The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-09-29
(From st. Cloud Times)

(From St. Cloud Times) :.
Collegeville, Sept. 24-St. John
4Grand Old Man," is no more. A
that is mortal of Father Corneliu
Whitman, O.. S. B., pioneer Minnie
sotian, jealous and devoted church
man, dean of the Benedictines OF tn
United States, co-founder of st. John
University, it's first professor an
first president, first teacher in Stearn
county, and first Benedictine prizes
ordained in Minnesota, was laid t
rest in the beautiful abbey cemeter!
at Collegeville this morning.
Born 20 years after Washington
death, he lived during the adminlstra
tons of % presidents. During tina
time, forsaking the common regards
of life, he gave his best without sum
to churnch and country, contributing
largely to the colonization OF centra
Minnesota, at the same time follow
ing those high ideals of his calling
which have done so much TOWARD
keeping the world going straight.
When Father Cornelius came to
Minnesota, the great west from the
pacific coast to St. Cloud was yas'
wilderness, roads were little better
than putty paths of corduroy make
shifts and the city of st. Cloud was
= frontier village of shanties and
scout pioneer business houses hug
cing the slope of the Mississippi. He
viewed the present site of the abbey
and college as the hunting ground OF
the Indian, and lived to see St. Johns
take it's proud place among the IN.
fuential schools of the Northwest. VI
all his old-time missionary friends
but two remain: Bishop Trobec and
Right Rev. Msgr. Buh. Of the three
first teachers in Stearns county pu'
two survive him, Mrs. Alden OF 81.
Cloud and Mrs. M. P. Noel. his
life was full of overfowing WIN the
love for God and man, and at his go,
inn the children of the pioneers ano
their children's children will wish MIN
In 1874 the late Bishop Cretin o.
CT Paul. at the suggestion OF Fatnei
Pierz, decided to entrust the deve'op.
.oent of Central Minnesota TO Snf
apostolic zeal of the Benedlctnes
Abbot Bonifiace WINNER "f 81. YIN
cents Archabbey, in PennsylvaMa 2
accepted the invitation, and IN apr
1s56 a small missionary band com
nosed of Very Rev. Demetrlus 9.
Marogna, Frs. Cornelius ana bru,''
pics both clerics in minor orders WINS
had lust completed their studies, an.
two Law brothers, Benno and fatl.eA =.
sst ont from St. Vincent's, and a1tel
atrying journey by steamboat cow
tbe Ohio and up the Mississippi al
rived at St. Paul on May z.
ION May IT, two weeks after tneil
arrival, Frs. Cornelius and bruno
were ordained to the priesthood IN tne
mid cathedral Of St. Paul. Two days
later Bishop Cretin brought fatner !
Demetrius and Cornelius to Saut
RAPIDS in his own conveyance. Father
Bruno and the lay brothers followed
with their baggage, taking steam
boat up the Mississippi to st: CLOUD
which was then the only village II
the newly organized county OF Stearns
l1855). u.
Accepting a generous offer OF some
land about two miles south OF 81
Cloud, the missionaries proceeded e
build a monastery, which, when com
pleted, consisted of log hut with
small frame addition. This place
served as base of operations. Con
preeations were organized and log
chapels were erected in the neighbor
ing settlements; pioneers were I'M
mediately attracted to the new cen
tiers. At this time the first attempts
at schooling were undertaken.
Speaking of Father Cornelius, Az
torney Boerger of St. Cloud in MI
history of Stearns county schools
written for the History OF Stearn
County" says, "despite his large nus
sionary field and innumerable duties
this Jealous young man, observing
the utter absence of institutions 0
learning, added to his already lon'
list of strenuous labors the hard tasl
of teaching school. 1t was IN tn
dwelling of Joseph Edelbrock, who
with the open-handed generosity Q
the pioneers, cheerfully donated tn
use of one of his rooms, that Fathe
Cornelius, in the early fall OF lSoe
taught the first school within Tn
present boundries of Stearns county
It was thus a free school in ever
sense Of the word, for no tuition wa