-1927, Reverend Josaphat Kraus, O.F.M.; 1927-1939, Reverend Bernard Benvenute Mueller, O.F.M.; 1939-1945, Reverend Alber Limacher, O.F.M.; 1945-1949, Reverend Claude Rust, O.F.M. (died 1949).

Church Trustees, January I, 1948, included: Anton Heinen, Doctor W. J. Busch, P. J. Ternus, John Olmer, Richard Pfeifer, and Martin Werner.

Church Societies, 1948 officers: Christian Mothers' Society: Mrs. Carl Zimmerman, Mrs. Carl Lewis, Mrs. Joseph Labenz, and Mrs. Fred Maguire.

Third Order of St. Francis: Mrs. lvi. Werner, Mrs. Frank Duesman, and Miss Mary Fuchs.

The St. Francis Cemetery Board is comprised of the Pastor and Church Trustees.

St. Francis School: The Sisters of St. Francis Seraph of the Perpetual Adoration conduct the St. Francis Grade School and High School.

ST. STANISLAUS CHURCH

The St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is located at Duncan, Nebraska, in Butler Township.

EARLY HISTORY

The early history of Duncan dates back to the year of 1866, when the Union Pacific Railroad tracks were laid through the village site.

The post office was first named Cherry Hill, and the railroad station was called Jackson. In February, 1880, the name of Jackson Station was changed to Duncan, in memory of Wood B. Duncan, a Union Pacific Railroad engineer. At that time, the name of the United States Post Office was also changed from Cherry Hill to Duncan.

In 1869, ten Polish families came into the community and settled in the farming area between Duncan and Columbus.

These early pioneers who first interested themselves in securing a spiritual home of their own at Duncan included: Valentine Jarecki, Valenty Lassek, John and Joseph Rosno, Felix Krzycki, Anton Nikolajezyk, John Krzycki, Lawrence Kujawa, Thomas Podraza, Stanislaus Skorupa, and M. Borowiak.

These men first made their desire known to the missionary priest of Columbus, Father. James Mary Ryan, who aided them in forming the parish. Reverend Szulak, S. J., of Chicago, visited the Duncan Polish Catholics periodically, bringing them the consolations of their holy religion in their native tongue. Father Szulak first visited the Duncan neighborhood in about 1877.

The first assigned pastor of what was later to become

St. Stanislaus Parish was Reverend Sebastian C. Cebulla, a Polish priest, who came to the area in 1880, working among his countrymen for three years. As the Poles grew in numbers, they petitioned to build a church. Father Sebastian wrote a letter dated March 4, 1882, stating that Reverend Father Dominic, superior at Columbus, favored the idea, and with his encouragement, the Polish Catholics had begun to construct a small building.

Father Sebastian was succeeded by Reverend Cyril Augustinsky. Father Cyril asked the bishop of the diocese to obtain a site for a church from the Union Pacific Railroad Company, on the theory that such a structure would, in turn, induce prospective settlers to buy railroad land still on the market and locate along the route of the railroad.

The bishop replied by sending Father Cyril a marginal note bearing the information that forty acres of land could be purchased at a price of ten dollars per acre. However, permission to build the church was obtained, and, instead of the necessity of purchase, M. Wleczek donated the land and a committee was formed to solicit subscriptions.

Among the first to donate one hundred dollars was John B. Kyle. Before the building was completed, Father Cyril was replaced by Father Anastase Czech, who finished the church building. It was a twenty-six by forty foot structure.

The church was dedicated on December 25, 1882, and the Christmas Midnight Mass was the first to be celebrated in the new church.

FIRSTS

The first baptism recorded in St. Stanislaus Church was that of John Stephan Koziol, born December 13, 1882. Father Anastase performed the ceremony. The first marriage took place in 1883, between Joseph Cich, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Cich, and Miss Louise Koziol, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Koziol. Andrew Szeweczyk, who died at the age of thirty-one, was the first to be buried from St. Stanislaus Church, on May 31, 1883.

There was no parochial school in the little parish and the Franciscan pastor in charge, Father Anastase, provided religious instructions on Saturdays. At the same time, John Krzycki taught in the public school building. Father Anastase also taught Sunday school following the weekly Sunday High Mass. During this first year, Father Anastase boarded with parishioners.

Attempts to organize a parochial school were not successful until 1887, at which time a small frame building was erected. Peter Koslowski was the teacher, at a salary of two hundred dollars a year, and fifty dollars a year extra for playing the church organ.

Two large bells were purchased on March 7, 1886, and in September of the same year, an addition to the church and belfry was completed. The bells and church were blessed by Reverend Stanowski on September 20, 1886.

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF ST. STANISLAUS CHURCH

Taken from the files of incorporation filed for record on July 26, 1887, at the Platte County Court House:

At a meeting held in Omaha, Nebraska, on July 21, 1887, the articles of incorporation for this church were formed and the following persons were present: James O'Connor, Bishop of Omaha; Reverend R. A. Shaffel, vicar-general; Reverend Anastase Czech, pastor of St. Stanislaus Church; Martin Borowiak, and Stanislaus Tomaszewic, laymen of that church.

THE PARISH SCHOOL

Arrangements were completed in the spring of 1887 for the construction of a parochial school. The Franciscan Sisters started teaching on October 28, 1889. The first addition to the school house was a kitchen, completed on January 15, 1893. The priest's house was built in the same year.

PASTORS, 1896-1949

In 1896, after the temporary pastorates of the Reverend Fathers Ladislaus and Sebastian, Reverend Remigius Berendt, O.F.M., was appointed pastor of St. Stanislaus Church. Father Remigius started an enlargement of the church by adding the sacristy, which was to serve as a winter chapel. In 1898, before the addition was completed, Father Remigius was replaced by Reverend Rembert Stanowski, O.F.M. The sisters' home was remodeled in 1899.

Father Rembert was transferred in 1903, and Reverend Protase Kuberek, O.F.M., his successor, was in charge until 1909. Father Protase celebrated his Silver Jubilee in May, 1907.

Reverend Cyril Mitera, O.F.M., was pastor from 1909 until 1914, in which year Reverend Flavius Kraus, O.F.M., succeeded him. Father Flavius was instrumental in erecting a new modem brick schoolhouse in 1915. After fourteen years at St. Stanislaus, Father Flavius was succeeded by Reverend Casimir Wisniewski, O.F.M., in 1928. Father Casimir, in turn, was followed by Reverend John Maciejewski, diocesan priest, who served until 1939. At that time, he was succeeded by Reverend George S. Mikulski, under whose leadership the new church building was erected.

St. Stanislaus Parochial School has grades one to eight, inclusive.

CHURCH TRUSTEES

In 1939, the trustees of St. Stanislaus Parish were Edward Liss and Adam Karges. The building committee of the new church included Michael Lassek, Henry Micek, Stephen Micek, Matt Jarecki, Frank Torczon, and Leo Sokol.

THE RELIGIOUS OF ST. STANISLAUS PARISH

Reverend Cyril Mitera, O.F.M., and Reverend Wencel Krzycki, O.F.M., of Columbus, were both members of St. Stanislaus Church before taking up their studies for the priesthood.

Reverend Cornelius Galus was born in Duncan, November 12, 1883, and took his classical studies at

Teutopolis, Illinois. He was received into the Order of Friars Minor on June 17, 1908, and was ordained in 1916. He was sent to Arizona because of ill health and died there on April 16, 1921.

Reverend Raymond William Micek, O.F.M., was born in Duncan, January 6, 1890. He was graduated from St. Joseph's College, at Teutopolis, and entered the novitiate on June 22, 1909. He was ordained a priest on July 4, 1917. Since that time, he has served the St. Stanislaus Parish in Cleveland, Ohio. This Cleveland parish of eighteen hundred families is the largest Polish Catholic parish in the United States, and one of the largest of all church congregations in America.

Reverend Adrian Liss, O.F.M., was born near Duncan, October 9, 1913, He attended St. Bonaventure's High School, at Sturtevant, Wisconsin, from 1926 to 1930, transferring to the Franciscan Novitiate at Puloski, Wisconsin, for two years. Following were four years at St. Francis Philosophical Seminary at Burlington, Wisconsin, and three years at St. Mary's Theological Seminary at Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was ordained on May 28, 1938.

Father Liss returned for a year's post graduate work at St. Mary's following his ordination. Following this he was assigned to missionary work with headquarters in Toledo, Ohio.

Brother Sergius Novicki, also a former member of the Duncan parish, is a member of the Alexian Brotherhood at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Through the years several daughters of parishioners have joined the sisterhood; all of them were Franciscans.

They included: Venerable Sisters M. Canisia Kula, German Tomaszewicz, Loretta Krzycki, Theophila Galus, Thaddoea Chwistek, Florentina Koziol, Rogata Liss, Hildeberta Dus, Quirina Borys, Quirina Stec, Bertilla Galus, Agnetis Laska, Bonaventura Paprocki, Marcellina Lassek, Concordia Kosloski, Eleutheria Bryg, Otto Chwistek, Ladislaus Borowiak, Loiba Kosiba, Stella Dus, Seraphia Krzycki, Riceria Borys, Ambrosia Tworek, Prima Slowinski, and Corneliana Micek.

MEMBERS OF PARISH IN MILITARY SERVICE

St. Stanislaus parish sons served in three wars, the Spanish-American and in World War I and World War II. In the Spanish-American War were enlisted Henry Skroupa and John Kudron, both deceased, and Michael Lassek.

Vincent Czerwonka paid the supreme sacrifice as a soldier in World War I, died in France. Other parish sons who served in World War I included: John Staroscik, Frank Robak, Martin Nosol, John Waloszek, Joseph Waloszek, Phillip Z. Krzycki, Phillip Borowiak, Louis Koziol, Adolph Gonsior, John Forman, Leo Forman, Clifford Micek, deceased, Frank Torczon, John Podraza, Stephen Duracinski, Frank Wanat, and James Shemek, deceased.

THE NEW CHURCH

The completion of the new St. Stanislaus church building in Duncan in October of 1939 brought a happy ending to a dream that started many years ago, a goal which had ever been uppermost in the minds of those in the Polish Catholic parish in Duncan.

Heritage of the new church and the present-day parish had its beginnings in Duncan as far back as 1869, the year when the first Polish settlers arrived in Duncan from Europe, settling, for the most part, in the farming area between Duncan and Columbus.

The new St. Stanislaus church was started May 5, 1939, under the direction of the Reverend George Mikulski, pastor.

The structure is of modified Gothic style, with dimensions one hundred thirteen feet in length and forty-eight feet in width with twelve-foot offsets on either side of the sanctuary to provide for sacristies. The front of the church is of ivory-colored brick, with white stones bordering the upper horizontal. All windows are the cathedral style. A three-way entrance is provided, one large and two small doors. The interior of the church is of modernistic trend, employing ivory, blue, orange and yellow ceiling, with eight chain-drop fixtures and fancy globes. Oak pews, capable of seating from three hundred twenty to three hundred fifty people, were installed. The three altars, including the main altar and two side altars, also follow the modernistic trend. Terrazzo, a cement flooring containing fragments of colored glass, extends the full length and width of the church. A new centralized heating plant installed in the school building provides heat both to the church building and the new brick residence for the pastor, second building unit, which latter is constructed of brick, completely modern, containing five rooms and full basement.

Reverend George S. Mikulski has been the pastor of St. Stanislaus Church since 1939.

SACRED HEART CHURCH

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church is located in the village of Cornlea, Nebraska, in Granville Township.

HISTORY OF SACRED HEART PARISH

The history of Catholicity in the Cornlea vicinity dates back to 1888. Two years after the village of Cornlea was laid out, fifty Catholic families in the Cornlea vicinity wished to withdraw from the parishes of St. Francis at Humphrey and St. Bernard to organize their own parish as a mission church, and build a parochial school in Cornlea.

Accordingly, a letter of petition was forwarded to the Franciscan Provincial, the Reverend M. Klostermann. This letter was signed by John Albracht, F. W. Delsman, Peter Bender and Math Schumacher.

At that time the province authorities deemed it inadvisable for a new parish to be started. However, permission was granted for the building of a school.

When the school was finished, the Catholic people faced a difficulty in getting nuns to take charge of the school without an organized parish. They hired a lay teacher for a time, and then rented the school to the public school district for its use. After the school district erected its own building, the school was sold to Charles Jonak, who wrecked it and moved it to his farm.

In 1906 a petition was sent to the Right Reverend Bishop Scannell, D.D., Bishop of the Omaha Diocese. This petition asked for permission to form a new parish and build a church and school. The letter was signed by Janus M. Smitheisler, J. Miik, and G. M. Van Ackeren. This time the Bishop granted his permission and authorized the pastor of St. Francis Church in Humphrey, Father Florentius, to help with the plans. He urged that the church be built free from debt.

The church was completed in May, 1908, and furnishings for the interior were installed in October of that year. The church was dedicated on November 4, 1908, in ceremonies performed by the Reverend Marcelline Kollmeyer, O.F.M., assisted by Reverend Father Romuald and Reverend Father Rabanus. Reverend Father Liborius, O.F.M., celebrated the Solemn High Mass; Reverend Father Romuald was deacon; Reverend Father Rabanus acted as sub-deacon; Reverend Father Florentius as master of ceremonies. Reverend Father Rabanus delivered the German sermon, and Reverend Father Marcelline the English sermon.

The church was remodeled and enlarged in 1924.

EARLY PARISHIONERS

Some of the early day parishioners and donors were Ben Preister, John Frisch, John Ternus, Sr., William Noonan, Peter Noonan, Sr., Theodore Huettner, and Ben Melcher.

PASTORS OF CHURCH

The priests who served the church as pastors were: Reverend Edwin Hudson, O.F.M., October, 1908, to August, 1909; Reverend Marianus Glahn, O.F.M., October, 1909, to September, 1910; Reverend Simeon Freitag, O.F.M., September, 1910, to April, 1916; Reverend Hyacinth Schroeder, O.F.M., April, 1916, to December, 1916; Reverend Odilo Eichenseer, O.F.M., December, 1916, to June, 1919; Reverend Agatho Anklin, O.F.M., June, 1919, to August, 1920; Reverend Berard Zehnle, O.F.M., August, 1920, to November, 1923; Reverend Cyrinus Schneider, O.F.M., November, 1923, to August, '924; Reverend Hyacinth Schroeder, August, 1924, to October, 1924; Reverend Albert Bruesermann, O.F.M., October, 1924, to 1933; Reverend Sigfrid Rindermann, O.F.M., 1933 to 1944; Reverend Jarleth Sobczyk, O.F.M., 19441949-

PARISHIONERS

Among the parishioners in 1949 were E. J. Bender, Frank Brandl, Nick Classen, Cal Fisher, Joe Gilsdorf, Albert Hemmer, Alfred Hittner, Alphons Lohaus, Ben Preister, Harry Ramaekers, Math Schumacher, John Ternus, Solanus Van Dyke, Ben Wegener, and Jacob Widhalm.

The Sacred Heart Church trustees are M. J. Schumacher and J. J. Preister.

CHURCH SOCIETIES

The Sacred Heart Church women's organization is known as the Christian Mothers. Officers for 1948-1949 were Mrs. A. Lohaus and Mrs. Dan Bender.

SACRED HEART SCHOOL

The Sacred Heart school is conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration. The Superior in 1948-1949 was Venerable Sister M. Victoria.

ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH

St. Anthony's Catholic Church is located at 1705 Sixth Street in Columbus, Nebraska.

EARLY HISTORY

The first Polish settlement in Platte County dates back to 1868, and was located in Columbus. The people from this settlement first worshipped at St. John's Church. Father James Ryan, the pastor, on occasion had a priest come in from Chicago to speak to them in their own language.

On the advent of the Franciscans into Platte County, the Polish-speaking people aligned themselves with the German-speaking people to form parishes. Many of the priests could understand the Polish language and would talk to them in Polish.

The Polish people worshipped at St. Bonaventure's Church in Columbus, at St. Michael's Church, at Tarnov, and at the St. Stanislaus Church, at Duncan. It was not until 1903 that the Polish-speaking people in Columbus received any real recognition in the St. Bonaventure Church, where they worshipped from 1877.

FIRST POLISH RELIGIOUS SERVICE

Reverend Theobold Kalamaja, a priest conversant in many languages, who spoke English, German and Polish with equal facility, became the pastor of St. Bonaventure's Church in 1903. He was also the Superior of the Franciscans in Platte County. He sensed the need of his Polish parishioners and brought about an immediate change.

The custom at St. Bonaventure then was to have two masses on Sunday, one with an English sermon, and one with a German sermon. Father Theobold added a third mass at nine a.m. each Sunday, with a Polish sermon. When the Polish-speaking people found they were to be given equal rights with the German and English-speaking people, a spirit of ardor and zeal was reawakened in them.

About this time, Reverend Cyril Mitera, who lived as a boy in St. Bonaventure's parish, was stationed at St. Stanislaus Church, in Duncan, as pastor. He promoted the thought among the Polish speaking people of how much it would mean to them to have their own church, where the educated Poles could find expression of their own culture.

Finally, in 1911, Reverend Sigismund Masalskl, O.F.M., was appointed as assistant to the pastor at St. Bonaventure's. He was a young priest from a Polish parish. He received permission from the pastor to conduct a survey among the Polish speaking people of St. Bonaventure's Church and registered one hundred forty-three families and twenty single people. He then openly advocated the forming of a separate congregation where the Poles could also have their own parochial school.

This plan was laid before the Provincial of the Franciscan Order in St. Louis. It was passed on with favor from him. The ground work was laid and plans were perfected. They were then taken before the Right Reverend Bishop Scannell, the Bishop of the Omaha Diocese, who gave his permission for the establishment of a new parish in Columbus.

The plans were accepted in July, 1913, and in October, the St. Anthony's chapel was completed and dedicated.

Parishioners who helped to found St. Anthony's Church were Paul Rodak, Steve Banash, Frank Buggi, John Toczek, and Charles Mitera. Paul Rodak donated the first organ to the church, and eighteen families were members at that time. During the school term of 1913-1914, Misses Helen Rodak (Mrs. Joseph Korgie), of Columbus, and Josephine Wass (Mrs. A. M. Cody), taught the eight grades in the school, donating their services. Helen Rodak was also organist for the chapel for all services until the time the first Sisters were assigned to St. Anthony's.

FIRST PASTOR OF ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH

In July, 1913, Reverend Protase Kuberek, O.F.M., came to Columbus as St. Anthony's first Polish pastor. Chiefly through his endeavors, a site for the church south of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks was selected, and very soon a piece of property comprising a full city block between Seventeenth and Eighteenth Avenues was purchased. Seven lots of this block were the old C. A. Speice home, where the Speice family had built their first house in the early 1860's. The Speice property was sold in 1910 to Henrich Moeller, who occupied the house until he sold it to John Dischner in 1912.

The seven lots bought in 1913 cost six thousand dollars. The first floor of the church was used for the chapel, where the services were held, and as an office for the pastor. The second floor was used for temporary classrooms.

CHURCH INCORPORATED

On September 16, 1913, the Polish congregation was incorporated as the St. Anthony's Church of Columbus.

The incorporators were Richard Scannell, Bishop of Omaha; Augustine M. Colaneri, Vicar General; Reverend Protase Kuberek, O.F.M., pastor; John Toczek and Paul Rodak, laymen. The articles of incorporation were filed at the Platte County Court House, September 29, 1913.

FIRST PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

During this first year, 1913-1914, a new frame school building was erected at a cost of thirty-three hundred dollars. In September of 1914, Reverend Dennis Czech, O.F.M., a nephew of Father Anastase Czech, succeeded Reverend Protase Kuberek as pastor.

FIRST FRANCISCAN SISTERS

The first thought of Father Dennis Czech was to secure permanent school teachers. These he obtained from the Franciscan Mother House for the Western Province, then located at Lafayette, Indiana.

The first sisters here were the Venerable Sister M. Concordia, who was a daughter of Peter Koslowski, of the Duncan parish, assisted by the Venerable Sister M. Siegmunda and the Venerable Sister M. Sophronia.

NEW CHURCH

As soon as the debts from the school house were liquidated, Reverend Father Dennis Czech launched a campaign in April, 1916, for the erection of a new church, and carried it through successfully. The chapel in the school house served for four years as the church, and was later made into the home for the Sisters stationed at St. Anthony's.

NEW CHURCH DEDICATION

The new St. Anthony parish was completed while Reverend Dennis Czech was pastor, at a cost of thirty-two thousand dollars. It was formally dedicated on November 13, 1917.

The Most Reverend Archbishop J. J. Harty, Bishop of Omaha, conducted the ceremony, coming from Omaha in company with Reverend Harrington and the Reverend Stenson. Reverend Gratian Gehrig, O.F.M., pastor of St. Bonaventure's Church at that time, was also present.

The church, built of brick and stone, was pleasing in design of architecture. Its dimensions were forty by one hundred and ten, and it had a seating capacity of three hundred and seventy. In connection with the church, there was a new rectory for the pastor.

SILVER JUBILEE

On October 9, 1938, the St. Anthony's Church celebrated its Silver Jubilee, signifying twenty-five years in existence. At that time, Reverend Casimir Wisniewski,

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