Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-05-27
A GOLDEN FESTIVAL.
Semi-Centennial Celebration OF the st.
Thomas Catholic Church, at P0t0si,
June IL, 1856.
BRIEF HISTORY.

The Fiftieth Anniversary of ST.
Thomass Catholic Church, of Potosi,
will be commemorated Thursday, June
IL. 1886, with appropriate services.
The forenoon of that day will be de-
voted to religious services. Sermons
will be preached by Rev. James Cleary,
of Kenosha, and Rev. Father Hodnett,
of Chicago. At noon collation. will
be served to all invited guests. In the
afternoon Mr.. James w. Murphy, of
Platteville, will deliver the Grafton of
the day. The remainder of the day
will be passed in general speaking and
singing.
Hon. George w. Jones. of Dubuque,
Chief Justice Orsamus Cole, of Madison,
John Lawler, of Prairie du Chen, and
other distinguished guests have been
invited to be present, and undoubtedly
will contribute to the interest of the
occ asiop
AS the history of this church is nearly
indentical in years with that of Grant
County, a notable feature of the ami
versary will be a reunion of the old
settlers. All old settlers of the county
are cordially invited to attend.
OFFICERS OF THE DAY.
President. Celestine Kaltenbach; Vice
Presidents. Hon. j. w. Seaton, Potosi;
Mr.. ID. j. Gardner, Platteville; Mr..
VIM. Dure, Potosi; ex-Gov. Nelson
Dewey, Cassyille; Mr. John Pink, Lam
caster; Hon. George w. Jones, of
Dubuque; Mr.. John Lawler, Prairie du
Chieu; Mr.. John HER. Sinsinawa
Mound; Mr.. George Keller, Keller
St. Thomas's Catholic Church was
the first Catholic society organized in
Potosi, and one of the first OF Grant
County, if no. the hrst, and bears date
1886. Early of that year. Celestine
Kaltenbach, Peter Coyle, Michael Law
Ter, John Tobin and their respective
families, and some others, communi-
cants of the Church of Rome, organ
lied the society by hearing mass in the
residences of several members. This
was continued until 1888, when small
convenient log church, on the site of
the present church, was completed at a
cost of $500 and taken possession of
and used without formal dedicatorv
services. For period the congrega-
ton was compelled to depend upon the
services of missionary evangelists, but
upon the completion OF the little churc
Rev. Father Caussi was ordered there,
where he remained until 1852 in the
discharge of his sacred duties. During
his administration the capacity of the
edifice was sorely taxed, so large be-
became the parish; and in 1917 the
present handsome brick church was
built, large and commodious brick
parsonage having been finished in 1915.
The urch is 36x56, surmounted by a
stateIy steeple, and cost, with the par
sonage, about 81, 1000. The church
was consecrated, by Rt. Rev. Bishop
Henri, of Milwaukee, Bishop of the
Diocese. After Rev. Father Caussi re-
signed his pastorate, he has been sue
ceeded by the following prelates: Father
Gibson, Rev. Joseph Albert, Father
hurts, Thomas Hodnett, William Bern
ard, j. G. Derine and Rev. Father
Driess. the present incumbent. Father
Devine died in the service of the church
in 1880. The parish is in a highly
fourishing condition and has congre-
gationship embracing more than one
hundred families