Church: Part 3- Pages 85-122: History of St. Augustine's Parish, St. Augustine, Cambria Co, PA Transcribed and submitted for use in the USGenWeb archives by: Judy Banja Every attempt was made to preserve the exact spellings and typographical errors of the original, without the addition of new typographical errors. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ HISTORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE'S PARISH St. Augustine, Dysart P. O. Cambria County, Penna. Published by The New Guide Pub. Co. Inc. 1922 [Page 85 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] History of St. Augustine's Parish THIRD EPOCH. Rectorate of Rev. John J. Ludden - May, 1892 to January, 1900. The writer has deemed it appropriate to date the third epoch of the parish of St. Augustine to the assumption of the duties and labors of the rectorship by the late much lamented Father Ludden, for surely his advent to the administration of the affairs of the parish, temporal as well as spiritual, marks the beginning of an epoch in its history from that time to the present; for it was during his rectorate that the present commodious and beauiful brick church of St. Augustine was built. Building of the Present Church of St. Augustine. The present church of St. Augustine was commenced in 1893. Most of the material and labor were contributed by members of the parish. The stone in the foundation walls were hauled from near Ashville. The brick were burned in the hollow below the church on farm of John Behe, a Mr. Everly, of Loretto, and Alexius Wills. A man named Fisher is said to have helped, and two boys of St. Augustine - "Ben" Delozier and "Wash" Harber - carried the bricks from the moulders and stacked them in the kiln to be burnt. Description of the Church of St. Augustine. The original plan of the church of St. Augustine, Cambria county, was probably a modification of the Gothic style of architecture subsequent to the period of the Renaissance, but the contractor having taken the contract at a figure much too low, he was allowed by Father Ludden to modify the plan not only as to the tower and towerette, but also as to the vaulted arch interior for which a flat ceiling of yellow pine was substituted - a blending of the Gothic and Romanesque styles of architecture. The dimensions of the [Page 86 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, 5t. Augustine, Pa.] church on the outside are 50 feet by 110 feet, including the sacristy which is a lean-to about 15 by 44 feet. That the building is well buttressed may be seen from the cut the photo for which, as well as that of the interior, the choir and altar boys and several other photos were taken by Deck Lane, of Ebensburg. On either side are two semi-octagonal projections, two of which - one on each side - are used for confessionals, in one on the east side is the Baptismal Font and in one on the west, a statue representing Christ after being taken down from the Cross in the arms of his Blessed other. There are three entrances to the church besides the sacristy door - the main entrance on the front, one at the east side of the tower and one on the west of the towerette. There are five windows on each side of the main body of the church, and two windows each in the tower and towerette, and one Catharine wheel window above the main entrance and one above the main altar. That appellation, "Catharine wheel window," is derived from the tradition that St. Catharine of Alexandria, Egypt, was martyred on a wheel. These wheels have eight spokes radiating from a small circular space in the center, but do not reach the felloe of the wheel; but are joined together, two and two, arcs of a circle which touch the rim of the wheel. Between each two spokes is a rosette and other illuminated figures. By way of digression the writer hopes that he will be pardoned for stating that he prefers the orthography C-a-t-h-a-r-i-n-e to Catherine, so much in use and cites the following authority for his preference: "0, holy virgin, Catharine, Thou who with science, all divine, Didst foil the world's philosophy; Oh, make our life and death like thine In rule of holy discipline, That like to thine, our crown may be!" -Paradisus Anima. As you enter the church, the first thing which attracts the attention of the devout Catholic is the main altar, before which burns the sanctuary lamp indicating that the Blessed Eucharist reposes in the tabernacle. The altar, but recently painted and gilded, is beautiful as may be seen from the picture. Above the tabernacle, in aniche, is the statue of St. Augustine, the patron saint of the parish, and [Page 87 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] to the right in another niche is a statue of a nun, probably St. Ursula. On the left is a statue of St. Aloysius, the patron of youth, and the exemplar of piety. On the left of the main altar is the altar of the Blessed Virgin with her life-size statue before it. On the right is the altar of St. Joseph, the foster-father, and the protector of the youth of our Savior and the patron of the Church, with also his life-size statue before it. High above the main altar through the stained glass of which the light of the mid-day sun shines with dazzling splendor is a beautiful Catharine's wheel window. Within the central circle is the inscription, "Donated by Young men." Within the lower rosette, the initial letters of "Iesu Homines Salvator," I. H. S.; within the third rosette on the left is the representation of a harp, and on the right opposite, is a picture of a pyx, while within the upper rosette is the outline of a crown. The entire interior of the church, as well as the altar, doors and window frames, inside and outside, have been recently repainted and the pews oiled and varnished by painters of the parish, the Messrs. P. G., John and B. Weakland and Richard Delozier. In the auditorium of the church are 74 pews in two double rows with a broad aisle between these double rows, and a narrower aisle at each side of the church. These pews will seat in comfort at least 400 adults and in case of necessity 500, and on the gallery are pews out of the old church with a capacity of at least 100. All of the windows in the church, except the small lights in the confessionals and in the Baptismal Font, the projection on the opposite side, the gable and those high up in the tower and towerette, were donted. The inscriptions on the windows, commencing on the right side as you enter, are: "In Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Storm; Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gauntner; Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sherry; Donated by Sacred Heart Society; Donated by Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Dunegan, Sr. On the left side, beginning near the entrance: Donated by Young Ladies; In Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Farrell; In Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sheehan; Donated by Sodality B. V. M.; within the Sanctuary, Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Baker and Thomas Wilt. [Page 88 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Within the sacristy are the following: In Memory of Andrew and Margaret Fey; Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. Adams; In Memory of John and Maria Neason; in the lavatory, Donated by Con Dunn. At the head of the stairs ascending to the gallery: Donated by St. Augustine Farmers' Alliance No. 71; Donated by Branch 139, E. B. A. Society; in Catharine wheel window, back of large organ purchased during rectorate of Father Welch, Donated by Fathers James and Anthony Ludden of Albany, New York. Father Anthony, the writer understands was a bishop in one of the dioceses of the archdiocese of New York. In the towerette are two windows on one of which appears: Donated by Mr. and Mrs. George Harber; and on the other, Donated by Mr. and Mrs. James Cawley. High in the tower is the bell to which the writer has indited: Apostrophe to the Bell in the Church of St. Augustine. Well hast thou filled, mid joy, mid tears, Thy mission here for many years! Old bell, we know thy tones full well When thou of joy or sadness tell. Oft hast thou rung with glad acclaim; Oft hast thou done thy task, the same, When muffled wert thou, brazen bell, To sadly toll the fun'ral knell. Oft hast thou called us here to pray On Sunday and on holy day; To worship at the holy Mass On Christmas Day, on Candlemas. And thou hast pealed forth joy to us At Vespers and the Angelus, At morn, at noon and eventide Thy tones reechoed far and wide. In Lent full sad, on Easter morn As joyous as when Christ was born; Ring on, old bell, oh, that you may Ring daily here till Judgment Day! [Page 89 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] On what is generally called the organ loft on the gallery is the splendid pipe organ, purchased by Father Garrett B. Welch, when pastor of the parish, at a cost of $1,600. Copy of Specifications for Church. From the Specifications it is seen that the architect was Joseph Stillberger, of Pittsburg, and a competent and honest architect he was, as may be seen from the specifications which, if followed to the letter, the result would have been a more beautiful church than the ornate structure seen today, the plans being on account of the fact that the contractor, as already stated, took the job at a figure far too low to keep him from serious loss, hence, he was allowed to modify them. According to the specifications the contractor was to erect good scaffolding and be amenable to laws of the land relative to compensation for damages in case of accidents; the ditches were to be 8 inches wider than the wall, the concrete used in the ditches to be 1 bbl. Louisville cement, 2 bbls. coarse sand and 3 bbls crushed stone to go through a 2 inch mesh, concrete to be tamped hard in the ditches, the walls to have two faces, to be laid in good lime and sand mortar in level layers and coping stone to extend the width of the wall and not less than 10 inches thick, crandalled (that is dressed with a hammer with several sharp steel blades), and joints to be pointed with cement mortar; window sills to have wash and drip; coping 4 in. thick to cap battlements on tower buttresses and pediments to be bedded in cement and well anchored to walls. The ceiling of the church was to be plastered. Of the brick work a header course was to be laid every sixth course, and secret bond allowed only on front and tower. The lime mortar was to be of No. 1 fresh burned lime and sharp sand, mortar to be mixed 48 hours before using. The inside sidewalls and ceiling were to be plastered with good mortar of lime and sand with hair well beaten to be separated. It is doubtless owing to the exacting specifications formulated by the architect that, notwithstanding the fact that said specifications were very materially modified, the church, as it stands today, is noted for its solidity of construction, and even for its interior beauty. [Page 90 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Records Placed in Cornerstone of the Church of St. Augustine. The following record of important events, written by the late 'Squire Dunegan, was placed in the cornerstone which is of beautiful Parisian marble donated by J. Wilkinson & Son, Ebensburg, Penna.: This Corner Stone Was Placed in Position August 6th, 1893 By Very Rev. E. A. Bush, assisted by Rev. Thomas Rosensteel, Rev. M. Ryan, Rev. 0. P. Gallagher, Rev. Ferdinand Kittell, Rev. James Deacy, Rev. Father Raymond and our own pastor, Rev. John J. Ludden. - LEO XIII. - Is Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic World, the oldest sovereign in Europe - his age this day, according to American Statistics, being 83 years, 5 months and 5 days. Rt. Rev. Richard Phelan Is Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburg, Penn'a in the 69th year of his age. Rev. John J. Ludden Is Pastor of this Church (St: Augustine's, Penn'a.) Grover Cleveland Is President of the United States of North America, being the 23rd President since the election of George Washington, the 1st President. Robert E. Pattison Is Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Hon. A. V. Barker Is President Judge of the Judicial District of Cambria County, Penn'a. James S. Rush Is Passenger Conductor on the Cresson and Ebensburg R. R. The Building Committee Are Rev. John J. Ludden, Treasurer, James A. Wharton, President, E. R. Dunegan, Secretary, Silas A., Ryan, Silas M. Douglass, James E. McGough and John Nagle, Sr. Contractor and Builder W. B. Auman, Esq., St. Mary's, Penn'a. [Page 91 - History of Parish, of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Foreman George Valentine, St. Mary's, Penn'a. 1893 This year the Great World's Columbian Fair is being held in Chicago, Ill. The Catholic Population of the United States of America is Six Million Two Hundred and Twenty-Eight Thousand Five Hundred and Seventy-Nine (6,228,579) members. - American Statistics. The above selections from History are facts of the present date which I hereby certify to as being correct, under my hand and Seal - and the enclosed Pieces of Silver Coin are specimens of our silver currency now in circulation. EDWARD RIDDLE DUNEGAN. (Seal) The Cost of the Present Church. A careful computation of the various sums paid Contractor W. B. Auman from accounts kept, shows that he received in all for the construction of the building, pews, altar and other inside work $12,116. The materials and labor furnished by the parish would far exceed that sum, perhaps by $3,000 to $4,000. The blessing of the church, as near as can be figured out from the records, was on Sunday, July 1, 1894,. Rev. O. P. Gallagher, in the absence of Bishop Phelan, or Very Rev. E. A. Bush, the Vicar-General, who was sick, blessing the church. The Choir and the Mass Rendered at the Dedication. The Mass was Leonard's, in B Flat. The members of the church choir were: Miss Margaret Dunegan (now Mrs. Margaret Brooks), organist; sopranos, Miss Maude M. Behe (now Mrs. Walter A. Parrish), Miss Annie Dunegan (now Mrs. Annie Adams), Miss Francena Ivory, Miss Stella Dunegan (now Mrs. Charles Douglass), Miss Minnie Ivory (afterwards Mrs. Elmer Dimond, now deceased), Margaret Mary Krise, Miss Zena Krise; altos, Misses Mary Behe, Margaret Dunegan, Josephine Dunegan (now Mrs. A. Ryan); tenors, Messrs. Will and Paul Behe. [Page 92 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Herman H. Myers, Esq., of Ebensburg (now deceased), and the following other members of the Holy Name choir, very kindly assisted: Messrs. Phil Fenlon, John C. Blair, Ossie Wilkinson and Thomas Hoover. The altars and the interior of the church were beautifully decorated with flowers and festoons, and the assemblage was very large. Father Ludden was born in Ireland. He was ordained on December 18, 1888. After leaving St. Augustine he was pastor for several years of the Holy Name church, Ebensburg, and later of St. Thomas', Ashville. He died while pastor of St. Joseph's church, Renovo, in 1913. Rev. Thomas R. Rea, Rector January, 1900 to August, 1901. Father Rea, the successor of Father Ludden, had charge of the parish one year and seven months. Father Rea was born in Ireland and was ordained May 19, 1894. He is now pastor of St. Pius' church, McKeesport, Penn'a. Rev. P. J. Quinn, Pastor from August, 1901 to September, 1905. Father Quinn was born in Ireland and was ordained to the priesthood October 22, 1897. His pastorate extended over a longer period than that of his immediate predecessor. It is owing to a lack of data that a more extended notice of the pastorates of several incumbents in the office of rector is not given. Rectorate of Rev. Garrett B. Welch, October, 1905 to July, 1912. Rev. Garrett B. Welch was born at Mercer, Penn'a. He received minor orders at St. Vincent's, June 12, 1902, and with Father John Quinn, now rector of St. James', South Fork, and several others, was elevated to the priesthood by Rt. Rev. E. A. Garvey on June 19, 1902, the first class ordained by the late Bishop of Altoona. Father Welch's first record on the Baptismal Register bears date November 26, 1905. His name is invariably signed Garrett B. Welch, Rector. During his pastorate at St. Augustine, Father Welch endeared himself to the members of the parish by his amiable disposition. He purchased the present grand organ at a cost of $1,600. [Page 93 - History of Parish of 5t. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] In July, 1912 Father Welch received the appointment to take charge of the important parish of St. Joseph, Portage, which had been for some time temporarily attended by Rev. Fr. John C. Dumphy, then a young priest, who was appointed rector of the mother parish of St. Bartholomew, Wilmore, a position which he still holds, much to the spiritual and temporal welfare of the parish. At St. Joseph's, Father Welch found a frame church, built by the late Father Thomas Ryan, while pastor of St. Bartholomew's, Wilmore, who also attended the Portage congregation, about the year 1908, and a brick rectory built by Father James B. Egan, who succeeded Father Ryan when the latter received the appointment of pastor of St. Brigid's, Lilly, where he died in 1910. The parish of St. Joseph, having increased in numbers very rapidly, and the activities of a priest being required for this parish alone, Father Egan vacated his pastorate at St. Bartholomew's and removed to Portage in 1909 and was succeeded at St. Bartholomew's by Rev. Fr. Francis McKenna. Father Egan having received the appointment of irremovable rector of St. Mark's parish, Altoona, was succeeded for a time by Father Farrell, and in July, 1912, as already stated, Father Welch's rectorate commenced. Father Egan, during his pastorate at Portage, had purchased a plot of ground adjoining the rectory whereon to build a parochial school building, and upon this ground Father Welch has had erected a brick school house, the most up-to-date building for the purpose for which it is designed the writer has ever seen, with regard to the admission of light, ventilation, sanitation and all the requirements of a modern school building. Eight grades of pupils are being taught in this building by Sisters of Mercy, and it is Father Welch's intention to establish a high school and a commercial course next year in rooms which are almost ready for that purpose. This building was erected by the direct contribution of the people of the parish without any resort to the expedients of socials, euchres, fairs or bazaars to furnish funds for that purpose. Recently, as may have been noticed in the daily newspapers and in The Portage Dispatch, Father Welch has had [Page 94 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] a mission given for the spiritual benefit of the Italian Catholics of Portage, of whom there are quite a number, by an Italian missionary priest which is reported to have been very successful, the Italians being without a church of their own in Portage, the Poles, Slavs and Greeks having each a church served by priests of their own nationality. Rev. Joseph H. Farran, the Present Rector. Father "Joe" Farran, as he is familiarly called, was born at Munster, Cambria County. He was ordained at St. Vincent's Seminary, Beatty, Penn'a, July 7, 1905. He was appointed to succeed Father Welch at St. Augustine, July, 1912. He is a brother of Rev. Pollard W. Farran, rector of St. John the Baptist's church, Frugality, who also attended the St. Augustine parish during the recent absence of his brother in Europe. After Father Farran took charge of the parish, he soon discovered that there was need for a new rectory and set about securing it. He, being quite an architectural genius, as well as a learned and zealous priest, drafted the plans for the present rectory which is a large frame structure, cased with brick, of twelve rooms, six down stairs and six on the second story, with two bath rooms and two sun porches, and a veranda on part of three sides of the main building. The roof is of asbestos. The plan of the house is most utilitarian. There is a chapel in the building for weekday winter use. The building was not let out to contract, but workmen were hired, and Father Farran superintended the work of construction, and as he had the hearty cooperation of his parishioners, an illustration of which fact was that one day during the construction of the building sixty teams belonging to farmers, worked gratis, so that when the building was completed in 1914, the entire outlay in money was about $4,000, whereas, the entire value of the house was perhaps double that amount. An incident of the building of this rectory which is on the site of the old one erected many years previously, probably by Father John Burns, is that Father Farran lived in a part of the old house until part of the present one was erected, when he moved into it, and so mechanically was the work done that it is not observable where the connections between the different parts was made. [Page 95 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] The rectory, as well as the church, is protected by lightning rods, a necessary precaution, as these buildings are located on the top of a hill, the altitude of which above meantide at Sandy Hook, N. Y., is 1,680 feet. To provide an adequate supply of pure water, Father Farran some years ago procured the right to pipe water from a strong spring on land of Joseph Behe, about a quarter of a mile distant, the spring being located sufficiently high above the rectory to give the water considerable pressure in case of necessity to extinguish a fire. Electricity for the building is generated by an electric plant purchased by Father Farran. The wiring he did himself. Works of Much Utility Compiled by Father Farran. Two works, the value of which is almost incomprehensible to those who do not understand the trouble, vexation and often delay, incident to the searching of church records for dates of marriages, baptisms and deaths and places of interment, are "Index to Marriages, Baptisms, Deaths" and "Plan of Grave Lots." The first of these works was compiled by Father Farran during the months of October, November and December, 1917 and January, February, March and April, 1918. The first paragraph quoted from the preface of this work is explanatory: "During one of the coldest winters that we have experienced on the mountains for years, the compiler of these Records found it difficult to engage in a pastime that would be sufficiently interesting to make him forget that the storm was raging without, the telephone lines down, the mail delayed for days, and the roads drifted shut. Following the example of his illustrious confrere, Rev. Ferdinand Kittell, of Loretto, he hit upon compiling an index of the Baptism, Marriage and Death Records of the Church. The old records were fading and the leaves of the books coming loose." Further on he says: "The Baptismal records are placed in family groups with a number for each record. These numbers correspond with the numbers on the old records. "The Index covers a space of 70 years, i.e., from the year 1847 till the end of the year 1917. The Index contains 3,885 Baptisms, 679 Marriages, 734 Deaths. From the [Page 96 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] year 1847 till 1879 no death record was kept, or if it was kept, it has been lost." The last paragraph to this preface is: "To my Successors this work is dedicated. It was not a 'Labor of Love' but a 'Love of Labor.' "Joseph H. Farran, Pastor." The Index was written with a typewriter on one page of heavy well-finished paper of folio size, doubled together, making the pages the size of a newspaper page. As you open the leaves on the first page the entries are to be found, leaving the opposite page blank for records of marriages or deaths of those baptized, or, of those married, of their deaths. The Plan of Grave Lots will be found invaluable by those searching for lots in the cemetery for purpose of interment, or of locating the graves of relatives or others. BIORAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ASSISTANT PASTORS. As some who acted as assistant pastors afterwards became pastors and sketches of their lives are already given so far as known, it is only necessary to give an outline of those who did not become pastors. Rev. James Ward - August, 1868 to January, 1869. It is with regret that the writer acknowledges that he possesses no data from which to write a sketch of this priest. Rev. Dr. James Keogh - April, 1869 to May, 1870. Rev. Dr. James Keogh was born in Pittsburgh, and finished his studies for the priesthood at the American College in Rome, where he was ordained. He was reputed to have been the most talented student of his time, who graduated from that famous college. He was a noted archaeologist, of whose historical researches the writer has already made mention. Unfortunately, his constitution was not robust, which was probably the reason that his ecclesiastical superior sent him to St. Augustine with the hope that the pure mountain air would have a beneficial effect upon his enfeebled health. He died in Pittsburgh about a month after he left St. Augustine, his illness having been of a pulmonary nature. [Page 97 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St: Augustine, Pa.] Rev. E. J. Dignam, Assistant From December, 1870 to January, 1874. Father Dignam was born in Pittsburgh. He was ordained in Columbus, Ohio, February 24, 1870. He died while pastor of St. Aloysius' parish, Summit, in 1889. Rt. Rev. M's'g'r C. A. McDermott - Assistant From February to August, 1879. Monsignor McDermott was born in Ireland. He was ordained at St. Michael's Seminary, Pittsburgh, December 5, 1876. He died at McKeesport in 1921, much regretted by his flock, his ecclesiastical superior, his fellow priests and all who knew him. Rt. Rev. M's'g'r William Kittell - Assistant From August to November 1879. Monsignor Kittell was born in Ebensburg, Penn'a, November 30, 1860, son of William Kittell, Esq., a lawyer, and at one time prothonotary of Cambria County. He is a younger brother of Rev. Ferdinand Kittell, of Loretto. From "Souvenir of Loretto Centenary," the following biographical paragraph concerning the subject of this sketch is quoted: "Father William made his preparatory studies at St. Francis College, Loretto, and at St. Michael's Seminary, Pittsburg. In the fall of 1867, he entered the College of the Propaganda, Rome, and after a successful course was, on March 28, 1875, raised to the priesthood in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, by His Eminence, Cardinal Patrizi, the Vicar of the Holy Father. On his return he was appointed professor at the diocesan seminary, and in subsequent years labored on the missions at Alpsville, Connellsville, Johnstown, St. Augustine, Freeport, and at St. Mary's and St. John the Baptist's, Pittsburg. Several years ago he was appointed pastor at Uniontown, where he labored with great success until he was called by Bishop Phelan in 1893 to the onerous and responsible position of Diocesan Secretary and Chancellor, which he continues to fill to the satisfaction of all." M's'g'r Kittell is now pastor of the church of the Holy Family, Latrobe. The name of Rev. Thomas Corcoran is also signed to several entries in the Baptismal Register, showing that he [Page 98 - History of Parish of 5t. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] too served for a time as one of the pastors of St. Augustine. It must not be thought that because sometimes priests do not remain long in one place that their removal was caused by anything personally unfavorable to them. Often this early removal is in line of promotion to some more important and responsible position. Often by their own request. Sometimes priests named as assistants are sojourning in a parish to rest from very arduous labors and to recuperate their health. Sometimes as a temporary supply. Rt. Rev. M. Domenec, then Bishop of Pittsburg, is named as an assistant at St. Michael's, Loretto, in 1862. NOTES OF THE PARISH OF ST. AUGUSTINE. Under this head are included several items which the writer deems of interest, the data for which were not at hand when he compiled the main body of the work, and the most important of which has been recently made available through the courtesy of Mrs. Mary A. Dunegan, widow of the late Lieut. Edward R. Dunegan, for many terms Justice of the Peace for Clearfield Township, and one of the most indefatigable collectors and preservers of old records of importance in Cambria County. Of the several important documents thus kindly loaned, the first to be noted is a list of subscriptions written on twelve pages of a little notebook, headed: "July 19th, 1849. "Loop Congregation Dr. "To amount assessed by Committee for the purpose of paying off an old debt that stands against the Loop Church for Carpenter work, Plastering, Painting, furnishing materials, &C., of which the one-half is to be collected this church year 1849, and the remaining half to be collected against the 19th July, 1857. We wish Bernard McNeely to collect the within and (here two irrelevant lines are crossed out). Pay it over to Joseph Meyer, Treasurer." The entire amount of the subscriptions was $298.50. Of the collections up to November 25, 1854, were, from Bernard McNeely, $66.89 1/2; Wm. Little, received $78.67; the amount assumed was $30; and a subsequent entry notes "Uncollected $22.14 1/2." [Page 99 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Mr. McFeeley charged nothing for his services except probably the amount of his subscription which was $5 to which an X is appended. Wm. Little, (undoubtedly W. A. B. Little, Esq., now of Loretto), does not appear to have put in a bill for his services which were onerous. 'Squire Little was married by Father John Burns in the church at St. Augustine, his late wife having been a sister of the venerable Theodore Storm, of Clearfield Township. He is the oldest male ex-public school teacher of Cambria County. P. J. Little, Esq., John Little, a civil engineer, and Mrs. Harry Pruner, all of Ebensburg, are his children. Joseph Wharton, father of Sergeant James A. Wharton and son of Stanislaus Wharton, served Mass for visiting priests before the congregation was organized and also after the church was built. He was at that time a married man. Edward R. Dunegan was the first boy to serve Mass in the church. Mr. Wharton says that Father John Burns built a chapel at Chest Springs. Pew Holders in 1853. From "List of Persons Who Bought Pews in Loop Church," March 21st, 1853, the facts are gleaned that there were 72 pews in the name of the church and 12 on the gallery. The highest price of pews in the body of the church was $9, and down to as low as $2.12 1/2. On the gallery, the highest price was $5 and the lowest $2.25. The entire amount of pew rent was $466.05; $78.11 of which was paid in advance. For the information of the present generation, it may be well to state that in old-time accounts the fractional part of one cent are mentioned on account of the coinage of silver of fractional parts of one dollar, the lowest of which was the "fip," sometimes called "fi-penny bit" as it was estimated at the value of five pence, English money. Its value was 6 1/4 cents; two "fips" made a "levy," or 12 1/2 cents, that word "levy" being a contraction of eleven-penny bit, a Spanish silver coin which circulated in the eastern part of the United States at 11 pennies; 2 "levys" made a quarter dollar; a quarter dollar and a "levy" was 3 "levys" or 37 1/2 cents; a "levy" added to 3 "levys" made a half dollar - 50 cents; another "levy" counted 62 1/2 cents, and [Page 100 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] of course another "levy," or half dollar and quarter made three-quarters of a dollar or 75 cents; another "levy" added to 75 cents equaled 87 1/2 cents - 7 "levys" or 14 "fips" and 8 "levys," or 16 "fips," made $1. "List of Pews Rented at St. Augustine, March 25th, A. D., 1865." From this list, it is apparent that the congregation had increased in numbers very considerably from the 500 members in 1847, the total amount of the pew rent being $1,728.25. There was a great variation in the prices of pews, varying in the nave of the church, in which there were 99 pews from $26 down as low as $5; and on the gallery on which there were 27 pews, from $13 to $3.50. Pew No. 1 in the nave was rented to John J. Burns (doubtless Father Burns), for $21, Paid in full; pew No. 3 was rented to Joseph Moyer for $13; for pew 18, Silas A. McGough paid $20 in full; (those marked "Paid in full" having been paid on that day); Thomas Wilt paid $16 in full for No. 20; Henry B. Noel, for No. 22, rent $17, paid $12.50 down; Stanislaus Wharton's pew, 33, was rented to him for $20; F. M. Flanagan, for pew 41, paid $10 down on $26; Thos. Adams, pew 49, price $21 - $10 in hand; on No. 50, price $20, John Zerbe advanced $10; Lewis Burgoon, for pew 59, paid in full $15.50; and Michael F. Wagner, for pew 90, paid $9.25 in full. Several others advanced money, ranging from $1 to $5. It will be seen from the foregoing list that the necessity for an addition to the old church was fast becoming urgent. Cost of Repairing Old Church, Cost of Addition Thereto, Etc. From "Report of the Cost of Addition to Church at St. Augustine, Repairing Old Church Sacristy, Stable, Fencing, &C., &C. Salary Included from - To March 21, 1871," and "Receipts & Expenditures for putting addition to Church, Repairing Old Church, Building Sacristy, Kitchen, Ice House, Stable, Fencing, &C.," the following facts are extracted, the entire accounts being too lengthy for space and time. The total cost of repairing the old church was $4,043.89. The cost of the addition to the church is thus stated: On the debtor side of the account we find the statements: [Page 101 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] "To cost of New Church as per contract $7,200.00 "Extra for Sanctuary 500.00 $7,700.00 "To cost of Sacristy 360.54 On the credit page, we find ST. AUGUSTINE CONGREGATION, Cr. "Paid H. Harber in Lumber subscribed $2,344.52 "Paid Do in Cash in full per Receipts 5,255.48 $7,600.00 "Docked him 100.00 $7,700.00 "Paid John Behe in full for Sacristy $360.54" From this account it will be seen that H. Harber was the contractor. It will be observed that the amount docked is added to $7,600.00, the amount Mr. Harber received. The logical statement would have been to foot up contract price $7,200 and $500 extra for sacristy - $7,700 and then deduct $100 from the entire amount. The result would have been the same; but the latter procedure is the more easily understood. From debts due by Congregation, is clipped: "Borrowed Money from Sundry Persons $3,059.00 "Paid on above 200.00 $2,859.00 Amongst other debit items were "Bal. due on Land Purchase 260.00 "Rev. E. J. Burns, Salary to 25th March, 1871 1,667.43 Showing the total indebtedness (including items not quoted) $5,664.88 The following is a copy of a note which has several payments noted on the back and the acknowledgment of payment on the face: [Page 102 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Sept. 1st, 1872. Paid in full. $225.72 We, the Undersigned Members of St. Augustine's Church Committee, after Settling with Michael J. Waltz and Jacob Waltz, also including Peter Flick's wages, find that there is coming to them from said church the Sum of Two Hundred and Twenty-five Dollars and Seventy-two Cents, for work done at Said Church. WM. LITTLE, E. R. DUNEGAN, JOHN H. DOUGLASS, WM. IVORY, Committee. Attest: P. McGOUGH. The handwriting on the note, and on most other documents of the church from the beginning judging from the attest, except the signatures of the committee, is that of Mr. McGough, and there are not five penmen out of a hundred of the present time who can excel it for cleanliness and mechanical execution. Clipping From a Pittsburgh Newspaper of 1904 of Unusual Local Historical Interest. From a clipping from a Pittsburgh newspaper of 1904, probably preserved by her father and loaned along with many other interesting documents by Mrs. Brooks, the account of the formation of the Alumni Association of St. Michael's Seminary of which the Rev. Joseph Suehr was elected president; Rev. Henry McHugh, vice president; Rev. Martin Ryan (now M's'g'r Ryan), treasurer; Rev. Wm. Cunningham, of Turtle Creek, secretary and these, with Revs. E. McKeever, Francis Beane and H. Goebel, of Mt. Oliver, an executive board, and Rev. A. A. Lambing, historian, the following two paragraphs will be found of more than ordinary local historical interest: "St. Michael's Seminary was organized by Bishop O'Connor in 1844, the first classes meeting in his own home on Smithfield street. Its first building was in Birmingham, Southside, later at The Summit, near Cresson, and for a short time afterward at Glenwood. After its establishment at Glenwood it was recognized as the greatest seminary in the country, and has numbered in its famous corps of professors Rev. James O'Connor, afterwards Bishop of [Page 103 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Denver; Dr. James Keogh, a Pittsburg boy, who passed the greatest examination ever made in Rome, before or since. "After the panic in the early '70's the seminary was obliged to close in 1876, although St. Michael's Seminary is still an incorporated body, its students attending other seminaries. The seminary has turned out all the older priests of the diocese, whose eligibility to membership in the alumni association is sufficent warrant of their high educational and diocesan standing." The statement of the article in question that Dr. Keogh, talented as he undoubtedly was, "passed the greatest examination ever held in Rome, before or since," is too sweeping, considering that many of the most learned Doctors of the Church passed examinations there, even centuries ago. He graduated from The American College in Rome and is reputed to have been the most brilliant student who was ever educated in that institution of learning, scarcely three-quarters of a century old, and entirely distinct from the College of the Propaganda in which institution many American priests have been educated. NAMES OF SOLDIERS INTERRED IN ST. AUGUSTINE'S CEMETERY Soldiers of the War of 1812. Stanislaus Wharton, Thomas Adams, Sr., James Maloney, Thomas Durbin, John Nagle, Sr., Christian King,. Wm. McKenzie, John Burgoon, Cornelius Donahoe. Veterans of the Civil War. Edward R. Dunegan, First Lieutenant, Co. K, One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Reg't, P. V.; Louis McDermitt, (wounded at Antietam, died from wounds) ; Mich'l J. McDermitt, (wounded at Antietam Sept. 17, 1862, died on the field) these two men were cousins; Andrew Callihan, Wm. Ryan, Peter Cassidy, Augustine Wills, Evaristus Wilt, Henry G. Krise, Thomas Byrne, Joseph A. Watt, Arthur J. McConnell, Wm. K. Powell, Dan Brant, Henry Muller, John H. Sharon, Jos. Cramer, George Harber, Chas. Dillon, Henry L. Krise, Bart Hobart, Harry A. Gates, Wm. M. Burgoon, Frank Ivory, John Bender, Wm. I. Adams, Wm. Plunket, Terrence Delozier, Jos. Adams, James McCloskey, Henry Wills, Nicholas Seymour, Andrew Hoover, James Riley, M. J. Noel, John Dunn, Thomas Krise, Luke Behe. [Page 104 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] The only fatality occurring to any of the A. E. F. in the late world war was the accidental death of Saddler Robert T. McGough, son of the late James E. McGough and Mrs. Alice Wharton McGough, although there were about twenty-eight young men of the parish in the service of the government, all of whom, however, were not overseas, and some who did not get into the strife, but would have been had the war lasted a few days longer. Following is the official report of the death of Mr. McGough which occurred on February 6, 1919: Hqrs, 113th Co., Trans. Corps. Camp Guthrie, Montior, APO. 701-A, Amer. E. F., March 20, 1919. From: Commanding Officer, 113th Co., Trans. Corps. To: J. C. McGough. Subject: Sadler, R. T. McGough. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of March 5th, 1919, requesting information regarding the death of Sadler, R. T. McGough of Co. 112th Trans. Corps. Sadler McGough met his death through an accident while working in one of the locomotive erecting shops of the 19th Engrs. at St. Nazarre. It was caused by a heavy box of locomotive parts falling from one of the shop cranes directly onto his body. There is every reason to believe that death was instantaneous. Though his body was conveyed immediately to the Hospital by motor car. Sadler McGough's death occurred in the line of duty. The box which caused it had been lifted off a freight car and was being carried down the shop over the line of standing cars for greater safety. McGough was aware that the box was overhead and had stepped near a locomotive standing on the next track, to be a safe distance away. At this point the direction of the box was changed to across the shop. McGough was however apparently unaware of this change for he suddenly stepped out from beside the engine to underneath the box. The whole thing was instantaneous. There was not an instant to give, warning. The box collapsing and falling from its supports the moment that McGough stepped under it. He was buried with military honors in the American cemetery in the country a short distance from St. Nazarre. His death made a profound impression on [Page 105 - History of Parish of 5t. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] the members of the regiment, especially his own company, where he was universally respected and liked. Harry E. Thomas, Capt. R. T. C. Commanding. The remains of Robert T. McGough will be allowed to remain in France, his mother saying that it would only add to a great sorrow to bring his remains to St. Augustine. Inscriptions On Tombstones in St. Augustine's Cemetery. That many of the people of past generations of the St. Augustine parish were noted for longevity is shown by inscriptions on tombstones. This cemetery was started in 1845, the first interment having been that of Anastasia Ryan, a sister of Mr. Silas Ryan, now of Patton, who died on February 5, 1845, while yet quite young, the names of her parents having been Mr. and Mrs. William Ryan. Following are some of the names and dates: 1898, Mich'l Farrell, 82; 1898, Thomas Farrell, 104; Oct. 16, 1905, John Behe, 82; July 4, 1901, Mrs. Elizabeth Carl, 80; October, 1901, Mrs. Wm. Cox, 85; March 10, 1900, "Wash". Douglass, 81; Mrs. Richard Elder, Oct. 20, 1893, 75; Francis Hoover, July 25, 1898, 86 yrs., 4 mos.; Mrs. Margaret Mary Jordan Krise, Feb. 2, 1888, 101 (record of her baptism from Ireland places age at 104); Sara Krise, Dec. 7, 1904, 91; Linus K. Krise, Sept. 3, 1904, 87 yrs., 3 mos.; Redmond Mellon, Sept. 19, 1898, 95; Thomas Monahan, Nov. 16, 1901, 86; Stanislaus Wharton, 1872, 81; Mary Wharton, 1870, 81; Peter Adams, April, '81, 80; Johanna, wife of Jere Donahoe, Jan. 7, '93, 86; John Nagle, 1871, 98 yrs., 1 mo., 12 days. The Silent Cities. 'Tis oft in silent cities - the Cities of the Dead I've noted well the epitaph above each lowly head. And some there were who lived a day, and some a hundred years; Whose graves fond friends have oft bedewed with burning, briny tears. And some have died in peaceful homes, and some on battle plain - What matters it if here they strove Eternal Life to gain? [Page 106 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] If while on Earth they safely walked the path that saints have trod, Their souls, we know, are now at rest in Heaven, up with God. An Appreciative Letter. Shortly after the death of the lamented Dr. James Keogh, who died about a month after leaving St. Augustine, the Young Men's Association of the parish passed resolutions of regret at his loss and condolence with his friends in their dereavement, a copy of which was sent to his afflicted mother. Following it her reply: "St. Xavier's, August 3, '70. "Mr. E. R. Dunnegan and others: "Gentlemen: I have received a copy of the preamble and resolutions adopted by your Society on the death of my son. I wish you to accept my warmest thanks for the same, and my assurance that I have been deeply touched and gratified by your act of sympathy. Coming from an Association, the welfare of which, I know lay to near to his heart during the last months of his life; and the establishment of which was some of his last work on earth, it is all the most prized by me. It is a solid comfort to know of the prayers and Masses you purpose offering for him, and again, I thank you from my heart. "Wishing you all the success in your future for which he so earnestly labored, I remain, gentlemen, "Very sincerely yours, "Eliza Keogh." The Christian Names Brigid and Bridget. Notwithstanding the general belief that the Christian name Bridget is of Irish origin, as it is the name given by many of Irish blood to their daughters, it is of distinctively Swedish origin. St. Bridget, or Brigid, was the daughter of a Swedish prince named Birgid. St. Brigid was the daughter of a king of Leinster, an eastern kingdom in Ireland, in which the city of Dublin is situated. She was converted from Paganism by St. Patrick, from whom she received the veil, and she founded a convent of nuns. Her remains are interred with those of St. Patrick in one tomb, at Dounpatrick, in Ulster, which also contains the bones of [Page 107 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] St. Columba, also known as St. Columbkill. Over the tomb is the Latin inscription: "Patricius, Brigid, Columba, Pius," and underneath, "One tomb three saints contains: below Doth Patrick, Brigid and Columba show." Was It the Care of His Guardian Angel? Sister Martini, of the Order of Charity, one of the most successful teachers of the primary grades in St. John's parochial schools, Altoona, which position she occupies from choice and her love to be with little children, related to the writer a remarkable incident of a case of a sick man, John J. McDermitt or McDermott, by name (that name is variously spelled, McDermitt being an Anglicised form of the French De Armitt, while McDermott is distinctively of Irish origin); who died down in White Township about the year 1867. Mr. James P. McCans, father of Sister Martini, who lived near St. Augustine, having learned that McDermitt was sick, it was feared unto death, went to see him and finding him in a serious condition rode up to get Father E. J. Burns to prepare him for death. Father Burns told him that he had promised to go to Loretto to assist the pastor, Father T. S. Reynolds, with Forty Hours Devotion, or something of that nature, but to go back and ascertain if the sick man were in immediate danger, when he would go, at all events. Mr. McCans returned to the bedside of the dying man and, ascertaining that there was immediate danger of death, started back to inform the priest, but the roads being muddy, he was much delayed, and when he got back to St. Augustine Father Burns had started for Loretto, and Mr. McCans, believing that he had too much of a start of him to be overtaken, and knowing that a Benedictine priest, who attended at St. Iawrence and St. Boniface would be at the latter place that day, he rode as fast as his horse could travel, but before he got to his journey's end, he saw the priest walking towards St. Boniface, called to him to stop and the latter having with him all the requirements for bestowing the Holy Viaticum and anointing the sick man, he at once proceeded to the bedside of the dying man and prepared him for death, and the sick man died soon after wards. [Page 108 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Either the mother or the grandmother of the dying man who was present, her head bowed in sorrow but in resignation to the will of God said: "I knew he would not die without the priest; for every night of his life he said a prayer for a happy death." The Benedictine in explaining how he came to have the Blessed Sacrament about him when called by Mr. McCans, said that he had been endeavoring to say his prayers in the house near the church when something appeared to keep him from praying, when he went to the church and taking out his rosary endeavored to pray when something within him appeared to say Go! Go! so taking the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Oils, he started out, and when he had gone a considerable distance, he said to himself, "Oh, why am I here with the Blessed Sacrament when no one has called me on a sick call?" and had turned about to return when Mr. McCans hailed him. John Weakland's Right Arm Uncorrupted After Many Years in the Grave. Sister Martini related to the writer that her father was cognizant of the fact that when the body of John Weakland, who, it will be remembered, at one time dispersed the mob that was threatening Father Gallitzin with violence, was being taken out of the grave to be interred in another grave his right arm and hand were found to be incorrupted. A Visit From An Ex-Parishioner and Veteran of the Civil. War. As the compiler was busy in completing the manuscript for this work, he was favored by a visit from Mr. John A. Storm, a former member of the parish and a veteran of the Civil war, and his brother, Mr. Theodore Storm, with whom he is visiting, at the home of the latter near Chest Spring. As both of these gentlemen had valuable information to impart, their visit was most welcome. John A. Storm made his first Holy Communion in the first church at St. Augustine, his parents having settled in this locality in 1848. He learned the carpenter trade, and when the addition to the church was about collapsing, the rafters having sunk down at the comb about 18 inches in consequence of the building having spread, he repaired it, putting iron rods through the building and putting in new girders; also replastering it. [Page 109 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Mr. Storm, amongst other children, has one daughter -Margaret, now Sr. Michaeletta, of the Black Cap Order of Charity (there being four branches of that Order), now a teacher at Seton Hill College, Penn'a, who also made her first Holy Communion at St. Augustine. Mr. Storm is a veteran of the Civil war. He enlisted at Chest Springs in Co. A, Fifty-fifth Reg't, P. V., Col. Richard White. He served 16 months in this regiment without getting into a battle, when an apportunity was afforded a limited number of men from that regiment to join the regular army and, availing himself of this opportunity, he served under Gen. B. F. Butler until September 17, 1864, when he was discharged, having participated in fourteen battles without having received any more serious wounds than scratches. "Wasn't Gen. Butler much slandered, he never stole any spoons?" was asked him. "No, he didn't," was the emphatic reply. "You know he did the government great service by declaring the negro slaves 'contraband of war.' He also, at one time went to law with the governor of Massachusetts for having disbanded the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment for refusing to parade in honor of the Prince of Wales," the writer remarked. "Yes; and he was the first to establish a home for soldiers at Old Point Comfort. He remarked at the time that it would be a paradise for the officers, but a hell for the soldiers," was the response. Mr. Storm being now an inmate of the "Soldiers' Home for Veterans of the Regular Army," near Washington, D. C., gave a history of the founding and the conducting of that institution, now conducted by a board of managers, which history, in these days of corruption of officials of government institutions will be quite a revelation; but this is not a government institution. Following is an outline of the history as related by Mr. Storm: "When General Scott conquered Santa Snna, he demand an indemnity of $150,000. This was paid in Mexican silver money and neither the president nor the treasurer would receive it. General Scott kept it for two years and then bought a piece of land above New Orleans for a home for indigent, wounded and sick soldiers of the regular army. [Page 110 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] The place being unhealthy, he sold it at a profit and went to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and bought land there. The government wanted this land for a fort, and he sold it, also at a profit, and bought 50 acres of land near Washington and started there. After three years he ran out of funds and wanted the government to help but was told 'You started this yourself, without any authority from the government,' and government aid was refused. He then went to the Secretary of War (this was before the Civil war), and a plan was evolved to tax soldiers of the regular army 25 cents per month to support this institution. In 1890 it was found that so much money was not needed and the tax was cut down to 12 1/2 cents per month. In 1907 we had 500 acres of land and $7,500,000 in the treasury; then collecting from soldiers was stopped. A dining room, kitchen and other rooms were fitted out on the second floor of the building at a cost of $2,500,000. We have a herd of cattle of 100 cows, which pasture on 225 acres of land, but other feed is bought for them. 250 acres of the land is heavily timbered with as good oak timber as there is in the United States. Our tables are supplied with the best in the market. We have two Catholic priests - Father McGonigle and Father Burk, his assistant - and Mass every day. We have 12 Sisters of Charity, of the Black Cap branch of the Order, who nurse the sick. This institution is within five minutes street car ride of Washington. "Members of the institution are not allowed to take tips from visitors, but are instructed to show them around, and many will not do this; but I never refuse to do it. We have many visitors, sometimes congressmen and their wives. The congressmen often say to me, 'We are glad the money we appropriate to this institution is well expended.' Then I feel obliged to contradict them. 'But you don't appropriate money to this institution.' It is singular that congressmen do not know that the instituion is run without aid from the government." Mr. Storm will remain with relatives until after the Diamond Jubilee of the parish, when he will return to the Home. THE YOUNG LADIES' SODALITY. Names of Members of Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Agatha Wharton, Mary Glass, Catharine Nagle, Sarah Noel, Anna Dunegan, Annie Horne, Edna Wharton, Mada- [Page 111 - History of Parish of at. Augustine, St. Augustine, PA.] line Krise, Gertrude Krise, Grace Wharton, Vesta A. McDermott, Mary Luther, Catharine Luther, Jennie Adams, Margaret Adams, Josephine Nagle, Irene Warner, Mary Mulligan, Viola Mulligan, Alice Mulligan, Freda Mulligan. Josephine Conrad, Mary Baker, Margaret Smithbower, Clementine Smithbower, Loreta Smithbower, Jennie Slowey, Frances Yahner. The Knights of St. George. This society was organized about four years ago. No list of this society has been furnished the compiler. First Interment of An Adult in St. Augustine Cemetery. Although some persons claim that one Christ King (that name occurs in the list of Revolutionary soldiers and also in that of the war of 1812), was the first adult to be interred in the cemetery at St. Augustine, the church records give precedence to Mrs. Ruth Krise. Pontifical Mass at Opening of Diamond Jubilee of St. Augustine's Parish, June 27. Solemn Pontifical Mass celebrated by Rt. Rev. John J. McCort, Bishop of Altoona; Sermon by Rt. Rev. M's'g'r Martin Ryan, a former pastor of the parish, now of St. Brigid's, Pittsburgh; assistants, Rt. Rev. M's'g'r T. P. Smith, of Sacred Heart church, Altoona, Pa., Vicar General of the diocese, Rt. Rev. M's'g'r Wm. Kittell, of Holy Family church, Latrobe, Pa., Rev. Francis X. McCarthy, S. J., New York, Rev. Thomas R. Rea, of St. Pius church, McKeesport, Pa., Rev. G. B. Welch, of St. Joseph's, Portage, Pa., Rev. F. J. Corcoran, St. Patrick's, Spangler, Pa., Rev. Robert T. McCoy, born within the former bounds of the parish, now of Tewkesbury, Mass., Very Rev. B. M. Conley, of Holy Rosary church, Juniata, Pa., Chancellor of the diocese, Rev. Dr. P. M. Doyle, rector of St. Francis' College, Loretto, Pa., Masters of Ceremonies. THE RELIGIOUS OF THE PARISH It is with deep regret that the compiler, on account of the meagreness of the data at hand, is enabled only to give a brief and unsatisfactory outline of the lives of the noble women and men of the parish, who despising "the flattering prospects of the world," and the pleasure and vanities of this transitory life, have given their lives and all they had [Page 112 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] to the service of God, without the hope of earthly reward, or the applause of men, but to lay up for themselves treasures in Heaven, with the prospect in vie of a crown of glory, compared to which earthly crowns are but as the dross left from the mint's assay to the pure gold of the assayer's furnace. Names of Sisters of the Parish of St. Augustine, Cambria County, Penn'a. Sisters of Mercy, Pittsburgh, Penn'a. Sister Sylvester (deceased) Miss Julia Dougherty Sister Callista Miss Minnie Wirtner Sisters of Mercy, Cresson, Penn'a. Sister Austin Miss Teresa Wills Sisters of Immaculate Heart, Scranton, Penn'a. Sister Callistus Miss Monica Wills Sister Evangelista Miss Annie Dougherty Sisters of Charity, Greensburg, Penn'a. Sister Magdalene (deceased) Miss Amanda Douglass Sister Veronica (deceased) Miss Annie Cassidy Sister Martini (entered Aug. 10, '85) Miss Margaret McCans Sister Augustine Miss Annie Wharton Sister Perpetua Miss Catharine Behe Sister Silverius Miss Catharine Finnerty Sister Dolorosa Miss Julia Ryan Sister Mary Barnard (deceased) Miss Mary Kivlihan Sister Teresa Miss Martha Monahan Sister Eulalia Miss Mary Conrad Sister Immaculata Miss Margaret Storm Sister Bernardo Miss Catharine Karlheim Sister Thecla (deceased) Miss Mary Adams Sister Vincent de Paul Miss Mary Cramer Sister Juliana Miss Mary Trexler Sister Maria Bernard Miss Teresa Trexler Sister Leonora Miss Elizabeth Litzinger Ursuline Sisters, Pittsburgh, Penn'a. Sister Monica Miss Amanda Delozier Sister Gertrude Miss Catharine Ivory Sisters of Good Shepherd, Troy Hill, N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa. Sister St. Joseph (in the past, now Mother Superior) Miss Catharine Harkey [Page 113 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Sisters of Mercy, Philadelphia, Penn'a. Sister Margaret Miss Mary Hobart Sisters of Holy Name, Hochelaga, Canada. Sister Edwina Miss Flavia McMullen Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, New Orleans, La. Sister Dolores Miss Annie Baker Sister Modesta Miss Annie Elder And one other of that order, Miss Curran, whose name in religion has not been ascertained; and also a Miss Webster, of the Order of Divine Providence, Pittsburgh, Penn'a. Young Men From the Original Parish. Rev. Robert J. McCoy, 0. M. I., Tewksbury, Mass., son of Mr. and Mrs. John S. McCoy of Chest Springs parish. Rev. Mr. Thomas T. Cawley, son of James W. Cowley, who is persuing his theological studies at St. Vincent's Seminary, Beatty, Pa. Brother John Wills, T. 0. R., St. Francis, Loretto. Brother Lawrence Carl, T. 0. R., St. Francis, Loretto. CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS NOT GENERALLY KNOWN 1619 - Negro slaves brought to Virginia. 1632 - Cecil Calvert (Lord Baltimore), received grant of Maryland from Charles I., and established soon after a Catholic colony. 1649 - Constitution of Maryland granting religious toleration (first religious toleration in America, drafted by Rev. James Carroll, a Jesuit priest. 1650-1660 - Claiborne's rebellion - Catholics persecuted in the colony in which they had granted liberty of conscience. 1691-1715 - The Colony of Maryland, a royal province - 1715, restoration to the Calverts. 1729 - Baltimore founded (name derived from Baltymore in Ireland). 1755 - Deportation of the Acadians by the British. 1760 - "Mason and Dixon's Line," between Pennsylvania and Maryland run. 1768 - November 5, Treaty of Fort Stanwix, between Indians and Thomas and Richard Penn. 1769 - April 3, Land Office opened in Philadelphia. [Page 114 - History of Parish of St Augustine St. Augustine, Pa.] 1764 - Stamp Act passed. King's proclamation of which torn down by mob in New Berne, North Carolina. 1765 - Fort Bedford, Penn'a, captured from British forces (the first British fort taken in America). 1770 - Prince Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin (Prince-Priest and Apostle of the Alleghenies), born at the Hague, Holland. 1771 - May 16, first battle of the Revolution fought at Alamance Creek, North Carolina, between Royalist forces under Governor William Tryon and patriot "Regulators" under Harmon Husband, a Quaker who ran away. Regulators defeated. 1772 - "Regulators" from North Carolina, after the battle of Alamance, emigrated to the west of Cumberland mountains and founded the "State of Franklin," real "Cradle of Liberty" in the United States, over which British rule never extended, now merged into the State of Tennessee - the Mecklenberg, N. C., Declaration of Independence from which Jefferson is supposed to have drawn his inspiration of the immortal Declaration. 1775 - Moylan's Riflemen, from Maryland, assisted Col. Prescott at the battle of Bunker (Breed's Hill), June 17. 1776 - Louis XVI. of France sent 1,000,000 livres to assist Americans. 1777 - Louis XVI. sent another 1,000,000 livres and induced Spain to send a like amount - Adamses ambushed near Elton, and Samuel Adams killed. 1778 - Capt. John Barry (the Father of the American navy) raised the Stars and Stripes over the ship Alliance. Capt. John Paul Jones captured the British frigate Serapis near the English coast - As Lafayette's French troops marched up the streets of Boston the Assembly of Massachusetts repealed the penal statute against Catholics and Quakers - Many emigrants from Ireland joined the army of Washington. Felix Skelly and his cousin, a Mrs. Elder, captured by Indians in Blacklog Valley. Skelly escaped at Kittanning on the Allegheny River and joined Washington's army. 1783 - Hannah Cable, afterwards Mrs. Coleman, of Indiana County, born near the present town of Wilmore. 1787 - McGuires build cabins near Loretto - Galbraith road laid out. [Page 115 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] 1788 - Capt Michael McGuire and a cousin, Michael McGuire, with their families, moved to the McGuire Settlement near Loretto. 1789 - March, Federal government organized by the inauguration at New York, of John Adams, as Vice President - April 30, George Washington inaugurated President. 1791 - Death of Capt. John Paul Jones in France. 1792 - Prince D. A. Gallitzin came to America. 1793 - Death of Capt. Michael McGuire and interment in cemetery blessed by Father Stephen Badin. 1794 - Oldest house in the county in which Mass was said, built by Luke McGuire near Loretto. 1795 - Prince Gallitzin ordained a priest by Bishop John Carroll-Congress having passed an act creating the grade of Commodore in the navy, President Washington appointed Captain Barry and six others to that grade, Barry being the ranking officer. 1796 - Father Gallitzin visited the McGuire settlement on a sick call. 1799 - Father Gallitzin settled at the McGuire settlement and built the first St. Michael's church. 1803 - Death of Commodore Barry and interment in St. Mary's cemetery, Philadelphia. 1804 - March 26, Cambria County formed by, act of the Legislature. 1805 - Ebensburg, the county seat - Annexed to Somerset County for election purposes. 1807 - First election for county officers, John Studybaker, Andrew Anderson and Samuel McMullen elected County Commissioners, the only elective office at that time-first court held December 8, 1807, Abraham Hildebrand. Associate Judge, in the absence of President Judge Young, presiding. 1814 - Capt. Richard McGuire raised a company for service in the war with Great Britain. 1818 - Father Gallitzin built a large frame church. 1827 - August 11, Margaret Mary Krise, now Mrs. Margaret Delozier, of Altoona, was born near. St. Augustine. She is the oldest living ex-member of the parish. 1832 - Father Gallitzin built a chapel, which was rebuilt in 1891 by Father Kittell, and is still standing. [Page 116 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] 1833 - Father Thomas Gaghagan died at Newry, buried in Ebensburg - the first priest to die within the bounds of the Diocese of Altoona. 1835 - July 3, Felix Skelly, a Revolutionary veteran, died at his home near the present town of Wilmore - interment in St. Michael's cemetery. 1840 - May 6, Death of Father Gallitzin, the only priest to die so far while pastor at Loretto. 1843 - Diocese of Pittsburgh formed. Rt. Rev. M. O'Connor first bishop. 1845 - July 3, Anastasia Ryan, a sister of Mr. Silas Ryan, now of Patton, having died, a cemetery was started at St. Augustine. Mr. James P. McCans dug her grave. 1847 - St. Augustine congregation detached from St. Michael's, Loretto. Population, 500 souls. 1849 - First church at St. Augustine, built in 1848 by John Zerbee and plastered by Francis Hoover - dedicated August 6. 1859 - First church built at Chest Springs. 1860 - March 20, said church dedicated - December 20, South Carolina seceded from the Union. 1861 - Secretary Chase proposed to issue $100,000 in full legal-tender notes to help to provide an adequate currency Anna Ella Carroll, "the secret member of President Lincoln's Cabinet," sent on a tour of the Mississippi River to report on the feasibility of an attempt to open it for navigation. Reported that the proposition was not as yet feasible, but recommended that an expedition be sent up the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers and thus cut off river and railroad communication and transportation of supplies to the Confederates of the East from those of the West. This was probably the origin of the plan to cut the Confederacy in twain. 1862 - February 20, passage of the act of Congress authorizing the issue of greenbacks - Gen. Grant carried out the plan of Anna Ella Carroll and captured Forts Henry and Donelson. 1864 - A Georgia newspaper editor suggested a plan for the assassination of President Lincoln and his Cabinet in order to end the war. 1867 - Addition to church at St. Augustine built. Dedicated August 28, 1868. [Page 117 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] 1890 - December 8, present church at Chest Springs, built by M's'g'r Martin Ryan, dedicated. 1893 - August 6, corner stone of present church at St. Augustine laid. 1894 - July 1, present church at St. Augustine dedicated - Father Ludden, rector. 1901 - Diocese of Altoona formed. The Population of Cambria County by Decades. The population of what is now Cambria County, in 1790, was about 400; in 1800, it scarcely exceeded 1,000; by the third decinnial census of the United States in 1810, it was 2,117; in 1820 it had increased to 3,287; in 1830, 7,079, with three churches, three clergymen and one printing press; in 1840, the number was 11,256, two of whom were negro slaves, 41 were coal miners - 35 in Washington Township and six in Conemaugh Township; the census of 1850 gave 17,773; 1860, 29,155; 1870, 36,569; 1880, 56,811; 1890, 66,375; 1900, 104,837; 1910, 166,169; 1920, something over 198,000. The percentage of increase in the population of Cambria County in the last three decennial decades exceeded that of any other county in Pennsylvania, if not in the United States. The Outlook for the Future of the Parish. The outlook for the future prosperity of the parish of St. Augustine is about as good as that of any other country parish in the country. The soil of Clearfield Township is fertile, and with the promised improvement of public highways which will give much needed outlets to markets, the parish will undoubtedly be more prosperous. At all events, there is no danger of the parishioners being evicted from their homes, as is the sad predicament of many heads of families at mining operations. For many of those unfortunates it were well if they were to go Back to the farms From the cities' alarms, From the noise of the town Where the coal trains come down. With the resort to home manufacturing of many things needed on the farm, cooperative purchasing of the necessaries of life, machinery, fertilizers, etc., used on the farms, the conditions of farm life will be very considerably bet- [Page 118 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] tered from what they now are, and with the farmers and farmers' wives, sons and daughters taking a greater interest in elections of public officials and measures affecting taxation, life on the farm can be made the most independent of any existence upon Earth. Low Ratio of Illegitimacy. It is a fact creditable to the morality of the parish that there is in all probability no parish anywhere where the Baptismal Register of which records a lower percentage of baptisms of illegitimate children than that of St. Augustine, although the mother parish of St. Michael, Loretto, is equally free from this taint. A Plea for a Parochial School in the Near Future. One great necessity of the parish of St. Augustine is that of a parochial school. Heretofore, the scattered settlement of the parish and often the almost impassable condition of the country roads precluded the possibility of the attainment of this great need for the Christian education of the youth of the community; but now that motor vehicles are fast coming into common use; with the improvement of highways and the removal of fences from alongside highways thereby very considerably removing the danger of their being blockaded with snow-drifts in winter time, it would appear that the time is fast approaching for the realization of this much desired object. Never before in the history of the world was the need for the moral and religious training of youth so much felt as it is at the present time. Many of the secular educators in schools and colleges throughout the world, are men who do not believe in Christianity and some even deny the existence of God, and lose no opportunity to instil their pernicious doctrines into the minds of youth. They would teach morality, forsooth, by imparting sex knowledge, which is not within their province to do; they would obliterate the belief in the existence of the souls of men, by the conjectures of evolution - that man is descended from the ape - that everything existing has been evolved from nuclei and nucleosi of matter, and other equally absurd and blasphemous fallacies. It has often been a cause of wonder to the writer that Catholic parents often send their children to schools and colleges of alleged higher education under the fallacious [Page 119 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa. ] notion that they can therein acquire a more efficient classic, scientific or business education than can be attained in Catholic colleges. Even if such education be attained only in such institutions should not the great danger of the loss of the immortal souls of their children deter them from such a course? But such is not the fact. From the dawn of Christianity down to the present time - and now probably more than ever - the greatest minds, the greatest and most learned educators, scientists, professional men, inventors, navigators, physicians, and men and women in every other sphere of human activity, to say nothing of the ministry of Heaven, have been of the Catholic faith. Within the past fifty years Abbe Secchi, a noted French scientist has invented a wonderful and delicately constructed instrument to determine the duration, violence and the direction of distubance of earthquakes. Recently Pere Ricard (Father Richard), astronomer of the Catholic college of Santa Clara, California, made the important announcement that he had discovered what he called great maelstroms on the Sun, that is great bodies of dark matter ejected from the sphere of that lunminary and revolving around with cyclonic force. He has made charts of the Sun, dividing it into two hemispheres by an equatorial line. The sun-spots - for such they are - on the northern hemisphere of the Sun revolve in a direction opposite to that of the movement of the hands of a clock; and those on the southern hemisphere gyrate with the direction with the hands of the clock. He has indicated a line passing through the center of the Earth, and also a line passing through the center of each of the planets and the Sun. He has also found that cyclones and storms on the Earth and the other planets, are caused by the gyrations of these great maelstroms; and also that earthquakes are caused by them and these as well as storms he is able to forecast, but not, as yet, the location in which the earthquakes are likely to occur. He has taken almost 3,000 observations of these phenomena and has accurately prognosticated every storm that has occurred on the Pacific coast for the past ten years. So greatly are his invaluable services esteemed by the people of California that they affectionately call him Pere Rain. [Page 120 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] The Sexton of St. Augustine's. The sexton, janitor and man-of-all-work, of St. Augustine's church is Richard Delozier, Jr., a courteous, gentle manly young man, son of Richard W. Delozier, Sr. He was a member of the A. E. F. in France during the late World War. Organists of St. Augustine's Church As Far As Remembered by Mrs. Brooks. Mrs. James Roderigue Maguire, Miss Bridget Qualters, Miss Annie Behe, Prof. Charles Miller, Miss Kate Dumphy, Miss Margaret Dunegan, Miss Stella Dunegan, Mrs. Margaret Donahoe, Miss Hortense Dunegan, Miss Vesta A. McDermott. Stella Dunegan is now Mrs. Joseph Douglass, of Altoona; Hortense Dunegan is Mrs. Elmer Adams, of the same city. A Useful Rule for Finding the Day of the Week of Any Month in Years Other Than Leap Year's in the Nineteenth Century Up To 1900-the Last Year of that Century: Rule: - Divide the two right-hand figures of year by 4, rejecting remainder should there be any; add together the two right-hand figures, their quotients, the ratio of month and day of month and divide the sum by 7, and if the division be complete, the day of the week sought will be Saturday; but if there be a remainder, count forward from Saturday. Note: - The ratio of June is 0; of September and December it is 1; of April and July, 2 ; of October and January, 3; of May, 4; of August, 5; of February, March and November, 6. Illustration: - The first battle of Bull Run was fought on the twenty-first of July, 1861 - '61 divided by 4 equals 15 plus 2 (ration of month), plus 21 (day of month), equals 99 divided by 7 equals 14 plus 1-Saturday plus one day equals Sunday; hence the first battle of Bull Run was fought on Sunday. Prosperity of the Parishes Taken From St. Augustine. Of the three parishes taken from the mother parish of St. Augustine - St. Monica's, Chest Springs, St. Thomas', [Page 121 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] Ashville, and St. John the Baptist's, Frugality - all have ornate churches and two - St. Monica's and St. Thomas'- have successful parochial schools; and with the return of prosperity, Frugality will doubtless be also blessed in the near future. A visit to St. Monica's school convinced the writer that it is an up-to-date educational institution. The rector of St. Monica's is Father John P. Duggan; of St. Thomas', Father F. X. O'Donnell, and of St. John the Baptist's, Father Pollard W. Farran. Bishop O'Connor's Projected Seminary for Boys. On October 17, 1856, Rt. Rev. M. O'Connor, Bishop of Pittsburgh, purchased of William Ryan, 464 acres of land in White Township, Cambria County, for $3,178, Father Lambing in his "History of the Diocese of Pittsburgh," says, to erect thereon a seminary for boys. The land was heavily timbered with pine timber which was long since cut away; and the location being too far removed from railroad communication for a seminary, the land was sold to different parties, by John Wagner, agent of Bishop O'Connor, the purchasers having been Michael Sheehan, S. J. Luther, Wm. Dishart, Nicholas Wyland, John Wirtner and D. A. Luther. Father Farran's Housekeeper. Miss Esther Farran, sister of Rev. J. H. and P. W. Farran and Miss Annie Farran, is housekeeper. As well as being and excellent housekeeper, Miss Farran is a most courteous lady, as all find who have had the pleasure of partaking of the splendid meals she sets on the table of the rectory, and her manner of serving them. Trappist Monks Settle Near Carrolltown. That Trappist monks early in the nineteenth century attempted to found a settlement in Cambria County is shown from a sketch of "Carrolltown and Vicinity" contributed to "Souvenir of Loretto Centenary," by a Benedictine Father of the Monastary of St. Benedict near Carrolltown "About one-half mile south of the present St. Benedict's Church, Carrolltown, on the northern slope of the 'old Loretto Road' were seen, until recent years, the ruins [Page 122 - History of Parish of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, Pa.] of buildings erected by Trappist monks. Towards the end of the last century they were driven from their home in Europe by the storms of the revolution then raging; and first fled to Switzerland, from which country, threatened by the French, they went to Russia, thence to Prussia; and at last a small band of them, under the guidance of Rev. Urban Guillet, came to the place above described. It seems though, that our severe winter climate did not agree with them; so in June, 1805, they abandoned their settlement and went to Kentucky." The Young Men's Society of St. Augustine - Organized June 20, 1857. Original Members: John Behe, E. R. Dunegan, M. J. Dunegan, Francis Hoover and J. Z. Zerbee. Subsequently admitted: J. E. Neason, James Sweeney, Joseph Moyer, Wm. Little, J. H. Douglass, Washington Neason, Celestine McMullen, Charles A. McMullen, John Storm, H. F. Wagner, H. B. Noel, John E. McMullen, Patrick Kearney, M. J. Gibbons, Henry Mellon, Joseph Conrad, Fulgentius Burgoon, Edward Watt, Patrick Donaghe, R. J. Maloney, Wm. Mullen, Wm. J. Hammond, Zachariah Wills, August Cassidy, Peter Cassidy, James Trexler, James McGuire, James B. Faber, Henry McKenzie, Francis Tierney and Michael A. McDermitt. E. R. Dunegan was elected marshal of the Society to lead parades and see to the proper formation of the members when attending Mass in a body and receiving the Blessed Sacrament. The Society possessed a choice selection of Catholic books, periodical magazines, and much other useful and edifying literature. ***