Palo Alto Co,
Iowa USGenWeb Project
CHURCHES OF PALO ALTO COUNTY
From Atlas of Palo Alto County
Compiled 1969 by Title Atlas Company; Minneapolis, Minnesota
ASSUMPTION PARISH
EMMETSBURG, IOWA
The history of Catholicity, in an
organized way, came to Emmetsburg, and indeed to all of northwestern Iowa, with
the appointment in Dec., 1871, of Father John Smith as pastor of Assumption
Parish. With two other priests, Father Smith had charge of all the territory
that now forms the diocese of Sioux City, embracing the 24 counties. Today there
are about 175 priests in the same territory. There were only 39 Catholic
families in Palo Alto County at that time, but Father Smith's parish extended as
far east as Mason City and to the west line of the state including, on the
north, a part of Minnesota.
According to the most reliable sources, the first Mass
in Palo Alto County was offered by Father John Marsh in 1859, in the home of
Martin Laughlin.
When Father Smith arrived in 1871, he found in the old
town a church being built on ground donated by Martin Coonan. The building was
only partly lathed, and it was the only church in the parish which then
contained 11 counties. In 1872, Father Smith built a rectory and 2 years
afterwards a movement was started to located Emmetsburg on a new site in 1874;
thus it happened that two years after the parish was provided with a rectory,
the town walked off and left it. As time went on and gradually the county became
settled, other churches were built. The large parish was divided, other pastors
appointed and finally, the territory over which Father Smith had charge was
limited to the town of Emmetsburg and vicinity. Even then, his congregation was
one of the largest in the whole diocese. Through the efforts of Father Smith,
the grounds where the Assumption Church now stands were procured as a gift from
John Lawler without cost to the congregation. In good time, he raised the
necessary money and began the construction of a large brick building which was
completed in 1884, and was one of the finest church buildings in northwest Iowa
at that time. It cost over $35,000.
In 1889, a school building was erected and in Sept. of
that year, a Catholic school was opened under the charge of the Sisters of
Charity, B.V.M. This institution has kept pace with the times and has grown
steadily until today it stands second to no school of its kind. It has a 4-year
high school course and is on the state accredited list. The musical department
is recognized far and wide for its special superiority. The main credit of all
this belongs to Father Smith. It was he who planned and supervised the
construction of the buildings and the establishment of the institution. There
are few in life who have accomplished so great a work as Father Smith and
especially under the trying circumstances and unfavorable conditions with which
he was forced to contend. Only the sturdiest type of manhood, both physically
and intellectually, could ever have accomplished it. But after all, the story of
his life is but a barren description of his deeds; for a man's life is more than
the work he does, the duties he performs, more even than the battles he fights
or the victory he achieves. There were moral forces, spiritual energies, deep,
subtle, intangible elements and powers hidden in the heart of this man's life,
which made the real man. He believed in God, and in the Church of God and in the
everlasting gospel of the Lord. He believed in the people. He had faith in the
American institutions and he loved his fellowmen. He had a big, brave, true,
honest heart and was a wise, strong, loving brother to all men. He stood
as a "father" to his people in the performance of his sweet and sacred
duties as a priest of God. Many hundreds of men have been steadied and
strengthened in life's battle by his wise counsel, tender sympathy, and genuine
helpfulness during the 40 years of service, which culminated in his death on
Jan. 25, 1912. His remains were laid to rest in St. John's Cemetery among the
people for whom he had labored. He had bequeathed a large part of his rather
modest means to St. Anthony's Orphanage in Sioux City.
On the death of Father Smith, the responsibilities of
the parish devolved for a time on Rev. C.P. Conway, who had been Father Smith's
able assistant. Later in the year, a new pastor was appointed, Rev. P.F.
Farrelly, who had been Dean at Carroll. Father Farrelly was one of the
outstanding priests of Iowa. In May, 1912, he was made Dean and Irremovable
Rector of Assumption Parish, Emmetsburg.
Father Farrelly immediately undertook the erection of
the fine brick rectory which stands today and, in 1920, he caused to be built
the splendid Sister's Convent, just south of the rectory.
Father Farrelly lived to celebrate his golden jubilee
in the priesthood, June 2, 1921, and in that year at the request of the Bishop,
the Most Rev. Edmond Heelan, D.D., he was appointed by Pope Benedict XV, a
Domestic Prelate, with the title of Monsignor. In Sept., 1924, Father Farrelly
was taken suddenly ill and passed to his reward.
The next pastor, Very Rev. Josehp G. Murtagh, soon
after the establishment of the Diocese of Sioux City in 1902, was summoned by
the new Bishop, the Most Rev. Philip J. Garrigan, D.D., to serve under him as
pastor of the Cathedral. Father Murtagh was possessed of a brilliant intellect
and great zeal in his work, but throughout his life, he suffered from delicate
health, and after a few years was compelled to relinquish his arduous duties at
the Cathedral. In 1924, he came to Emmetsburg as Dean, serving devotedly for
nearly 7 years, but ill health and the "depression years" compelled
him to ask the Bishop to be relieved of his strenuous duties.
When Father Murtagh left Emmetsburg in Jan., 1932, he
was succeeded by the Very Rev. Joseph T. Finnegan. He served until May, 1936,
and was followed by the Very Rev. E.A. Dunn, who was pastor until his
sudden death in Nov., 1937.
On Jan. 3, 1938, the Very Rev. W.F. Mason moved to
Emmetsburg as pastor of Assumption Parish. Since that time, the indebtedness was
paid off against the church property and a fund was started for a new high
school. On Jan. 10, 1952, a contract was let for the erection of a new
Emmetsburg Catholic High School to serve both parishes in Emmetsburg and to be
operated as a separate unit from both parishes. On Nov. 23, 1952, Emmetsburg
Catholic High School, planned and built by both the parishes of Emmetsburg, was
dedicated by the Most Rev. Bishop J.M. Mueller.
In the spring of 1953, a contract was let by Assumption
Parish for the erection of a new St. Mary's Grade School. This new St. Mary's
School was dedicated by the Most Rev. Bishop J.M. Mueller on April 21, 1954.
In Sept., 1952, Father Elmer Thom, pastor of Sacred
Heart Church, Ruthven, was appointed Superintendent of Emmetsburg Catholic High
School.
To meet the demands of modern education, Father Thom
and the pastors of the two parishes in Emmetsburg decided, in the spring of
1957, to build Corrigan Hall, which is an auditorium-gymnasium. This building is
designed to seat a thousand people for athletic events and has a stage, 80' long
and 30' deep, equipped with a loud speaking system and all the stage furnishings
which are required to stage any kind of school activities. This building was
named Corrigan Hall, so it would be a lasting monument to the memory of Miss
Florence Carrigan, whose will contributed over $50,000 towards its erection. On
Mar. 16, 1958, Corrigan Hall was dedicated by the Most. Rev. Bishop J.M.
Mueller.
The Catholic educational facilities of Emmetsburg are a
tribute to the faith and sacrifices of the Catholic people, and all the people
of the community take a just pride in the grounds and buildings which grace
South Broadway.
Emmetsburg Catholic High School is very proud of its
contribution to the priesthood, for 14 of its graduates have given their lives
to the service of God. Of the 14, thirteen are priests in the dioceses of Sioux
City, and one, Father William Steil, C.P., is a member of the Passionist
Missionary Order of the church. The following is a list of the priests who
graduated from Emmetsburg with their dates of ordination: Rev. Leo McEvoy, 1927;
Rev. Edward Lilly, 1929; Rev. Leo Berger, 1931; Rev. Albert Conlon, 1932; Rev.
Phillip Dailey, 1932; Rev. Wm. Molloy, 1937; Rev. William Steil, 1942; Rev. Leo
Kelm, 1936; Rev. Robert Joynt, 1938; Rev. Thomas Lawless, 1939; Rev. Thomas
Molloy, 1941; Rev. Raymond Calkins, 1946; Rev. William Phillips, 1949; Rev. John
Eagan, 1949, and Rev. Alfred McCoy, 1954.
Emmetsburg's contribution to the church through the
priesthood tells only a part of the story of her history, for a great many of
the former members of Assumption Parish have become members of various religious
orders in the church. The following, while not complete, lists the majority of
them: Sisters of Charity, B.V.M.; Sister Mary Antonella, McLaughlin; Sister Mary
Agnese, Gibbs; Sister Fabian, McNulty; Sister Mary Christine, Rutledge; Sister
Mary Hiltrude, McEvoy; Sister Mary Gerald, Duffy; Sister Mary Placentia,
Fitzgerald; Sister Mary Eugene, McNulty; Sister Mary Emmeline, Brady; Sister
Mary Eugenius, McNulty; Sister Mary Noella, Flynn; Sister Mary Michael, Flynn;
Sister Mary Benignus, Walsh (Fitzgerald); Sister Mary Mamerta, Walsh; Sister
Mary Evangelita, Duhigg; Sister Mary Edwardetta, McNally; Sister Mary Domina,
Higgins; Sister Mary Margaret Agnes, Knoer; Sister Mary Engratia, Mahan; Sister
Mary St. Joseph, Dunphy; Sister Mary Agnesia, Kelm; Sister Mary Irenita, Molloy;
Sister Mary Bernadine, Millea. Sisters of St. Dominic, Sinsinawa, Wisc.: Sister
Mary Camilla, McEvoy; Sister Mary Dermot, McEvoy. Sisters of Mercy-Sister Mary
Adorine, Gossman; Sister Mary Bernadette, Mulroney; Sister Mary Mulcrina,
Currans; Sister Mary St. Jude, Haywood; Sister Mary Paschal; Sister Mary Hilda,
Carroll; Sister Mary Anita, Carroll; Sister Mary Victorine, Neary; Sister Mary
Concetta, Neibauer. Franciscan Sisters, Rochester, Minn.: Sister Mary Conna,
Conway; Sister Mary Liam, Pettit; Sister Anna Marie, Mart. Franciscan Sisters,
LaCrosse, Wisc.: Sister Mary Rosina, Poeppe. Sisters of St. Joseph, LaGrange,
Ill.: Mother Mary Thomas, Joynt; Sister Mary Ambrose, Joynt; Sister Mary
Josephine, Joynt. Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Paul, Minn.: Sister Mary John
Patrick, Aylward.
(The above history was submitted by Monsignor W.F.
Mason.)
Assumption Parish
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
History Published on the 100th Anniversary of Assumption Church
August 19, 1984
Assumption Parish
Assumption Parish takes its origin from a little frame church built on land donated by Martin Coonan in what was then known as the Irish Colony on the banks of the West Des Moines River a short distance northwest of the present town of Emmetsburg. But even earlier than that, the church, the roots of Assumption parish, go back to masses said in homes by priests who traveled here from Corpus Christi Parish in Fort Dodge. In 1857 before the sturdy Irish immigrants who had arrived in 1856 had been visited by any
priest, they had entered a land claim in the name of Bishop John Hennessy of Dubuque and had begun collecting materials for a church.
There are conflicting accounts of when the first Mass was said in Palo Alto County, but Rt. Rev. Msgr. E.L. McEvoy, an Emmetsburg native and later pastor of Corpus Christi, studied the early days records of that parish and found notation that Father Aylward traveled from Fort Dodge to the Irish Colony, where he baptized Ellen Downey and James Mahan on October 24, 1857.
Msgr. McEvoy concluded there was a "reasonable certainty" that on this occasion Mass was said for the first time in Palo Alto County, probably at the James Hickey home since Hickey family tradition says the first Mass in the County was said there.
Later, Father Marsh came by horse or ox team from Fort Dodge three or four times a year. He often stayed with the James Hickey family. Messages would be sent to other nearby families to gather the following day at the Martin Laughlins for Mass and confessions.
The first little log church was started in 1859 on what was later to become the Ormsby residence in the present Emmetsburg townsite, but this log building burned down in a prairie fire before the structure was completed. Twelve years passed before another church was built, this time at the site of the so-called Irish Colony.
Under the direction of Father Thomas Lenihan, this second church was erected in 1871 on land donated by Martin Coonan. William Shea was in charge of the construction. When Bishop Hennessy appointed Father John Smith its pastor, this little church was only partially constructed but was debt free. There was even a little money in the treasury.
Father Smith arrived in December, 1871, and in 1872 a rectory was built for him. At that time there were only thirty-nine Catholic families in Palo Alto county, but Father Smith's parish was much larger than that county, including all of northwest Iowa from the Hancock County line west to the Iowa border, all counties north of Humboldt, Pocahontas, Buena Vista and Plymouth
Counties, as well as southwestern Minnesota and eastern South Dakota. In fact, Father Smith and only two other priests were assigned all of what is now the entire Sioux City Diocese. (By way of contrast, in 1958 there were 175 priests assigned to the same territory.)
In 1874 and 1875 the town literally moved to the present location of Emmetsburg. At first the little church remained at the old site, but it became too small so that the congregation overflowed the churchyard. (The steeple of the little church was for many years on the old Blaire-Gowrie Farm north of Emmetsburg. The late John Kelly discovered that the steeple was about to be destroyed, he insisted that it be placed on view in the Palo Alto County museum, where it remains today.) The decision was made to build a new and larger church in the new town. Father Smith persuaded General John B. Lawler of Prairie du Chien Wisconsin, to donate without cost to the congregation, the four square blocks on which the Assumption Church now stands.
The March 1880 Palo Alto County Pilot reported: "Plans have been received for the new Catholic building (which) will be 110 feet long and fifty feet wide, with a tower built from the ground on the northeast corner. A large amount of rock is already on the ground for the foundation. " The cornerstone was laid in 1884, and the beautiful and sturdy structure completed at a cost of $35,000. Those pioneers built to last as the walls were constructed eight bricks thick.
The bricks were made right on the grounds by the parishioners, who also used their own horses and wagons to move the heavier items in the construction. Various families donated the cost of the stained glass windows, and the names still appear on those windows.
The interior, also typical of the period of construction, was designed in keeping with the exterior. Heavy beams helped to support the roof. Wainscoting was applied to the lower portion of the walls. A scroll-type design in relief around the arch of the sanctuary helped to call attention to the focal point of the church, the main altar.
The beautiful and ornate altars are obviously handcarved. The Very Rev. W. F. Mason, a long-time pastor of Assumption Parish, years later wrote, "I still do not know where the (main) altar came from, but Dan Burns spoke of it as being at the World's Fair in Chicago about 1895-96. He was an old-timer here, and I visited with him often."
In March, 1885, the Emmetsburg Democrat reported: "Rev. J.J. Smith went to Spencer last Thursday where he procured the necessary amount of brick to complete the tower of the church." When finished, the edifice was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin in honor of her Assumption.
In that era, confession was usually twice-a-year practice, especially for the rural parishioners. Since confessions were heard only on Saturdays, it required a major effort and sacrifice for the pioneers, even after the parish had become smaller, to make an opportunity to go to confession during Lent and Advent. Many of the elderly, the sick, and others were physically unable to make the arduous trip to town and back on two consecutive days, so it was customary for them, if possible, to go in Saturday and stay overnight or longer for the additional purpose of a visit with town dwelling relatives or friend before returning to their rural homes.
The parishioners were not alone in the hardships involved in the long trips to Mass. The horses had difficulties too. When Fr. Smith learned that some of the drivers whipped their horses to make them go faster in order to be on time for Mass, he became quite indignant. In his next sermon he berated this practice and lectured the people about sparing the horses by starting on time.
Throughout the years, progress continued to be made in improving Assumption Church property. In May, 1888, an article in the Emmetsburg Democrat stated: "Rev. Father Smith contemplates moving his fine residence onto the church property lot sometime during the next few weeks. With a splendid brick church, a fine residence, and a good convent building, the Catholic Church grounds of the city will, in appearance and value, be equal, if not superior to any in Northwest Iowa."
In 1889 a frame school building and convent combined was erected north of the church and named St. Mary's Academy. It opened in September with 120 pupils in grade and high schools. A few students stayed in the building as boarders. Mrs. Mildred (Ferguson) Lorig says her mother, Catherine Hickey, and the late Mrs. Mary Mulry's sister, Lizzie Gibbs, were among these. Traditional academic subjects, including Latin (taken by all the boys and girls who attended) and Christian values were also stressed.
The school was staffed by Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary who wore the traditional black wool habit with a long very full skirt, very large heavy rosary, a wimple, gimp and stiff bonnet. As a result of their example through the years many local young ladies joined the same order or other orders of sisters.
During his forty-plus years as the first pastor of the early day Assumption Parish, Father John Smith influenced hundreds of lives and accomplished many things. He died January 25, 1912, and was buried in St. John's Cemetery less than two miles from the church he had built. The tall marble cross which resembles the ancient crosses of his native Ireland, marks his grave and towers over the surrounding monuments just as he stood out in the community during his lifetime.
For a few months Father Smith's assistant, Rev. C.P. Conway, carried on the parish work. Then in May, 1912, Bishop John Hennessy appointed Rev. Patrick Farrelly pastor of the Assumption Parish. Father Farrelly had been born in Ireland, but had completed his education in Montreal and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, before being ordained in Dubuque, Iowa.
Soon after arriving in Emmetsburg, Father Farrelly had work started on the sturdy brick rectory which has been remodeled and is in use today. In 1920 he also commissioned the brick convent for the sisters. The building stood on the southeast corner of the Assumption Church property until being torn down when that portion of the grounds was sold in 1984. He was succeeded by Very Rev. Joseph Murtagh, who had also been born in Ireland and had been ordained in 1889. Father Murtagh served Assumption Parish from 1924 until 1931, when he became of ill health he asked the Bishop to relieve him of his duties.
The next pastor of Assumption Parish was the Very Rev. Joseph T. Finnegan, serving from early 1932 until May 1936. He was replaced by the Rev. E.A. Dunn until his sudden death in November, 1937.
The Rev. William F. Mason followed as pastor effective on January 3, 1938. Born in 1895 and ordained in 1922, he was both a zealous priest and a powerful speaker. He proved to be very capable administrator who managed to pay off the sizable parish debt, while also maintaining the existing building and starting a fund to build a new high school. Such management was quite and accomplishment in an era when the people of the parish were struggling to recover from the drought and depression of the years of the 1930's, but the parishioners cooperated just as the pioneer families had done in the earlier years.
On January 10, 1952, a contract was set for Emmetsburg Catholic High School which was to be funded and operated as a separate unit from the two local parishes on the Northeast corner of the Assumption Church property. Father Elmer Thom of Sacred Heart Parish in Ruthven was appointed superintendent of the high school. The completed building was dedicated by the Most Rev. Bishop Joseph Mueller on November 23, 1952. The front doors of the school were painted red until indebtedness had been paid off; they were then painted green.
In recognition of many years of faithful service, on February 28, 1953, Pope Pius XII named Father Mason a Domestic Prelate with the title of Monsignor. Early in 1953 Assumption Parish let a contract for building St. Mary's Grade School between the rectory and the convent. On April 21, 1954, the Most. Rev. J.M. Mueller dedicated the new school.
In 1957 the two Emmetsburg parishes again combined their efforts to Corrigan Hall, named after Miss Florence Corrigan who had bequeathed over $50,000 for that purpose. Erected to the north of Assumption Church, Corrigan has served as a gymnasium, auditorium, and lunchroom, primarily for the Catholic Schools, but also for community activities. The completion of this building freed the quonset that had served for some years as a gym for use as Assumption Parish Center.
Through the years, the sincere faith of the families of the Parish, combined in many cases with a background of education in the Catholic schools, led to many religious vocations, sisters, as well as priests, but a shortage of sisters to teach in school and rapidly increasing the cost of operation led to the closing of Emmetsburg Catholic High School in May 1968 and to the earlier consolidation of St. Mary's and St. Ellen's grade schools into the St. Mary's building in 1967. In the fall of 1968, in order to make more room for all levels, the upper grades were moved into what had been the high school.
Having completed thirty-two years in Assumption Parish, Msgr. Mason, because of his age and impaired health, submitted his resignation to Most. Rev. J.M. Mueller and was given the assignment of chaplain of Holy Family Hospital in Estherville. Msgr. Mason later retired to the Marian Home in Fort Dodge until his death on January 24, 1981, when his body was returned to Assumption Church for his funeral, followed by his burial in St. John's Cemetery.
After Msgr. Mason's retirement, the Rev. Elmer Thom became pastor in June, 1970, and served in that capacity until the summer of 1979 when he was replaced by co-pastors Rev. Donald Ries and Re. Charles Bormann who were to minister to both Assumption and St. Thomas Parishes. In 1981 Father Bormann was given permission to go to Phoenix, Arizona, to work in the jail ministry and state hospitals. He was to work with convicts, drug addicts, and others in need of counseling. He was replaced as co-pastor by the Rev. Richard Sitzmann in 1982 who continues to serve with Father Ries.
It would be difficult to compare the original little frame church built in the old Irish Colony to the large, sturdy, Assumption Church marking its one hundredth anniversary in 1984. The beautiful old church stands as a symbol of the strength and endurance of the hardy pioneers who worked and sacrificed to erect and edifice that would be truly a tribute to God, who was so important in their lives. Any community is richer for having a church with so much religious and historical significance, and the people of the Emmetsburg area appreciate the important role that the Assumption Church has played throughout the past century.
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