Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


REV. FATHER GEORGE P. SEUBERT.� The beloved and devoted 
pastor of the Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church at Reedley, Cal., is 
a native of Lebanon, Pa., where he was born on January 19, 1875, a son of 
Francis A. and Margaret Seubert. He attended the parochial school at 
Lebanon until he reached the age of fourteen, after which he entered the Saint 
Vincent College at Beatty, Pa., from which institution he was graduated in 
1896. To complete his studies for the priesthood, he went to Europe, where 
he attended the University at Innsbruck, Austria, the capital city of the 
Tyrol. He remained at Innsbruck three years to finish his course, and then 
returned to the United States, and was ordained a priest on March 7. 1899, 
at Baltimore, Md. After holding various pastorates in Pennsylvania, Father 
Seubert came to California in 1905; and on November 15, 1906, he was in- 
stalled .as pastor of the church at Reedley. 

At an early period in the history of Fresno County, the congregation of 
Saint Anthony of Padua was formed as a mission under the guidance of the 
priest at Fresno. From the year 1890 until 1900 it was under the care of 
the priest stationed at Hanford, and from 1900 until November 15, 1906, it 
was still a mission and was supplied from the church at Visalia. The latter 
date is a memorable one in the history of this church, for it was then that 
the Right Rev. T. J. Conaty, D.D., Bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles, 
appointed the present efficient and consecrated priest as pastor. At that 
time there was no church building and the congregation was obliged to 
meet in halls or private homes. Subsequently a spacious site for a church 
building was purchased comprising ten lots situated on the corner of Elev- 
enth and F Streets. On October 8, 1907, excavation for the foundation was 
commenced, and on November 24, 1907, the corner-stone was laid by the 
greatly beloved Bishop Conaty, who. after the lapse of four busy years, 
which were marked by intense activity on the part of the zealous pastor, 
also dedicated the building on May 21, 1911. The edifice is regarded as one 
of the finest specimens of church architecture in Fresno County, and com- 
pares favorably with many of the churches found in larger cities. It has a 
seating capacity of 400 persons. At a very low estimate the cost of the 
structure is placed at $35,000. An interesting feature of the building, by 
which is shown the high regard in which the pastor. Father Seubert, is held 
by the citizens of Reedley, is the large clock, which was donated by non- 
Catholic citizens of the town. The gift renders a splendid service to the 
inhabitants of this enterprising little city, as the clock strikes the hours, 
as well as the half hours, throughout the day and night. The dial of the 
clock is four and one-half feet in diameter and is visible all over the town. 
Father Seubert erected a rectory, constructed from the same kind of 
stones as were used in the church building. This structure, now completed 
at a cost of about $10,000, is an attractive addition to the permanent buildings 
of Reedley. Much credit is due both to the loyal members who, by their 
sacrifices of both money and time, have made possible the consummation of 
this worthy work, and also to the pastor who, with untiring zeal and con- 
secrated devotion, has led his people to the triumphant completion of so 
great an undertaking.