SECTION II CHURCH SITES The exact date when the first real estate was acquired for a church site was, according to official documents, March 26, 1877. The real estate acquired at that time was a full block (No. 44) in the town of Pittsburg. According to the Mitchell County records, this real estate acquired for a church site was an outright donation or grant by the United States Government. The sole cost of said real estate was one dollar. This was necessary to make the transaction legal. This grant of real estate was directly made over in warranty deed to Rt. Rev. Louis M. Fink, O.S.B., Bishop of the Leavenworth Diocese, of which the present Concordia Diocese was at that time a part. The reference to Bishop Fink induces me today at least parenthetically that he was a grand old man. He gave me his special blessing at Atchison in 1903 and said to me, "Young boy, I hope that you become a priest of God. Pray constantly for this intention and study hard and diligently and all will go well." He sent me away with a slap on the cheek. I have often wondered whether or not his blessing was not the first seed of my priestly vocation. The priest who was in charge of the Catholics of this territory was, as already indicated, Rev. Anton (John H.) Timphaus, who, at that time, had Tipton (Pittsburg) as one of his missions. He no doubt negotiated the deal which resulted in the acquisition of said real estate for the Church site for this Catholic Community. He was in a convenient position to negotiate it, living as he did at the time in the county seat and being conversant with such transactions and acquainted with the government's agencies. The following is a true and correct copy of the Trustees Deed of said real estate: TRUSTEES DEED "Know all men by these presents that Whereas in accordance with the provisions of the Act of Congress approved March 2, 1867, the undersigned Mark J. Kelly, Probate Judge of the County of Mitchell, State of Kansas, March, A.D., 1877, enter in the United States' Land Office at Kirwin, Kansas the East (1/2) of the South East Quarter Section of (19) and West (1/2) of the SW (1/4) of Section (20) in Township No. (8) of Range (10) West for the several use and benefit of the occupants and inhabitants of the town site of Pittsburg, Mitchell County, Kansas. Located on said lands and whereas in conformity with the Act of the legislature of the State of Kansas approved March 2nd, 1868, being chapter 1o97 of the general statues of Kansas, the aforesaid probate judge appointed Henry Houghton, G. W. Lemons and W. W. Wescott commissioners to cause an actual survey of said town site to be made and whereas the aforesaid commissioners performed all and sinular the duties required by the provision of said Act of the legislature of the State of Kansas and did set apart on the 17th day of September, A.D.1877, to Louis M. Fink of Leavenworth the following described lots or grounds in said town to wit: All of Block Forty-Four (44) in said town of Pittsburg, Mitchell County, Kansas and whereas the aforesaid commissioners did lay a tax of one dollar upon the aforesaid lots, grounds, and improvements thereon. Now this deed witnesseth--that said probate judge for and in consideration of the said sum of one dollar to him in hand paid by the said Louis M. Fink, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged does by there presents grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien, convey and conform unto the said Louis M. Fink and to his heirs and assigns forever all the above together with all the rights, privileges and immunities and appurtenances of whatsoever nature thereunto belonging unto the said Louis M. Fink and to his heirs and assigns forever. In testimony whereof I, Mark J. Kelley, Probate Judge in and for said county have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of the Probate Court of said County at my office in the city of Beloit, Kansas, this Eighth Day of October, A.D., 1877. (Seal) Mark J. Kelley, Probate Judge" The foregoing description of the real estate of the site of the church is exactly identical with that included in the present church real estate site, except that two lots have been added on the south side where the Sisters' Convent is now located, and one west of block 44. The two on the south were obtained in 1902 from Franz Mergen for a consideration of $250.00; the one on the west was purchased from Rev. Dr. Menig in 1935 for $400.00. The priest in charge of the parish at the time of the first of these purchases was Rev. John B.xxxxxxxxxxxxx deal. The county records: given below, show that the transfer was made to Rt. Rev. Francis J. Cunningham, at that time actual incumbent of the See of Concordia. "Warranty Deed dated Feb. l, 1902, filed for record, March 3, 1902, given by Frank Mergen and Anna N. Mergen to John F. Cunningham of Concordia, consideration $250.00 on lots 11 and 122, Blk. 49, town of Pittsburg." SECTION III CHURCH STRUCTURES The parish has had only two church structures during the span of its life. The present one was erected in the year 1899, the first one in 1877. Both the earlier and the present church structures have occupied the same block--44; yet the present church building was not erected on the identical spot of ground on which the old one had stood. The old structure occupied the southwest part of the block; the present building occupies the northwest part of said block. The present church structure was never moved from its original foundation. The first church structure, after the completion of the present one, was used for school purposes; that is, from 1900 to 1921 it was used as the parochial school of the Tipton parish. In 1921, with the completion of the present school building, it was sold in three different sections to persons for private use. The south wing of the building was sold to Mr. Ed. Sinner for $290.00. It is still in use on his place today. Mr. Frank Krier bought the west room for $210.00 and moved it to his farm. The remaining part was bought by P. A. Reinert for $167.50. The income from the sale was applied to the new school building. The first church structure was made possible through the voluntary contributions of the faithful of the parish. There is no evidence whatever that any outside contribution was made toward it. On the contrary, the "Account Book of the Pittsburg Catholics" shows conclusively on page fifty that all the money was collected from the parishioners. This first church structure was newly erected for the specific purpose of a church or "Domus Dei". There were no buildings in the vicinity at that time that could have been purchased or rented for church purposes. This region of Kansas at the coming of the first Catholics was still undeveloped and quite uninhabited. The first church erected was a frame structure. The material for the building was bought and hauled from Russell, Kansas. This town was some sixty miles southwest of Tipton and was the nearest market at that time. The record book referred to preserves for us on page one the minutes of a meeting of the community held specifically for the purpose of considering the building of a church. Regarding the discussion about obtaining the necessary lumber it has the following to say: 1'Pittsburg, Kansas3 March 28, 1877, N. Reinert and M.J. Arnoldy were commissioned to go to Russell to make arrangements for the lumber for a church. All the material should be paid--all but fifty dollars, and for this sum of $50.00 (not paid) a note should be given bearing interest until fall." The minutes of this meeting also show where and how the means for erecting the building were obtained. The method used was that of voluntary contributions from the faithful. All gave of the little they possessed. None had much to give. What they had in abundance was good will, a spirit of munificence, a deep-rooted love of God and Church, and burning zeal for the "Domus Dei". Coupled with these traits were diligence and a determination to carry forward to completion their undertaking. People often desire to know the "heavy donors". Heavy donors! That term does not exactly apply here. But, considering the financial status of the parishioners all of these pioneer Catholics can be said to have contributed large sums of money to the erection of the modest house of God. The donors' names and the amounts donated toward the construction of the building are recorded by M.J. Arnoldy in the account book on pages 54, 56, 58, and 60. They are the following: H. Konzem $10.00 P. Arnoldy $5.00 P. Krier $5.00 M.J. Arnoldy 15.00 F. Mergen 10.00 N. Reinert 8.50 N. Arnoldy 15.00 F. Cordel 8.00 J. Doyle 5.00 N. Gasper 2.50 C. Arnoldy 5.00 A. Gasper 2.50 J.P. Cordel 10.00 Ph. Schroeder 5.00 P. Jacobs 10.00 Arens, Sr. .50 J. Schmidt 1.60 Wm. Peder 5.00 J. M. Kohn 2.00 M. Ellenz 4.00 V. Angerhoffer 2.00 F. Boden 5.00 John Back 2.00 John Mueck 2.00 John Elser 3.00 Arnoldy Bros. 63.37 Total $204.37 The dimensions of the first church structure was twenty by thirty feet. The total cost of the building, according to church records, was $213.07. However, all the stones for the foundation were donated and all the hauling of the same and all the labor in the erection of the building were done gratis. Already during the next year this structure proved too small for the parish. Many newcomers arrived in the summer and fall of 1878, and in order to accommodate these faithful it was decided in the fall of that year to enlarge the structure. According to the church record (pages 68 and 69) this enlargement actually took place yet that fall. The addition was of the same size and dimensions as the original--twenty by thirty feet. A small sacristy, twelve by fourteen feet, was added on the southeast side, thus giving the church structure the shape of the letter (L) reversed. The total cost of this addition, i.e., of the material --lumber, nails, windows, etc.--was $260.45. The labor was again donated. In regard to the quarrying and the hauling of stone for the foundation, it must be said that the indomitable will and ardent zeal of the men were a far greater factor in the accomplishment of these tasks than were the tools they had to work with, or the vehicles they had in which to transport the stone. Primitive spades, picks, and sledges, had to serve for quarrying the stones and teams of oxen for transporting them to the church site. It called for the patience of Job. Moreover, the lumber had to be hauled for more than sixty miles from Russell, Kansas, by oxen at that, over hills and dales that showed no signs of a trail, much less of a road. Two days or more were required to make the trip to Russell and three or more to return. Such was the undaunted spirit of the pioneer Catholics! They were made of stern stuff, indeed. But to continue our narrative. The structure we have been describing received another major addition in the year 1893--this time on the northeast side. The dimensions of this addition were also twenty by thirty, thus giving the structure the form of the letter (T). The cost of this addition was $669.00. >From this time on, the structure remained without any change or alteration so long as it was used for divine service, that is, up to 1899. Joyful and proud--and justly so--were the sturdy pioneers when, in l884, came Rev. Frederick J. Schalk, C.PP.S., appointed by Rt. Rev. Louis M. Fink, O.S.B., and took up his residence permanently amongst them. Their dream was fulfilled, their work crowned! A church, an altar, a priest, and the daily Eucharistic Sacrifice in their midst: Rev. Anton Timphaus had celebrated the first Mass in the building in about mid-summer of 1877 and Rev. Robert Loehrer celebrated the last Mass in it in 1899. From that year on, up to 1921, it was used as a parochial school. In 1912, Rev. Chas. Menig, pastor at the time, added another classroom on the southeast side. When the new parochial school was completed in 1921, the old structure was sold. Its life span had covered a period of forty-five years. Many of its builders had gone on before, leaving their workmanship to their children as testimonial of their strong faith and heroic deeds. The second and present church structure of the Tipton Parish was built in l899 under the rectorship of Rev. Robert Loehrer. The building is a frame structure. Its size is one hundred eighteen by forty-eight by twenty-two feet. The total cost, according to church records, was $9,468.39. The parishioners were long undecided whether to build of brick or stone. Plans were discussed for two years before they reached a decision. The priest in charge and the greater part of the parish seem to have favored a substantial building of native stone, and the work of quarrying and hauling rock was eventually begun. After a great quantity of rocks had been quarried and hauled to the site, an abrupt halt was ordered. Many again began to argue that a brick edifice would be more beautiful as well as cheaper. After much argumentation it was definitely decided to construct a brick building instead of a stone structure. But where were the bricks to come from? "We will make our own bricks," was the answer. Plans and arrangements were speedily made to start a brick factory. The mach­inery was ordered and the work commenced. Kilns were built, machinery set up, and bricks baked. The work was going at top speed when, to the great surprise and dismay of the parishioners, they discovered that the bricks were not compact enough. The clay at the place proved unfit for good substantial bricks. A second trial was made, clay being taken from a field that looked more promising. But again the newly manufactured bricks proved a dismal failure. The clay lacked internal cohesion. A frame church. Such was the decision. The native rocks that were on the place were sold with the exception of those necessary for the foundation of the proposed new structure. It would be possible to present here the approximate list of the names of the contributors and the amounts donated by each, but in order to avoid unnecessary cataloguing of specific names and amounts, let it simply be stated that according to the records the contributions ranged from $10.00 up to $225.00. As might be expected, those who gave most generously toward the building of the first church structure also are found at the head of the list of contributors toward the second. The money was collected by Rev. John E. Loehrer. This is evident from the pages of the annual Account Book of the parish from 1901 to 1906. As already intimated, the dedication of the new church building took place in the fall of 1899. The Rt. Rev. John F. Cunningham, Bishop of the Concordia Diocese, was present for the occasion and delivered the panegyric. The parishioners say that the day was celebrated with great solemnity. Many of the clergy of the diocese were present and a great concourse of people from far and near participated in the festivities of the day. The architect, and at the same time the contractor for the building, was Mont Green. He had been recommended by the Bishop. The priest in charge of the parish during the construction of the building was the Rev. Robert Loehrer. The only additions the church has received since its erection are two enlargements of its choir loft, one during the pastorate of Rev. Raymond Drees and one during that of Rev. Chas. Menig. The latter is responsible for the beautiful interior decoration and frescoing. To him also goes the credit of beautifying the church with artistic and devotional "Stations of the Cross." Father Menig also enriched the church with costly vessels, such as a chalice, ciborium, monstrance, and also with complete and exquisite sets of sacred vestments.