Name: Brandt, Peter Leonard
Born: 11/1/1822
Place Born: Eupen, near Aachen, Germany
Ordained: 01/01/1853
Place Ordained: Rome, Italy
Years of Service: 1853-1881
Died: 04/13/ 1881
Place Died: Madison, Indiana
Burial Info: 19 April, 1881, Madison, Indiana, St. Joseph Cemetery, Priest’s Plot
Notes: Also see the St. Mary (Prince of Peace) history page at Prince of Peace History
Also see Find A Grave
Father Brandt’s time at pastor of St. Mary’s, Madison, according to Alerding’s History 1
The Rev. Leonard Brandt took charge of St. Mary’S Church on the 6th of February, 1856. At his arrival the outlook afforded little encouragement. The church was incumbered with a debt of $6,000. The income was so trifling that not even the meagre salaries of the pastor and the teacher -could be collected. Everything in and about the church was in a forlorn condition. By the energy of Father Brandt, however, things soon assumed a different aspect. Aided by the more generous portion of the congregation. he was soon enabled to replace the rickety wooden steps in front of the -church with substantial stone steps. A new altar and statues were also procured. Vestments, chalises, and other church utensils were purchased and donated ·by the various societies. December I, 1858, the house west of the church was bought for a parsonage. In 1860 the steeple was built, and a beautiful chime of bens placed in it. In 1864 a large organ was bought. March 6. 1865, a dwelling, situated immediately east of the church. and better suited for a pastoral residence. was secured for $3,000. The school-house, in the rear of the church, becoming too small for the number of children in attendance, a large three-story brick building near the church was purchased on September 13, 1865, for the sum of $6,000 dollars, and fitted up for a school-house. November 20, 1867, fourteen acres of land, about one mile north of the churchp were bought for $2.,000, for cemetery purposes. The church, becoming too small, fifty feet were added to its length in 18~, and the interior of the church frescoed. In 1876 the congregation deemed a better and more convenient school-house a necessity. Preparations for it were made April 8, 1876, by the purchase of a house and lot immediately west of the first pastoral residence, for the sum of $2,500. This purchase furnished the Sisters who taught the girls of the congregation a suitable dwelling, and also sufficient additional ground for the school. The old pastoral residence was removed, and an imposing edifice, containing four large school-rooms, and a large, well ventilated hall, was completed in 1877, at a cost of $7,000. This school-house is an ornament to the city, and the crowning act of Father Brandt’s great work at Madison. Father Brandt’s labors were not wholly confined to Madison. He had several missions to attend; one of them was Indianapolis, which he attended on the third Sunday of the month, and where he commenced the building of the present St. Mary’s Church. We can barely realize all the hard work done by the indefatigable Father Brandt; . however, it is all recorded in the Book of Life. After a lingering, painful illness, Father Brandt departed this life on April 13, 1881