A Catholic Mission
  • 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
    • 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

Who's Behind the Window

​A Look at Who We Were 120 Years Ago.
​ACatholicMission.org is working on an interesting project with St. Paul native Randy Dunavan.   Randy was a member of the class of 1971.  After graduating from high school he studied in the seminary at Warrenton, Missouri and Neosho County Junior College; and served a hitch in the United States Navy.  He eventually ended up in Texas were he had a long career in sales with an automotive and motor-sports company.  Now retired, he can spend more time on his life-long interest — history and genealogy. [1]
PicturePhoto - R. Brogan
The project is "Who's Behind the Window."  In part, it examines a period around the turn of the 20th century when there were many improvements being made at St. Francis de Heironymo Catholic Church. [2]  One of the improvements was replacing most of the clear glass windows with stained glass.  At the time Father Boniface [3] asked parishioners to assist by paying for several windows in the outer walls of the building.  Such a donation would help the parish, and would "...leave a monument indelibly burnt in the glass to go down to generations yet to come." 

The end product of Who's Behind the Window will be a book about the migration of Catholics from Maryland into central Kentucky and other areas, and then into Osage Mission.  Many of these people were our ancestors.  The book will feature very detailed profiles of each of the families or persons named on the St. Francis windows.  Names that are revealed from this study Go Well Beyond Those On The Windows Themselves.  They are St. Paul's earliest residents and hundreds of familiar families are represented in the book.  Some samples of the content will also be summarized on this website.

​Below is a sketch of the church floor plan with numerical reference keys to some brief 1900  demographics shown in the table that follows.  What becomes clear is that in 1900, nearly everyone in St. Paul was from somewhere else. Many of our early residents and ancestors were immigrants.  


Picture
St. Francis Floorplan. No Sacristy Wall or Altars Shown (R. Brogan)

Window
Name
Progenitor
Location
1
Thomas P. Carroll
Ellen Sexton Carroll
1st Generation
​1st Generation
Ireland
​Ireland
2
​W.W. O'Bryan & W.E. O'Bryan
​William Wuyts O'Bryan
Grace Emily May
William Edward O'Bryan
Margaret Pauline Casey

​6th Generation
2nd Generation
7th Generation
​3rd Generation

​Ireland
England
Ireland
​Ireland
3
James Owens & Family
James J. Owens
Mary Lillian Abell
​
​7th Generation
​9th Generation

England
England
4
C.P. Hentzen
1st Wife: Caroline Delster
​2nd Wife: Margaret O'Grady
2nd Generation
2nd Generation
​2nd Generation
​Germany
Germany
​Ireland
5
Dr. MacNamara & Family
James J. "Jack" McNamara
Mary J. Confer McNamara

​​2nd Generation
​5th Generation

Ireland
​Germany
6
Mary & Thomas Fitzsimmons
Thomas Fitzsimmons
Mary Bloomer Fitzsimmons

​2nd Generation
​1st Generation

Ireland
​Ireland
7
T.K. Joyce - Parents of
Thomas Joyce
Catherine C. Long Joyce

1st Generation
​1st Generation

​Ireland
Ireland
8
J.E. Sevart & Family
Joseph Elias Sevart
Anna Rosane Balfay Sevart

​2nd Generation
​1st Generation

​Alsace-Lorraine
​Austria
9
Rev. John Schoenmakers, Mem.
Restored by John & Jane Farran

John Farran
Jane O'Kane Farran
​1st Generation

1st Generation
​1st Generation
​Holland

Ireland
​Ireland
10
​Patrick Diskin, L. & M. George
Patrick Diskin
Mary Ann George Diskin

​2nd Generation
​3rd Generation
​
Ireland
​Belgium
11
J. A. Johnston & Family
John Aloysius Johnston
Teresa E. Speake Johnston

​5th Generation

​7th Generation

Scotland
​England
12
Peter & Jacob Bonifas
Peter Bonifas
Margaret Jung Bonifas
Jacob Bonifas

​​1st Generation
1st Generation
​1st Generation

​Luxembourg
Germany
​Luxembourg
13
​Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Keeting
Patrick Keeting
Mary Margarette Mason Keeting

​1st Generation
1st Generation

Ireland
​Ireland
14
John Butler
1st Generation
Ireland
15
Mr. & Mrs. Gutting
Joseph Gutting
​Resile "Rosa" Gutting

1st Generation
​1st Generation

Bavaria
​Germany
16
Outside Door With Rosette
N/A
N/A
17
Michael A. Barnes
1st Wife: Ann Shelly Barnes
​2nd Wife: Ellen S. Mayne Barnes
​1st Generation
1st Generation
​1st Generation
Ireland
Ireland
​Ireland
18
Henry Miles O'Bryan (& Scar [4])
1st W: Susan Emily Hagan O'Bryan
2nd W: Sarah Elizabeth Newton O'Bryan
​5th Generation
6th Generation
​6th Generation
​Ireland
Ireland
​England
19
John & Bridget McCarthy
John B. McCarthy
Bridget Hackett McCarthy

​1st Generation
1st Generation

Ireland
​Ireland
In summary, here are some totals:
Ireland ..................... 23
England ....................  4
Germany ..................  5
Alsace-Lorraine .......  1  
Austria ......................  1
Holland .....................  1
Luxembourg ............  1
Scotland ...................  1
Belgium ....................  1
Bavaria .....................  1
Vertical Divider
The information show here is not a scientific assessment of the area population at the time.  But it does provide insight into the parish and city demographics in 1900.  Perhaps as important as nationality is the fact that only one of these people had been here very long.  The town of St. Paul (Osage Mission) was barely thirty years old.  Father Schoenmakers arrived in 1847 and founded the mission, our parish and the town.  The others were relative newcomers.

  • Return to Who's Behind the Window.
  • Go to Position 1 - The Thomas Carroll Window.

Some Background and Reference Information:
1.  Randy is serious about genealogy and has been at it for more than thirty years.  He started chasing Dunavan family history in the late 1980's when research involved physical visits to libraries, church offices, cemeteries, etc.  Today, research methods have improved significantly with on-line research sources and databases.  His own personal database includes nearly 270,000 individuals and that number increases almost daily.  Nearly all of those names have connections with St. Paul that reach across the world, especially Europe; and reach back into 14th Century Europe.  He has written 37 publications many of which are in the reference shelves of our local Graves library and the Osage Mission - Neosho County Museum. 

Why the interest?  One answer might be; he comes from very interesting bloodlines.  For example:  Members of the Jarboe side of his family were among the founders of Westport, now Kansas City.  When the Lorettos came to Osage Mission in 1847 ... "
Father Schoenmakers provided a comfortable two horse lumber wagon, and placed them under the care of Mr. Jarboe, a Kansas City merchant, who very kindly acted as their conductor." (from Father Ponziglione's memoirs, Chapter XII).

More about Randy as the project progresses, but I think folks in southeast Kansas and other locations will find his work interesting. 

2.  St. Francis Church was dedicated in 1884, but there was still work to do.  The church had taken more than thirteen years to complete, largely because of funding.  After the Passionists assumed control of the parish in 1893, they began to plan several improvements, many of which were completing the original project.  For some background on the overall building project, follow THIS LINK. ​
PictureFather Boniface (Shared by KSweenmom)
3. As it turns out, Father Bonifas Sotter should be regarded as "The Man Behind the Windows."  When you look at news articles it appears as though the entire project, from start-to-installation, only took three months to complete.  In fact, Father Bonifas probably started the early stages of the project with some knowledge of stained glass.  His nephew George William Sotter was a renowned stained glass artist. 

​More about Fr. Bonifas later.

PictureThe Monastery Window Scar. (Photo - R. Brogan)
​4. The Henry Miles O'Bryan window was moved.  It was originally on the west wall of the church at the northwest corner.  When the Passionist monastery was built in 1912, that window opening was used as an entrance to the first floor sacristy and the second floor of the church.  A new O'Bryan window was added to the north wall of the sacristy.  That window appears to be the upper part of what was the original 70" wide x 18' tall window.

When the monastery was razed, the original opening was filled with masonry leaving a "scar" of sorts.  Think for a moment about relocating that window in a stone building with nearly two-foot thick walls.

Picture
Home
Story
​Characters
​Places
About
Contact

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.

acatholicmission.org Copyright © 2016 - 2023. All rights reserved.
(See copyright note on Contact page.)
  • 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
    • 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