Old St. Margaret Enlarge
On fire. enlarge
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St. Margaret’s Church This parish is as close to being considered our ‘family parish’ as any out there. Three lines of our family tree prayed in this church – Ryan, Smith and Turgeon. Recorded here are family baptisms, marriages, and confirmations. Many of us attended funerals within these walls. As a family we have prayed there, laughed there and cried there. The history of this parish is our history too. The information below was taken from the book, ‘Century of Faith: St. Margaret Church Kimball, South Dakota 1884 – 1984’. Included are references to our family found in these pages. I copied these references and indicated the page where found. Land History On December , 15, 1882, a patent to the NE 10-103-68 was issued to Edmond P.D. Kimball. Kimball sold this land to Daniel Warner. In 1883, Warner had part of this land surveyed and platted into lots and blocks and the newly platted area was called Warner's Addition to Kimball. On July 2, 1885, Bishop Martin Marty acquired lots thirteen and fourteen in block four of Warner's Addition from Daniel Warner. Bishop Thomas O'Gorman acquired lots fifteen, sixteen, seventeen and eighteen in block four on December 8, 1902, from Percy Tinan. In 1903, Fr. C.E. O'Flaherty acquired lots one, two, three and four from Brule County. Lots five and six were acquired from John and Susan Smith in 1916. Bishop O'Gorman deeded them to St. Margaret Parish on September 4, 1919, and the remainder of block four, lots seven through twelve from the Smith family in 1939. St. Margaret sits on lots one through six and the parish house sits on lots sixteen and seventeen of block four. (Page 97) |
Our Family Tree
Family lore tells us our ancestors were the first settlers in Brule County. James Ryan (son of Batt and Eliza Ryan) was the first white child born in this part of South Dakota. St. Margaret’s Church was formed shortly after our ancestors’ arrival. Irish John and Batt Ryan families were recorded as the earliest members of St. Margaret’s parish. The following chart shows one way in which the Batt Ryan and Irish John Smith families are related. Michael Smith’s descendents are also related to the Ryans through the Hill family. (Michael Smith’s parents are Irish John and Susan Smith.)
St. Margaret's Church in Kimball
St Margaret of Scotland, the grand niece of Edward the Confessor, was born in Hungary in 1045. The Church in Kimball is named after this person who was known for her great personal piety, praying, fasting and great concern for the poor and needy. She prepared food for orphans and fed them. The poorest of the poor were given access to the castle and offered aid. Margaret means ‘pearl’ in Greek. She died in 1093 “worn out from a life of sacrifice and service to God and man”.
Seeds of Faith Sown and Nurtured
Few Catholics came to the Kimball vicinity in the early 1880s and there was no organized church; however Mass was offered, first only once a month, in the homes of Catholic families. Priests came from neighboring parishes to care for their needs. Those first mentioned are Father Stephen and Father Flanagan. In 1882, Father E.M. Hennessy, of the Mitchell parish, came on the first Tuesday of each month. (Page 25)
Among the first families were the Conleys (Mike and Tom Sr.), Dennis Brady Sr., Timothy Farrell, Pat Purcell, Jacob Raish, Bartholomew (Batty) Ryan, "Irish" John Smith, and Mike Walsh.
In 1884, talk began and plans were formulated to build a church here, but nothing came of it that year. Services were held in Warner's Hall (the upstairs of Warner's store) and the Catholic Society of Kimball was organized. Oyster suppers and a dance were held to raise funds for the church. ... The cost of new building was estimated to have been about $3,000.00. The cornerstone was laid on August 2nd (1885) in a ceremony attended by a large group of people of all denominations. (Page 25)
The first bell procured for St. Margaret Church was consecrated on October 11, 1899, by Bishop Thomas O'Gorman. Confirmation was also held on that day. (Page 26)
In the year 1905, St Margaret's was incorporated. Bishop O'Gorman, Thomas Flynn, who was Vicar General of the Diocese, Father O'Flaherty, as well as laymen Peter and John Smith signed the necessary papers. By these Articles of Incorporation, only male Catholics over the age of twenty-one were considered members of the corporation. (Page 26) (Editor’s note: The articles of Incorporation are included in the book cited above.)
1910 - 1946 Timothy J. O'Gorman
On the night of May 26, 1916, at 11:30 PM I was aroused from my slumber by the violent ringing of the telephone, and supposing it to be a sick call I did not let it ring a second time, and to my "hello" the night operator informed me "your church is on fire". Turning to look towards the church I saw the truth of the sad message the church was on fire away up in the belfry the timbers were ablaze. (Page 27) (Editor’s notes: This was taken from Father O’Gorman’s writings.)
As soon as we possibly could we determined on the location of the new church, staked out the foundation, and June 15, 16, 17 and 19 found 13 farmers with teams and scrapers and plows each day to excavate for the basement. (Page 27) (Page 28 suggests the entire debt of the construction costs for the new church paid in full by the Kimball congregation. Later, this book suggests donations were accepted from other Catholic Churches in the area.) The Dedication Ceremony was held on Sept. 12, 1917. (Editor’s notes: This was taken from Father O’Gorman’s writings.)
Donations for the new structure came from missions of Crow Lake and Bendon in addition to Kimball itself. A number of non-Catholics also contributed (page 29)
The funeral of Mrs. Mike Stadler, held December 12, 1916, was the first service held in the new church. The chalice which she donated was used for the first time at her funeral. The first baby baptized was Alvina Turgeon. Louis Turgeon, her grandfather, donated the baptismal font. James J. Havlik and Winifred Walsh were the first couple to celebrate a marriage there on June 6, 1917.
