St. Mary's Church Dedication Page

History of the Catholic Church in Hampton, Illinois

1673: Fr. Jacque Marquette and Louis Joliet floated down the Mississippi River, naming it “The Immaculate Conception” and entrusting it to The Blessed Virgin Mary.

1840’s: Many German and Irish Catholics settled here. Fr. J.G. Alleman offers the first Mass in people’s homes.

1857: Local Catholics organized to raise funds for a church building

1868: St. Stephen’s Church is constructed, two blocks east of where St. Mary’s current location.

1870’s: St. Stephens burns. SECOND church is constructed.

1899: SECOND church building burns. THIRD church building (St. Mary’s) built on the SW corner of plot, now the St. Mary’s west parking lot.

July 27, 1952: Groundbreaking for the FOURTH and current St. Mary’s Church, built to accommodate rapid parish growth Construction cost: $43,000

April 1953: THIRD St. Mary’s building is moved to Hampton Methodist Church. It is used as their hall.

November 15, 1953: Dedication of current St. Mary’s building by Bishop Coussins.

December 29, 2024: Final Mass at St. Mary’s

Founding families include:

The Mohr Family: John Adam Mohr, Jacob Mohr, William Mohr, Paul Mohr, Adam Mohr II, John Mohr, Jacob Mohr II, Nicholas Mohr, Pius Mohr, Peter Mohr

The Glanz Family: Cletus Glanz, Peter Glanz

The Thomas Family: Michael Thomas, Joseph Thomas

ALSO: Michael Hoffmann, Henry Fiedler, John Hinsberger, John Klotz, Joseph Hermes

The following Protestants gave donations to help fund the re-construction of St. Stephen’s Church:

Samuel Hickey, Edward Statter, Henry Norton, Dietrich Altmann, David Wiegand

The First Baptisms:

1858: Magdalena, daughter of Ephraim and Barbara Hoffman Paulina, daughter of WIlliam and Catherine Mohr

1859: Helena, daughter of John and Christina Wildermuth Henry, son of Peter and Catherine Glanz

The First Marriages:

1859: Servatius and Ann Marie Stoeber

Joseph Hoffman and Catherine Goebel

Peter Hinsberger & Mary Deeds

Priests who have served the Hampton/Rapids City area:

Mission Period:

Rev. J.G. Alleman 1857-1859

Rev. John P. Donelan 1859-1860

Rev. A. Nierman 1860-1861 (with Fr. Murphy and Fr. Alleman)

Rev. Joseph Muller 1861-1862

Rev. D.F. McElhern 1862-1868 (with Fr. Niermann)

Permanent Pastors:

Rev. Joseph Abt 1868-1872

Rev. Joseph Bienecke 1872-1887

Rev. Hermann Greve 1877- July 1879 (the last permanent pastor at Hampton)

Out mission of St. John’s:

Rev. George Miller 1879-1880

Rev. Henry Boers 1880-1888

Rev. Sebastian Thebes 1888-1895 (buried in St. John’s cemetery)

Rev. J.H. Cannon 1895 & 1896-1897

Rev. Adolph Geyer 1895-1896

Rev. C.H. Hompesh 1897-1898

Rev. V. Hellstern 1898-1906

Rev. P. Lebon 1906

Rev. J. Flannagan 1906-1910

Rev. E.J. Kniery 1910-1912

Rev. F.D. Hogben 1912-1919

Rev. J.P. Barry 1919

Rev. Jeremiah Roach 1919-1920

Rev. B.J. Sheedy 1920-1921

Rev. E.C. Leonard 1921-1924

Rev. M.A. Tracy 1924-1940 (16 years)

Rev. Martin Coughlin 1940-1943

Rev. A. Mankowski 1943-1950

Rev. Richard Moran 1950-1973 (23 years)

Rev. John Gauaghran 1973-1995 (22 years)

Rev. James DeBisschop 1995-2007 (12 years)

Rev. Steven Loftus 2007-2011

Rev. Glenn Harris 2011-2024 (13 years)

Rev. Julien Esse 2024

Information compiled by Gene Denhardt

Delivered at a reception following the final Mass at St. Mary’s December 29.2024.

Mr. Denhardt is a direct descendant of Peter Glanz and Henry Fiedler, both of whom were founders of St. Stephen’s (the predecessor of St. Mary’s)

 and donated funds to help build the first Catholic church in Hampton, IL.