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Regarding building the first Catholic church at Chaska, MN in 1858:
"Every month I held divine service in the public
school rooms until the church was completed. But the devil who had held absolute sway here for
so long a time placed new obstacles. The walls were built. A roof must be built over them.
Here Satan stirred up avarice. There were four carpenters in the congregation. To whom would
the contract be awarded? None would yield to the other. Finally the four united and offered
their bid. Every one demanded more than the job was worth. They demanded $400 for the work,
the material was furnished. This was an expense the congregation could not cover.
"No one besides these carpenters could undertake
the work and they were on the point of victory, had not the pastor studied architecture in
Europe. I advised the congregation that the work might easily be paid with $100, and demanded
sufficient time to procure help. I knew I could, for at Victoria I had made the acquaintance of
a young carpenter who did all the work in the village for a very slight compensation and who
proved a helper in need at St. Bernard's (Benton) in the erection of the church. The name of
this friend in need was Nicholas Stimmler, well known in later years at St. Paul and in Stearns
County as Father Valentine Stimmler, OSB. The poor youth even at that time was desirous of
studying for the priesthood and Father Cornelius and myself assisted him in his endeavor."
From "The Record," Part 10, December 1889
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