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Shelby County |
CHAPTER XVII. - CATHOLIC CHURCHES, MISSIONS AND PRIESTS. (CONT'D) Click on image to enlarge
CATHOLIC CHURCH AT PORTSMOUTH.
The first Catholic church to be erected in the vicinity of Portsmouth, was built in 1881, two miles east of the town. This building was moved to Portsmouth in 1884, and the church established there in the same year. The dimensions of the present church building are ninety-five by forty-five feet. The height of the church spire is one hundred and twenty-five feet. The first priest of the parish was Father J. B. Hummert. The priests who succeeded him, in order, were: J. B. Wilhelm, H. Grothe, F. W. Hoppmann, S. F. Wieland, A. J. Dreseler, J. J. Moran, and Julius Failenschmid, who is the present priest of the parish. The church at present has a membership of seven hundred two. A parochial school was established in 1894, a cut of the fine building in which it is conducted appearing elsewhere in this work. The present attendance of the parochial school is one hundred five. Its first teachers were the Franciscan Sisters of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The present teachers are the Benedictine Sisters of Atchison, Kansas. The parish of Portsmouth was formerly attended by the priests from Neola and Westphalia.
HARLAN.
Catholic church at Harlan was established under the direction and care of Rev. P. Brommenschenkel, of Westphalia. The church at present has a membership including about thirty families, and is cared for as a mission by Rev. H. Albers, stationed at Avoca. Among the families who have been members of this church for many years are those of E. M. Hertert, Joseph F. Beh, Charles Book, Henry Lamm, P. Heintz, and others. The congregation owns an adequate church building and a good parsonage. The first resident priest was Rev. Tyske. Other resident priests were Rev. Stahl and Rev. C. V. Burkheiser, now of Defiance. Other priests who have served the mission from Avoca, were Reverends McAllister and Hansen.
DEFIANCE.
The Catholic church at Defiance, under the present pastorate of Rev. C. V. Burkheiser, has a large congregation and is in a prosperous conditon. The early history of this church is set forth in other articles appearing elsewhere in this work, dealing with the various Catholic missions and churches of Shelby county.
The history of the parent Catholic church at Westphalia has been well set forth in the article and the reminiscences of Rev. P. Brommenschenkel, the present pioneer priest of the parish, which recollections appear elsewhere herein.
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