Information about St. Valentine Parish from the 1837 — QUASQUICENTENNIAL– 1962–ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEYHISTORYOFSainte Marie, Saint Mary’s ChurchANDPrecincts 1 and 2JASPER COUNTY, ILLINOISCelebrating Sept. 1, 2, 3, 1962
St. Valentine’s Parish
Almost every story of a little community begins with a church, and so it was with the “Bend”. For years the people of the “Bend” belonged to the congregation in Sainte Marie. They would drive or walk the distance, sometimes cutting across Grandfather Huber’s farm, opening and closing the heavy gates, because, of course, the farm was fenced. When they walked they would cross the Embarras in a boat. This went on for a number of years. Then in 1891 Valentine Kraus and his wife, Magdalen, donated three acres of ground on which to build a Church. They also gave $4,000, in those days a large sum of money, to help buy the necessary materials.
The whole community worked with a will, and before long, a neat little white country church was built. When it was dedicated it was named St. Valentine’s. Holy Mass was read once a month by priests from Sainte Marie. St. Valentine’s was now a mission church of Sainte Mary’s in Sainte Marie. In 1910 St. Valentine’s parish was established and a rectory was built for a resident pastor.
The first resident pastor was Rev. Henry H. B. Prost, who had been assistant to Rev. Father Virnich at Saint Mary’s in Sainte Marie. Fr. Prost changed the name of St. Valentine to “Most Holy Redeemer”. He was in charge of the little congregation for three years. After he was transferred, Fr. Gormly of the Teutopolis Franciscan Novitiate came to hold services for the little congregation once each Sunday.
Father Ladinski was also an assistant to Rev. P. J. Virnich and took care of the St. Valentine’s parish. It had now been changed back to its original name, St. Valentine, by Rev. Charles Flori.
Rev. Flori was resident pastor for several years, then followed Rev. Paul Reinfels, Rev. Francis Meyers, Rev. Bernard Wubbe, Rev. Fredrick Neneling, Rev. Oscar Schubert, who was with the little parish the longest (11 years). Rev. Francis Corrigan (five years), Rev. John Bertman (two years), Rev. Walter Deppish (seven years), and Rev. Anthony J. Cepanio, one year. With so few priests to care for them the small parish suffered and again the little parish of St. Valentine’s is a mission of St. Mary’s in Sainte Marie.
It is regrettable, too, for in 1953 St. Valentine’s Parish built a Parish Hall complete with dining room and kitchen. Here the little community held their church picnics on the beautifully kept grounds surrounding the church and hall. Here, too, they serve delicious chicken and beef dinners that people come for miles around to enjoy. We sincerely hope the day soon comes when St. Valentine’s has a resident pastor again.
The first school was on land donated by Henry Johnson in 1878, where the present brick school is. It was called Newlin school, nicknamed “Wild Cat”. When school quit, the land was to go to the owners, Leonard Johnson owns it now. Teachers were Bill Bartram, Florence Fithian, Mrs. Jess Wright, Lulu Carbon, George J. Wise, Hiram G. Miller, Ervin L. Graham, Minnie Curry, Lela Sloan, Bessie Jackson, Mable Catt and Josephine Dart. I am indebted to J. N. Yost for names and dates of church and school in bend community. Since then I’ve learned why the Newlin school got the name “Wild Cat”.
Back in the 1870’s and 80’s boys were needed at home on farms until the crops were gathered and a huge pile of fire wood was cut, so it was always about the first of December before they were free to go to school. Again in the spring they left school about the last of February to help fix fences and otherwise get ready for the farming season, so, of course, they lost out in their education, but they made up for it by going several extra winter terms. Most of them were 17 or 18 years old and all bigger than their teacher.
It was customary for the teacher to treat the scholars before the holidays to bags of peanuts and candy. One teacher at the Newlin School refused to do this so the big boys took him out, held him under the pump and pumped water on his head until they almost drowned him. When the older folks heard of the escapade someone remarked, “What else could you expect of those “Wild Cats”? From then on the Newlin School was nicknamed “Wild Cat” School. Little did they know such youngsters a few generations later would be called “cool cats” and have a “pad”!
In September, 1876, Xavier Michl and his wife Theresa Michl donated one-half acre of land for school purposes. When the school quit the land was to revert to the owner. August Michl owns it now. Michl School was built in 1877. In 1921 a new and more modern school was built.
First teacher in 1877 was S. F. Laugel. Other teachers in the Michl School were Anna Mae Murphy, Ellen Pictor, Celia Osthimer, James Kaufmann, E. J. Gangloff, Alex Gangloff, Henry Worland, John J. Alblinger, Bert Mattingly, Paul McCullough, Mary Kraus, Henry Kirts, Leona Geiger and Katherine Kerick.
In 1892 land was bought from Joe Ward for this school. The first school was built in 1893. In 1936 a new and modern school was built. First teacher in 1893 was Nannie Trainor. Others were Lulu Carbon, E. J. Gangloff, Bertha Cummins, Rosie Matson, Dora Morgan, Clyde Catt, John J. Alblinger, Nora Phillips, Mary Krause and Carl Stanley. John J. Fisher now owns the land.
