Concordia in Cloud County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Father Paul Fangman
October 25, 1922 - July 1, 2010
— Train to Raeville, Nebraska in 1923 —
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022
1. Father Paul Fangman Marker
The New York Foundling Hospital received a request from Andrew and Anna Fangman in 1923. They were unable to have children of their own. They wished to adopt a baby boy with brown hair. A sweet, 9-month-old little boy arrived by train in the summer of 1923 and they named him Paul. They would raise their beloved son in Raeville, Nebraska, doting on him every chance they got. Paul felt the calling to become a priest and attended St. Lawrence College at Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin, St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and Kenrich Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained on April 25, 1949 at St. Cecilia's Cathedral in Omaha, Nebraska. He served as parish priest at many churches throughout Nebraska and retired on October 29th, 1993.
Father Paul is remembered as everyone's priest, even for those not of that faith. He never met a stranger, he would help anyone in need and was never too old to learn how to do a cartwheel. He always embraced his Orphan Train Heritage and traveled across the country to attend reunions, including New York City. It wasn't until this time that he learned that his birth family was Jewish. Father Paul found humor in this.
Sponsored by: The Concordia Knights of Columbus Council 1142,
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Altar Society and a private donor.
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.
Location. 39° 34.368′ N, 97° 39.319′ W. Marker is in Concordia, Kansas, in Cloud County. Marker is on East 5th Street just east of Kansas Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker and sculpture are located directly in front of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 307 East 5th Street, Concordia KS 66901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Frank G. Simmons (approx. 0.2 miles away); Anna Louise Doherty / Louise Simpson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Agent Anna Laura Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cora Alice McVicker / Eugenia Alice Cullivan Mulligan (approx. 0.2 miles away); Michalena Birraglio / Lena Nelson (approx. ¼ mile away); Holly Stoll / Hallie Garwood (approx. ¼ mile away); Rudolph Jubelt (approx. ¼ mile away); George Jacobs Ducrow (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Concordia.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Orphan Train Movement
Also see . . .
2. Marker detail: Father Paul Fangman
1. Rev Fr Paul J. “Father Paul” Fangman (Find A Grave).
Saint Bonaventure Catholic Cemetery, Raeville, Boone County, Nebraska, USA(Submitted on December 23, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)On Oct. 29, 1993, Fr. Paul retired to Platte County, NE. He moved to Lindsay, NE in and lived at the rectory of Holy Family Church with Fr. Novotny until moving to the Wolf Memorial Good Samaritan Center in Albion, NE on Jan. 11, 2007. Fr. Paul was a very learned man; in both religion and worldly news. He was deeply involved with the Orphan Train and attended many conventions on its behalf. He also mastered the art of "Junk" collecting; acquiring a substantial collection over the years.
2. The New York Foundling Hospital.
Founded in 1851 by a group of businessmen who were concerned about vagrant children, and formed the NYJA to house, educate, reform, and indenture children who were homeless, truant, or who had been arrested for petty crimes. They imagined the NYJA as a place for non-delinquent children who would otherwise be placed in Houses of Refuge with adult criminals. They also took in children who had been removed from their homes or surrendered by their guardians. While at the NYJA, children attended school for 6 hours a day, and were(Submitted on December 23, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)taught religious, academic, and trade subjects.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 20223. Father Paul Fangman SculptureBetween 1855 and 1857, they collaborated with Rev. Mr. Enoch Kingsbury, who requested large groups of children to be indentured in Illinois and parts of Indiana. After 1857, Rev. Kingsbury continued working for the NYJA as a County Agent. The NYJA reformed a loose partnership with the Children’s Aid Society in 1907, which lasted until approximately 1920. In total, the NYJA sent approximately 6,000 children out by orphan train. Most of these children were formally indentured.
Additional commentary.
1. Kenrick Seminary
Note that the Kenrich Seminary mentioned in the marker text is most likely the Kenrick Seminary, now the Kenrick–Glennon Seminary.
— Submitted April 1, 2023.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022
4. Father Paul Fangman Sculpture and Marker
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2022
5. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on March 29, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 23, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
