Editing St. Paul, Kansas (section)

==History==
Father John Schoenmakers, S.J. founded '''Osage Mission''' on April 28, 1847. Called the "Apostle to [[Osage Nation|the Osage]]" and the "Father of civilization in Southeast Kansas,"{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}} he served for 36 years as spiritual director, doctor, steward, lawyer, judge, catechist and preacher to the Osage. He served as an officially appointed U.S. postmaster of Osage Mission from 1851 to 1864. With the relocation of the Osage he ministered to the needs of the newly arrived settlers. He built the present St. Francis Church stone structure. Father Schoenmakers is buried in St. Francis Cemetery one quarter mile east of the Church.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

The other leading man in the Osage Mission was Kentucky-born John Allan Mathews.  He was married to Mary Williams and after her death to her sister Sarah Williams.  The Williams sisters were the daughters of [[William S. Williams]] and his Osage wife, '''A-Ci'n-Ga'''.  They first met Mathews while attending school in Kentucky after their mother died.  Mathews was a slaveholder and souther-sympathizer.  He married Mary in [[Jackson County, Missouri]] in 1835 and was appointed blacksmith for the Senaca in 1837 and for the Osage in 1839.  In about 1861 he gathered a group of Osage who tried to force Schoenmakers to flee the area because they disagreed with Schoenmakers' abolitionist ideas.<ref>[http://members.tripod.com/civilwar_ks/MATHEWS-2.html history of John Allen Mathews]</ref>  Matthews was killed by the 6th Kansas Cavalry under Gen. [[James G. Blunt]] in fighting at [[Chetopa, Kansas]] on Sep. 18, 1861.<ref>[http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/210774 Kansas memory entry on Mathews]</ref>

During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] both Union and Confederate troops took an interest in Osage Mission. From about December 1862 to June 1865 Union soldiers intermittently were stationed at or near the Mission. At least a couple times Confederate supporters entered Osage Mission or were in the immediate vicinity. For more see [[Osage Mission's post]].

As early as 1883 there was agitation to change the name of Osage Mission because it suggested it was still an Indian Mission. Neona was suggested to honor the daughter of Chief Little Bear, but local protests favored the name of St. Paul. The reigning judge decided to allow the citizens to vote on the new name and '''St. Paul''' was chosen in an election held on April 11, 1895. Some claim the new name was selected to honor the [[Paul the Apostle|Apostle Paul]], but it was most probably selected in honor of [[St. Paul of the Cross]], founder of the [[Passionist]]s, who had just then established a home in Osage Mission. {{citation needed|date=December 2010}} The name of the post office was officially changed from Osage Mission to Saint Paul in May 1895.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:NO |title=Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived) |publisher=Kansas Historical Society |accessdate=20 June 2014 |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009123501/http://www.kshs.org/geog/geog_postoffices/search/county:NO |archivedate=October 9, 2013 }}</ref>

The historic St. Francis Hieronymo Church dedicated in 1884 has undergone its latest renovation in 2007 due to a storm on June 30, 2005 that knocked off the steeple.  The Osage Mission-Neosho County Museum is directly south of the church. The Lone Elm School, a one-room school house that operated from 1867 through 1951 stands on the museum grounds.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

A visit to the St. Francis Parish Cemetery reflects much of the history of the Osage Mission, as does the only remaining structure of the girls' school established by Mother [[Bridget Hayden]] when she arrived at the Mission in 1847. The Osage Mission Infirmary & Guest House is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] and is managed under the name,  St. Ann's Bed and Breakfast. The owners strive to maintain its history and authentic design.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

St. Paul's homecoming is called Mission Days. It is held annually on Memorial Day Weekend with activities that begin on Thursday and conclude on Monday, including: races, music shows, dances, pony & draft horse pulls, parade, horseshoe tournament, carnival, kids games, golf tournament, calf penning & Calcutta, and Memorial Day services at the local cemeteries.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}