Brown Bag Annals
Annals of Early History of Saint Mary’s – Sister Benvin Sansbury
The Sisters of St. Mary’s commenced at Somerset: Jan 1830 – having been invited by Bishop Fenwick of happy memory some time previous to their departure from St. Catherine’s KY. Had rather a rugged journey by land to Louisville. Staid there a few days in company with Father Montgomery who was their pilot to their destination. Met Rev Fathers Abell Baden in Louisville, thence on to Cincinnati. Staid a week with Bishop Fenwick under whose auspices the foundation of St. Mary’s was made. When the Sisters arrived at Somerset the place they were to stop, the house that had been purchased for them was not vacated, consequently they had to find hospitality at H. V. Peter Dittoe’s three weeks, when the 4 Sisters Emily Elder, Benvin Sansbury Agnes Harbin and Catherine Mudd marched up Trinity Hill in as much formality as they should. The buildings were a small brick house on one acre of ground and the carpenter’s shop which was filled up for [s to lo la hu] possession of their new home
scoolhouse. The parochial school was soon [callicaled] The Dominican Sisters being the first nuns to come in Ohio, the novelty of it created quite a sensational stir among the citizens. The Bishop of Cincinnati whilst making his Visitation through his Diocese met many persons requesting him to engage the Sisters at Somerset to take their children to board. Until then he had no mind at all to have a boarding school. After finding it was the wish of the people to support a boarding school he gave us the money to build a house and was doing his best in every way before he was taken out of life to raise up the school. Gave a piano, celestial and terrestrial globes and valuable Relic case with 30 or more relics and in the center of the case the most holy and adorable wood of the cross, some oil paint oil paintings and very many things.
Thus the little collony in the white robe of the Dominicans [formaly] presented themselves before the shrine of the Holy Trinity Church at Somerset, Perry County. They without means, with their feeble abilities, aided by Father Dominic Young, one of the first priests of the Diocese, and of consummate virtue, and of most refined education, gradually advanced the then growing population in morality and religious training. The greatest poverty on all sides at the time seemed to awate them; not in the least daunted with the difficulties, they had to endure, they went about the good work that lay before them, saying with” St. Bernard, “If the labor terrifies, the reward invites.”They got accessions from time to time from the Motherhouse Saint Catherine’s Kentucky. Sisters Helen Whelen and Sr C Walsh come to their aid in 31 - got two novices at the same time, Sr Mary Grignon from Wisconsin Green Bay and Sr Rose Lynch from Zanesville, Ohio; they were a great acquisition to the house.
Commenced building in the fall of 1830 and got it nearly finished before the winter of 1831 came on too cold. When the stoves were put in the frozen plastered rooms which looked so white and pretty, because to thaw which cased the inmates to fear some evil consequence might result from the damp walls, but in our great im-mergency trusting the B. Virgin and our dear Lord that no one got sick from it. The first building was 2 story brick, 40 by 35 feet, with good basement and useful attic. The Venerable P Dittoe was superintendent and Mr. Steiner made the brick and put of the building Mr. P. McDonald and Fink the carpenter work, Masons as well. carpenters worked very cheape those days - Brick could be got $3 per thousand, carpenters worked for a dollar a day – all kinds of provisions could be gotten for a mear trifle – chickens eggs and butter in great or small quantities for 2 ½ and 3 cents per beef and pork 2 ½ wheat 37 ½ corn 25 cents, oats 15
The first building finished being near the Holy Trinity Church made a good show on the Lancaster and Zanesville roads, attracted the attention of the Protestant travelers and on being told it was an Academy conducted by nuns were greatly shagrined and publicly expressed their disapproval to have such an institution to grow up near Somerset and did their best to influence the Protestant people not to show any favor to St. Marys Under all circumstances the Sisters remained firm ever keeping before them the one thing necessary, having been taught the particular aim and intention of their order is the salvation of souls. And this they do by by instructing young persons of their sex in piety and religion, and offering their Office, etc. for the conversion of souls and healing their Brethren while occupied in their studies in all the several services peculiar to their sex.
Mr. Carnie Taggarts two Brothers Mr. Dugan many other respectable gentlemen engaged in public works contributed largely in erecting the first building of St. Mary’s.
The year 1832 Sisters Helen and Emily returned to St. Catherine’s, the Motherhouse. Some time previous to their leaving, Sister Teresa Lynch had come into the Noviceship, and although her health was not the best, she possessing extraordinary abilities full of zeal for promoting the hon or of God and laboring for the salvation of souls, as our holy Order directs. She persevered and made her Novitiate successfully. The ladies of Lancaster took considerable interest in the welfare of St. Maries – Mrs. Garithy, Mrs. Hunter, Miss Madloc, Mrs. Ewing, Mrs. Lilly, Mrs. Gillespie Stambaugh, Mrs. Cassel and others. Knowing we had quite a number of Orphan Children, they suggested the propriety of making a Fair and did assist liberally, getting up two or three fairs for the benefit of the Orphans. Prompted by the purest intentions, they spared neither labor nor cost for the benefit of the poor about this same time Mrs., Durang of Zanesville had a little money feeling anxious to leave the busy world, gave her money to put up a room for herself at St. Mary’s. brought two nieces there to school, all which helped St. Mary’s up a little. The names of her nieces were Catherine and Mary Reber. She however did not continue at St. Mary’s any time longer than the nieces education. Fathers Boling and F Clarkson were at Sr. Josephs’ helping Father Dominic Young even before they were made priest, and some 3 years after they were made priests. In 32 Father Dominic was appointed Pro by the General.