| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
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Wapello, Iowa
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, September 20, 2016
The history of the Catholic Church in Wapello goes back to the early to mid-1860’s. There were a number of Catholic families living in the area in the 1860 period. Family names that appear on Catholic records of the time include: Corcoran, Cotter, Courtney, Galager, Lynch, Mullin, Murphy, Ryan, Sullivan and Wallace. These Catholic families had their children baptized and heard Holy Mass by going to Burlington or Washington, Iowa.
St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Burlington had a resident Priest in 1840. This parish was for English speaking people. About 15 years later, St. John’s of Burlington was established for German speaking people.
From 1860 to 1867 Priests from St. Alphonsus Church in Mt. Pleasant served the needs of Catholic families living in the Wapello area. St. Alphonsus records list four baptisms from Wapello in 1860 and eight in 1866. Although records may be incomplete, there were at least 15 infant baptisms in the Wapello congregation between 1860 and 1867.
| Father James Slattery | 1860-1864 |
| Father Phillip Shanahan | 1864-1867 |
| Father Francis Walsh | 1867- |
The first Catholic Church in Wapello was built in 1867. On July 1, 1867, Charles Galagar, a Trustee of the Wapello Catholic congregation, purchased the acre of land on which the Wapello St. Mary’s Church now stands. The purchase price was $125.
It has been estimated that there were at least fifteen Catholic families in the Wapello area when the first Church was built. All were of Irish descent
Before construction of the 20 foot by 30 foot frame structure could get underway, logs had to be floated down the Mississippi River to Port Louisa, and then cut into timbers (lumber). The parishioners then hauled this lumber to the present Church property in Wapello.
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Picture: The first St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wapello was built in 1867 on the site of the present Catholic Church. John Murphy renovated this building in 1929 and Dennis Murphy paid to have it restored to near-new condition in 1941.
Baptismal records show that the first Church was completed before Christmas of 1867. On that Christmas Day, Catherine Murphy, daughter of Michael Murphy and Catherine (Brennan) Murphy, was baptized in the Wapello Church by Father M. T. Schiffmacker.
Following erection of the first Catholic Church in Wapello, a Priest from St. James Church in Washington, Iowa served the spiritual needs of the Wapello congregation for the next 24 years. St. Mary’s Church in Columbus Junction and Seventy Six (Ardon) were also taken care of by the Priest from St. James in Washington during this period.
St. James Church records list baptisms from Wapello in 1866 and in Wapello in 1867; in Fredonia in 1876; and from Ardon in 1878. Baptisms from the Wapello area are recorded in Washington up to 1900.
The first Catholic Church in Wapello was built in 1867. On July 1, 1867, Charles Galagar, a Trustee of the Wapello Catholic congregation, purchased the acre of land on which the Wapello St. Mary’s Church now stands. The purchase price was $125.
It has been estimated that there were at least fifteen Catholic families in the Wapello area when the first Church was built. All were of Irish descent
Before construction of the 20 foot by 30 foot frame structure could get underway, logs had to be floated down the Mississippi River to Port Louisa, and then cut into timbers (lumber). The parishioners then hauled this lumber to the present Church property in Wapello.
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Picture: The first St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wapello was built in 1867 on the site of the present Catholic Church. John Murphy renovated this building in 1929 and Dennis Murphy paid to have it restored to near-new condition in 1941.
Baptismal records show that the first Church was completed before Christmas of 1867. On that Christmas Day, Catherine Murphy, daughter of Michael Murphy and Catherine (Brennan) Murphy, was baptized in the Wapello Church by Father M. T. Schiffmacker.
Following erection of the first Catholic Church in Wapello, a Priest from St. James Church in Washington, Iowa served the spiritual needs of the Wapello congregation for the next 24 years. St. Mary’s Church in Columbus Junction and Seventy Six (Ardon) were also taken care of by the Priest from St. James in Washington during this period.
St. James Church records list baptisms from Wapello in 1866 and in Wapello in 1867; in Fredonia in 1876; and from Ardon in 1878. Baptisms from the Wapello area are recorded in Washington up to 1900.
| Father M. Theodore Schiffmacker | 1866-1970 |
| Father James McDermott | 1870-1871 |
| Father James Harding | 1871-1876 |
| Father M. M. Tierney | 1876-1878 |
| Father D. J. Flannery | 1878-1882 |
| Father J. J. O’Brien | 1882-1885 |
| Father M. P. Kirkpatrick | 1886-1887 |
| Father J. J. Moran | 1887-1893 |
| Father Bernard Jacobsmier | 1893-1901 |
From 1901 through 1923 Father Joseph G. Houser, the Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Sigourney, Iowa, also served the St. Mary’s Churches in Wapello and Columbus Junction. Father Houser was Pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Sigourney for 46 years (1898-1944). Several times each month he would leave Sigourney by train on Saturday afternoon, headed for Columbus Junction and Wapello, where he held Sunday Mass before returning to Sigourney on Monday. Baptisms from 1901 to 1923 in Wapello and Columbus Junction were recorded by St. Mary’s Church in Sigourney, evidence of Father Houser’s attention to the needs of Catholic families living in Louisa County.
From 1923 to 1967 St. Mary’s Church in Wapello was served by a Priest from St. Mary’s Church in Nichols, Iowa, except during 1926 when the Wapello church was an Out-Mission of St. Mathias Church in Muscatine. Throughout the 1923-1967 period Columbus Junction was also an Out-Mission attached to St. Mary’s Church in Nichols. For over 70 years Wapello and Columbus Junction were Out-Missions served by the same Priest from the same town.
| Father T. P. Coleman | 1923-1926 |
| Father H. M. Thoman | 1926-1931 |
| Father P. D. Moore | 1931-1939 |
| Father H. M. Staunton | 1939-1944 |
| Father L. J. Vogel | 1944-1964 |
| Father John A. Hebenstreit | 1964-1967 |
The first St. Mary’s Church of Wapello, built in 1867 of frame construction, withstood the ravages of rain, snow, and wind until 1929 when John Murphy decided it was time to save the building from complete deterioration. Thanks to his generosity, the Church received a new roof and outside stucco walls.
In July of 1941, Dennis Murphy decided it was time to save the Church which the pioneers had built. A basement was dug, and a new foundation was laid on the original foundation location. The original framework was retained, the interior walls were covered with modern woods, a new oak floor was laid and the exterior was covered with gray asbestos shingles. A new heating and air-conditioning system was installed. A new oak altar with matching pews gave dignity to the Church and sanctuary. The lawn surrounding the Church was landscaped.
When the first St. Mary’s Church of Wapello was built in 1867 the Cornelius Murphy family was one of the pillars of support. Following the death of their parents, the seven sons: Michael, Cornelius, Daniel, Patrick, Jerry, Dennis and John, became generous supporters of the Church. The Murphys took care of the insurance and the fuel bills. They gave generously to the Priest and to the Diocesan collections. John Murphy renovated the Church in 1929. Dennis had the Church rebuilt in 1941. Dennis and John each left money to the Church, funds that were paid out of a trust over a 22 year period. Thus the Cornelius Murphy family was on the . . .
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. . . Church support list for 100 years—from 1867 to 1967.
By 1956, St. Mary’s Church of Wapello had doubled its membership, with some 32 families on the membership rolls. In addition to serving the members, the Church was serving the community, a fact that was noticeable in particular when summer visitors came to Lake Odessa. Either a new church had to be built or the old Church had to be enlarged.
In 1960 Father Vogel asked the members to select a building committee to investigate the possibility of financing and building a new Church. The building committee was: Alfred Hubert, Mrs. Monroe Jennings, Harold Kissinger, Maurice Lorger, Joe Price, Calvin Williams, Mrs. Ron Wilkerson, and Father Vogel.
A contractor started work on the new Church on July 5, 1960, responsible to complete work to the point where the parishioners could complete the building. After the general contractor completed work, it was almost six months before the first Mass was offered in the new Church on Sunday, June 11, 1961. It was estimated by Father Vogel that over 300 days of work and over 250 evenings of work were given by the men, while the ladies gave over 400 hours of work.
Many people, and other Churches, made contributions to help complete the new Church. The pews were given by St. James Church in Washington, along with the altar railing. The confessional, altar steps, sacristy vesting case, lectern, and stations of the cross were given by St. Joseph’s Church in East Pleasant Plain. The inside light fixtures were all donated by neighboring Churches; St. Mathias and St. Mary’s of Muscatine, and St. John’s of Burlington. The Mercy Sisters in Burlington donated two sinks for the kitchen. Mrs. Maurice Lorber donated the first appliances, a stove and a refrigerator. The ladies of the Church donated silverware, dishes, and utensils . . .
Picture: St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wapello. Built in the form of a Roman Cross, the Church was dedicated on September 19, 1961. Much of the work on the new Church was done by men and women of the congregation.
Picture: St. Mary’s 1st & 2nd Grade
L-R: Kelly Mills, Rosy Mills (teacher), Devon Timmerman, Eric Poggemiller, Kate Dion, Laura Dion.
Absent: Mike Chaplin (teacher), Cole Chaplin, Ali Lihs.
Picture: St. Mary’s 5th & 6th Grade
L-R: Jenny Mills, Brett Timmerman, Sara Poggemiller, Carla Timmerman (teacher), Jennifer Collins, Adam Rudisell, Carrie Gaeta, Renee Overmohle.
Absent: Sarah Chaplin, Brett Wonders.
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. . . for the kitchen. St. Mary’s Church of Grinnell gave a statue of St. Joseph. The John Courtney family of Burlington gave a statue of the Blessed Virgin in memory of their father, John Courtney. St. Iraneus church in Clinton gave the flag and candelabra. The red wood cross in front of the Church was made and given by Mark Smith of Nichols. The Iowa Memorial Company of West Liberty gave the corner stone. The vinyl tile was laid by two Priests; Father C. A. Egert, and Father L. J. Vogel. Five new tables were donated by friends and the Altar & Rosary Society purchased an additional five tables. In 1974 Mrs. Ann Krueger of Rock Island, Illinois, donated the padded kneelers in memory of her husband, Lee Krueger.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Wapello welcomed its first resident pastor when Father Joseph Pound moved to the community in August, 1970. Father Pound purchased a home near Lake Odessa, planning in advance for his retirement, which came on May 1, 1980.
| Father Sullivan (Diocese of Davenport) | 1967-1970 |
| Father Joseph Pound (resident) | 1970-1980 |
| No Priest Assigned | 1980-1981 |
| Father James Burnett (Dodgeville) | 1981-1984 |
| Father Phillip Carbenzana | 1984-1988 |
| Father Steve Ebel (Columbus Junction) | 1988-1991 |
| Father Bernard Weir (Columbus Junction) | 1991- |
Picture: St. Mary’s First Communion 1993
Back row: Cole Chaplin, Father Bernie Weir, Devon Timmerman
Front row: Kelly Mills, Ali Lihs, Kate Dion
Picture: First Communion May 1992 Kelly Lindgren, Ashley Boyer, Father Bernie, Greg Collins, Stephanie Hartman, Miranda Overmohle
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Picture: Pre-School & Kindergarten – St. Mary’s
L-R: Valarie Boyer, Cassie Boyer, Barb Boyer (teacher,) Amanda Gaeta, Megan Cluster.
Absent: Bethany Brown, Ryan Tipps, Oliver Dion
Picture: St. Mary’s 3rd & 4th Grade
L-R: Tim Gaeta, Amy Davis, Ashley Boyer, Julie Hartman (Rel. Ed. Coordinator), Stephanie Hartman, Eric Rudisell.
Absent: Miranda Overmohle, Patrick Wonders
Picture: St. Mary’s 7th & 8th Grade
L-R: Jaci Mills, Kaylynn Rudisell, Joe Reid, Sr., (teacher), Karl Simpson, Joe Reid, Jr.