Editing Victoria, Kansas (section)

=== Herzog ===
:''This section covers the [[Volga Germans|Volga German]] settlement of Herzog. For the broader history of Russian-German immigrants in Ellis County, see Ellis County History,  [[Ellis County, Kansas#English and Russian-German immigrants|English and Russian-German immigrants]].''

In 1875, a party of [[Volga Germans]] from villages near [[Saratov]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]], seeking a place to establish traditional farming villages, were shown locations in Ellis County. The first location, the [[Yocemento, Kansas|clay-soiled Ellis County "Hogback"]] was so disappointing that some in the party resolved to return to Russia. But after being shown locations in the eastern half of the county (the future [[Catharine, Kansas|Catherine]] and [[Schoenchen, Kansas|Schoenchen]]/[[Pfeifer, Kansas|Pfeifer]] sites), the party established the first Volga-German village in the county one-half mile north of the tracks from the Victoria Station.<ref>{{cite book|title= German-Russian settlements in Ellis County, Kansas |author= Francis S. Laing |publisher= [[Kansas Historical Society|Kansas State Historical Society]] |date= 1910 |access-date= 2018-11-04 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sPFYAAAAMAAJ |quote= [1875] The first land shown was near Hog Back, but this pleased so little that the men determined to return to Russia. [they eventually settled in Herzog/Victoria] |pages= 5–6 }}</ref><ref name="GNIS"/> The original plat registered for the town is named "'''Herzog''' or '''North Victoria'''".<ref name= HerzOrgPlt >{{cite web |title= Herzog Original Plat |date= |publisher = City of Hays / Ellis County / GIS Division |website= Geospatial Data Portal |url= https://www.geodataportal.net/plats/VictoriaOriginal.pdf |access-date= 2024-02-08 }}</ref> As the other Volga German villages were formed, Herzog's [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]] settlers built a series of churches which culminated in the construction of [[St. Fidelis Catholic Church]], known as "The Cathedral of the Plains," in 1911. When the German's first arrived at the station, Rev. Laing relates, there was only the station-hotel and one other building in Victoria.<ref>Laing, p. 37. "The first who came to Victoria found as the only buildings the present depot and one other house."</ref> Herzog grew rapidly and later adopted the station's name. Herzog and the smaller Victoria merged to incorporate under the name Victoria in 1913.<ref name=Herzog>{{cite web | title = Homesteading in Ellis County - Herzog | work = Kansas Heritage Project | publisher = [[Fort Hays State University]] | url = http://www.fhsu.edu/library/ksheritage/Herzog-%28Victoria%29/ | access-date = 2010-01-31}}</ref>

Such were the numbers of German-Russian settlers in Ellis County and adjoining [[Rush County, Kansas|Rush County]], such was their adoption of western Russian farming practice and community structure, and such was their adoption of Russian dress and elements of Russian language, Kansans referred to these settlements as "Little Russia". And such was the importance of Herzog that was soon referred to a "Russia Minor".<ref name=CutlerMinor >Cutler, William G., [http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/ellis/ellis-co-p2.html#GENERAL_HISTORY General History], (1883). "Herzog is regarded at the capital of this Russia Minor, and there is established the chief patriarch and priests. "</ref> 

A traditional religious community, Herzog's Catholic services were first held in the open around an erected cross, then in the home of Alois Dreiling after it was constructed. A typical two-story, four-room I-frame prairie farmhouse, attendance soon was too much for the flooring to withstand and a wood framed addition was built onto the home to hold church services. This addition is marked as the second church, first Catholic church, built in the county. The growing community soon overwhelmed this facility.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas |url= https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/ethnic/german-russian/jubilee/herzog.shtml |page= HERZOG (Victoria) |year= 1926 |quote= They built their humble sod houses, erected a large cross about which they gathered for services, ... Divine services were first held at Herzog in the dwelling of A. Dreiling, but the floor proving unequal to the weight, a frame church was built adjoining the house, the south wall of the dwelling serving as north wall of the church. This structure was about 40x24 feet, and could accommodate but part of the congregation. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website= The Volga Germans |title= First Church in Herzog (The Lean-to) |url= https://www.volgagermans.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/victoria_st_fidelis_c.jpg |access-date= 2024-04-06 }}</ref>

The only Catholic in the Victoria Colony, Sir Walter C. Maxwell had high interest in Herzog and completed a stone church for the town in 1877. This church was overcrowded almost as soon as it was finished.<ref name=Maxwell >Cutler, William G., [http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/ellis/ellis-co-p2.html#GENERAL_HISTORY General History], (1883). "The place has a very fine stone Catholic Church, which was erected by Sir Walter Maxwell, ..."</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas |url= https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/ethnic/german-russian/jubilee/herzog.shtml |page= HERZOG (Victoria) |year= 1926 |quote=  Hon. Walter C. Maxwell, a Catholic Englishman then living south of Victoria, undertook to build a stone church for the settlers on Section 1, north of the present dwellings. In June, 1877, he had collected $700, the total sum subscribed was $1,500, and the only condition attached was that the settlers haul the necessary stone. In August, 1877, plans and specifications had been completed by Henry Bergsland who also received the contract. This church, which measured 60x30x16 feet, soon proving to be too small, ... }}</ref>

The Kansas Pacific Railroad donated 10 acres of land for the community's religious use in 1879. Father Anthony Mary, who had previous led the construction of many churches, arrived and in November, 1881, and began construction on the original St. Fidelis Church at Herzog. Seating 600 parishioners, construction began in 1880 and the church was consecrated 1884.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas |url= https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/ethnic/german-russian/jubilee/herzog.shtml |page= HERZOG (Victoria) |year= 1926 |quote= ... the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company, ... donated ten acres in the northwest quarter of Section 7 for a church and school, ... which measured 168x46x35, and had a seating capacity of 600. The cornerstone was laid on June 1, 1880; consecration by Rt. Rev. L. M. Fink took place on October 19, 1884.}}</ref><ref name=AnthonyMary>{{cite book |url=http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/ellis/ellis-co-p5.html#VICTORIA  |title= William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas | publisher= A. T. Andreas, Chicago, Illinois |author=Cutler, William G. | year=1883 | pages=Ellis County, part 5, Victoria |quote= St. Fidelis Church, of Victoria, Ellis County, Kan., was founded by Rev. Father Anthony Mary, and the erection began November 1, 1881, and will be completed in the fall of 1883. The size of the church building is 50x123 feet; including sacristy, it is 169 feet long. ...  He has built many churches, monasteries and schoolhouses in his ife-time (sic) ... }}</ref>

Even as this was soon insufficient for the town and the Catholic villages at large, the [[Basilica of St. Fidelis]], "The Cathedral of the Plains," was constructed over 1908-1911.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas |url= https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/ethnic/german-russian/jubilee/herzog.shtml |page= HERZOG (Victoria) |year= 1926 |quote= The plans for the present church were completed as early as December, 1905, by John T. Comes, of Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1908, these were revised and modified by Jos. Marshall, of Topeka. Building operations began November, 1908, the cornerstone was laid October 4, 1909, by Rt. Rev. J. F. Cunningham, and the structure was completed in 1911. The total length of the building is 220 feet, the breadth 73 feet, in the transept 107 feet.}}</ref>