St. Joesph Catholic Church in Crawford County is an associated "mission"
parish of St. Bernard in Harrison County. The church was originally located
south of Milltown on the road from Milltown to Leavenworth. It is now located
on SR 66 just south of Marengo.
Attached is a history of St. Joesph. Many parishners attended both St.
Bernard and St. Joesph. In the early days, priests only held mass at St. Joesph
once or twice a month so many of the members would also attend St. Bernard
Catholic Church in Frenchtown.
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH CHURCH IN CRAWFORD COUNTY, INDIANA
March 19 1983
St. Joseph church in Crawford Co. was founded by Rev. John Dion in 1855. The
Most Rev. Mauirice De St Palois was bishop of Vincennes at this time.
This was a small log building located about 5 miles south of Milltown at
Bailey Crossroads,
about a mile from the present church. (Now belongs to Albert Schotter)
A rural community consisting of mostly German and French immigrants, this
church was soon
destroyed by fire. There were 2 or 3 tombstones nearby.
Three years later in 1858 the second church 1/`2 mile north of the first
church. This was also a log church. The St. Joseph cemetery is located there
now. This church served the people for 27 years.
In 1885 the congregation had out grown the small church and the Pastor
Father Martin Andries planned and built the third and present church. It was a
frame building which cost $1650.
Archbishop Ritter visited the church later and said it was one of the very
few churches that was debt free.
The congregation was made up of Hoffmans, Bauers, Dubois, Schlenskers,
Vernias, Benzs at this time.
Update
On Apr. 3rd 1974 this building was destroyed by a tornado. In the rubble, an
unbroken bottle of Holy Water was found. Father Deitzman , a former pastor
came back to St Joseph Parish to rebuild the church at a new location, on
State Rd. 66 south of Marengo.This is a brick church. This church was dedicated
by Rev. Monsignor Tuowy on Aug. 27th, 1978. It was build on a 10 acres plot
donated by Mr. And Mrs. Ralph Briscoe. A new cemetery was started. Ralph
Briscoe was the first person buried there.
There is a parish hall, shelter house and storage building. Father Fred
Dennison has the Sunday Mass now.
Priests serving St. Joseph church:
Rev. John Dion These priests came from Perry. Co. Holy Cross Church
Rev. Mullers
There were priests from Lanesville, IN Harrison Co.
St. Bernards Frenchtown
Father Martin Andres 1880-1888
Father Gerard Moss 1888
Father William Lieson 1896-1898
Father John Haskamp 1898-1905
Father Paul (Bleuel)? 1905-1911
Father John Brasher 1911-1917
Father Edward J. Feller 1917-1923
Father Charles Busald 1923-1928
Father James Carrico 1928-1929
Father Joseph Backert 1929-1937
Father Joseph Busald 1937-1939 He was a brother to Father Charles Busald
Father Edwin Spalding 1939-1944
Father Donald Coakley 1944-1945
Father Earl Feltman 1946-1960
Father Andrew Diezeman 1960-1969
Father Don Evrard 1969-1973
Father Eugene Weidman 1973-1976
Father John Fink 1976-1977
Father Andrew Diezeman 1977 returned to build the new church and stayed
until he retired in 1990 or
1991.
Father Fred Dennison took over the parish then and is still the priest at
the present time. (2005).
The church that the tornado destroyed was remodeled inside in about 1946 or
1947.
This information was found in Jesse Dubois’s personal records after her
death in 2005.
Rosa Hoffman Walters was the the 1st person baptized in the
church on the hill (1885)
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