Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/509

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 449 modified so as to be suitable for the celebra- tion of religious services. The mission be- came a regularlj' organized parish in 1836, at which time Father Odin was installed as the priest in charge. It was but a short time until plans were made for the erection of a suitable church building. This was com- pleted and dedicated July 19, 1852. It stands facing the river and is a commodius brick structure, in the Gothic style of architecture, and is still in use. It has been remodeled and thoroughly overhauled at various times, so as to keep it in condition for the use of the congregation. The settlement of St. IIiehaels, in Madison county near the present site of Frederick- town, was a distinctly Catholic settlement. It was made in 1802, and about the year 1820 a church building was erected on the site of the new village. It was simply a missionary station and no regular jiarish priest was at- tached to it. After the removal of the town from St. Michaels to the pi-esent site of Fred- eriektown, the church which was built of stone was taken down and moved to a new town ; this was in 1827. After the removal, a regular parish was organized and Father Francois Cellini was appointed to take charge of the work. He was one of the men who had come with Bishop Dubourg from Italy in 1817. He was a man of unusual attainments and ability. Before coming to America he had served as a surgeon in the Italian army and had been knighted on account of his ser- vices in that capacity. Wlien he became par- ish priest in Fredericktown he continued the practice of his former profession among his parishioners, and he possessed such skill as a surgeon that he was often called upon to practice in different parts of the country. He also engaged in the manufacture and sale of certain proprietary medicines known as Vol. 1—29 Cellini's Balm and Cellini's Bitters. Father Cellini was succeeded in 1842 by P. D. Sa- velli, who remained until 1845. At this time, Father Tucker, a. native of Perry county, was appointed parish priest. He organized a movement for the erection of a brick church and a new residence for the priest. These were completed in 1858. He remained in charge of the parish until his death in 1880. In 1838, there was erected at Perryville, a church known as St. Mary's church. This was in connection with St. Mary's College, and the priests in charge of the church have ordinarily been members of the faculty of the college. This church building is of stone and is a very beautiful and commodious struc- ture. The first church in Washington county was built at Old Mines about 1825. It was built b3' the Catholics and was a log building. This was torn down in 1830, and a brick structure erected. The church in Potosi was organized in 1828, and the present church building was erected in 1862. In 1845 a Catholic church was organized in Benton, and a house erected to be vised as a church. The lot on which the church was placed was given by a gentleman named Meyers. In 1850 this church was bumed. In 1848 a log church was built at New Hamburg which was superseded in 1857 by a handsome stone structure. This church was destroyed by fire during the war, but was replaced by a more costly and beautiful one. In 1856 a Catholic church was organized at Leopold, in Bollinger county. The priest who conducted the organization was John Van Lluytelaar: the members of the church were J. G. Sonderen, J. Scharenbourg, John and Jacob Holweg, Armond Jansen, Herman Elfraut, W. Wardraeker, J. W. Tuling, T. Meyer, A. Rickhoff, Clement Beel and John