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ST. FRANCIS'
CONVENT, of Teutopolis, is the home of the Fathers and Brothers of the Order of St. Francis. It was founded in
this place in September, 1858, and was then a branch of the Province of the Holy Cross, of Saxony, which Province
was erected in 1221, during the life of St. Francis of Cissi, founder of the order of Franciscans. The first members
that arrived in Teutopolis came at the request of Rt. Rev. Damian Junker, First Bishop of the Diocese of Alton.
Rev. Damian Hennewig (who died December 12. 1865), Rev. Servatius Almicks, Rev. Capistran Zwinge and three lay
brothers were the first Franciscans who came to this place. They came from Warendorf, Westphalia, Germany .
In
1859, a two-story frame house of thirteen rooms was built and several additional members of the order arrived.
Subsequently substantial and commodious brick buildings were erected, until in 1868 the convent contained fifty-eight
rooms. Many brothers joined the convent from Germany as well as from this country. In July, 1875, an unusually
large number arrived, owing to apprehensive laws passed in Germany in 1873. In July, 1875, one hundred and six
came and sought shelter at the Teutopolis Convent.
Up
to this time the following convents had sprung up as offshoots from that of Teutopolis, namely: that of Quincy,
Ill., in 1859; St. Louis, Mo., in 1863; College in Teutopolis, in 1861; Cleveland, Ohio, in 1868; Memphis, Tenn.,
in 1869; and Herman, Mo., in 1875. As so many new members were added, the Franciscans built in 1865 convents in
Indianapolis, Ind., Chicago, Ill., Radom, Ill., Rhineland, Wis., St. Mary's, Mo., Columbus and St. Bernard, Neb.,
Jordan, Minn., Joliet, Ill., and Chillicothe, Mo.; they also built Indian missions at Keshena, Minn., and Bayfield,
Chaska and Superior City, Wis. The members had increased from six to four hundred. Therefore a new Province, under
the title of the Sacred Heart, was erected April 26, 1879. A decree was issued by the Pope, and on the 2d of July
of the same year the new Provincial or Superior was installed in Teutopolis. Teutopolis is the Mother House, as
it is called, of this branch of the Franciscans. It contains the novitiate, where the aspirants are tried for one
year to test their fitness for monastic life. Rhetoric was formerly taught in the house as a preparation for ministerial
duties, but is now taught at Indianapolis, Ind. The course of philosophy is taught in Quincy, and theology in St.
Louis. At present there are seven Fathers and an average of fifty students and Brothers at the convent in Teutopolis.
In
1889, a large addition was made to the convent at a cost of about $10,000, consisting of a new building, 142x36
feet, two stories in height. There is a carpenter shop, 20x39 feet, and a boiler house 34x28 feet. Steam-heating
apparatus was put in and other important improvements made, including a sewer for the use of the convent and schoolhouses.
The convent is a school for novices under the care of the Fathers. Of the
seven resident Fathers, four attend outside missions. Rev. Father Paulus Teroerde is guardian of the convent and
Rector of the congregation, Rev. Father Alardus Andrescheck is vicar and rector of Bishop Creek Church, Rev. Father
Ludgerus Glauber is master of the novices, Rev. Father Aloysius Wiever is rector of the congregation at Green Creek,
Rev. Father Nazarius Kaiser is rector of the congregation of Lillyville, Rev. Father Anselmo Puetz is assistant
of Teutopolis, and Rev. Father Bonaventure Faulhaber is rector of Montrose and Island Grove congregations. St.
Francis Convent with its contents is valued at $30,000.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and
Richland Counties Illinois, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Governors
of the State, and the Presidents of the United States. (Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887), p. 593. Transcribed by
Judy Rosella Edwards.
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