Barquilla de Ia Santa Maria BULLETIN of the Catholic Record Society­ Diocese of Columbus

Vol. XXIII, No. 8 August 8: St. Dominic August, 1998

Dominican Trail Blazers in Northeastern Ohio by Sister Loretta Petit, O.P.

In celebration of the sesquicentennial of the became acquainted with the Dominican friars Diocese of Cleveland, Sister Loretta, a key and in particular the Dean, Samuel Thomas player in Project OPUS (which is assembling the Wilson. history of the in the ), wrote an article about the efforts of the While Hill and his wife lived in Bornhem four early Dominicans in that area. The stories are Dominican friars led by Fenwick left Europe in told ofRt. Rev. Edward D. Fenwick and Fathers 1804 to establish a new Dominican province in Nicholas D. Young, John A. Hill, John B. the United States. Around 1818, Hill with his deRaymaecker, and Thomas Martin. Since our usual flair for the unusual, announced his readers should be very familiar with Fenwick intention to become a Dominican priest. He and Young, we take up her story with Rev. John received a dispensation to live apart from his wife A.Hill. and made provision for her maintenance in Belgium. He then left for Rome to enter the novitiate of the Order. Because of his strong The labors of John Augustine Hill, O.P., the academic background, his studies were colorful first pastor of St. John's in Canton, shortened to fewer than two years. He made his differed greatly from the styles of Fenwick and profession of vows in 1819 and celebrated his Young but equaled them in meeting changes and first Mass in December of 1820. challenges. Hill was born in England in 1779 of afiluent Anglican parents who sent him to a Hill was a restless sort who loved to manage his military school of nobles for his education. own life. His dreams sometimes exceeded his Though only of medium stature, his erect ability to carry them out; practicality was not an carriage, dark hair and eyes commanded asset he possessed. He enjoyed the dramatic attention. His whole demeanor exuded approach to life that resulted in his becoming a confidence. At an early age, he enjoyed the powerful and influential speaker. After privilege of obtaining a commission in the Horse ordination he lost no time in volunteering his Guard ofthe Queen's Army. services for the budding American province of Dominicans. Specifically he wanted to go to When in 1800 he converted to Catholicism he with the newly-appointed bishop, was forced to resign his commission and return Edward Fenwick. He did not come empty­ to civilian life. Sometime after he married and handed; he brought with him three prospective moved to Belgium where he resided adjacent to members for the province. They arrived in the Dominican College at Bornhem. Here he Kentucky in September, 1821. Within six 157 own experience of conversion, no doubt, added to his effectiveness. He took great pride in his many converts.

Hill made extensive visits into northern Ohio preaching wherever he found a suitable facility. The summer of 1828 was a particularly exhausting one for him. Fenwick wrote ofa letter he had received from Hill that summer:

He assured me in a letter that be wrote on August 17, that God bad given him many consolations in the midst of all his work .... His journeys took him to the shores of Lake Erie during the great heats of July and August. He made many conversions, baptized twenty-two adults, among Rev. John A. Hill, O.P. them two Indians, reconciled four marriages and heard many confessions. Most of the Catholics had not seen any months, he was on his way to Cincinnati with the missionary in three or four years. 1 Bishop Fenwick entourage. John deRaymaecker, assistant at St. John's, His penchant for taking charge proved to be both wrote that Hill returned to Canton after a asset and liability to the new bishop. While "difficult and laborious mission in the month of Fenwick was in Rome in 1823 and 1824 begging August through marshy countryside among poor for funds to build a cathedral and support his immigrants, recently settled on virgin lands. 112 household, Hill thought the bishop's residence He had a violent fever. "He could procure only unfit for such a prelate. In truth it was only a set doctors who had little education, or medical of basement rooms below the frame church that knowledge from books that were called served as cathedral. Hill borrowed money to Domestic Medicines, books of medicine for build a handsome three-story brick structure for families . . .. He was very ill for two weeks before the bishop and his staff When Fenwick returned his death." 3 Before Hill lost consciousness, he was chagrined to find such imposing living deRaymaecker had administered the sacrament quarters in contrast to the poor wood building of Extreme Unction and satisfied all of Hill's that was his cathedral. Besides, Fenwick was needs. He succumbed to the fever on September still responsible for repaying the loan. 3, 1828.

In 1824 St. John's Church in Canton was blessed After Hill's death mourners, both Catholic and and John Hill became the first resident pastor. Protestant, came to visit. "Catholics prayed day He was delighted with the assignment as were and night near his body." While deRaymaecker others because he seemed to function better tended to the sick of the parish, "the Catholics when he alone was in charge. He was a tireless prepared everything for the celebration of preacher contacting many mission stations in the funeral services." 4 Nicholas Young rode from environs of Canton and Northern Ohio. He truly Somerset to officiate at the funeral and preach was a great preacher, recognized by Catholics the eulogy. The church was filled with persons of and Protestants alike. He spoke in any church every rank and belief and . . . "our church could when invited, of whatever denomination. His hold only a few, about 200 or 300 souls." He was 158 buried beside the outer wall of the church but In 1828 deRaymaecker assisted John Hill in later reinterred in the provincial cemetery near Canton. He left a short description of their work Somerset. there. "We have only two here for a district and its environs of 50 miles or more, in all directions Despite all his eccentricities Hill was a zealous where there are no priests but ourselves, and missionary, a priest concerned for the needs of Catholics dispersed from 10 to 20 miles, without the and religion in general. He church, and some impassable roads for vehicles was willing to put aside the privileges he had of every kind. Happily we have some good known as a person of wealth to enter an Order English horses." 5 He told how there were many dedicated to poverty. He knew few comforts as cases of cholera and typhus that made it he rode on horseback carrying the Gospel as far necessary for him to be continually on horseback north as Cleveland and the shores of Lake Erie ministering to the sick of the city and ahnost to the present site of Toledo. He had countryside. He wrote of a great number of given his parishioners in Canton an example of German, French and Irish immigrants who called leadership, community pride, and some for him. recognition as members of a religious minority. The Dominican friars suffered a great loss for he DeRaymaecker was the only person who was one of their most tireless workers and attended Hill in his last illness. He administered certainly their most successful preacher. the last rites ofthe Church to the dying priest who insisted that all parishioners be attended to John Baptist deRaymaecker, born in Belgium, before his assistant anointed him. After Hill's arrived in the United States with John Hill in death in 1828, various Dominicans substituted in 1821. As a young man he had entered the Canton for short periods. DeRaymaecker Dominican Order in his native country, but made recounted that he was joined in 1829 at St. John's his profession in the American province upon in Canton by , a diocesan priest who reaching St. Rose in Kentucky. Bishop Fenwick eventually became the first bishop ofMilwaukee . ordained him priest in 1822 shortly before he Henni was fluent in German and French so he joined the group that accompanied the bishop to held services for those groups while his new diocese in Cincinnati in March of that deRaymaecker cared for the Irish and year. From his account, historians have benefit of Americans. The two priests, deRaymaecker the only description of that memorable journey. wrote, alternated with the languages on different He wrote of the hardship of traveling in an open Sundays. One week Mass was celebrated for conveyance in the raw weather, of challenges of German and Swiss ~ the next Sunday all services the terrain and the flooding Kentucky River. were in English. Sermons and instructions followed the same pattern with catechism, His fluency in the German tongue delighted many marriages, funerals and vespers in the afternoon. settlers in Ohio who spoke no other language. As Marriages were performed in the language the early as 1820 both in Somerset and Canton, couple preferred. Often there were discussions German immigrants constituted sizable after vespers to which their Protestant neighbors minorities in the churches. As a result many had were invited. They all ate together from "a large been deprived of the full benefits of the Church beef roast and good pork that the invited guests because ofthe language barrier. In 1824, Fredric brought us. 11 6 Rese answered the call of Fenwick to serve the Germans in Ohio but his work lay chiefly in the Other areas touched by deRaymaecker include Cincinnati area. Cuyahoga Falls in 1830, Youngstown between 159 1830 and 1840, and with Nicholas Young and cheerfully .. ." 1 Thomas Martin many missions in central and eastern Ohio as far north as Cleveland. As Hill's About 1839, Martin asked leave from his companion in Canton, he made regular visits to provincial to volunteer for the New York Sts. Philip and James parishioners in Canal Diocese so that he could help his two sisters who Fulton, Marshallville and others stations in were in need. He was granted the necessary Wayne County. permissions to be loaned to that diocese. Bishop John Hughes praised Martin for his dedicated After a short pastorate at St. John's in Canton in service there in different parishes. He died on 1835, deRaymaecker returned to Belgium for May 10, 1859 in New York, but his body was health reasons. There he solicited funds for the brought to Somerset for burial in the provincial Dominican missions in Ohio. He died in Belgium cemetery. in 1865 and was buried there. For eighteen years the Dominican friars alone led In Cleveland, Irish laborers on the Ohio Canal by Fenwick met the changes and challenges of welcomed the visit of Thomas Martin in 1826. frontier lands to nourish the faith in the area Born in Ireland in 1774, he came as a well­ covering Ohio and the original boundaries of the educated adult to the United States where he Diocese of Cleveland. Wherever possible they joined the Dominican Order in Kentucky in 1821 . invited and welcomed diocesan priests to assist The following year Bishop Fenwick ordained them. Fenwick himself brought Fredric Rese him to the priesthood. Shortly after that Wilson, from Europe in 1824 as the first non-Dominican his provincial, sent him to Ohio to work in the to serve in Ohio. In northern Ohio, the mission field there. Dominican presence was felt chiefly in villages, towns, and crossroads of these counties: The changes and challenges he faced differed Columbiana, Stark, Wayne, Mahoning, Summit, greatly from his native Ireland, but he faced and Portage.8 Many of the homes where the issues competently. His residence at Somerset original Masses were celebrated no longer exist became the local point for reaching many parts of but the memories of the early friars live on in the northern Ohio. After the historic ground traditions ofthose early parishes. breaking in Cleveland, he tended to the spiritual needs of Irish laborers in the Cleveland-Akron NOTES area as often as possible. He spent most of his young priesthood serving central and northern 1) Fenwick to the Society for the Propaganda Ohio. Included in his travels were Canal Fulton, of the Faith, Anna/es, ID, p. 298. Louisville, Columbiana and Mahoning Counties. 2) John deRaymaecker, "Creation of the First He typified a description of the ordinary Episcopal Seat of the City of Cincinnati" ms. c. Dominican friar in Ohio who accepted the 1848, St. Joseph Province Archives. challenges of the elements to answer a sick call. 3) Ibid. An observer noted, " .. .At nine o'clock on a pitch­ 4) Ibid. black night, while a torrential rain was falling, a 5) DeRaymaecker ms. man knocked at the door asking for a priest to 6) Ibid. carry viaticum to a gravely-ill person ninety miles 7) , Memoirs (Chicago, distant." The friar "not in the least disconcerted Illinois: The Priory Press, 1967) 19. [Reprint] by the storm and darkness ... mounted his horse, 8) Diario di Roma, January 23 , 1819, St. and as if the sky were clear and sunny set out Joseph Province Archives. 160 Abstracts from our cannon were not heard, the sublime majesty of religion was yet visibly felt and the eye of the (Continued, from Vol. XXIII, No. 7) spectator could trace the glow ofpious sentiment that beamed from every countenance. Propitious July 24, 1845 day for Somerset! may posterity be blessed in the virtuous deeds of their ancestors! A discourse SOMERSET, orno To the Editor of the Catholic Telegraph. was delivered on the occasion by Rev. Father N. Our town was cheered by the interesting R. Young, showing the antiquity and authority of ceremony witnessed here on Sunday, the 29th of Catholic ceremonies, and a happy effect has been June. That day, sacred to the Princes of the produced on our dissenting community. Catholic faith, SS. Peter and Paul, was rendered more auspicious to the propagation of our holy The feelings of joy excited in the breasts of the religion in the erection of another Temple for the faithful, accompanied them to their homes and distribution of her august Sacraments, and the only motive to dampen this pleasing ~as I diffusion of her sublime truths. The worthy repeat the absence of our amiable and worthy sisters of St. Mary's merit every commendation prelate. The following lines were deposited for their tireless exertions to raise this building beneath the stone as a record to future adjoining their Academy; and the people of generations. Somerset, animated by their zeal for the decorum Anno Domini, :MDCCCXLV of Divine worship, and encouraged by the ' generous endeavors for the promotion and Gregorio XVI. P.M . increase of piety exhibited in every city Jacobo K. Polk, Frederatorum Americre Statuum Prreside throughout our Union, have attested their sense ' of gratitude for the blessings they enjoy, by the Mardocheo Bartly, Ohio Statum Gubernante most liberal and magnificent contributions. ' Under the patronage of the Blessed Mother of R. RD. D. Joanne Baptista Purcell, God, the corner stone of the Edifice was laid Cincinnatensi Episcopo, with the usual rites prescribed in our liturgy, b; Annuente the Very Rev. J. T. Jarboe, Superior of the A R P. Thomas Jarboe, O.P.P. Dominicans in Ohio, assisted by the fathers of his Conventus S. Josephi Prior order, (our much loved and esteemed Bishop not Ac, having it in his power to gladden us with his A.RP. Josephi Wilson ejusdem ordinis, Provincire S. Joseph Prioris Provincialis presence.) A numerous concourse was in ' attendance, and all seemed highly pleased with Generalis Vicarius, Candida Divi Dominici Familia Assistente the propriety and regularity observed. After the ' solemn service of vespers and benediction, a II. Kal. Julii, Die SS. App. Petro and Pauls Sacra procession moved from the Church of Holy ' Trinity, the people following in respectful silence D. O.M. to the place where the foundations were opened. Dive Virginis Marre Titulo, Though the military bands of our country were Dicandre Feclesire. [sic] not seen to decorate the train and the sweet tunes Angulorem Hunc Lapidem, Ritu Solemni Benedictum of music did not echo through the surrounding ' air; though our national eagle did not fan his II. P. pinions o'er this hallowed spot, and the peals of A SPECTATOR (To be continued) 161 Pine Grove Hier ruhet MARIA St. Mary's . Maria Anna Tochter von at the Furnaces Katharina J. u. M. E. Nieman Ehefrau von Tombstone Inscriptions Geboren Joseph Abele den 1 Januar 1858 (Concluded, from Geborene Gestorben Vol. XXIII, No. 7) Mangold den 19 Feb. 1882 geb. 7? Nov 1811 [not found] gest. 27 Juni 18 (broken) HANNAH [partial, under Ubole] Hier ruht wife of MARIA Adelheit MEYER JAS. BOYCE Elisabeth A. Geb. Unger Born Tochter von Geb. den 8ten Sept, 1812 Dec. 25, 1852 J.F. und M. G. Goldkamp Gestorben Died 1 Geboren den 14 en Marz 1884 May 12, 1881 den 21 , Aug. 1842, Alter 71 Jahre Native of Tully Gestorben 6 Monat u. 7 Tage cornell Donegal den 3, Aug. 1880 [partial] Co. Ireland (poem) [partial] [several differences] Erected In memory of DANIEL CARR Maria Magdalena PATRICK GALLAVAN Native of Ireland Ehefrau von A Native of Carrick Coladerey Christ. Dirker Beg Waterford Co. Donegall Parish Fannett Geboren Ireland [partial] den 15 Juli 1857 (3 7?) BORN Gestorben March 17, 1804 Hier ruht den 9 Juli 1880 DIED Rosalia (poem) Dec. 5, 1878 Tochter von [Listed as Dirter, Christ. and [partiaL under Calla van] John. Ferdinannd again as Magdalena, Maria.] u. Maria Gerdrut Father Goldkamp THOMAS Martin Weber geb. 22 S--- 1861 Son of von Wertenung? gest. 16 Aug. 1862 P. & U. GALLAGHER Geb. den 8 Sept 1809 Alt 11 Monat 24 Tag. Was born in Vernon T.P. Scioto Co. 0. Gest. den 11 Mai 1884 [birth year & given name] MAR. 25, 1867 im Alter von 74 Jahr en DIED 8 Monaten und 3 Tagen Hier ruht MAR. 20, 1884 (poem) Catharine [missing birth place] [partial] Ehefrau von Martin Gulu---man? Joseph Holch Mother geb. 1 --- 1835 geb. 23 Juli 1810 Walburgis Weber gest. 9? Feb. 1861? gest. 5 Aug. 1879 Geb. forger [not found] [Listed as Sokh.] Geb. in Satzenweier 162 den. 1Mai1812 Hier ruht Hier ruht Gest. den 21. Februar 1889 Johann Heinrich Maria Eng(broken) im Alter von 76 Jahren Beunier (Baumer?) Frau von 9 Monaten und 21 Tagen. geb. zu Glandorf Johan Meyer (poem) den 14 Marz 1816 Gestorben [partial] gest. 23 Aug. 1869 den l 8ten Dezember (broken) Alt. 53 Jahr. 5 Monat. [Says died 1882.] Hier ruht (husband and father) Anna Maria Juliana [not found] geb. Kroger EUNICE Ehefrau des wife of DENIS M'MAKIN Friedrich Dirker David Mei------er A native of------geb. den 16 April 1825, Geboren Co. Do(negal?) gest. den 2 Oct. 1868 den 9 April 1809 ------Alter 43 Jahr. 5 M . 16 T. Gestorben March 1875 [partial] den 15 Aug. 1865 Aged 50 Years [not found] [not found] Hier ruhet Johann Papi--- Strobel Maria Anna Catharine geb. den 13 Juni 1824 Frau von Frau von gest. den 23 Nov. 1864 Michael Foit H. Kampelmann (He left behind a sorrowful Gestorben Gestorben wife and five children.) den 18 Juli 1882 den 20 April 1883 [partial] Alter 67 Jahre Alter [Listed as F ou.] 72 Jahre Maria Magdalena [Listed as Rampermann.] Geborene Han Ehefrau von Maggie Frau von Johann Kentner Jacob Henneman Ursula Geb. 27 Okt 1821 gestorben Ehefrau von Gest. 22 Juli 1884 Am. 16 November 1882 D?. Armbruster im Alter von 62 Jahren Alter Geboren Kramer 8 Monate u. 25 Tagen. 24 Jahre 10 Monate (broken off here) (poem) und 16 Tage gest. den 27 Mai 1866 [not found] [Listed as Sennaman.] [Listed under Strinbrofter.]

Maria Juliana JOHAN G. MAUER Hier ruhet Muller Geboren Peter Klas Geb. d. 29, Marz den 15. Januar 1821 Gestorben 1853 Gestorben den 2ten Sep. 1866 Gest. d. 13, Juli den 3. Juni 1885 Alter von 45 Jahren 1874 (poem) und 2Monat. [partial] [death year] [partial, as Klas, Helen]

163 Elisabetha Hier ruhet Anton Zahner 1 Muller Sophia Mickey Geboren den 20 cn Geb. d. 2. Feb. Tochter von Oct. 1824 in 1857 Barnhard und Anna Oesterreich Gest. d. 4. Aug. Maria Mickey Gest. den 1864 Geb. 29 Dez. 1867 1ten Merz 1903 [Listed as Miller, Glitubrlhya] Gest. 4. Juni 1887 [listed as Bahgner] in Alter von 19 J. 5 M. 6 T. JOHN NOCKENGHAUST Hier ruht [not found] 1852-1904 Anna Maria RACHEL ms WIFE Ehefrau von 1865-19 August Kos(ick?) Hier ruhet irn Herrn AT REST geborene Hacter Frau Katherina Kroger [spelling of surname] geb. 1815 geb'e Dirford gest. (broken) Geb. 27. Sep. 1848. JOSEPH [Listed with unknown in Pine Grove NIEMAN surname] Gest. 19. Juni 1888 JUNE 26, 1825 R.I.P. Mar. 9, 1913 (poem) [birth year] Johan Utrzerosti [several differences] Geboren George den 23 ---ver 1831 D---miller Gestorben PATRICK DUGAN Gest. den 8 April 1886 SON OF 13 Aug. 1874 [Listed correctly and again as P. &E. DUGAN Alter Afrgerruffi.] Born 62 Jahre May 12, 1862 [listed as Olgemiller] + + + Died May6, 1894 The editor acknowledges the Next section (1877), northeast [not found] kind assistance of Msgr. ofthe stone circle. George Schlegel on visits to Pine Grove.

Catholic Record Society - Diocese of Columbus 197 E. Gay Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 Donald M. Schlegel, editor 164

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