Father Valentine Nicholas Stimmler, O.S.B.
Born: 6 Dec. 1836, in Wilwisheim, Alsace, France; Professed: 15 Jan.1866; Ordained: 30 Mar.1869; Died: 16 Jan. 1908, came to this country with his parents in 1840, settled around Philadelphia, Pa., and in the 1850's moved to Minnesota. In 1857 he enrolled in the seminary at Dubuque, Iowa and was there until September of that year. He then travelled to Shakopee, Minnesota, returning to Philadelphia in October. May 28, 1858 Nicholas enrolled at Table Mound College and worked as a carpenter. Poor health necessitated his withdrawal September 16 of that same year. On September 1, 1860 Nicholas came to St. John's seminary located south of St. Cloud with the intention of joining the monastery. On January 6, 1862 he was invested into the habit of the Benedictine Order, and on January 28 he sold the 44.4-acre homestead to the Order of St. Benedict for $200. Valentine remained and helped with the construction of the new colony building at Indian bush. In 1863 he did carpentry work and helped with the erection of the first Benedictine Sisters' convent in St. Joseph in 1863. In spring 1864 the colony moved to Indian bush. In December 1864 Frater Valentine went to the novitiate at St. Vincent's in Pennsylvania where he stayed until the following December; he was the first clerical novice of the Minnesota foundation. On January 15, 1866 he made simple vows before Prior Haindl OSB. In May of that year the colony moved to the present site of St. John's University. The Old Stone House, which was the first monastic building, was built from 1865-1866. He painted a picturesque sundial with baroque corona in bright Bavarian colors on the south wall. On December 20, 1866, the Order of St. Benedict sold the Carver County homestead to Frater Valentine's younger brother, Anton, for $220. On January 13, 1869 Father Valentine professed his solemn vows before Abbott Rupert Seidenbusch, OSB, was ordained by Archbishop Thomas Grace in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 30, and on April 11 of that year conducted the first Mass of the Church of the Assumption in Manayunk, Pennsylvania, his home parish. Immediately after his profession, he returned to St. John's and as a cleric was the first Prefect (chief disciplinarian) of St. John's University. He was professor of religion and arithmetic, and served as a missionary to neighboring parishes until 1872. On February 27, 1870 Father Valentine assumed additional responsibilities as Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He visited parishes at St. Augusta, St. Wendel, Clearwater and Luxemburg, Minnesota. On March 16 he travelled to Clearwater for the first time and bought two lots and a schoolhouse, which he turned into a church. The first Mass was held in September. From September 1870 to January 1871, Father Valentine served at St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. While there he negotiated the building of the brick church. In May 1872 construction of the stone church at St. Augusta was begun by Father Valentine with the assistance of his brother, Anton and nephew, John Kaufmann. The church was finished in December 1872 and from September of that year to January 1873 Father Valentine again served at the St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. It was a busy year as he also started a church at St. Wendel which was finished in 1873 and dedicated by Bishop Seidenbusch on July 4, 1875. In 1873 Father Valentine moved his residence to St. Augusta where he was pastor. During this time he also built the stone church at Luxemburg and founded a parish at Kimball Prairie. On January 13, 1874 he performed marriage rites for his nephew, John Kaufmann and Mary Ann Imholte in St. Augusta at the church he and his brother, Anton, built with John. In 1875 Father Valentine continued to serve at the St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. He became the Pastor of the Assumption Church in St. Paul on November 3, 1875, where he worked for the next 12 years. On November 8, 1877 he married his niece, Mary Magdalena Schaaf, to John Webber at Victoria, Minnesota. Earlier that year on March 17, 1877, Father Valentine opened the first German Orphan Asylum at St. Paul, Minnesota with five children taken from the Bishop's diocesan asylum; the new orphanage was in charge of Sisters Benedicta and Agatha of the Shakopee community. In 1880 a new orphanage was built near St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, and the June 11,1880 Federal Census shows Father Valentine working with the sisters as the head of the orphanage. He also founded St. Joseph's parish in Murdock, Minnesota in 1880. His sister, Frances C. Schaaf, moved with her family from Victoria and settled in Murdock, and he visited the parish once a month. Due to failing health, on May 17, 1887, Father Stimmler became the Pastor of St. John's Church in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and Diocesan and Dean of Stearns County and Visitor of Sister Houses in the Diocese. He accompanied Abbot Bernard Locnikor on a visit to the Pacific Ocean in 1891. In September 1892 he returned as Pastor of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians in St. Augusta, Minnesota. Because of continuing ill health, he was assigned as Assistant Pastor of St. Anselm's in New York, New York. He was the Chaplain of St. Alexius' Hospital in Bismark, North Dakota during 1895, and also served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Glen Ullin, North Dakota. Father Valentine returned to St. Cloud in 1896 as the Chaplain of St. Rafael's Hospital. He was the Chaplain of St. Scholastica's Viand of St. Benedict's Hospital (1900) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, returning to St. John's in 1905. In 1906 he became the Chaplain of Villa Maria Academy in Frontenac, MN. He passed away on January 16, 1908 at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, MN while awaiting an operation. The Scriptorium in Vol. 15 (June 1956) says he died of a kidney ailment. His states that he died due to prostate cancer. He was 71 years old. "A man of little Latin and less Greek, Father Valentine was not as learned as most of his confreres, since he had been educated in a frontier school which had neither a set course of studies nor any particular standards. On the other hand, driven by zeal for souls and the Church, this short, stout monk with the American know-how and energy got things done, especially in parishes burdened by debt.
( The Scriptorium, Vol. 15, June 1956, Saint John's University Archives, Collegeville, Stearns County, Minnesota) + (Dana D. Stimler – Rootsweb / ddsgen73 / Stimler Family)
Born: 6 Dec. 1836, in Wilwisheim, Alsace, France; Professed: 15 Jan.1866; Ordained: 30 Mar.1869; Died: 16 Jan. 1908, came to this country with his parents in 1840, settled around Philadelphia, Pa., and in the 1850's moved to Minnesota. In 1857 he enrolled in the seminary at Dubuque, Iowa and was there until September of that year. He then travelled to Shakopee, Minnesota, returning to Philadelphia in October. May 28, 1858 Nicholas enrolled at Table Mound College and worked as a carpenter. Poor health necessitated his withdrawal September 16 of that same year. On September 1, 1860 Nicholas came to St. John's seminary located south of St. Cloud with the intention of joining the monastery. On January 6, 1862 he was invested into the habit of the Benedictine Order, and on January 28 he sold the 44.4-acre homestead to the Order of St. Benedict for $200. Valentine remained and helped with the construction of the new colony building at Indian bush. In 1863 he did carpentry work and helped with the erection of the first Benedictine Sisters' convent in St. Joseph in 1863. In spring 1864 the colony moved to Indian bush. In December 1864 Frater Valentine went to the novitiate at St. Vincent's in Pennsylvania where he stayed until the following December; he was the first clerical novice of the Minnesota foundation. On January 15, 1866 he made simple vows before Prior Haindl OSB. In May of that year the colony moved to the present site of St. John's University. The Old Stone House, which was the first monastic building, was built from 1865-1866. He painted a picturesque sundial with baroque corona in bright Bavarian colors on the south wall. On December 20, 1866, the Order of St. Benedict sold the Carver County homestead to Frater Valentine's younger brother, Anton, for $220. On January 13, 1869 Father Valentine professed his solemn vows before Abbott Rupert Seidenbusch, OSB, was ordained by Archbishop Thomas Grace in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 30, and on April 11 of that year conducted the first Mass of the Church of the Assumption in Manayunk, Pennsylvania, his home parish. Immediately after his profession, he returned to St. John's and as a cleric was the first Prefect (chief disciplinarian) of St. John's University. He was professor of religion and arithmetic, and served as a missionary to neighboring parishes until 1872. On February 27, 1870 Father Valentine assumed additional responsibilities as Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He visited parishes at St. Augusta, St. Wendel, Clearwater and Luxemburg, Minnesota. On March 16 he travelled to Clearwater for the first time and bought two lots and a schoolhouse, which he turned into a church. The first Mass was held in September. From September 1870 to January 1871, Father Valentine served at St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. While there he negotiated the building of the brick church. In May 1872 construction of the stone church at St. Augusta was begun by Father Valentine with the assistance of his brother, Anton and nephew, John Kaufmann. The church was finished in December 1872 and from September of that year to January 1873 Father Valentine again served at the St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. It was a busy year as he also started a church at St. Wendel which was finished in 1873 and dedicated by Bishop Seidenbusch on July 4, 1875. In 1873 Father Valentine moved his residence to St. Augusta where he was pastor. During this time he also built the stone church at Luxemburg and founded a parish at Kimball Prairie. On January 13, 1874 he performed marriage rites for his nephew, John Kaufmann and Mary Ann Imholte in St. Augusta at the church he and his brother, Anton, built with John. In 1875 Father Valentine continued to serve at the St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. He became the Pastor of the Assumption Church in St. Paul on November 3, 1875, where he worked for the next 12 years. On November 8, 1877 he married his niece, Mary Magdalena Schaaf, to John Webber at Victoria, Minnesota. Earlier that year on March 17, 1877, Father Valentine opened the first German Orphan Asylum at St. Paul, Minnesota with five children taken from the Bishop's diocesan asylum; the new orphanage was in charge of Sisters Benedicta and Agatha of the Shakopee community. In 1880 a new orphanage was built near St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, and the June 11,1880 Federal Census shows Father Valentine working with the sisters as the head of the orphanage. He also founded St. Joseph's parish in Murdock, Minnesota in 1880. His sister, Frances C. Schaaf, moved with her family from Victoria and settled in Murdock, and he visited the parish once a month. Due to failing health, on May 17, 1887, Father Stimmler became the Pastor of St. John's Church in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and Diocesan and Dean of Stearns County and Visitor of Sister Houses in the Diocese. He accompanied Abbot Bernard Locnikor on a visit to the Pacific Ocean in 1891. In September 1892 he returned as Pastor of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians in St. Augusta, Minnesota. Because of continuing ill health, he was assigned as Assistant Pastor of St. Anselm's in New York, New York. He was the Chaplain of St. Alexius' Hospital in Bismark, North Dakota during 1895, and also served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Glen Ullin, North Dakota. Father Valentine returned to St. Cloud in 1896 as the Chaplain of St. Rafael's Hospital. He was the Chaplain of St. Scholastica's Viand of St. Benedict's Hospital (1900) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, returning to St. John's in 1905. In 1906 he became the Chaplain of Villa Maria Academy in Frontenac, MN. He passed away on January 16, 1908 at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, MN while awaiting an operation. The Scriptorium in Vol. 15 (June 1956) says he died of a kidney ailment. His states that he died due to prostate cancer. He was 71 years old. "A man of little Latin and less Greek, Father Valentine was not as learned as most of his confreres, since he had been educated in a frontier school which had neither a set course of studies nor any particular standards. On the other hand, driven by zeal for souls and the Church, this short, stout monk with the American know-how and energy got things done, especially in parishes burdened by debt.
( The Scriptorium, Vol. 15, June 1956, Saint John's University Archives, Collegeville, Stearns County, Minnesota) + (Dana D. Stimler – Rootsweb / ddsgen73 / Stimler Family)
Father Valentine Nicholas Stimmler, O.S.B.
Born: 6 Dec. 1836, in Wilwisheim, Alsace, France; Professed: 15 Jan.1866; Ordained: 30 Mar.1869; Died: 16 Jan. 1908, came to this country with his parents in 1840, settled around Philadelphia, Pa., and in the 1850's moved to Minnesota. In 1857 he enrolled in the seminary at Dubuque, Iowa and was there until September of that year. He then travelled to Shakopee, Minnesota, returning to Philadelphia in October. May 28, 1858 Nicholas enrolled at Table Mound College and worked as a carpenter. Poor health necessitated his withdrawal September 16 of that same year. On September 1, 1860 Nicholas came to St. John's seminary located south of St. Cloud with the intention of joining the monastery. On January 6, 1862 he was invested into the habit of the Benedictine Order, and on January 28 he sold the 44.4-acre homestead to the Order of St. Benedict for $200. Valentine remained and helped with the construction of the new colony building at Indian bush. In 1863 he did carpentry work and helped with the erection of the first Benedictine Sisters' convent in St. Joseph in 1863. In spring 1864 the colony moved to Indian bush. In December 1864 Frater Valentine went to the novitiate at St. Vincent's in Pennsylvania where he stayed until the following December; he was the first clerical novice of the Minnesota foundation. On January 15, 1866 he made simple vows before Prior Haindl OSB. In May of that year the colony moved to the present site of St. John's University. The Old Stone House, which was the first monastic building, was built from 1865-1866. He painted a picturesque sundial with baroque corona in bright Bavarian colors on the south wall. On December 20, 1866, the Order of St. Benedict sold the Carver County homestead to Frater Valentine's younger brother, Anton, for $220. On January 13, 1869 Father Valentine professed his solemn vows before Abbott Rupert Seidenbusch, OSB, was ordained by Archbishop Thomas Grace in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 30, and on April 11 of that year conducted the first Mass of the Church of the Assumption in Manayunk, Pennsylvania, his home parish. Immediately after his profession, he returned to St. John's and as a cleric was the first Prefect (chief disciplinarian) of St. John's University. He was professor of religion and arithmetic, and served as a missionary to neighboring parishes until 1872. On February 27, 1870 Father Valentine assumed additional responsibilities as Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He visited parishes at St. Augusta, St. Wendel, Clearwater and Luxemburg, Minnesota. On March 16 he travelled to Clearwater for the first time and bought two lots and a schoolhouse, which he turned into a church. The first Mass was held in September. From September 1870 to January 1871, Father Valentine served at St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. While there he negotiated the building of the brick church. In May 1872 construction of the stone church at St. Augusta was begun by Father Valentine with the assistance of his brother, Anton and nephew, John Kaufmann. The church was finished in December 1872 and from September of that year to January 1873 Father Valentine again served at the St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. It was a busy year as he also started a church at St. Wendel which was finished in 1873 and dedicated by Bishop Seidenbusch on July 4, 1875. In 1873 Father Valentine moved his residence to St. Augusta where he was pastor. During this time he also built the stone church at Luxemburg and founded a parish at Kimball Prairie. On January 13, 1874 he performed marriage rites for his nephew, John Kaufmann and Mary Ann Imholte in St. Augusta at the church he and his brother, Anton, built with John. In 1875 Father Valentine continued to serve at the St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. He became the Pastor of the Assumption Church in St. Paul on November 3, 1875, where he worked for the next 12 years. On November 8, 1877 he married his niece, Mary Magdalena Schaaf, to John Webber at Victoria, Minnesota. Earlier that year on March 17, 1877, Father Valentine opened the first German Orphan Asylum at St. Paul, Minnesota with five children taken from the Bishop's diocesan asylum; the new orphanage was in charge of Sisters Benedicta and Agatha of the Shakopee community. In 1880 a new orphanage was built near St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, and the June 11,1880 Federal Census shows Father Valentine working with the sisters as the head of the orphanage. He also founded St. Joseph's parish in Murdock, Minnesota in 1880. His sister, Frances C. Schaaf, moved with her family from Victoria and settled in Murdock, and he visited the parish once a month. Due to failing health, on May 17, 1887, Father Stimmler became the Pastor of St. John's Church in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and Diocesan and Dean of Stearns County and Visitor of Sister Houses in the Diocese. He accompanied Abbot Bernard Locnikor on a visit to the Pacific Ocean in 1891. In September 1892 he returned as Pastor of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians in St. Augusta, Minnesota. Because of continuing ill health, he was assigned as Assistant Pastor of St. Anselm's in New York, New York. He was the Chaplain of St. Alexius' Hospital in Bismark, North Dakota during 1895, and also served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Glen Ullin, North Dakota. Father Valentine returned to St. Cloud in 1896 as the Chaplain of St. Rafael's Hospital. He was the Chaplain of St. Scholastica's Viand of St. Benedict's Hospital (1900) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, returning to St. John's in 1905. In 1906 he became the Chaplain of Villa Maria Academy in Frontenac, MN. He passed away on January 16, 1908 at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, MN while awaiting an operation. The Scriptorium in Vol. 15 (June 1956) says he died of a kidney ailment. His states that he died due to prostate cancer. He was 71 years old. "A man of little Latin and less Greek, Father Valentine was not as learned as most of his confreres, since he had been educated in a frontier school which had neither a set course of studies nor any particular standards. On the other hand, driven by zeal for souls and the Church, this short, stout monk with the American know-how and energy got things done, especially in parishes burdened by debt.
( The Scriptorium, Vol. 15, June 1956, Saint John's University Archives, Collegeville, Stearns County, Minnesota) + (Dana D. Stimler – Rootsweb / ddsgen73 / Stimler Family)
Born: 6 Dec. 1836, in Wilwisheim, Alsace, France; Professed: 15 Jan.1866; Ordained: 30 Mar.1869; Died: 16 Jan. 1908, came to this country with his parents in 1840, settled around Philadelphia, Pa., and in the 1850's moved to Minnesota. In 1857 he enrolled in the seminary at Dubuque, Iowa and was there until September of that year. He then travelled to Shakopee, Minnesota, returning to Philadelphia in October. May 28, 1858 Nicholas enrolled at Table Mound College and worked as a carpenter. Poor health necessitated his withdrawal September 16 of that same year. On September 1, 1860 Nicholas came to St. John's seminary located south of St. Cloud with the intention of joining the monastery. On January 6, 1862 he was invested into the habit of the Benedictine Order, and on January 28 he sold the 44.4-acre homestead to the Order of St. Benedict for $200. Valentine remained and helped with the construction of the new colony building at Indian bush. In 1863 he did carpentry work and helped with the erection of the first Benedictine Sisters' convent in St. Joseph in 1863. In spring 1864 the colony moved to Indian bush. In December 1864 Frater Valentine went to the novitiate at St. Vincent's in Pennsylvania where he stayed until the following December; he was the first clerical novice of the Minnesota foundation. On January 15, 1866 he made simple vows before Prior Haindl OSB. In May of that year the colony moved to the present site of St. John's University. The Old Stone House, which was the first monastic building, was built from 1865-1866. He painted a picturesque sundial with baroque corona in bright Bavarian colors on the south wall. On December 20, 1866, the Order of St. Benedict sold the Carver County homestead to Frater Valentine's younger brother, Anton, for $220. On January 13, 1869 Father Valentine professed his solemn vows before Abbott Rupert Seidenbusch, OSB, was ordained by Archbishop Thomas Grace in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 30, and on April 11 of that year conducted the first Mass of the Church of the Assumption in Manayunk, Pennsylvania, his home parish. Immediately after his profession, he returned to St. John's and as a cleric was the first Prefect (chief disciplinarian) of St. John's University. He was professor of religion and arithmetic, and served as a missionary to neighboring parishes until 1872. On February 27, 1870 Father Valentine assumed additional responsibilities as Assistant Pastor of St. Mary's Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He visited parishes at St. Augusta, St. Wendel, Clearwater and Luxemburg, Minnesota. On March 16 he travelled to Clearwater for the first time and bought two lots and a schoolhouse, which he turned into a church. The first Mass was held in September. From September 1870 to January 1871, Father Valentine served at St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. While there he negotiated the building of the brick church. In May 1872 construction of the stone church at St. Augusta was begun by Father Valentine with the assistance of his brother, Anton and nephew, John Kaufmann. The church was finished in December 1872 and from September of that year to January 1873 Father Valentine again served at the St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. It was a busy year as he also started a church at St. Wendel which was finished in 1873 and dedicated by Bishop Seidenbusch on July 4, 1875. In 1873 Father Valentine moved his residence to St. Augusta where he was pastor. During this time he also built the stone church at Luxemburg and founded a parish at Kimball Prairie. On January 13, 1874 he performed marriage rites for his nephew, John Kaufmann and Mary Ann Imholte in St. Augusta at the church he and his brother, Anton, built with John. In 1875 Father Valentine continued to serve at the St. Victoria Mission in Victoria, Minnesota. He became the Pastor of the Assumption Church in St. Paul on November 3, 1875, where he worked for the next 12 years. On November 8, 1877 he married his niece, Mary Magdalena Schaaf, to John Webber at Victoria, Minnesota. Earlier that year on March 17, 1877, Father Valentine opened the first German Orphan Asylum at St. Paul, Minnesota with five children taken from the Bishop's diocesan asylum; the new orphanage was in charge of Sisters Benedicta and Agatha of the Shakopee community. In 1880 a new orphanage was built near St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, and the June 11,1880 Federal Census shows Father Valentine working with the sisters as the head of the orphanage. He also founded St. Joseph's parish in Murdock, Minnesota in 1880. His sister, Frances C. Schaaf, moved with her family from Victoria and settled in Murdock, and he visited the parish once a month. Due to failing health, on May 17, 1887, Father Stimmler became the Pastor of St. John's Church in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and Diocesan and Dean of Stearns County and Visitor of Sister Houses in the Diocese. He accompanied Abbot Bernard Locnikor on a visit to the Pacific Ocean in 1891. In September 1892 he returned as Pastor of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians in St. Augusta, Minnesota. Because of continuing ill health, he was assigned as Assistant Pastor of St. Anselm's in New York, New York. He was the Chaplain of St. Alexius' Hospital in Bismark, North Dakota during 1895, and also served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Glen Ullin, North Dakota. Father Valentine returned to St. Cloud in 1896 as the Chaplain of St. Rafael's Hospital. He was the Chaplain of St. Scholastica's Viand of St. Benedict's Hospital (1900) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, returning to St. John's in 1905. In 1906 he became the Chaplain of Villa Maria Academy in Frontenac, MN. He passed away on January 16, 1908 at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, MN while awaiting an operation. The Scriptorium in Vol. 15 (June 1956) says he died of a kidney ailment. His states that he died due to prostate cancer. He was 71 years old. "A man of little Latin and less Greek, Father Valentine was not as learned as most of his confreres, since he had been educated in a frontier school which had neither a set course of studies nor any particular standards. On the other hand, driven by zeal for souls and the Church, this short, stout monk with the American know-how and energy got things done, especially in parishes burdened by debt.
( The Scriptorium, Vol. 15, June 1956, Saint John's University Archives, Collegeville, Stearns County, Minnesota) + (Dana D. Stimler – Rootsweb / ddsgen73 / Stimler Family)
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