The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-11-11
FRISCO.
Contributed

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Early in August, 1876, Father Seaman
left Salt Lake City for Beaver to per-
form the marriage ceremony of Dennis
Ryan and Mary c. Rasch, which took
place in that little town Aug. Z, 1876.
The following day he left for Frisco,
staying in Minersville over night and
reaching Frisco on the Sth. This was
the first visit of a priest to the place.
The following Sunday services were
held. Frisco was then in its infancy.
There were but few houses. The popu-
lation consisted of prospectors and
those who were employed in the Horn
Silver, which had been purchased a
short time before that date by a. O..
Campbell. Matthew Cullen, Denis Ryan
and II. Byron. The nearest railroad
point was Juab. Having remained one
week he returned TO Salt Lake.
SILVER REEF
The next visit was in 1877 when en-
route to Silver Reef. He remained only
a few days, holding services on Sunday
and proceeding the next day on horse
back to Silver Reef. In June, 1878,
Father Kelly on his way to Silver Reef,
went first TO Frisco, where he stayed
for two weeks. collected funds for the
Sacred Heart Academy. Ogden, which
was then in course of erection. In De-
cember Of the same year Father Sean
Ian went to Beaver, and on the 18th of
that month married Matthew Cullen
and Emma ]. Thompson. AS on SINH
lar occasion he. before proceeding to
Silver Reef, which was his destina-
ton, first went to Frisco, held services
on Sunday and thence by stage to Sill
yer Reef In 1879 and 1880 Frisco was
visited by a priest from Salt Lake twice
each year. Towards the beginning of
1880 many Catholic families had settled
in the district In November Of that
year Very Rev. L. Seaman during his
visit was approached by some mem
bers of his congregation, who promised
him substantial aid if he would build
church and send them a resident
priest Encouraged by good will shown
at the usual Sunday services, he told
his people that he intended remaining
with them for some months, and would,
in accordance with the expressed wish
of some of his. present congregation.
build a church and send them a perma-
nent pastor. Nearly all present showed
their willingness TO cooperate in the
good work by signing their names to
a subscription list. A large lot was
secured, and the erection Of the church
began at the commencement of 1881.
FIRST MASS CELEBRATED.
A nice frame building 5Ox3O feet with
two rooms in the rear for the future
pastor was completed and opened for
public service on Quingage sSema Sun
day of the same year. Its completion
marked a new era for the Catholics of
Frisco. In May Very Rev. L. Seaman
returned to Salt Lake, and Rev. P. NJ.
Smith took charge Of the new mis-
sion. After six months he resigned his
charge, and returned to San Francis
co. His place was taken by Rev. p. NJ.
Cushnahan, who remained till Novem-
Der After the withdrawal of Father
Cushnahan no permanent priest was
appointed to the place, being visited
from Salt Lake. the priest remaining
two or three months, according to the !
demands of the people. Since the clos |
ing down of the smelters. and some of |
the mines, the population of Frisco has /
been gradually decreasing and for the !
past few years only one or two Catholic |
families have been there. At present it /
is visited only when some urgent call is |
sent to Salt Lake.
EUREKA.
Long before the connecting link of the !
Oregon Short Line from Lehi Junction |!
to Ironton was built, Tintic was visited /
by a Catholic priest. Early in De- /