Holy Trinity Church, Baldwin
MCNAMARA, ZLEBCIK, KOPSA, URBAN, CHMLAR, HANNON, BAUMANN, COUGHLIN, OFARRELL, MIKOTA, TRACY, LUEHRSMANN, DESMOND, MCAULIFFE, NOLAN, REGAN, CRANEY, KLASSEN, MULLEN, SCHMITZ
Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 6/23/2008 at 18:26:35
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE,
Rev. M. M. Hoffmann, 1938HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, BALDWIN
Holy Trinity Church, Baldwin, in Jackson County, was at one time known as St. John’s Bohemian Church, and also was known as Holy Trinity Church, Fremont.
Before the church was built at Baldwin most of the people of that community attended church at Onslow, a mission to Temple Hill. After the Baldwin church was built the Onslow church was abandoned. In 1909 the church burned to the ground and the people from the Baldwin parish received permission to tear down the church at Onslow and move it to Baldwin. The present church was built in 1910 under the direction of the Rev. Patrick McNamara, who was pastor at Oxford Junction at the time and had charge of the Baldwin church as a mission. No changes have been made in the church since then.
The first church was a rock building. The Bohemian people of the community began building the church in the year 1864 but it was not completed until about 1871 under the direction of the Rev. John Zlebcik. The present church is standing on the same location occupied by the former church.
Before the church was finished the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered in the homes of the people of the community. It is claimed that at least forty-five children were baptized in the old Ales homestead.
Since the Baldwin parish was always a mission to other parishes and no separate records were kept, so far as anyone knows, it is difficult to find church records. The only records in possession of the present pastor date back to the beginning of Father McNamara’s pastorate at Oxford Junction, 1901.
From the History of Jackson County we read the following: “This church was organized May 5, 1864, upon the call of a meeting by Joseph J. Kopsa who has been the leading spirit in the church since its organization. He gave to the society the lot on which the church was built. The house of worship was commenced the year following the founding of the church, but was not completed until 1873. It is a neat stone building and was erected at the cost of some $1,500.00. It was used for a number of years prior to the completion. The priests who have been in charge are the Rev. Fathers Anton Urban, John Zlebcik, and Francis Chmelar. The last named is now in charge of the parish. He lives in Cedar Rapids and holds services in Baldwin once every four weeks. The services are conducted in Bohemian, German, and English. The present membership is near forty” (1880).
The priests who attended Catholics around Baldwin, formerly Fremont, as nearly as can be ascertained, were as follows:
Father Mathias Hannon, sometime between 1861-1864, from North Garryowen.
Father Coughlin, 1861-1864, from St. Martin’s Cascade.
Father John Baumann said Mass in some of the homes in 1865.
Father John Zlebcik. He built the church in Fremont (Baldwin Station) where he said Mass once a month. The church was struck by lightning but the steeple was repaired.
Father John Chmelar, succeeded Father John Zlebcik and took care of the Baldwin people in the same manner.
Father O’Farrell, residing at Temple Hill, took care of the church at Onslow, where many of the Baldwin people attended when they had no pastor at Baldwin.
Father Mikota was pastor of Norway, 1883-1888, with Baldwin as a station.
Father Tracy of Hughes Settlement and Delmar Junction and first resident priest in Maquoketa cared for the spiritual needs of the Baldwin people, though not their regular pastor. Father Luehrsmann is also said to have been at Baldwin during this time. Father Wm. Sassen was in charge of the parish until about 1895.
Father W. P. Desmond of Bryant had charge of the parish about a year. The church was abandoned for a while.
Father J. McAuliffe was appointed to Oxford Junction, November, 1896, as pastor of St. Mary’s Church and soon after was instructed to attend Baldwin. He was there until 1900.
Father John Nolan was the next pastor of St. Mary’s Church, Oxford Junction with Baldwin as a mission. He was there only until November 1, 1900.
Father Patrick McNamara, pastor of St. Mary’s Oxford Junction, had Baldwin as a mission. He came there November 4, 1900, and was there until January, 1912. It was during his time that the present church was built. With Father McNamara’s pastorate in Oxford Junction began all the present parish records. Some claim that the old records were burned in the old church.
Father C. S. Regan served the Baldwin people from 1912-1916.
Father Lawrence Craney, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Maquoketa, was given Baldwin as a mission in 1916 and was pastor until his death in November, 1929.
Father James Craney succeeded Father Lawrence Craney as pastor at Maquoketa with Baldwin as a mission, November, 1929-July, 1930.
Father Klassen took charge of Maquoketa and Baldwin from July, 1930, to October, 1930.
Father James Mullen, Maquoketa, then had Baldwin as a mission from October, 1930, to August, 1931. During his time the steeple of the church was repaired.
Father J. G. Schmitz was appointed the first resident pastor of St. John’s Church, Andrew, August, 1931, with Baldwin as a mission.
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