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Vol. XIV, No. .8 - Aug. 29: Beheading of August, 1989

St. John the Baptist -

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SOME EARLY RECORDS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

AT MILTONSBURG, MONROE COUNTY, OHIO

Immigrants from Ireland were the founders of the churches at Beaver and
Dougherty's Settlement, which were featured earlier in this series, but the
first Catholics in the vicinity of Miltonsburg in Monroe County were from
Germany. Among the first German settlers in Malaga Township were Lorenz
Schaub and John Joseph Dorr, who settled there in the early 1830's. It was
this Mr. Dorr who was mentioned as a member of the choir in the history of
Beaver St. Dominic. By June of 1834 Mr. Dorr had already built a church, at
his own expense and on his own property. It is said to have been located near
the large cemetery south of the town of Miltonsburg. Rev. Charles P.
Montgomery, O.P. of Zanesville, returning home from a visit to St. Dominic,
requested permission from Bishop Purcell to bless Mr. Dorr's church, but the
bishop reserved that happy task for himself. According to the Catholic
Telegraph of July 28, 1836, the church was blessed by the bishop on Tuesday,
July 19, 1836.

The church is a well-finished log building, fifty-three by twenty-
eight feet, and is dedicated to St. Joseph. The family of Mr. Dorr
formed a most effective and harmonious choir. His eldest son was
married to a young lady, who had previously become a convert to our
holy Faith; his second son was confirmed with eighteen others; one
of his neighbors was likewise married to a young lady, whom the
Bishop, (finding her sufficiently instructed in the Christian
Doctrine) had baptized -- and the Rev. Mr. Stahlschmidt having
preached an eloquent discourse in the German language, after two
English sermons by the Bishop, the affecting ceremonies of the day
were concluded by the anthems, "Domine Salvum fac Episcopam
nostrum," and the "Nunc Dimittis," which the worthy Dorr chaunted
forth from his faithful heart, in a voice rich in melody and
compass, but evidently revealing the emotions of a grateful
christian and happy father. Would that there were many such
"Patterns of the flock" throughout our scattered congregations!

This log church was only used for another six years before it was replaced by
the brick church of St. John the Baptist, northwest of Miltonsburg.

In January of 1842 a three acre lot, the site of the present St. John the
Baptist Church, was donated to Bishop Purcell by Mark Younkus, a Catholic. It
is remarkable that this and the next steps in construction of the church were
undertaken while there was no pastor in the vicinity, Father Murphy of Beaver

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St. Dominic having died the previous September. The nearest priests then
lived at Zanesville and Marietta. Father McCallion did not arrive at Beaver
until June, 1842. Copies of a letter from Bishop Purcell survive which
indicate that the faithful were pushing ahead with the work on the church in
the spring of that year (1):

Cincinnati 22d, April 1842

My Dear Mr. Oblinger

I have received your Letter of the 8th April, informing me that
you have cleared one acre and an half of the three acre lot on which
we proposed to erect the new Church.

It will be well if we can finish a Church 56 by 36, 8 windows and
two doors, for 1900 dollars. But you may be sure that a building
always costs considerably over what is at first calculated upon.
Now if you can only get 625 dollars subscribed, it is very
little and besides you cannot collect it all. And as for sending men
through the different states, as you say, to collect, the bishops of
those states will not allow it, for they have poor Congregations of
their own, who have need of every cent they can spare to build
churches for themselves. I do not think that you can calculate on
receiving as much by such a begging expedition as would defray the
expenses of the men who would go on the begging tour. Moreover, it
often happens that such a plan gives occasion to much disturbance
and dissension among the people who had once been friends, when the
collectors do not bring back much money and when they are suspected
by some of having put part of what they had collected into their own
pockets. We are in extreme want of money now in Cincinnati to build
the new German-Church and the Cathedral, and^-- yet we do not dare
appeal for help to the other States, nor would it be of any use.

My opinion therefore is that if you cannot raise the money enough
among yourselves, with the help of my subscription of fifty dollars,
to put the Church under roof, you had better not attempt it, at
present. These are terrible times to run into debt, and of
all things in this world I dislike seeing a Catholic Church sold for
debt.

Please to remember me affectionately to Mr. and Mrs. Beninghaus
(?} and all friends and believe me to be with respect

Yrs. in God

+ J.B. Bp. of Cin.

Despite the difficulties of the community, which are made apparent by the
above letter, the construction of the church was not long delayed. A copy of
the agreement for the walls of the church has also survived (2):

An article of agreement made and entered into this third day of
October one thousand eight hundred and forty two between J. B.
Oblinger, T. J. Benninghaus, and Adam Bauer, as Trustees of the
Roman Catholic Congregation and their successors in office of
Malaga, Monroe County, Ohio of the first part with Ezra F. Sharp of
Barnesville, Belmont County, Ohio of the second part with
[witnesseth ?] that the said Sharp do hereby agree with the said
Trustees to do the following mentioned work viz. to lay the Bricks
of one house of the following dimensions to wit the walls to be

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built twenty feet high the sides to be eighteen inches thick at the
ends to be thirteen inches thick the house to be thirty feet wide
and fifty six feet long with a room at one corner nine by ten feet,
eight feet high, thirteen inch walls, the said Sharp to board and
tend himself to furnish himself with scaffold and water to haul the
bricks to furnish caps and sills for thirteen openings eight of
which are to be cap[p]ed in the gothic style with bases to each arch
also to furnish eight cornice blocks also to lay brick cornice on
two sides of the house, all of which work is to be done in a good
and workmanlike manner. For and in consideration of the sum of two
hundred fifty four Dollars in good and current money, one hundred
and twenty nine of which is to be paid when the work is done, and
one hundred dollars twenty five in one year from the time the work
is done.

The said Trustees to furnish the said Sharp with lime and sand at
the building place and the bricks at the kiln said Sharp to have
said work done in twenty four days of good weather from the time the
foundation is ready, the Sharp to fix two places for stoves in the
sides of the house and a small chimney for a grate in the small
room. (If the aforementioned house should be considered by the
trustees to be high enough without going to twenty feet then the
said Sharp to deduct from his contract accordingly) the said Sharp
to furnish a suitable stone cross on top of the gable end. And for
the true payment of the above contract we the trustees bind
ourselves and successors to pay or cause to be paid unto the said
Sharp or his order Severally Jointly Firmly by these present in
witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and
year first above written. Adam Bauer

J. B. Oblinger

A. F. Benninghaus (?)

Ezra F. Sharp

Witness: F. Bidenharn

The new church was named St. John the Baptist. After its completion, it was a
mission of the priests stationed at Beaver St. Dominic until the arrival of
Rev. John C,Kr mer in March of 1847. The church was used until 1902, when the
present stone church was erected.

John B. Oblinger, who figures prominently in the above documents
concerning the erection of St. John the Baptist Church, was a native of
Kleineich in Lorraine, France. A transcript of a letter which he wrote to his
relatives, Christina and Christopher Suss of Kleineich, some twenty years
after his immigration to this country, provides to us some idea of the
difficulties faced by immigrants in losing touch with their loved ones at home
and also some hint of the faith so typical of Catholic immigrants from the
valley of the Rhine. The letter is dated Miltonsburg, February 3, 1851. (3)

I hope this letter will find you as well as we are. Already 20
years have passed since we last saw each other nor have we had the
pleasure of any correspondence during that time. We have heard
nothing from one another until my dear friend Louis Meyer after his
recent return from the fatherland wrote me that you are all well and
getting along nicely in this world, which we are pleased to know.
He wrote me also that your eldest daughter was married at the time

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he visited you. I wish her happiness and blessings. When we think
back dear relatives our life in this world is like smoke in the
wind, and when I look back to the old home where I was born and
spent the happiest days of my youth where neither trouble nor grief
disturbed me, it seems as though it was only yesterday. Mr. L.
Meyer also wrote me that you complained of my neglect in not writing
to you; but I wrote twice after we landed safely but received no
answer. Also Mr. Meyer wrote me that Christina would write me soon;
I have received up to this time no letter from her. Yet you can
imagine with what pleasure I would read a letter written by any one
of you. We have not heard the least news of any kind from our
relatives since we arrived in this strange country. The only thing
we have heard was through Mr. Meyers' letter to me last fall. I do
not know whether or not my Aunts and Uncles are still living in
Harburg, Strasburg, Kolmar, Momarting. Sisters Margaret, Catherine,
brother Martin, also Joseph Friang are relatives. Write everything
carefully as to how things are going with you.

Now I will relate some events which occurred to us from the time
we left the old fatherland to this day. We arrived safely at Havre
de Grace, France, than after an ocean voyage of 74 days we landed
safely in Philadelphia in June in good spirits and in good health.
We remained in Philadelphia until the following September. We then
went into the country about 150 miles from Philadelphia where we
remained until April 1833 still in the State of Pennsylvania and
entirely among English speaking people. We were dissatisfied here
and went to Pittsburg and then into the State of Ohio where we
bought land and where we (those who are left of our family) are
still living. Now we all lived together until 1836. Then brother
Adolph married an American. In the year 1839 I married a German
(compatriot) from Oldenburg. So far everything went well. Brother
Conrad married a German and went to New Orleans. Sister Maria
married a German in 1842 and Brother Louis married an American. In
Oct. 1844 I began business as a merchant and I am now engaged in
large business. In 1845 our dear Lord permitted for the first time
sorrow to enter our home. On August 13th Joseph Friang died after a
sickness of 8 days. In March 1850 Philip Yunkes, who married my
sister Maria, wished to go to California and took brother Adolph
with him. That is the gold country where they dig gold out of the
ground. No doubt you have heard of it. That was a long and
dangerous journey. Many have lost their lives on account of the
glittering gold. Yes, sad is it for you to hear that both paid
Nature's debt on June 24th 1850. Adolph left his wife and 8
children and Philip his wife and 2 children. It is a sorrowful
fate, but it was our dear Lord's will, at least He permitted it.
Our sorrow does not end here. On Dec. 8th 1850 Conrad died in New
Orleans of cholera, left his wife, no children as far as I know.
There remains now Mother, myself, sister Maria, brother Louis. We
live all together and are well as long as it is God's will. I have
6 children, 4 girls and 2 boys. I live in the town of Miltonsburg,
about as large as Malateri was when we left home. There are 4
stores here. I alone deal in tobacco, which I ship to Baltimore and
reship from there, a part to Germany, part to England, a part to
France and part to Russia.... [There follows a list of prices and
wages.]

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Dear relatives, surely a visit to the old fatherland where I could
grasp the hand and embrace my dear sisters and relations again and
kiss my dear sisters would be my only wish. But I cannot go alone
and my family is too large to take along. Therefore, I do not know
that we will meet again until beyond this world, where we will
have a friendly welcome where there is neither sorrow nor grief and no
parting but sentiments of love and joyful hearts, which I hope may
be our portion. Also take with you my best wishes for your success.

I remain faithfully yours, etc.

John B. Oblinger

God bless you and all of us.

Among Mr. Oblinger's descendants are Sisters Stella and Mary Michael Spangler,
O.P., of St. Mary of the Springs, Rev. Robert Schmidt of the Diocese of
Columbus, and John Baptist Schmidt, O.C.S.O. a Trappist monk at the Abbey of
the Genesee in New York State.

NOTES

1. Two transcripts of the letter, differing slightly, were supplied to the
Society by Harry Schmidt and by Sister Stella, O.P.

2. Attached to the transcription of the letter donated by Sister Stella.
3. Supplied by Mary Virginia Schmidt Van Camp.

FIRST PARISH CENSUS AT MILTONSBURG

Soon after his arrival as the first resident pastor at Miltonsburg,
Father KrRmer wrote out a census of his parish. He wrote it in the front of
the parish baptismal register and thus for some children whom he baptized
contains the notation "see below." The dates of baptism listed by Father
Krdmer for some of the children have not been checked against the original
records at Temperanceville. The census was made available to the Society by
Rev. Samuel Saprano, the present pastor of Miltonsburg.

John Frederick Francis Augustus Bidenharn, born 28 September 1807 in

Neuenkirchen by V8rden, Duchy of Oldenburg; married to Elizabeth Benninghaus

from Haselunne, Kingdom of Hanover, 10 June, 1834. Died [the wife] 19 Sept.,

1847. From this marriage were born:

1. Mary Louise, 14 April, 1835, baptized 14 June 1835 by Rev. James Reed

[Reid]; sponsors Theodore Benninghaus and Lydia Gallagher.

2. Augusta Joanna Ephemia Ferdinandina, 25 December 1836; baptized by the same

priest 8 January 1837; sponsors: J. F. Benninghaus senior and Ephemia

Benninghaus.

3. Julius, 3 October, 1838; baptized by Rev. Quinly 20 October, 1838; sponsors

Edmund Gallagher senior and Ferdinandina Bidenharn.

4. William Theodore, 12 August, 1840 [blank space] sponsor Theodore

Benninghaus jr.

4. (5] Minna Francisca, 16 Nov. 1842; baptized by Rev. G. [for William]

Murphy; died 4 Nov., 1847.

5. [6] Agnes Virginia, 19 October, 1844; baptized by Rev. Ph. Foley 21

October, 1844; sponsors Simon Dorr and Agnes Erpenbeck from Papenburgh.

6. [7] Carl Gustav, 20 September 1846; baptized by the same priest 23 October,

1846; sponsors Herman Benninghaus and Bridget McDaniel.

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Francis Joseph Ritterbeck, born 19 September, 1791; married Rosina Lutz, born

30 July, 1802. From first marriage:

1. Ludwig Ritterbeck, born 1 August, 1824.

Philippina Magdalena Haren, born 18 December, 1786.

John Peter Haren, born 5 January, 1787, married Gertrude Weisend, born 1807.

From this marriage were born:

1. Joseph, 7 Nov., 1826. 6. Adam, 17 September, 1839.

2. Peter, 16 Sept., 1828. 7. Michael, 4 May, 1842.

3. Frederick, 1 January, 1831. 8. Barbara, 8 October, 1845.

4. Jacob, 31 April, 1834. 9. John, see below under year 1849.

5. Magdalena, 7 November, 1836. [this refers to the baptismal register]

John Adam Burckhard, born 25 July, 1813; married in the month of February,

1837 to Barbara Burckhard, born 1813. From this marriage:

1. Anna Maria, 27 September, 1840. 3. George, 2 April, 1846.

2. John, 18 April, 1843. 4. Gertrude, see below under year 1848.

Michael Lulay, born 11 February, 1783, married to Barbara [blank], [born] 9

May, 1801. From this marriage:

1. Simon, 16 September, 1832 [the first baptism in the register at Beaver].

2. Teresia, 9 December, 1841.

Joseph Jantz, married to Maria Anna Weisend, widow Becker. From the first

marriage:

1. Elizabeth Becker, 2 May, 1843. From the later marriage:

2. Barbara Becker, 15 September, 1845. 4. Apollonia Jantz, see year 1849.

3. George Becker, see under year 1847.

Johann Adam Ullrich, born 10 August, 1777, married to Catharina [blank], born

29 September, 1774, died 5 July, 1857. From this marriage:

1. Margaret Ulrich, 31 May, 1803. 3. Valentine, 4 August, 1820.

2. Francis, 15 July, 1809; married to 4. Adam, 11 October, 1849.

Margaret Baier, born 25 October, 1830 5. Catharina.

Valentine Ulrich, born 4 August, 1820, married Magdalena Weisend, born 6 May,

1826. From this marriage:

1. Barbara Ulrich, 25 August 1844, 3. Catharina, see below under year 1847.

died 21 July, 1845. 4. Peter, see below under year 1849.

2. Maria Teresia, 30 April, 1846.

Jacob Weisend junior married Catharina Ulrich. From this marriage: 1. Barbara, 18 January, 1842. 4. Francis, 9 April, 1846.

2. Magdalena, 28 March, 1843. 5. Catharina, see below, year 1847.

3. Jacob, 2 October, 1844. 6. Valentine, see below, year 1848.

Adam Baier, born 5 September, 1802, married Regina Hornberger, born 30 September, 1804. From this marriage:

1. Barbara, 3 December, 1835. 3. Margaret, 27 September, 1841.

2. Anna Maria, 13 April, 1839. 4. Adam, 6 December, 1843.

George Nauer, married to Anna Maria Burckhard, born 13 June, 1820. From this marriage:

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1. Magdalena, 16 October, 1844

2. Otilla, 11 .June, 1846, died 29 September, 1849

3. Anna Maria, see below under year 1848.

George Burckhard, born 10 September, 1797, married Magdalena Paul, born 5

February, 1807. Descendants:

1. Frederick Jacob, 18 September, 1822 5. David, 18 July, 1834.

2. Joseph, 23 March, 1825. 6. George, 23 October, 1839.

3. Elizabeth, 1 April, 1827. 7. Ludwig, 12 March, 1842.

4. Catharina, 16 October, 1829, died 8. Anna Maria, 10 June, 1845.

4 February, 1849.

George Michael Weisend, born Nov. 11, 1823, married Elizabeth Burckhard, born

Apr. 1, 1827. From this marriage:

1. George Weisend, born 13 March, 1845 3. Catharine, see 1847 and 1848.

2. Frederick Jacob, born 9 Nov., 1846, 4. Magdalena, see 1849.

died 10 Dec., 1846.

Michael Weisend, married to Barbara Becker. From this marriage:

1. Elizabeth, born 28 Oct., 1841. 4. George, 24 March, 1846.

2. Barbara, 20 Feb., 1843. 5. Michael, see year 1848.

3. Mary Ann, 8 Nov., 1844. 6. John, see year 1849.

Peter Demuth, born 9 October, 1819, married Catherine Muennich. From this

marriage:

1. Mary, 29 May, 1846. 3. Peter, see year 1850.

2. Joseph, 16 March, 1848.

John Thomas Burckhard, born 10 June, 1813, married Anna Maaria Marscher. From

this marriage:

1. Magdalena, born 18 November, 1844 3. John, see year 1848.

2. Sebastian, 19 Aug., 1846.

Jacob Braun, born 1779, married Maria Anna Wegmann, born 1781, died 3 Apr.,

1844. From this marriage:

1. Philip Jacob, 25 March, 1804. 3. Christina, 12 April, 1820, died

2. Barbara, 1 November, 1818. 23 December, 1848.

Andreas Kuntz, born 20 October, 1811, married Barbara Braun, born 1 November,

1818. From this marriage:

1. Mary Ann, born 19 March, 1843. 3. Joseph, born 3 October, 1846.

2. Elizabeth, born 13 March, 1845. 4. Adam, see year 1849.

Francis Jacob Singer, born 11 November, 1804, married Magdalena Zwick, born 25

July, 1814. From this marriage:

1. Jacob, born 14 October, 1834. 4. Catherine, 20 March, 1843.

2. John, 5 March, 1837. 5. Christina, 23 Nov., 1846.

3. Sybilla, 6 Feb., 1841. 6. George, see year 1848.

Michael Burkhard, born 1790, married Othilia Kunz, born 14 April, 1791. From

this marriage:

1. John Thomas, born 10 June, 1813. 3. John, 1 May, 1823.

2. Sebastian, 24 July, 1815. 4. Anna Maria, 13 June, 1820.

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John Coffee.     Descendants

1. Mary Ann, born 1834. 4. Elizabeth, 1840. 7. Thomas, 1845.

2. Edward, 1836. 5. James, 1842. 8. John, 1847.

3. Catherine, 1838. 6. Mary, 1843. 9. Lydia, 1849.

Simon D rr, married to Helen M'Cammon.

1. Francis, born 13 Sept., 1837. 5. Mary Ann, 19 June, 1844.

2. Mary Catherine, 6 June, 1839. 6. William, 28 Feb., 1847.

3. John Theodore, 23 Feb., 1841. 7. Charles Philip, 26 Aug., 1848.

4. George Peter, 4 Apr., 1843.

EARLY TOMBSTONES, ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, MILTONSBURG

These are readings of the very oldest tombstones, and a few others, now in the

hillside cemetery at St. John the Baptist Church, near Miltonsburg.

In memory of Mary Spingler, wife of Joseph Bachmann, who departed this life

June 20 (?), 1843, aged 32 years.

Hier Ruhet Joseph Baur, gest. May 13, 1849, im alter von 36J 4M.

John F. Bedenharn, born Sept. 28, 1807 in Neuenkirchen, Germany, died Nov. 16,

1857, aged 50 years, 1 month, 19 days.

Hier ruhet Magdalena Paul, Ehefrau von Georg Burkhard, geb. den 5 Feb., 1807,

gestorben den 28 Mai, 1850.

John J. Dorr, died June 22, 1850, aged 73 years, 10 months, 7 days.

Anna, wife of John J. Dorr, died Dec. 28, 1855, aged 74 years, 11 mos., 7

days.

Elizabeth, daughter of Adam and Barbara Griesmer, died Feb. 15, 1853, aged 1

year, 6 months, 12 days.

Elisabetha Kieser, gest. 25 Okt. 1849, alt. 15 J, 6 M, 19 T.

John Oblinger, born in Kleineich, Lorraine, France, Apr. 23, 1810, died Dec.

25, 1866.

Ferdinandina Bidenharn, wife of John Oblinger, born Neuenkirchen, Oldenburg,

Germany May 2, 1815, died Feb. 21, 1880.

Josephine Oblinger, born March 6, 1846, died June 5, 1864.

Magdalena Reasbeck, died 1850.

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197 E. Gay Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 Donald M. Schlegel, editor

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(Apparently this was sent by mail from and to:)

CHANCERY OFFICE Mrs. Pearl K. Reischman

DIOESE OF COLUMBUS 116 Ohio St.

198 EAST BROAD STREET Barnesville, OH 43713

COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215

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