Chapter XII — Progress of the Schools
Chapter XII
Progress of the School — Father Schoenmakers goes to St, Louis to engage some sisters – He gets Sister of Loretto from Kentucky – They reach Osage Mission.
Under the vigilant supervision of Father John Schoenmakers the Manual Labor School at Osage Mission was now running in perfect order. Meanwhile the children were instructed by Father Schoenmakers himself, his companion Father John Bax was visiting the Osage Indian villages along the Neosho as well as the Verdigris. Received every where with great cordiality, he would go around from wigwam to wigwam visiting the sick, and lecturing the Indians on the advantage they would gain if abandoning their nomadic life they would settle down to work on a small farm and embrace Christianity. Having passed few days in these excursions, returning to the mission he would frequently be accompanied by new recruits of small boys for the school.
All this was very good and promising, but Father Schoenmakers well knew, that no lasting success could ever be expected from all his labors as long as the education would be restricted exclusively to the Indian boys, and the girls would be neglected. He knew that from the influence of the women, ordinarily depends the happenings of the family and consequently he considered it as his most important duty to provide as soon as possible for it.
To this affect having entrusted the care of the mission to Father Bax, he returned to St. Louis, to see whether he might succeed in getting the services of some of the different communities of sisters existing in that city.
Here the Father knocked at several convent-doors; but when the good sisters heard that it was that it was question of going to establish a new mission for the education of Indian Girls at some 350 miles west of St. Louis, on the far far plains, in the midst of wild Indians, such as the Osages at the time were, the shivered with fear and begged to be excused if they declined the invitation; for indeed they thought it would too daring for them to venture into such an undertaking. Father Schoenmakers felt disappointed, but not discouraged.
Being aware that at the very beginning of Catholicity in Kentucky, when that state was as yet full of wild Indians and desperadoes of all shades, Rev, Father Charles Nerinckx had established an order of sisters, called Sisters of Loretto, who were used to struggles and inconveniences of a pioneer’s life in the west, he made application to their spiritual superior Rev. Father David A. Depareq, who knowing how anxious the sisters were of having a mission among the wild Indians, requested them to consider the matter, and let him know on the next day, who were those who would be willing to engage in such a mission among the Osages, ready to sacrifice even their life, if needed for their salvation! The good sisters did not delay long in giving their answer. In fact, that very day, several bravely offered themselves ready to start at any moment. Father Depareq praised them all for their zeal and appointed only four to take charge of this new mission, and these were Mother Concordia to be superior, and Sisters Mary, Bridget and Vincentia as assistants.
There was no delay between their being appointed and their departure. On the 7 of September 1847 they left the Mother-house of Loretto Kentucky, and under the charge of Father Schoenmakers they came to St. Louis, to make needed preparations for their journey, a difficult one in those days, when rail roads were as yet unknown west of Lake Erie. Having in few days purchased whatever they thought might be needed for the beginning of a new community, on the 20th of September they embarked for Kansas City. Here again they had to delay a little while, to get an outfit to cross the plains; and at last on the 2 day of October, they took the old Indian trail to Osage Mission.
That their travel through the boundless and then uninhibited Kansas prairie might be less tedious to the sisters, 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. The novelty and inconvenience of such a way of traveling was bound to be hard on delicate young ladies not used to that kind of rough riding. But they were well prepared for it, and so they always had a cheerful countenance and a smile on their lips. Their slow moving over the monotonous plains, camping out every night, took fully 8 days. On the 10th of October, just one month since they had left Loretto they at last reached Osage Mission.
On those days neither telegraphy, nor mail carrier were to be heard of in the Neosho Valley, and consequently on on could tell any thing positive concerning the movement of our travelers, All that was know was that they would reach Osage Mission some time during the fall of this year, and were expected every day. Father Bax did not like the idea of being taken by surprise. To prevent this, he had posted several Indian boys on the look out. They had to scan the northern horizon every now and then, for it was from that direction they had to come.
And lo! On the morning of the 10th of October, the boys noticed some smoke way yonder on the hills, about 5 miles north east of the mission, where the Kansas City road used to cross Flat Rock. After looking at it very carefully, they concluded, that surely the long expected party was coming, In fact in less than one hour, they were confirmed in their opinion, when they discerned at a great distance the white tops of the tow covered wagons both slowly advancing toward the mission.
There, Father Bax was ready, and placing himself at the head of the school boys, who were all in their Sunday clothes, and being followed by a large number of Indians, they all went out to welcome the party. As they reached the first wagon, the boys rush at it all anxious to get a sight of Father Schoenmakers. Every one has some thing to tell him, all want to shake hands with him. The Father, looking as well as ever, answers to their greeting, gives them his hand, and caresses the smallest children. After thanking them for having come to meet him, he says to them “Now my boys, go to see the sisters who are coming in the next wagon, and try to behave yourselves nicely.” At once they all start and it is difficult for me to tell yow pleased they were when they saw them! They all quickly uncovered their heads, and bowed respectfully to the sisters. They wondered at the sight of so many nice Indian boys and a lovey smile and kind waving of their hands, showed them how happy there were feeling for the cordial reception they were receiving.
In a few minutes more they were reaching the end of their long peregrination. The sisters soon make themselves at home in the poor log-home which has been fitted up for them. Their countenance is radiant with joy, and they have a kind word for all those they meet. Father Bax had already engaged some Osage girls to come to keep company with them, and now helped by these, they at once go to work, get every thing in good order, and are ready to receive pupils. Hardly two hours had passed since they arrived when Father Bax brought in four little girls to be the first boarders. Of these 3 were half breeds, and one a full blood Osage. With these 4 children that very day, the 10th of October, their boarding school was opened and from that day the Convent of the Sisters of Loretto became a point of attraction for all of the Indians.
Some might wish to know how was it, that those wild savages thought so much of the sisters? The most probable reason I can find, seems to be the following. Since the time when the North American Indians saw their first Ursuline nuns landing either at Québec in Canada in the year 1639, or at New Orleans in Louisiana in 1727, the impression that these self-sacrificing ladies made on the mind of the Indians in general was, that they were not earthly creatures, like all other women, but rather they were heavenly spirits in human form, so frugal and severe was their way of living, so disinterested their charity, so angelical their whole carriage! The lapse of 200 years far from destroying the esteem in which they were held, it helped to increase it.
To what concerns the Osages in particular, they were well acquainted with what kind of people the sisters were. For in 1824, they had willingly brought several of their daughters to St. Charles near Florissant, to be educated at the Convent of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. From that time the Osages, as a nation, had a very high opinion of the sisters. However, as of the Osages, whose daughters, had been educated at St. Charles, very few were as yet living, it followed that the esteem the present generation had for them, was not arising from personal acquaintance with them, but from what they had heard of them.
Hence there is no wonder if as soon as the good news of their coming were spread in the nation, the Indians were most anxious to get a sight of them. To the effect every day some Indians would come under some pretext to visit the Convents grounds and would keep loitering around the premises wrapt up in their blankets till they could get a glimpse at some of the sisters passing by. And once their curiosity had been satisfied, they felt happy.
Progress of the School — Father Schoenmakers goes to St, Louis to engage some sisters – He gets Sister of Loretto from Kentucky – They reach Osage Mission.
Under the vigilant supervision of Father John Schoenmakers the Manual Labor School at Osage Mission was now running in perfect order. Meanwhile the children were instructed by Father Schoenmakers himself, his companion Father John Bax was visiting the Osage Indian villages along the Neosho as well as the Verdigris. Received every where with great cordiality, he would go around from wigwam to wigwam visiting the sick, and lecturing the Indians on the advantage they would gain if abandoning their nomadic life they would settle down to work on a small farm and embrace Christianity. Having passed few days in these excursions, returning to the mission he would frequently be accompanied by new recruits of small boys for the school.
All this was very good and promising, but Father Schoenmakers well knew, that no lasting success could ever be expected from all his labors as long as the education would be restricted exclusively to the Indian boys, and the girls would be neglected. He knew that from the influence of the women, ordinarily depends the happenings of the family and consequently he considered it as his most important duty to provide as soon as possible for it.
To this affect having entrusted the care of the mission to Father Bax, he returned to St. Louis, to see whether he might succeed in getting the services of some of the different communities of sisters existing in that city.
Here the Father knocked at several convent-doors; but when the good sisters heard that it was that it was question of going to establish a new mission for the education of Indian Girls at some 350 miles west of St. Louis, on the far far plains, in the midst of wild Indians, such as the Osages at the time were, the shivered with fear and begged to be excused if they declined the invitation; for indeed they thought it would too daring for them to venture into such an undertaking. Father Schoenmakers felt disappointed, but not discouraged.
Being aware that at the very beginning of Catholicity in Kentucky, when that state was as yet full of wild Indians and desperadoes of all shades, Rev, Father Charles Nerinckx had established an order of sisters, called Sisters of Loretto, who were used to struggles and inconveniences of a pioneer’s life in the west, he made application to their spiritual superior Rev. Father David A. Depareq, who knowing how anxious the sisters were of having a mission among the wild Indians, requested them to consider the matter, and let him know on the next day, who were those who would be willing to engage in such a mission among the Osages, ready to sacrifice even their life, if needed for their salvation! The good sisters did not delay long in giving their answer. In fact, that very day, several bravely offered themselves ready to start at any moment. Father Depareq praised them all for their zeal and appointed only four to take charge of this new mission, and these were Mother Concordia to be superior, and Sisters Mary, Bridget and Vincentia as assistants.
There was no delay between their being appointed and their departure. On the 7 of September 1847 they left the Mother-house of Loretto Kentucky, and under the charge of Father Schoenmakers they came to St. Louis, to make needed preparations for their journey, a difficult one in those days, when rail roads were as yet unknown west of Lake Erie. Having in few days purchased whatever they thought might be needed for the beginning of a new community, on the 20th of September they embarked for Kansas City. Here again they had to delay a little while, to get an outfit to cross the plains; and at last on the 2 day of October, they took the old Indian trail to Osage Mission.
That their travel through the boundless and then uninhibited Kansas prairie might be less tedious to the sisters, 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. The novelty and inconvenience of such a way of traveling was bound to be hard on delicate young ladies not used to that kind of rough riding. But they were well prepared for it, and so they always had a cheerful countenance and a smile on their lips. Their slow moving over the monotonous plains, camping out every night, took fully 8 days. On the 10th of October, just one month since they had left Loretto they at last reached Osage Mission.
On those days neither telegraphy, nor mail carrier were to be heard of in the Neosho Valley, and consequently on on could tell any thing positive concerning the movement of our travelers, All that was know was that they would reach Osage Mission some time during the fall of this year, and were expected every day. Father Bax did not like the idea of being taken by surprise. To prevent this, he had posted several Indian boys on the look out. They had to scan the northern horizon every now and then, for it was from that direction they had to come.
And lo! On the morning of the 10th of October, the boys noticed some smoke way yonder on the hills, about 5 miles north east of the mission, where the Kansas City road used to cross Flat Rock. After looking at it very carefully, they concluded, that surely the long expected party was coming, In fact in less than one hour, they were confirmed in their opinion, when they discerned at a great distance the white tops of the tow covered wagons both slowly advancing toward the mission.
There, Father Bax was ready, and placing himself at the head of the school boys, who were all in their Sunday clothes, and being followed by a large number of Indians, they all went out to welcome the party. As they reached the first wagon, the boys rush at it all anxious to get a sight of Father Schoenmakers. Every one has some thing to tell him, all want to shake hands with him. The Father, looking as well as ever, answers to their greeting, gives them his hand, and caresses the smallest children. After thanking them for having come to meet him, he says to them “Now my boys, go to see the sisters who are coming in the next wagon, and try to behave yourselves nicely.” At once they all start and it is difficult for me to tell yow pleased they were when they saw them! They all quickly uncovered their heads, and bowed respectfully to the sisters. They wondered at the sight of so many nice Indian boys and a lovey smile and kind waving of their hands, showed them how happy there were feeling for the cordial reception they were receiving.
In a few minutes more they were reaching the end of their long peregrination. The sisters soon make themselves at home in the poor log-home which has been fitted up for them. Their countenance is radiant with joy, and they have a kind word for all those they meet. Father Bax had already engaged some Osage girls to come to keep company with them, and now helped by these, they at once go to work, get every thing in good order, and are ready to receive pupils. Hardly two hours had passed since they arrived when Father Bax brought in four little girls to be the first boarders. Of these 3 were half breeds, and one a full blood Osage. With these 4 children that very day, the 10th of October, their boarding school was opened and from that day the Convent of the Sisters of Loretto became a point of attraction for all of the Indians.
Some might wish to know how was it, that those wild savages thought so much of the sisters? The most probable reason I can find, seems to be the following. Since the time when the North American Indians saw their first Ursuline nuns landing either at Québec in Canada in the year 1639, or at New Orleans in Louisiana in 1727, the impression that these self-sacrificing ladies made on the mind of the Indians in general was, that they were not earthly creatures, like all other women, but rather they were heavenly spirits in human form, so frugal and severe was their way of living, so disinterested their charity, so angelical their whole carriage! The lapse of 200 years far from destroying the esteem in which they were held, it helped to increase it.
To what concerns the Osages in particular, they were well acquainted with what kind of people the sisters were. For in 1824, they had willingly brought several of their daughters to St. Charles near Florissant, to be educated at the Convent of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. From that time the Osages, as a nation, had a very high opinion of the sisters. However, as of the Osages, whose daughters, had been educated at St. Charles, very few were as yet living, it followed that the esteem the present generation had for them, was not arising from personal acquaintance with them, but from what they had heard of them.
Hence there is no wonder if as soon as the good news of their coming were spread in the nation, the Indians were most anxious to get a sight of them. To the effect every day some Indians would come under some pretext to visit the Convents grounds and would keep loitering around the premises wrapt up in their blankets till they could get a glimpse at some of the sisters passing by. And once their curiosity had been satisfied, they felt happy.