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THE PRIESTS OF ST. MARY'S

Rev. Charles McCabe

Reverend Charles McCabe cared for the religious needs of the people from 1876 to 1878.

Rev. Peter Daly 1875 – 1888
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     Rev. Peter Daly came to Mechanicsville in 1878 and served as shepherd of the scattered Catholic flock of Bertram, Mt. Vernon, Lisbon, Mechanicsville, Stanwood, Clarence, and Tipton. His favorite sport was hunting in the woods three miles northeast of Lisbon. A record book at St. Mary’s church Mechanicsville, has this inscription: “Baptismal Record 1878 to 1887, including the Missions of Mechanicsville, Tipton, Clarence and Lisbon. Rev. P. Daly, Pastor.

     Father Daly, “Doc” as his intimate friends called him, had come to Iowa from New York City, where he was born, educated and worked as a newspaper columnist before entering the priesthood.

     Ordained in Montreal for the Baltimore Diocese, Father Daly requested leave to come to Iowa to escape the humidity of Baltimore’s climate. What a change from the newspaper business in New York to the life of a prairie missionary priest, riding to the villages in the caboose of a freight train to minister to the religious needs of adults and impart catechetical instructions to the children. Father Daly was transferred to Atlantic in August of 1888. When Father Daly retired from the active ministry in his old age, he moved to Freeport, Illinois, with relatives. He died there in 1923.

Rev. James Kissane 1888-1900
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Rev. James Gillespie 1900-1909

Rev. J. Glenn 1909-1911

Rev. P. Landers 1911-1913

Rev. M.Gaffney 1913-1920

Rev. T. V. Lawlor 1913-1920
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     Rev. T. V. Lawlor has been received by his church with open arms, and he has made a fine impression upon those outside his church. He is, therefore, an asset not only to his church but to the community. When Catholics and Protestant churches are directed by men who understand the meaning of the word tolerance, it always adds to the happiness of a community.

Pioneer Press, April 28, 1921

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Rev. H. Frencken 1928-1956

     The Rev. H. Frencken came to St. Mary’s Parish in June of 1928. Rev. Frencken was born in the family residence in Hertogenborck in the Netherlands on March 4, 1866. He attended the school there and took his theology in an American College in Belgium. He was ordained June 29, 1892, at Louvain, Belgium. He was first assigned to Seattle, Washington, but came to the middle-west in 1902 after a doctor advised him to seek a less humid climate.

     In 1904, he was assigned to Davenport, where he served until 1906 when he was transferred to Victor. He remained at Victor until 1927 and then spent a year at Colfax before coming to Mechanicsville where he remained till his death in October, 1956.

     Rev. Frencken was the last surviving member of a family of four boys and eight girls of which he was fourth from youngest. All the boys became priests and two of the girls were nuns.

     The highlights of Father Frencken’s years were his visits back to Europe with his relatives in Holland.

     He loved raising flowers, especially dahlias—he formerly enjoyed traveling as a hobby.

     He completed 50 years as a priest at the age of 86 and was the oldest active priest in the diocese.

     Most Rev. Archbishop Henry P. Rohlman conveyed the Papal Blessing on Rev. Herman Frencken and the parishioners during the special services on June 29, 1952 at St. Mary’s church in Mechanicsville, where Father Frencken was honored for his 60 years in the priesthood. The Archbishop also spoke briefly to the many parishioners and friends that filled the church.

     Rev. Wm. Friedman of Lisbon was the Master of Ceremonies. Msgr. Lawlor of Davenport was speaker, response was given by Father Frencken. Bishop Ralph L. Hayes preached a wonderful sermon.

     Miss Mattie Kahler was his housekeeper and after his death went to live in Victor, Iowa. She also served an organist and helped with the choir.

March 1956 to November 1956

     Rev. Louis J. Leonhardt arrived in Mechanicsville in March to assume the assistant pastorship of St. Mary’s Catholic church under Rev. Herman Frencken, pastor.

     Rev. Leonhardt, a native of Chicago, Ill., was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Ralph L. Hayes June 2 in Sacred Heart cathedral in Davenport, 1955.

     Louis J. Leonhardt was born Feb. 4, 1930 in Chicago, Ill., and attended St. Carthage and St. Clotilde grade schools, graduating from the latter. Three years of his high school work were done at Quigley Preparatory seminary in Chicago and the final year in St. Henry’s seminary, Belleville, Ill.

     He is a graduate of St. Ambrose college in Davenport and Mt. St. Bernard seminary in Dubuque.

     His first Solemn Mass was offered in St. Clotilde church in Chicago June3. Father Stephen F. Duggan was deacon, Rev. Mr. Thomas Dinges of Mt. St. Bernard, sub-deacon, and Father Hildebrand Leonhardt, O.F.M., a brother of the newly ordained priest, was master of ceremonies.

     Father Cletus Madson of St. Ambrose college delivered the sermon. Father Leonhardt was guest of honor at a reception at Mercy high school the afternoon of his first Mass day.

Picture of Rev. Leonhardt, Asst. Pastor

Rev. Patrick Casey

     Rev. Patrick J. Casey was born in County Kerry, Ireland, September, 1904, son of Joh P. Casey and Bridget Gaynor Casey. He has three sisters and a brother still living in Ireland.

     He attended seminary at St. Patrick’s College, Carlow, Ireland, and the Catholic University, Washington, D.C. before being ordained at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport, Iowa, on May 21, 1932. His first assignment was assistant pastor at St. Mary’s church, Centerville, Iowa, for one year. He then went to St. Patrick’s church, Ottumwa for seven years and then became pastor of St. James church in Toronto, Iowa, and St. Patrick’s mission parish in Big Rock , Iowa, in 1940. From there he came to St. Mary’s church, Mechanicsville, and was installed as pastor on Nov. 12, 1956.

     Genevieve Ulrich, formerly of Ottumwa, has served as housekeeper for Father Casey since 1940.