When was St Bernards church in Frenchtown started?
ST. BERNARD, FRENCHTOWN
Deed Bk.U,Pg.33, Spencer Twp. Feb. 1, 18LV9. Celestine Macherey
and wife July, convey to Maurice de Saint Palais of Vincennes, part of SW
Quarter of SW Quarter of Sect. 29, Twp. 2, Range 3, containing two acres
where the present meeting house now stands.
Deed Bk.C-2,Pg.466. April 5, 1858. Felician Henriot and wife
Ortane, convey to John Peter Dion the following real estate to wit:
The SW fourth of the SE fourth of the NW Quarter of Sect. 29, Twp. 2,
Range 3, containing ten acres. Also the South half of SW fourth of
NW Quarter of Sect. 29, Twp. 2, Range 3, containing twenty acres,
except five acres taken out of NW corner of last named tract. Deed
Bk.T-2,Pg.56. Aug. 21, 1873. John P. Dion, Priest, convey
to Maurice de St. Palais of Knox County the following real estate to wit:
The SW fourth of the SE fourth of the NW Quarter of Sect. 29, Twp. 2, Range
3, containing ten acres. Also ten acres out of the SW corner of the SW
fourth of the NW Quarter of Sect. 29, Twp. 2, Range 3.
Deed Bk.T-2,Pg.57, Aug. 21, 1873. John P. Dion, convey to Maurice de St.
Palais of Knox, Co. for the sum of one dollar to build a Catholic Church on
the following real estate to wit: Being a part of the South half of the SW
fourth of the NW Quarter of Sect. 29, Twp. 2, Range 3, commencing...,
containing five acres.
HISTORY OF ST. BERNARD
BY REV. JAMES A HOLLAND IN 1923
"A large number of French people migrated from their native country, France
and some from Canada, to the southern part of Indiana, as early as 1840, and
settled in Harrison County, Spencer Township. They called their community
Little St. Louis, but later on, changed the name to Frenchtown.
Consulting with some of the oldest living settlers, the writer gathered data
of historical value that would cease with their death, as the early written
records were destroyed in a fire many years ago. It seems as though
tradition and facts conflicted in the minds of the old timers, and the
writer satisfied them that Frenchtown originated as early as 1840 or 1841,
instead of 1845, their contention. The proof is in the cemetery, for there
we find the tombstones over Franklin Troncin, 1841 and others in the early
1840's. Michael Weisonseel, born 1801, donated the bell to the first church.
Lawrence Rock was born in the year 1828. When but a young man he had the
misfortune to suffer a badly broken leg, due to a tree falling on him, and
his condition was such, that an amputation was necessary.
Father Neyron of New Albany, had been a doctor in Napoleon's army, and when
summoned to the unfortunate lad, performed the operation, and Mr. Rock
lived to a ripe old age.
Previous to the year 1847, priests living in Lanesville, visited these
people and said Mass in the brick house of Theodore Henriot. Father John P.
Dion built the first log church, forty by twenty feet in dimensions, of
yellow poplar wood, in the year 1849, attending it at intervals, until 1858,
when he took up his residence at Frenchtown. The men and women formed on
both sides of the altar, like the monks of old, and chanted hymns, even when
the priest was not there.
Father M. Andres took charge as pastor in July, 1881, and completed the
second church. This church was struck by lightning in 1886, and some say the
cross was thrown several hundred feet, but the bell was not even scratched.
Temporary repairs were made and a movement was started shortly to build a
new church. This church was completed in the year 1894, as was also the
school."