Grant County Herald

WITH THE POTOSI PIONEERS

St. Thomas Catholic Church

Eighty-four years have passed since the organization of St. Thomas Catholic church in Potosi. Of its early membership which met to celebrate mass in the village of Van Buren. Potosi was then in embryo, unbuilt and unknown. Among the founders of the church were Celestin Kalten-Terrence and Peter Coyle, David Bulman, John Dolan and Owen McLaughlin, men whom the present generation will remember and respect. They were active supporters of the church in the early days and are now reaping the reward of their labors in another world.

From 1836 to 1840 the church had no resident priest and was dependent upon the services of missionaries who were sent here from time to time to celebrate mass and commune with the people. Marriages and baptisms were occasionally performed by Father Mathias Loras, Bishop of Dubuque, and Father Mazzuchelli, resident priest of Galena, where a record was kept of the church proceedings until its regular organization. A copy of the record was transmitted to Potosi in June 1841, and entered upon the records of St. Thomas church.

In 1838 a place of worship was erected in what is now the village of Potosi proper. It consisted of a log building and was located below the present brick edifice. It cost $500. The priest's dwelling, also a log building, was erected on the opposite side of the street. It was the residence for many years of "Squire" Ragan, the long and faithful attendant of Father James Causse, the priest who was the first placed in charge of the little flock of Catholics in Potosi. It afterwards became the home and property of John Dolan who moved from a log house near where the present school house now stands, and whose marriage to Ann McMahon, Oct. 27, 1840, is the first entry made upon the parish records. The next was that of Pierre Moy to Elizabeth Station June 29, 1841, and the third, Benjamin F. Woods to Anne E. Hough, May 28, 1843.

Weddings in the church those days it seems, were like angels' visits. "few and far between."

The first burial was that of Edward Nicholas, a boy of two years, who died in the little city of Paris. April 26, 1841. Fr. Caussin performed the burial service. The next was that of Nicholas Francois, aged 57 years, who also died in the little city of Paris, on Feb. 28, 1841. Though the names of the above appear differently on the record they were father and son. The third death was that of Anna Katy, a colored woman. Jan.16. 1843. She was taken to Galena for burial. The Angel of Death seems to have been merciful in those days in making few calls upon the settlers.

The first baptism took place on the 7th of September, 1840. and was that of Mary Free, a colored woman. Asa Hough and wife, Mary, stood sponsors. There were several christenings previous to this entered upon the records at Galena, the first being that of Pierre, born at Snake Hollow, Feb. 2, 1834, to Baptiste and Emilie Guyon, Peter and Elizabeth Coyle standing sponsors, and Fr. Mazzuchelli performing the service. The christenings during the time Fr. Causse officiated as priest, from 1840 to 1854, were 475. These are all recorded in the parish record at Potosi. The name, date of birth and parents being given. There were still others recorded in St. Andrews church in the German settlement. The membership at the close of Fr. Causse's service in 1854 was quite large, probably over 600, although we are unable to give the exact number.

The following comprises the names of all the priests who have statedly or temporarily been in charge of the church since its organization in 1840:

Rev James Causse 1840 to 1854.
Rev. Perrecton temporary 1851-52.
Rev. Mart. Hobbs temporary 1851-52.
Rev. J. M. Brogard 1854 to 1857.
Rev. M. W. Gibson 1857 to 1861.
Rev. Peter Voipem temp. in 1861.
Rev. G. H. Bresman temp. in 1861.
Rev. W. H. Verloef 1861 to 1865.
Rev. T. Albers 1865 to 1867.
Revs. Nuits and Vivaldi temp. 1867 and part of 1868.
Rev. Thos. P. Hodnet 1867 to 1871.
Rev, Jos. Kleiber 1871 to 1873.
Rev. J. A. Mueller temp. 1872.
Rev. Jas. Tiernan 1876 to 1880.
Rev J C. Devine 1876 to 1880.
Rev. Wm. Bernard temp. 1880.
Rev. Jos. A. Dreiss 1880 to 1886.
Rev. Chas. Grobschmidt 1886 to 1890.
Rev. Aug. B. Salleck 1890 to 1895.
Rev. Peter Pape 1895 to 1917.
Rev. J. E. Prucha 1917 to 1920.
Rev Biersner at present in charge.

Fr. Devine died June 1. 1880, and lies buried in the Catholic cemetery on the hill in Potosi. Rev. Jas. Causse who organized and built up the church in its infancy and was long in charge of its spiritual and temporal welfare, after finishing his labors among us returned to France, his native land, where a few years since after a life of usefulness and eminent piety, he was laid to rest amid the vine-clad hills. He was devotedly loved by his congregation and highly respected by all who came within his acquaintance. The brick structure in which the people of the present time attend worship was the result of Fr. Causse's indefatigable labors. It was built in 1847 at a cost of $11,000.

Fr. Jos. Mueller died in Milwaukee at a young age shortly after leaving Potosi. The beloved Fr. Joseph A. Dreiss who had charge of the church for six years, died at Kenosha a few years ago. Fr. Thos. P. Hodnett died in Chicago about two years ago and Fr. Charles Grobschmidt died in Milwaukee about a year ago. Fr. Pape after twenty-two years of faithful endeavor was called from Potosi in 1917 and assigned to the rectorship of St. Joseph's cathedral at La Crosse. Affable, kind and intelligent, he was beloved and honored and his departure from Potosi was looked upon as an irreparable loss. Fr. Salleck is at present in Milwaukee in charge of a church. Fr. Prucha was called from Potosi a few months ago and is now stationed at Muscoda, Wis. His departure caused much sorrow among the people of all denominations. The remainder of the three priests who had charge of St. Thomas church in its eighty-four years of existence were all of mature age and no doubt have passed to the great beyond.

(To be continued.)