From the Diary of Fr. Paul Mary Ponziglione, S.J Dated: Dec. 1870

Congregation. On this occasion we found that the number of Catholics had considerly increased, it is to be about 60 now. From Wichita I came to Augusta, a lively little town at the confluent of White Waters into Big Walnut, Butler County. Having stopped in this place a little over a quarter of an hour I went a little farther north on Turkey Creek where I have a Catholic settlement, and I just came in time to inform the neighbors about my coming Catholic settlement, and I just came in time to inform the neighbors about my coming that they all might come to Mass on the next morning. Here I heard that some new Catholic families had come in vicinity and during the night and during the night we sent a man to hours of cool riding the messenger got back got back bringing no tidings about these new comers. So the next morning we did not wait for them but no sooner the others had come in we had Mass.- This being over I left again for Eldorado and in order to have a better road I went 2 miles out of my way, hardly had I had gone half a mile when I met these meeting one another --- they ask me very correctly when would I again come to see to stop in that vicinity so that it would do so, and would write to their friends to come on that being more Catholics, together they may be able to put up a Church.

I reached Eldorado about noon, stopped but few minutes and afterward kept up on my way toward Eureka. In the neighborhood of this town I found for the first time some few Catholics – Previous appointments which I was bound to fill did not allow me to stop with them this time, so I kept on descending the Fall river valley till I came half way between Coyville and New Albany in Wilson county where the few Catholics residing in that same place have just finished (building a) little Chapel…. To this they have made a liberal donation of (15 acres) (page 5) of good land, of which a small portion has already been set a part for graveyard, the balance can be used as a small farm for the Priest who will eventually be there. The small Church being so finished as to allow us to use it, we ornamented it to the best of our power, and on the 4th day of December, being the Second Sunday in Advent We had a Solemn Mass dedicated the Church to God under the patronage of Ft. Francis Regis. The weather was very good and consequently attendance very large. The Mass being over we went processionally to the graveyard singing the “Laudate Nomen Domini gentes” and blessed the graves two little children having died few weeks before my arrival there.
On the 5th of December I came from Fredonia to Neodesha a small town at the junction of Fall River into Verdigris..

I was told that here there was a large number of Catholics, but is it not so , I found one but one family, and from this I heard that few miles in the country there were several others. Having heard that I thought it would be better for me to go into the country and try to find these people. So I did, and without knowing whether I was on the right or wrong way I came to a farm on a small bluff. Several children were playing outside when I got there, and seeing me they all ran away into the house without giving me time to make any inquiry. So I went to the house for information. Here I was received by two most respectable old people Mr. Martin Benedict and his wife. As their appearance was very conciliatory, so I introduced myself as the Priest and requested them to tell me whether there are any Catholics in the vicinity. The good people did not understand me and answered part in English, and part in German, and so neither could I understand what they were telling me. Not to put them in trouble about my Person I told them these words Me Katholicke Pastor, and saying that I showed to them my Crucifix. This was enough, they immediately repeated Pastor, Pastor and taking my Crucifix they kissed it most devoutly, and so did their children – and having returned it to me, they called on one of their little daughters who is a good interpreter, and through her they informed me how in that neighborhood there were some 15 Cathlioc families. Then I requested them to show me a family that might be in a central point for all, and that there I would read Mass the next morning. They felt very happy in hearing my proposition, and told their little daughter to pilot me for a while, and show me the place where I could say Mass the next morning. So she did and about sun down I came to the house of Frank Xavier Grabner a very good pious Hungarian. He knew enough of English to understand me – I told him what was the object of my coming, in hearing it his countenance brighten with joy, he told me to get into his house, and make myself comfortable, meanwhile he would go around and inform the people about my coming. – So he did, and after having traveled some 8 miles at 9 o’clock he was returning to his house.

Next morning the people got in early – they were in a good number – after mass I baptized some of their children, and promising that I would try to come to see them again I left and went down the Verdigris to visit the Osage Half-breed settlement. But I found the settlement quite abandoned, for most all of the Half-breed have sold their claims, and moved farther west to be out of the society of white people, by whom they have generally been abused and ill-treated since they came upon this land. The only one I met was Joseph Monjean and his wife who is a convert to our holy faith. The good man lives hardly a mile below the mouth of Dry Creek in Verdigris and has a splendid piece of land on the left bank of the river. He felt very happy in seeing me, and after having given me what news he had, began to tell me a painful story of the abuse that both he and his wife are bound to suffer from their neighbors because they are Indians, but above all because they are Catholics. “They have said he “in many ways tried to put us out of our house and rob us of our land, they have repeatedly threaten to kill me, if I do not leave this place – the have robbed me of provisions, and we are bound to be always at home for fear that if we would go anywhere to visit our friends, these people would get into our house and hold it for themselves – Father,” he concluded we are considered worse than dogs, we have done harm to no body, the reason why we are so persecuted is because we have an excellent piece of land, which some of our neighbors want to take away from us, and also because we refuse to take part in their religious meetings.” I consoled the poor Joseph and encouraged him to have patience and take matters easy for God’s sake, and after this I continued in my journey – But few days after I had seen this unhappy Half-breed, his wicked neighbors came to his house by night, and though the poor Joseph was in very bad health they threaten to kill him if he would not leave on the spot – there was no time to lose, all he could do was to get up from his bed and taking with him his wife and a small little son ran to the woods for safety – His enemies were now satisfied, and after having rob the house of what little furniture there was it () fire to it and burned it to the ground, destroying at the same time a large crib of corn which was all his dependence for his support. This is but one of several other similar cases which I could bring out to prove how the poor Indians are treated by their white neighbors. What wonder is it then if they hate civilization ---what good does this brings them? They are not altogether wrong when they tell us, that in their stat of life which we call barbarian, they lived good deal more happy, then since they tried to become civilized.

Just meanwhile I am writing these notes news came to us from the Verdigris that poor Joseph after passing few days in the woods exposed to the inclemency of this hard winter died of exhaustion! May his soul rest in peace. I raised Joseph at the Mission from his younger days, his behavior was always good and pious and I am confident that he went to receive the reward due to him for so many troubles he endured, really just for justice sake.

Toward the evening of the 7th of December I reached St. Ignatius settlement near Morgan City in Montgomery Co. and having met with some young men returning from their work, I requested them to go all around and inform the people that I ----