Centennial

 

St. Mary's Church Weller, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 8, 1975

 

Parish History

During the middle of the nineteenth century there occurred in Ireland a disastrous potato famine which left many Catholic families with no other choice than that of finding new homes in a new land. Many of these families endured the hardships of the long journey to the eastern shores of the United States from whence they branched out, accumulated money and stock and gradually worked their way westward to a less populated area -- one sparsely settled by relatives or friends.

Most of the early pioneers settling in this community came from the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois. They traveled by covered wagon and oxen, ferrying streams and rivers, including the Mississippi, for there were no railroads, bridges or roads, but only wagon trails made by former travellers. In addition to those who migrated from the eastern states, several families who had temporarily settled near St. Louis, Missouri, moved here to establish their permanent homes. One of the earliest settlers here was Patrick Fitzgerald, who established his home about a mile north of Weller, then known as Smithfield, and under his roof many newcomers stayed until they became situated

The community of Georgetown had already been settled by a number of Catholic families thus making this neighboring section an ideal place to settle. Here was an abundance of timberland to furnish material for their houses and barns; fuel for their fires; rails for fencing to enclose their farm crops, as well as ample supplies of water and free grazing range for their livestock. By the early seventies the following familles had located here:

James Barron	John Welch	Stephen Tierney
Sylvester Barron	Thomas Gleason	Peter McGinn
James Barry	John Griffin	W J McCrudden
Dan Beary	Dan Gallagher	J T McConnell
Mike Beary	William Heyland	John Navin
Michael Brophy	James Heyland	Pat O'Brien
James Clark	Patrick Kearney	James O'Brien
Bernard Clark	John Kearney	Thomas Morning
Mike Clark	William Kearney	Edward Ryan
James Cuddy	Patrick Kelly	William Ryan
Peter Doyle	John Lahart	Barney Sullivan
John Falvey	Martin Lewis	Pat Sheedy
John Flahive	Mike Morrissey	M D Sullivan
Mike Fitzgerald	Tom Murphy	Richard Tobin
Patrick Fitzgerald	Dan Murphy	Pat Tobin
James Fallon	Dan McCarty	Joe Wallace
	James McCarty

Great sacrifices were made by those early settlers in order that they might be able to assist at Holy Mass. At first they journeyed to Georgetown and later many hours were spent and much hardship endured in transporting a priest from the newly established parish at Melrose. Mass was celebrated in the homes of the local people whenever it was possible to secure the services of a priest and much of the preceding Saturday was spent in notifying the people of the time and place of Divine Services.

After much consideration the present Church site was chosen as the ideal place to erect the church. The church plot, consisting of five acres, was purchased in two tracts of 2/1/2 acres from C. W. and Phebe Maddy and James Barry and wife. Deeds to the land were made to John Hennessey, Archbishop of Dubuque, in the year 1874, and included in these plots were the present church grounds and cemetery. In the following year, 1875, a fine wooden church was built by William Snether, a paid carpenter who at that time resided on the farm now owned by M. Leo Beary. Rock required for the foundation was quarried and hauled by the men of the parish from the Wallace farm now owned by James and Leo Beary.

Since 1875 Holy Mass has been celebrated in the church at Weller. Fathers Cadden, Moran, Purcell, O'Rieley and Brownrigg, resident pastors of Melrose, would be brought to the community on Saturday afternoons. This would be possible only a few times during the late fall and winter months. Catechism classes would be held during the afternoon and the priest would stay overnight, say Mass on Sunday, and then be returned to Melrose. Somes of the homes opened to these priests were those of the Kelly, Griffin, Lahart, Pat O'Brien and Sylvester Barron families. An addition was built to the original church building during the pastorate of Father Brownrigg, and the carpenter work was done by Elmer Erickson of Melrose.

Father T. F. Smyth was assigned as the first pastor of St. Mary's, Weller, but because at that time better transportation and living facilities existed at Lovilia, he chose to reside there. Father Smyth's pastorate was during the years 1905 to 1912 and he was succeeded by Father Purcell, who also resided in Lovilia.

The first resident pastor was Father J.J. Troy, 1913-1919, and it was during his pastorate that the present rectory was built in 1915. In 1919 Father J. M. Cash assumed the duties of pastor of St. Mary's, and during his stay at Weller the wooden church structure was moved aside, remodeled into our present parish hall, and our beautiful brick church was built. The cornerstone was laid in the year 1920 and was dedicated by Rev. W. J. Hannon in August, 1921.

Father C. A. B. Van Waus succeeded him and remained until 1927. Father J. L. Garrity then took over the parish until 1928. Then Father R. P. Maher had charge for three years until 1931.

The Rt. Rev. Msrg. J. A. Wagner was pastor during the difficult depression years and its aftermath, until 1939.

The Rev. Father J. M. Mackin held the position from that time until he was appointed pastor at Sigourney in 1944.

Then came the longest reign of all, that of Father Henry B. Geers, who remained at Weller for 12 1/2 years until he was appointed to East Pleasant Plain, Iowa.

The Rev. Father J. A. Hebenstreit, reported to Weller from Farmington Nov. 3, 1956. During the time he was here, he had the church interior decorated. He also began a gradual program of landscaping.

In 1964 the Rev. Edmund J. Weeg came to the parish and continued the work that Father Hebenstreit had begun. It was under his direction that the sanctuary was changed for the new liturgy. The communion railing was removed, and the altar was cut apart and brought forward. The work was done by Harlon Plum of the parish, and everyone agreed that it was a beautiful piece of work. Later the sanctuary was carpeted.

In Sept. of 1967 Father Sylvester A. Conrad was appointed as pastor by the present Bishop Gerald O'Keefe. During the past eight years we have continued the work of Fathers Hebenstreit and Weeg to gradually beautify the entire church plant. Of course none of these programs could have been accomplished without the support of the people of the parish. From the beginning to the present time they have taken great pride in their parish and have contributed their time and labor as well as their money toward making this parish what it is today. And so a great amount of gratitude is owed to the parishioners of the past and the present.

MASS

Celebrant .............Most Rev. Gerald O'Keefe, D. D.

Concelebrants ..........Rev. J. A. Hebenstreit
Rev. Edmund J. Weeg
Rev. S. A. Conrad

Homilist ............Most Rev. Gerald O'Keefe, D. D.