St. Paul in Neosho County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Osage Catholic Mission
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 24, 2011
1. Osage Catholic Mission Marker
The mission was founded in 1847 for Osage Indians living along the Neosho and Verdigris rivers. A manual labor school for boys was established by the Jesuits and a department for girls by the Sisters of Loretto. Highest recorded enrollment was 239. In 1848 the first Catholic church in southern Kansas was built. During the Civil War when property was laid waste throughout the border, the mission was always spared and school was never suspended. When the Osages moved to Indian territory in 1870, white children gradually replaced the Indians. The school became St. Francis Institution for boys and St. Ann's Academy for girls. St. Francis closed in 1891 and St. Ann's was destroyed by fire in 1895. Notable in service here were Mother Bridget Hayden and Fathers John Schoenmakers, John Bax and Paul Mary Ponziglione, the latter an Italian nobleman. A town, Osage Mission, organized in 1867, became St. Paul in 1895.
Erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission. (Marker Number 51.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education • Native Americans. In addition, it is included in the Kansas Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.
Location. 37°
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Memorial (approx. 4˝ miles away); American Legion Post 102 Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.6 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.7 miles away); Lieutenant Leland R. Richey, U.S.N.R. (approx. 5.9 miles away); Mission Neosho (approx. 7.7 miles away); Osage Nation (approx. 7.7 miles away); Oak Grove School (approx. 8 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. The Osage Nation. Tribe website homepage (Submitted on August 19, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Osage Mission in Cutler's History of Kansas. Kansas Collection Books website entry (Submitted on August 19, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 24, 2011
2. Osage Catholic Mission Marker
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 2, 2020
3. Osage Mission Historical Museum
Museum website homepage
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 24, 2011
4. St. Francis Catholic Church
North across Washington Street from marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 864 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 19, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on March 1, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on August 19, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
