Father Paul Ponziglione was an Italian nobleman who was raised in a royal manner — privileges, a fine home with wealthy parents and he was very well educated. He spoke and wrote Italian, Latin and English. After a short time at Osage Mission he became fluent in the difficult Osage Language. But he remained modest, which was a trait that served him well during his missionary work among the Natives and settlers. In the opening comments of his memoir, he couldn't understand his superior's insistence that he record his life on the prairie. In thinking about his own life .... "never having achieved anything very remarkable ..." Father Paul decided to use his writing to fill a debt of gratitude to his former superior Father John Schoenmakers — a man who was born and raised at the opposite end of European society. Follow THIS link for more information about Father Paul.
Father Paul's Memoir.
This page includes the cover and opening comments of voluminous 560 page memoir. The memoir includes:
As you read his work, particularly the chapters from 1851 and after, it is from the memory of a man who watched the land south of the Santa Fe Trail transform from remote prairie — The Great American Desert — into a landscape of towns, farms, churches and schools. Father Paul and his fellow missionaries played an important part in the development of this land. He also witnessed drought, famine, floods, epidemics and a brutal war. Sadly, he also saw his beloved, proud Osage people brutalized by factors described in the previous sentence and the greed of the white man who overtook Osage lands before treaties were in place.
Layout.
The cover and Opening comments are shown below.
Dedication and Introduction is presented in a page similar to this one. The remainder of the memoir will be linked from a "Table of Contents" link that is presented in tabular format.
This page includes the cover and opening comments of voluminous 560 page memoir. The memoir includes:
- This Cover and Opening Comments
- Index (Links to 3, 4, 5, below)
- Dedication, Introduction and Body (Chapters 1 through 50 (numbered Roman Numerals I - L) Linked from 2, above)
- A Conclusion (linked from 2, above)
- Seven Appendices (all linked from 2, above)
As you read his work, particularly the chapters from 1851 and after, it is from the memory of a man who watched the land south of the Santa Fe Trail transform from remote prairie — The Great American Desert — into a landscape of towns, farms, churches and schools. Father Paul and his fellow missionaries played an important part in the development of this land. He also witnessed drought, famine, floods, epidemics and a brutal war. Sadly, he also saw his beloved, proud Osage people brutalized by factors described in the previous sentence and the greed of the white man who overtook Osage lands before treaties were in place.
Layout.
The cover and Opening comments are shown below.
Dedication and Introduction is presented in a page similar to this one. The remainder of the memoir will be linked from a "Table of Contents" link that is presented in tabular format.
|
Cover:
Duplicate [2] The Osages and Father John Schoenmakers S. J. ______ Interesting Memoirs Collected From Legend, Traditions and Historical Document By Father Paul Mary Ponziglione S. J. Missionary among the Osages For over 30 years |
|
|
Opening Comments:
St. Ignatius College Chicago Ill. May 25, 1897 Very Rev. Thomas S. Fitzgerald S.D. Dear Father Provincial. L.X. Different superiors having more than once suggested to me, to publish some of my experiences among the wild Indians, which whom I have been dealing for over 40 years, I reflected on the matter, and being conscious to myself of never having achieved anything very remarkable among them, I thought there was no reason why I should make any such record. However, on considering that by complying with their request, I would have a good opportunity of discharging a duty of gratitude I owe to dear Father Schoenmakers, with whom I did pass the happiest days of my life, I put up my mind to gather together few items, which, meanwhile they would bring light on the history and customs of the Osages, would also show, at least in part, what really heroic virtues the good father was frequently performing in trying to promote their spiritual as well as material improvement. In the case the Superiors would think proper to publish this memoir, I would be very thankful if I would be allowed few copies of them to present to some of my old friends and benefactors. Of your Rev, (?) [3] Paul M. Ponziglione S.J. |
|
Some Reference Information:
1. An example of a chapter that predates his arrival at the mission is Chapter XI. The chapter tells the story of a young New Orleans botanist who arrives in present-day Neosho County to do some research and collection. She and her young Osage guide become lost on the banks of the Neosho River and narrowly escape death. There can be little doubt that the events occurred; and many of the people in the story are well-known in this area at the time. Father Paul's account allows him to exercise some of his writing skills to describe events, customs and celebrations in a pretty vivid manner.
2. The significance of the word "Duplicate" is unknown. However, lacking modern duplicating equipment, subsequent copies of the memoir were likely produced by hand. I have compared the writing in this copy with Father Ponziglione's handwriting in Osage Mission marriage and baptism logs and there is some similarity.
The microfilm copy of the memoir, used for this transcription, came from the Jesuit Archives, St. Louis. The microfilm is on file in the research room of the Osage Mission - Neosho County Museum. Thank you to a very helpful librarian at the Pittsburg, Kansas, library. She helped me set up a routine on their digital microfilm viewer that allowed me to copy the entire memoir, in PDF format, in about two hours.
3. The occasional use of "(?)" in the transcription indicates a word or phrase simply could not be understood.
1. An example of a chapter that predates his arrival at the mission is Chapter XI. The chapter tells the story of a young New Orleans botanist who arrives in present-day Neosho County to do some research and collection. She and her young Osage guide become lost on the banks of the Neosho River and narrowly escape death. There can be little doubt that the events occurred; and many of the people in the story are well-known in this area at the time. Father Paul's account allows him to exercise some of his writing skills to describe events, customs and celebrations in a pretty vivid manner.
2. The significance of the word "Duplicate" is unknown. However, lacking modern duplicating equipment, subsequent copies of the memoir were likely produced by hand. I have compared the writing in this copy with Father Ponziglione's handwriting in Osage Mission marriage and baptism logs and there is some similarity.
The microfilm copy of the memoir, used for this transcription, came from the Jesuit Archives, St. Louis. The microfilm is on file in the research room of the Osage Mission - Neosho County Museum. Thank you to a very helpful librarian at the Pittsburg, Kansas, library. She helped me set up a routine on their digital microfilm viewer that allowed me to copy the entire memoir, in PDF format, in about two hours.
3. The occasional use of "(?)" in the transcription indicates a word or phrase simply could not be understood.
