Bancroft History
Bancroft, Kossuth County, Iowa, USA
The History of St. John's Parish 1891 - 1991
(Part 1 - The Church)
from
"Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church
Bancroft, Iowa
100 Years
1891 - 1991
Saint John Parish Centennial"
by Centennial Book Committee
Bancroft Publishing
Bancroft, IA 50517
© 1991
Pages 12-16
In selecting a patron for the Catholic church and parish of
Bancroft, everyone will enthusiastically agree that in choosing
St. John the Baptist, a most significant and appropriate choice
was made. It was both significant and appropriate because the
pioneer Catholics of Bancroft were men and women of genuine
faith, character, zeal and perseverance. Like their patron, St.
John the Baptist, they accepted the burden of their mission
willingly and cheerfully and they carried it gloriously. Imbued
with noble lives they toiled and sacrificed to make secure the
heritage which was theirs and which would be their children's.
While erecting shelters for themselves and their children, they
also laid the solid foundations for Catholicism in this
community, "The Garden Spot of Iowa". These pioneers, by virtue
of their faith and character, their zeal and perseverance,
wrought an inevitable impetus which, through the years of a
century, has been a refreshing and fertile inspiration to which
this record of one hundred years will bear glorious testimony.
As early as 1882 several Catholic families came to make their
home in and around Bancroft. For about five or six years their
spiritual needs were as adequately suppled as it was possible
by Father McCaffery who was then stationed at Algona. As
there were no facilities for religious services in Bancroft during
those days, Father McCaffery had Mass in various town and
country homes of the community.
Father Nicholls Comes To Bancroft
On November 17,1887, Bishop Hennessy of Dubuque appointed
Father Michael Nicholls pastor of Algona Parish, and this
assignment also included Bancroft as an out-mission. On
November 19, 1887, Father Nicholls came to Algona. On
December 11 that same year, he came to conduct services in
Bancroft. Here, for the flrst time, he offered Mass in town. As
there was no church in or around Bancroft, arrangements were
made to have Mass in the east room of the public school. Not
many people attended services that day, mainly because there
were only a few Catholic families in town. The others were near
Seneca and east of town in what was then Ramsey Township.
At this time it was agreed to continue having Mass in the
public school until better facilities became available; and Father
Nicholls expressed the hope that this would be in the not too
distant future.
First Important Meeting
On March 6, 1888, Father Nicholls conducted a meeting in the
public school to consider the building of a church, The meeting
was well attended and the matter thoroughly discussed; but
because there was considerable difference of opinion regarding
the location of the church, plans for building were indefinitely
abandoned. However, the project continued to be a matter of
obvious concern, and about a year and a half later there
was some real action forthcoming.
On October 20, 1889, Bishop Hennessy came to Algona to
administer the sacrament of Confirmation and at that time
he and Father Nicholls very enthusiastically discussed
the possibilities of building a church in Bancroft. Two days
later Father Nicholls received the following letter from
Bishop Hennessy.
October 22,1889
Dear Father Nicholls,
I wish you to undertake the work of building a church in
Bancroft, as soon as possible. For that purpose you should
secure a block of ground in a desirable location. Nothing
less would suffice to meet the future wants of religion in
the place.
I know that most of the Catholics live in the country, and
some may wish to have the church in their settlement. Tell
them that Bancroft is the place and that I will not assent to
the building of a church on either side of it.
The few Catholics north and west of Forest City are about
to purchase a block or more for a church, and those south
of Lake Mills are going to do the same in Lake Mills; what
they are doing the people on both sides of Bancroft, more
numerous and in better circumstances, can do easily and
will, I hope, do cheerfully. Go to work at once.
Your obedient servant,
John Hennessy
Bishop of Dubuque
First Catholic Church In Bancroft
As might be expected, the Bishop's letter settled all
differences of opinion, and on June 16, 1890, Father
Nicholls came to Bancroft and solicited funds for the
building of the church. His zealous efforts were rewarded
with a gracious and generous response from everyone
from whom he solicited assistance.
By June 20, 1890, the prospects of a church were more
promising than ever, and on that day another meeting
was held - this time in the small building next to where
the Phoenix House stood (the present location of Menke
Oil station). During this meeting the first matter to get
action on was the election of a committee. This was done
promptly, and it included The Rev. Michael Nicholls, John
B. Mousel, George Holloway, William Klein and Thomas
Engesser. This action was followed by a discussion
regarding the size of the church, and it was ultimately agreed
upon that the church should be 86 feet wide and 60 feet long,
and it was to have neither gaIlery nor spire.
It was furthermore decided that under no condition should
the parish go beyond $1,000.00 in debt.
Then the matter of the church's location had to be settled;
and after considering the advantages of various sites, a
choice was made with the preference going to Out Lot No. 5
(the present church location).
Immediately arrangements were made to purchase the
property agreed upon. After that, the congregation
dispersed and the committee agreed to meet July 11, 1890.
On that day, as planned, the committee met and purchased
Out Lot No. 5 for which they paid $500.00 in cash made
payable to the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.
Soon after that the contract was let for the foundation and
the building proper. After this, nothing but harmony of the
highest order prevailed and the church was completed some
time in October, 1890.
On October 18, 1890, Father Nicholls, with the assistance
of the Algona choir, had high Mass in the church, which,
appropriately, was the first time the church was used for
religious purposes. To the regret of the parishioners of St.
John's, it was not long after this that the services of Father
Nicholls ceased at Bancroft. According to the records, he
conducted services in Bancroft for the last time on Sunday,
November 26, 1890.
Father John Kelly Takes Charge of the Bancroft Mission
Father Nicholls was succeeded by Father John J. Kelly, now
deceased and formerly of the Graettinger parish. Father Kelly
was stationed at Estherville at the time and came regularly for
about two months, faithfully offering his services to the
rapidly growing parish at Bancroft. It was sometime towards
the end of January, when for the last time, Father Kelly came
to serve the people of St. John's Parish. Quite naturally,
during the time Father Kelly had charge of the Bancroft Mission,
further plans were heing made to add improvements to the
church and grounds.
For some time, too, Archbishop Hennessy of Dubuque
had been most favorably impressed by the rapid growth
and energetic zeal of the Bancroft Parish, and in order to
more adequately supply the spiritual needs of the
parishioners, he decided to send a resident pastor to
Bancroft, and Father Schemmel received the appointment
according to the following letter.
February 2, 1891
Dear Father A. J. Schemmel,
I hereby give the bearer, the Rev, Anthony Joseph Schemmel,
charge of the congregation in and around Bancroft, Kossuth
County. I sincerely hope you (the parishioners) will appreciate
this great favor, turn to good account the services of his
ministry, cooperate with him energetically and generously
in all his undertakings in the interest of religion and give
him the support befitting his dignity.
John Hennessy
Bishop of Dubuque
Father Schemmel Comes to Bancroft
Father Schemmel Writes:
"I arrived in Bancroft, Saturday, February 7th, 1891, at 11.15 a.rn.,
and made my headquarters at the Richmond Hotel, as I was a
stranger here and found that the only accomodations for a
priest was an unfurnished church in a territory of about 400
square miles.
"I had my first services on Sunday, February 8th, 1891, which
consisted of a Low Mass with but few in attendance. The altar
boys who assisted me at this Mass were Peter and George Gaul.
There were but two Catholic families in Bancroft when I came
and those were Anton Furstenberg and Geo F. Holloway, and
in addition the congregation at that time consisted of the following
families:
"Thos. Engesser, John Klein, Frank Rapp, Martin Sanftner, Matt
Sanftner, John Deim, Joseph Dolerschal, Nicholas Tix, Mrs. A.
Schleder, John Bernhard, Matt Frelinger, Andrew Hatch, Barney
Connolly, Thos. Holland, Mike Flynn, Wm. Carolan, John Gilskey,
J. B. Mousel, M.L. Schiltz, Nick Schiltz, S. Bcst, Mrs O'Hara, AI'y
Meyers, Martin Jordan, W. T., Ogle, Mike Sandt,Wm. Schiltz, Nick
Scholtes,
Andrew Boyer,
Ambrose Sanftner, J.J. Klein, Fred Koppen, Peter Koppen, and
about this time the Sheridan Bros. came too, and others followed.
"At this time the congregation as a whole were comparatively
poor, having a debt of $1,000 on their small church, and
improvements were necessarily slow, but during this time
we were able to put pews in the church, build sidewalks,
grade around the church property and purchase the
necessary vestments. In 1892 all the debts were paid, and
in 1893 the parochial residence was built at acost of $2,500,
which was all paid for in 1894. In 1895 we bought two bells
at a cost of $360, and in 1896 an addition was built to the
church 36'x36' and the same was furnished with gallery and
pew, also a spire 14'x14', 90 feet high."
Parish Territory
At the behest of Bishop Edmond Heelan and under the
direction of the pastor, Father J. D. Fisch, the following
territory was assigned to St. John's Parish in 1929: Ramsey
Township, Sections 31 & 32; Seneca Township, Sections:
1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28,
29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36; Fenton Township, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14; Burt Township, Sections 1 to 30
inclusive; Portland Township, Sections 1 to 30 inclusive;
Buffalo Township, Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Harrison Township,
Sections 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and
West half of 24; Swea Township, Section 36.
These 220 and one-half sections are easily served due to the
fine network of paved, blacktop and gravel roads. Within the
boundaries of St. John's Parish are the towns of Bancroft,
Burt, Lone Rock and Seneca. Very few Catholics live within
the towns of Burt, Lone Rock and Seneca, but the town of
Bancroft is about ninety percent Catholic. The members of the
parish are able to direct the destinies of the town and their
influence is felt in whatever way they desire.
The parish has grown frorn a list of 86 pew rent payers in
the year 1891 to the present 415 households. In 1891 they
contributed $1,654.56 whereas in 1952 the contributions
rose to over $58,000.00. Of interest is the 1891 pew rent list:
Arendt, Nick
Berens, Peter
Best, Phil
Bernhard, John
Best, Simeon
Blocker, Henry
Bolster, G.
Budde, Theodore
Brigham, P.
Byrnes, P.
Carolan, Wm.
Casey, J.
Connelly, B.
Deim, John
Dolan, George
Dolerschal, Joseph
Engesser, Joseph
Engesser, Thomas
Ernster, Nick
Flynn, M.
Freilinger, M.
Furstenbery, A.
Gannon, Peter
Gaul, J.
Gibbons, F. G.
Gilski, John
Green, Martin
Hacker, P.
Haupert, John
Heuser, Herman
Higley, B.
Higley, C.
Hirmer, J.
Holland, Mrs Thomas
Holloway, F. G.
Jordan, John
Jordan, Martin
Kinne, F. W.
Kleeman, Andreas
Klein, Joseph J.
Klein, W.
Koppen, Peter
Kramer, J.
Lang, Mathias
Ludwig, J. N.
Lynch, David
Mack, J.
McDermott, M.
McLaughlin, C.
Merrill, E
Meyers, Ali
Morgan, Mrs. M.
Mousel, J. B.
Murray, Mrs.
Nemmers, Geo.
Nemmers, Mich.
Nemmers, Matt.
Nemmers, Theo,
Nolte, F.
Ogle, W. T
Rapp, Frank
Richmond, Mrs. B. M.
Rieder, Steve
Sanftner, Mike
Schiltz, Mike
Schiltz, M. F.
Schiltz, Nick
Scholtes, Nick
Sullivan, John
Stapelton, Thos.
Sanftner, Martin
Sweeney, J.
Sheridan, Nick
Sheridan, J H.
Sherman, Thomas
Stelpflug, John
Sanftner, Mathias
Sandt, Mike
Schleder, A.
Sapitel, F.
Schmitt, David
Tix, Nick
Winkel, J.
Weis,
Zickert, S.
E-mail: dwagner2@isd.net
©2003 DJW
Last Modified:
November 4, 2003