A Catholic Mission
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  • Our Story
    • 1. The Stage is Set
    • 2. The Osages Enter Kansas.
    • 3. Earliest Commerce
    • 4. Earliest Protestant Missions
    • 5. The Catholic Osage Mission >
      • 5A. The Mission Complex
      • 5B. The Osage Manual Labor Schools
      • 5C. A Beacon on The Plains ...
    • 6. Progress and Tragedy
    • 7. The Missionary Trails >
      • 7A. Missions, Stations, Churches
    • 8. A Dangerous Balance - The Civil War >
      • 8A. Confederate Officers Massacred
    • 9. The Osage Leave Kansas >
      • 9A. The Missionaries Did Not Abuse the Osage.
      • 9B. Fr. Schoenmakers Speech
    • 10. A Very Unique Community is Born >
      • 10A. A Church Raising
    • 11. Regional Boarding Schools >
      • 11A. St. Francis Institution for Boys
      • 11B. St. Ann's Academy for Girls
    • 12. Transitions
    • 13. The Passionists Era Begins
    • 14. Citizen Lawmen - The A.H.T.A. >
      • A.H.T.A. Chanute - October 1914
    • 15. The Passionist Influence is Expanded
    • 16. The Schools Today >
      • 16..1 Champions & Records
  • Characters
    • The Osages
    • The Missionaries >
      • Father John Schoenmakers >
        • Father Schoenmakers' Windows
      • Fr. John Bax >
        • Father John Bax II
      • Mother Bridget Hayden
      • Fr. Paul Ponziglione >
        • Father Paul's Memoir >
          • Index - Father Paul's Memoir >
            • Dedication & Introduction
            • IX. Construction & Acceptance of Mission Buildings.
            • X. Fr. Schoenmakers Arrives at Osage Mission
            • XI. Miss Lucille St. Pierre Came to the Neosho
            • XII. Progress of the Schools
            • XIII. Origin and Development of the Roman Catholic Church in Kansas
            • XXVII - Winds of War
            • XXVIII — Fr. Schoenmakers Return
            • Chapter XLII - Farming Issues, Death Of Father Colleton
            • Chapter XLIX - Includes The Death of Fr. Schoenmakers
            • Chapter L — Dedication of the New Church
            • Conclusion
            • Appendix I — Copy of a letter to Sister M. Coaina Mongrain about the coming of the Sisters of Loretto at Osage Mission
            • Appendix 6 — A Sketch of my Biography
            • Appendix 7 - Letter to W. W. Graves
      • Father Philip Colleton
      • Brother John Sheehan
    • W. W. Graves
    • 17 Sisters
    • 17 Sisters II - Fr. Fox's Sermon
    • Who's Behind the Window >
      • Who We Were 120 Years Ago
      • 1. The Thomas Carroll Window
      • 2. The W.W. O'Bryan Window
      • 3. The Jas. Owens & Family Window
      • 4. The C.P & C.J. Hentzen Windows
      • 5. The Dr. McNamara & Family Window
      • 6. The Fitzsimmons & Family Window
      • 7. The Parents of T.K. Joyce Window
      • 8. J.E. Sevart & Family Window
      • 9. The Rev. John Schoenmakers S.J. Window
      • 10. The Patrick Diskin and L&M George Window
      • 11. The J.A. Johnston & Family Window
      • 12. The Peter & Jacob Bonifas Windows
      • 13. The Mr & Mrs. Patrick Keeting Window
      • 14. The John Butler Window
      • 15. The Mr. & Mrs. Gutting Window
      • 16. Rosette Window Above Doors
      • 17. The Michael A. Barnes Window
      • 18. The Henry M. O'Bryan Window
      • 19. The John and Bridget McCarthy Window
      • The Sodality Windows
    • The Church Women's Bonfire (Graves)
    • Beechwood
    • John and Margaret Naudier
    • Fr. Tom McKernan - The Poet Priest of Kansas
    • The Dimond Family and Estate Sale
    • Dear Sister >
      • Friend Gertrude
    • A Year and a Day — Passionist Memories.
    • Mary Elizabeth Lease
    • K of C Council 760 - The Early Days
    • Our Hometown Boys
    • SPHS Class of 1956
  • Places
    • The Great American Desert
    • St. Francis Catholic Church
    • St. Francis de Heironymo Catholic Church Grounds
    • St. Paul - 135 Years Ago
    • St. Paul - 1890's as a Scale Model.
    • St. Paul - The Booming 60's
    • Osage Mission as a Statewide History Finalist
    • St. Francis Cemetery
    • Hope Cemetery
    • The Basement Chapel
    • World War I Museum Display
    • St. Paul Middle School >
      • Some Great Folks!
    • Ladore
    • St. Boniface, Scipio KS
    • Road Trip - Father Emil Kapaun
    • Exchange State Bank Robbery!
  • Thoughts ...
  • Links
  • Link Page
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:
  1. This Cover and Opening Comments
  2. Index (Links to 3, 4, 5, below)
  3. Dedication, Introduction and Body (Chapters 1 through 50 (numbered Roman Numerals I - L) Linked from 2, above)
  4. A Conclusion (linked from 2, above)
  5. Seven Appendices (all linked from 2, above)
At the beginning it is important to note that not all of this work is based on his personal experiences.  The title acknowledges that it includes the a collection of information from "Legends, Traditions and Historical Documents."  His table of content entries are preceded by dates, A. D. starting in 1673 through 1884.  The earlier chapters include Osage historical information and genealogy.  Chapters IX and X, dated 1846 and 1847 start his Osage Mission story.  It is important to note here, that Father Ponziglione did not arrive at the mission until 1851, so information in chapters X (1846) through XVI (1850) are likely based on mission records or discussion with Father Schoenmakers, other missionaries, traders or settlers.[1]

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

Picture

 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.
Picture

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.
Picture
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acatholicmission.org is a privately hosted website.  We hope that our site will educate and entertain those who are interested in the fascinating Osage Mission - St.  Paul - Neosho County Kansas story.  Ours is a regional story that crosses state lines, ethnic groups, faiths and a variety of frontier and post-frontier interests.  Enjoy.

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  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Our Story
    • 1. The Stage is Set
    • 2. The Osages Enter Kansas.
    • 3. Earliest Commerce
    • 4. Earliest Protestant Missions
    • 5. The Catholic Osage Mission >
      • 5A. The Mission Complex
      • 5B. The Osage Manual Labor Schools
      • 5C. A Beacon on The Plains ...
    • 6. Progress and Tragedy
    • 7. The Missionary Trails >
      • 7A. Missions, Stations, Churches
    • 8. A Dangerous Balance - The Civil War >
      • 8A. Confederate Officers Massacred
    • 9. The Osage Leave Kansas >
      • 9A. The Missionaries Did Not Abuse the Osage.
      • 9B. Fr. Schoenmakers Speech
    • 10. A Very Unique Community is Born >
      • 10A. A Church Raising
    • 11. Regional Boarding Schools >
      • 11A. St. Francis Institution for Boys
      • 11B. St. Ann's Academy for Girls
    • 12. Transitions
    • 13. The Passionists Era Begins
    • 14. Citizen Lawmen - The A.H.T.A. >
      • A.H.T.A. Chanute - October 1914
    • 15. The Passionist Influence is Expanded
    • 16. The Schools Today >
      • 16..1 Champions & Records
  • Characters
    • The Osages
    • The Missionaries >
      • Father John Schoenmakers >
        • Father Schoenmakers' Windows
      • Fr. John Bax >
        • Father John Bax II
      • Mother Bridget Hayden
      • Fr. Paul Ponziglione >
        • Father Paul's Memoir >
          • Index - Father Paul's Memoir >
            • Dedication & Introduction
            • IX. Construction & Acceptance of Mission Buildings.
            • X. Fr. Schoenmakers Arrives at Osage Mission
            • XI. Miss Lucille St. Pierre Came to the Neosho
            • XII. Progress of the Schools
            • XIII. Origin and Development of the Roman Catholic Church in Kansas
            • XXVII - Winds of War
            • XXVIII — Fr. Schoenmakers Return
            • Chapter XLII - Farming Issues, Death Of Father Colleton
            • Chapter XLIX - Includes The Death of Fr. Schoenmakers
            • Chapter L — Dedication of the New Church
            • Conclusion
            • Appendix I — Copy of a letter to Sister M. Coaina Mongrain about the coming of the Sisters of Loretto at Osage Mission
            • Appendix 6 — A Sketch of my Biography
            • Appendix 7 - Letter to W. W. Graves
      • Father Philip Colleton
      • Brother John Sheehan
    • W. W. Graves
    • 17 Sisters
    • 17 Sisters II - Fr. Fox's Sermon
    • Who's Behind the Window >
      • Who We Were 120 Years Ago
      • 1. The Thomas Carroll Window
      • 2. The W.W. O'Bryan Window
      • 3. The Jas. Owens & Family Window
      • 4. The C.P & C.J. Hentzen Windows
      • 5. The Dr. McNamara & Family Window
      • 6. The Fitzsimmons & Family Window
      • 7. The Parents of T.K. Joyce Window
      • 8. J.E. Sevart & Family Window
      • 9. The Rev. John Schoenmakers S.J. Window
      • 10. The Patrick Diskin and L&M George Window
      • 11. The J.A. Johnston & Family Window
      • 12. The Peter & Jacob Bonifas Windows
      • 13. The Mr & Mrs. Patrick Keeting Window
      • 14. The John Butler Window
      • 15. The Mr. & Mrs. Gutting Window
      • 16. Rosette Window Above Doors
      • 17. The Michael A. Barnes Window
      • 18. The Henry M. O'Bryan Window
      • 19. The John and Bridget McCarthy Window
      • The Sodality Windows
    • The Church Women's Bonfire (Graves)
    • Beechwood
    • John and Margaret Naudier
    • Fr. Tom McKernan - The Poet Priest of Kansas
    • The Dimond Family and Estate Sale
    • Dear Sister >
      • Friend Gertrude
    • A Year and a Day — Passionist Memories.
    • Mary Elizabeth Lease
    • K of C Council 760 - The Early Days
    • Our Hometown Boys
    • SPHS Class of 1956
  • Places
    • The Great American Desert
    • St. Francis Catholic Church
    • St. Francis de Heironymo Catholic Church Grounds
    • St. Paul - 135 Years Ago
    • St. Paul - 1890's as a Scale Model.
    • St. Paul - The Booming 60's
    • Osage Mission as a Statewide History Finalist
    • St. Francis Cemetery
    • Hope Cemetery
    • The Basement Chapel
    • World War I Museum Display
    • St. Paul Middle School >
      • Some Great Folks!
    • Ladore
    • St. Boniface, Scipio KS
    • Road Trip - Father Emil Kapaun
    • Exchange State Bank Robbery!
  • Thoughts ...
  • Links
  • Link Page