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Author: Dawn_Maddox_Montgomery
Surnames: McCaffrey, Girardot, Alerding, Keller, Noll, Nusbaumer, Quill, Kennedy,
Gallivan, Monahan, Burns, Hardwidge
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
St Jude Church
2101 Pemberton Drive
Fort Wayne, Indiana
July 19, 1963
Mrs. Olive McCaffrey
R R 1
Keystone, Indiana
Dear Friend:
I am sorry that I was not home when you called a short time ago. I was on a short
vacation, and Father Dennihan, one of my assistants, gave me your message and your request
for a History of the Parish at Montpelier.
I could not get to it sooner, for whenever one is gone for a few days he really pays for
it. There is always the regular work, the daily work, plus what has accumulated in
one's absence. Since I am also the Catholic Chaplain of the Veterans Hospital, there
is always double work, plus double accumulation, during one's absence.
I have had our secretary type what appeared in the two histories of the Diocese - - the
one compiled by Bishop Alerding, and one compiled by Bishop Noll. Unfortunately, the
later, which seems to have been put together rather hurriedly, contains some gross errors.
I don't think there is any error in what the Bishop writes about Montpelier, for he
was well acquainted with Montpelier.
I hope the enclosed will be of help to you in trying to put things together.
I hope that you are fine and well in every way.
With sincere good wishes,
Respectfully,
Father Girardot
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Montpelier
History of St Margaret's Church
1864
What has been said about Hartford City, with regard to visiting clergy in the early
pioneer days, might be rightfully repeated with regard to Montpelier. The Catholics were
few, and the small frame church, which was erected in 1864, was sufficient to accommodate
them. When Bishop Rademacher, in March 1894, sent Rev Charles Dhe to Hartford City as its
first resident pastor, the Bishop gave him charge also of Montpelier, as a mission. By
this time, the discovery of natural gas and oil had developed Montpelier into a lively and
prosperous town. Father Dhe began at once to collect funds for a new church, and on June
4, 1896, Bishop Rademacher dedicated it. The church is a brich church after the Gothic
style of architecture, and has two spires, one eighty and the other sixty feet high. The
seating capacity is 200, and its cost was $5,500. About the year 1900, Father Dhe erected
a commodious priest's house adjacent to the church. When Father Dhe was transferred
from Hartfo!
rd City, the church property at Montpelier was indebted to the amount of $1,900. Rev
John F Noll succeeded Father Dhe on July 11, 1906, and has charge of St John's Church
at Montpelier, attending it from Hartford City.
The number of families is forty-one, with a total of 179 souls. St john's has an
Alter Society and a Young Ladies' Sodality.
The Diocese of Fort Wayne
1857 - 1907
by the
Rt. Rev H J Alerding
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I have taken the following from the History of the Parish at Bluffton, from Bishop
Noll's History
On July 1, 1920 Rev. Nichola Keller was appointed as the first resident pastor, of St
Joseph's Church at Bluffton, Indiana by Most Rev. H J Alerding, the Bishop of Fort
Wayne. At the same time, the parish at Montpelier, which had been cared for from St
John's at Hartford City, was transferred to the care of the pastor of St Joseph's,
Bluffton.
On January 26, 1926 Father Keller was transferred to St Bridget Parish in Logansport,
Indiana. His successor was Rev. Charles F. Girardot, transferred from assistant at St
Mary's Church Michigan City. April 12, 1929 Father Girardot was transferred to the
pastorate of St Joseph Parish in Fort Wayne. He was succeeded by Rev John A Bapst was
transferred to St Aloysius, Yoder on September 12, 1935. Rev Paul Anderson was the newly
appointed pastor of Bluffton. [handwritten: Father Anderson attended the Montpelier
parish. Father Michael Kelner July 1943 - Spring 1947, wanatah.]
All of these priests attended St John's, Montpelier.
I cannot give you the successors in Bluffton beyond that time, since I have no history or
reference book. Perhaps your present pastor can complete the History of Montpelier since
then.
Father Girardot
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Montpelier
History of St Margaret's Church
1864
Although Montpelier had a small frame church erected in 1864, there were never many
Catholics there until the oil boom in the '90s, when the congregation grew rapidly in
line with other parishes located in the oil and gas area. Father Dhe, pastor of Hartford
City, erected churches simultaneously, according to the same pattern, at Montpelier and
Dunkirk, in 1896. He also erected a residence next to the church in the expectation that
Montpelier would be given a resident priest, which did not eventuate until many years
after the rectory was built, when it was occupied for one year by Rev. Paul Welch in
1913.
Father Dhe attended Montpelier as a mission from Hartford City until his transfer to
Besancon in the year 1906, as which time Father Noll was appointed to Hartford City with
Montpelier as a mission. Father John Keller succeeded him, and was followed by the Rev.
Lawrence Monahan.
It was only after a resident priest was placed at Bluffton that Montpelier was transferred
as a mission from Hartford City to Bluffton.
It was because the church erected by Father Dhe was found to be structurally weak that
arrangements were made to erect a new church in the heart of the town by the Rev. Paul
Anderson. Because of the benefaction of Samuel Tait, Jr., the new church, dedicated in
the spring of 1941 was named St. Margaret's Church, after his niece. The new church
is certainly worthy of the present small parish, depleted by the emigration of former
parishioners to other fields after the decline in the Indiana oil field. It was dedicated
on June 10, 1941.
The Diocese of Fort Wayne
1941
by the
Most Rev. John F. Noll, D. D.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the early pioneer days prior to the erection of the first church in the year 1864 Mass
was said once a month by visiting clergy at the farm house of James McCaffery, two miles
north of Montpelier. Being heavily timbered there were no roads and the priest
transportation was solely by horseback.
Confessions were heard by the clergy on Saturday as well as instructions for the children.
The priest would remain overnight in the McCaffery home and have Mass on Sunday.
The Most Rev John Henry Luers, D. D., in 1864, gave his consent to build a church. The
McCaffery and Nusbaumer families were the main instigators and for a number of years the
main support of the church. At the time of the formation of the parish only twelve
Catholic families lived in the vicinity. Other early pioneer families were the
Quill's, Kennedy, Gallivan's, Monahan's, Burns, Hardwidge along with the
McCaffery and Nusbaumer families.
The church of frame construction, was small, with a seating capacity of about 100, cost
about $600.00. Bishop John Henry Luers, D. D., in the fall of 1864 dedication the church
in honor of St John the Evangelist. Rev John McMahon, pastor of Union City was placed in
charge.
The mission from 1876 to 1870, was visited about once a month by Rev Lawrence Lamour,
successor of Father McMahon; then Rev Frederick Von Schwedler, from 1870 to 1872 and by
Rev Martin Noll from 1872 to 1875. These visits from Union City, a distance of 40 miles,
were made each month, on horseback, handcar and other primitive conveniences.
Bishop Joseph Dwenger, CPPS, on January 28, 1875, appointed Rev William G Schmidt, pastor
of St Lawrence Church, Muncie, Indiana, with Montpelier as a mission. Father Schmidt
attended the mission for the next twenty years.
With the appointment by Bishop Joseph Rademacher, D. D., of Rev Charles Dhe, in March
1894, as pastor of Hartford City, the Montpelier mission was attached to Hartford City.
Father Dhe visualizing the growth of Montpelier, caused by the oil and gas boom of the
'90s built the second church. The first church was then abandoned. Bishop Joseph
Rademacher, D. D., in March 1896 dedicated the church in honor of St John the Evangelist.
The new church of Gothic style architecture built of brick and stone, cost $5,500.00.
With the expectation that Montpelier would be given a resident pastor, a small frame seven
room rectory was built at the same time. However when the gas and oil in the area began
to lessen, industry and business moved and many of the Catholic families followed. The
parish dwindled to less than 25 families. Father Dhe continued to attend the Montpelier
mission until July 11, 1906, when he was transferred to St Louis Parish, Besancon. Rev
John F Noll succeeded Father Dhe and remained until July 10, 1910. Rev John C Keller who
followed Father Noll as pastor of Hartford City, attended the Montpelier mission until
July 6, 1912. Father John Keller was followed by Rev Lawrence Monahan.
It was only after a resident priest was placed at Bluffton that Montpelier was transferred
as a mission from Hartford City to Bluffton.
On July 6, 1912, Rev Paul A Welsh was appointed first resident pastor of Montpelier, with
St Joseph's church, Bluffton as a mission. Father Welsh remained until October, 1914.
In November 1914 Rev John Keller, pastor of Hartford City, was again given charge of the
Montpelier mission which he attended until June 1920.
Rev Nicholas Keller, on June 18, 1920, former assistant at St Patrick's Parish, Fort
Wayne, was appointed pastor of St Joseph's, at Bluffton with Montpelier as a mission.
He remained until January 29, 1926.
In 1926, Rev Charles F Girardot assumed the Bluffton pastorate with Montpelier as a
mission. In 1929 Rev John A Baptist was appointed to the Bluffton church and served the
Montpelier mission until 1935.
Because the church erected by Father Dhe was found to be structurally weak arrangements
were made to erect a new church in the heart of the town of Montpelier by the Rev Paul
Anderson who assumed the Bluffton charge with Montpelier as a mission in September 1935.
Because of the benefaction of Samuel Tait, Jr., the new church was dedicated in the spring
of 1941 and the name was changed to St Margaret's, after Mr. Tait's niece.
Father Anderson in 1943 was sent to Delphi and the Rev Michael Kelner was named pastor at
Bluffton and Montpelier. He served with mission until 1846 when the Montpelier church was
named as a part of the new Diocese of Lafayette.
The Most Rev Bishop Bennett appointed Montpelier as a mission of Gas City with the first
pastor named the Rev Francis Kienly. Father Kienly served Montpelier until July 1947 when
he was succeeded at Gas City by the Rev Francis Libert, who remained as pastor of the
mission until December 1955.
In 1955 the Montpelier parish purchased the former home of Mrs. Anna Ray, located west of
the church for $5,500.00 to be used for a rectory.
In January 1956 Rev Cornelius J Kelly became resident (pastor) administrator at
Montpelier. With Father Kelly's transfer to St Charles Otterbien and St Bridgets at
Barrydale in 1958. The Montpelier parish was served by Rev Louis Bloise of the Monfort
Novtitate at Hartford City.
With the appointment of Rev James E Quinn in June 1959 Montpelier again had a resident
(pastor) administrator. Father Quinn's death occurred on March 2, 1961.
James J O'Neill
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
EARL GERARDOT
1913-2005
MONROEVILLE - Earl J. Gerardot, 92, a former New Haven resident, died at 10 p.m., Friday,
Dec. 30, at the Dallas Lamb Foundation Home where he had resided since 2003.
He was born Sept. 3, 1913, in Jackson Township, Allen County Indiana, the son of Alfred
and Mary (Dager) Gerardot. On Jan. 25, 1938, in the St. Louis Besancon Catholic Church,
rural New Haven, he married Bertha E. Emenhiser, who survives in Payne. The couple would
have celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary this January. He retired as a farmer in
1956, due to a disability. He was a member of the St. Louis Besancon Catholic Church in
rural New Haven.
Also surviving are three daughters, Doris A. (Kenneth) Reinhart of Antwerp, Sandra K.
Waldron of Van Wert, and Joan l. (Jerry) Zimmerman of Dandridge, Tenn.; two sons, Dale J.
(Nelle) Gerardot, of Woodburn and Gary E. (Kris) Gerardot of Payne; a sister, Dorothy
Sitcler of Payne; 14 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were two brothers, Bernard and Sylvester Gerardot; two sisters,
Virginia Gerardot and Mildred Voirol; a grandson, James Waldron; and a son-in-law, Harry
Waldron.
A prayer service will be held at 9:20 a.m., today, Wednesday, Jan. 4, at the Zwick and
Jahn Funeral Home, Jacob's Chapel in Monroeville, Ind., followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of
Christian Burial at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Besancon, New Haven, with Father
Stephen Colchin officiating. Burial will be in the S. Louis Catholic Cemetery, Besancon.
Preferred memorials are to the Masses at the church.
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