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The Neillsville Furniture Factory provided employment for many of the parishioners until it burned down in 1911. |
Sacrament Names Give Clues about Congregation
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The Neillsville Furniture Factory provided employment for many of the parishioners until it burned down in 1911. |
Fr. Joseph Volz performed all of St. Mary’s "first" sacraments. The names of those receiving the sacraments suggest their ethnic or national origin.
The first Baptism occurred on December 4, 1879. "I baptized Albina Thibert, born 8 November 1879, daughter of Julius Thibert and Victoria L'Bruin. Godparents: Hyacinth and Asilda Barton," recorded Fr. Volz.
The first recorded marriage is a validation of a previous civil marriage. The validation took place on March 14, 1880. The groom was Francis Klinke, son of John Klinke and Anna Wreck. The bride was Catherine Klinke, daughter of Francis Klinke and Catherine Schmarna. Witnesses were Francis Plieske and Maria Maloy. There was a dispensation for consanguinity, 2nd grade.
The first "regular" marriage was recorded on October 26, 1880, between George
Meade, son of Vanranzer Meade and Margaretha Marshal, and Agnes McMahon,
daughter of John McMahon and Brigitta Fahey. Witnesses were Patrick and
Carolina Sheehan.
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This postcard, which dates from about 1900, showed the three structures atop St. Mary’s hill at that time: the church built in 1878 (top middle), the rectory built in 1884 (top left) and the school built in 1887 (bottom left). There is also an interior view of the church. Only the rectory survives. |
The first burial in our cemetery was John Dwyer, born June 20, 1828 in Tipperary County, Ireland, died February 18, 1882, and buried three days later. He left a widow, Catharine, and five adult children. One of those children, John Dwyer Jr., was elected county sheriff in 1886 and 1904.
The very first "First Communion" was August 13, 1882. Receiving the sacrament were: Samuel Cook, Albert Kerns, Joseph Lepke, Francis McGinnis, Patrick McGinnis, John Ziglinsky, Maria Brulé, Anna Esselmann, Agnes McGinnis, Helen McGinnis, Marg. McNamara, Cecilia Prock.
The first confirmation, October 26, 1882, included the same people, minus Ziglinsky. They were joined by: Eugene Bart, Clemens Esselmann, James Furlong, Francis Huntzicker, George Huntzicker, Mathias Resong, John Welsh, John Ziglinsky, Josephine Barton, Margaretha Brulé, Maria Brulé (nee Campbell), Elis Dugget, Sophia Esselmann, Anna Hughes, and Catherine Welsh.
Note: The Brule names are spelled with an é. Perhaps they were the remainder of the "French" congregation.
