Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-26


The land upon which the church was built
was a donation from Gen. Van Ness, who was
a Congressman from New York. The general
was the lucky one out of many young and dash.
ing sultors for the hand of Marcia Burns,
whose father ''crusty David Burns" was an
original land holder in the District and owned
an extensive plantation covering what il now
the northwest section of the city. He lived in
o very plain. one-storied. two-roomed house,
which is still standing back of the State, War
and Navy Department near b street northwest.
After the new city began building up the sale
OF his land made him very rich, and every
where his daughter known az the bean
several years social and literary training in a
cultivated family in Baltimore, Marcia re-
turned to Washington, where she soon found
many admirers among the young members OF
Congress.
Gen. Van Ness. a descendant Of an old Dutch
family. often visited the humble cottage and,
being bright and handsome, soon won Marcia's
love and was married to her. He built a lar &c
and costly residence near the little Burns
house. which his wife would never allow to De
torn down, and inclosed both and considerable
land with large stone fence. He became
prominent in social affairs and in business and
az one time was mayor of Washington. He was
known to be well fed, well bred and well
read" When his father-in-law, David Burns,
died ne left all his property. constantly rising
X
she had been good daughter and would now
be the richest girl in America.
About twenty years ago the last piece Of the
BUNS estate passed out of the control of the
heirs. At an expense of $4,000 Van Ness
built a tomb, in imitation of the temple of
Nesta, on the lot now occupied by the George
town Medical College. on II street. but it was
afterward removed to Oak Hill Cemetery. Van
Ness was not a Catholic. but his private secre-
tary, Nicholas Callan, was, and he suggested to
hat he xnt1l6 20 L. g.
the erection of a Catholic church it would
raise the value of his property; so a lot on 5th
street was given for the purpose, but, being a
German, Van Ness is said to have made it an
express condition OF the deed to the land that
the church should be German Catholic
church. The lot donated extended As feet
along 5th street and was over 100 feet deep.
ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION.
The congregation was organized in the base
meEt of st. Matthew'S Church on 18th and H
streets northwest in October, 1874 (although
previous to that time meetings were held in
the original ST. Peters Church on Capitol Hill
by pastor who came over from Baltimore
once month, and after holding services there
for short time house on sth street between
l. and VI northwest was rented from Mrs Ru-
pert. the upper story of which was used for
church purposes for about two years while St.
Mary's was being erected. As organizing men,
bers OF the congregation there were about
twenty men with families and several young
unmarried men. Among them were Phillip
May OF Georgetown, Ignatius Miller, John
Erleze. JOS. He'll, John Geo. Eichhorn, Geo.
Nandelehr, JOS. Straub, Ambrose Roth, Bern
ard Geier, Henry Hoarstcamp and John and
Peter Freeman. Wendell and Benedict Neff
and Rudolph Eichhorn were in the choir, Wen-
dell Neff still occupying his place there.
FATHER ALIs.
The first pastor was Rev. Father Alig, who
ofiiciated from the time of organization until
June g. 1882. he belonged to a wealthy family