Palo Alto Co, Iowa USGenWeb Project

HISTORY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH
GRAETTINGER, IA
Graettinger, Iowa Centennial
1893-1993
     As the early settlers established their homes in Palo Alto Count some
families of the Irish Colonies followed the Des Moines River north from the
original settlement near Emmetsburg. In 1857 Miles Mahan built his log cabin
on a bluff on the west bank of the river about three miles south of the
present site of Graettinger. The Edward and John J. Mahan homes were near.
The first white boy born in the county was James Mahan, who was baptized by
Father John Aylward of Fort Dodge in 1857 when he came to administer to the
Catholics of the area.
     P.R. Jackman was 16 years old when he came in 1856. He homesteaded in
south Walnut Township near the river. About that time the Nolans, Laughlins,
Bradleys, Crowleys, and Kanes claimed land in the vicinity. in the next
decade (1870's) the McEvoys, Conways, Morans, Milleas and O'Connors arrived.
When Father John J. Smith was assigned to northwest Iowa in 1871, Assumption
Catholic Church had been built in Emmetsburg, and these families were
members of his scattered parish.
     The Graettinger brothers came in 1880 and were influential in platting
and bringing the railroad to the town that bears their name. The depot was
completed and the rail service began in 1882. The development of the town
was at a standstill until J.A. Spies and his father entered the scene in
1885. They opened a lumber yard; started constructing buildings. During the
following years the Stewarts, Leonards, Dargans, Quinns, Doyles, Redmonds,
Cunninghams, McCartys and Dinans took up residence in the neighborhood. They
traveled by wagon, or by foot to Emmetsburg to attend mass and catechism
classes until Fatehr John Kelly, a young priest from Ireland was appointed
to this region in 1890. He ministered to the Catholics of Lake Mills, Forest
City, Buffalo Center, Bancroft, Armstrong, Ledyard and Estherville.
     The next year Father Kelly became the resident pastor fo St. Patrick's
in Estherville, and established Immaculate Conception of Graettinger as a
mission. The first mass in this area was celebrated in the home of John
O'Connor by Father Smith. Father Kelly offered his first mass in Graettinger
in a one room school that proved too small. After that, mass was celebrated
on alternate Sundays in John B. Lambe's place of business. A frame church
was built in 1892 on land donated by J.A. Spies. The first cemetery was in
Graettinger where the Lutheran church now stands. Later Mr. Spies gave land
for St. Jacob's cemetery and the old graves were moved to that site.
     A parish picnic was held in 1892 at the Tom O'Connor farm. Then annual
picnics were held at the Miles Mahan home for the next years. The members of
the first parish committee were James Dargan, Tom O'Connor, Sr., Tom Doyle,
Sr., Joe Graettinger, and John Mahan. The first altar boy to serve Father
Kelly was Walter Montgomery. The first wedding solemnized on November 22,
1892 was Paul E. Schany and Mary E. Jackman. Other early marriages included
James Mahan and Katie Graettinger; James Kane and Bridget Millea; James
Millea and Kate Leonard; Tom Millea and Mary McCarty.
     The members of the first Holy Communion class were Sade O'Connor, James
O'Connor, Tom O'Connor, V.L. O'Connor, Ellen O'Connor, Tom Doyle, Hannah
Doyle, Lizzie Graettinger, Annie Graettinger, Annie Stewart, Mike Stewart,
Jim Quinn, Mary Quinn, and Mary Cunningham. The catechism teachers were Mrs.
Frank Lambe and Mrs. John Leonard. Mrs. J.A. Spies was the first organist
and was succeeded by her daughter, Mrs. John Jackman; then by another
daughter, Elisabeth Spies. Elisabeth continued as organist until the 1960's.
     In 1898 a rectory was built in Graettinger and Father Kelly became
first resident pastor, giving up his parish in Estherville. The congregation
grew so rapidly that it was necessary to enlarge the church. A new section
was added on the west with two large colorful windows in the widened part
and a dome above the sanctuary. The entire structure was brick-veneered.
This was done from 1912-1913. The result was a beautiful edifice, which
stood until it was replaced in 1987.
     T.S. Sullivan and Josephine Guerdet were the first to be married in the
new building. Sometime during the following years parish boundaries were
set, and St. Thomas Church in Emmetsburg was given those families north and
west of Emmetsburg.
     Six members of Immaculate Conception became nuns: Sister Mary Rosalie
O'Connor, Sister Mary Paulette O'Connor, Sister Mary Gertrude Dinan, Sister
Mary Mechtilda Hendricks, Sister Elizabeth Mahan and Sister Mary Jude Speer.
     Father Kelly was honored on his Golden Jubilee on June 27, 1939. (He
had been a priest for fifty years). He served as pastor in Graettinger until
his death on February 13, 1941. He had given fifty years of dedicated
service to the local people. He is buried in St. Jacob's Cemetery.

The following was submitted by Pat Martin with the kind
permission of editor, Daniel F DeLong
The Globe
April 4, 1902

First Graettinger Pastor Serves Parish 50 Years
     In 1891, Father John Kelly became the resident pastor of St. Patrick's
in Estherville and established Immaculate Conception Parish in Graettinger
as a mission parish. A frame church was built in 1892, serving 40 families.
A rectory was built in 1898, at which time Father Kelly became the first
resident pastor. Father Kelly served the parish until his death in 1941.
     Father Dennis Hurley (1941-1951), Father E.S. Maynard (1951-1959),
Father Albert Conlon (1959-1960), Father Clement Flannery (1960-62) and
Father Vincent Beacom (1962-1984) all served Immaculate Conception Parish
over the years.
     During Father Beacom's tenure, a Parish Center was built in 1966 and a
rectory was built in 1968.
     ...The parish celebrated its centennial in 1991 with a concelebrated
Mass by Bishop Soens, Father Kelly and several former priests of the parish.
Following the Liturgy, a picnic meal was served on the church grounds.
Father Kelly and his musical group, "The Dixie Daddies," furnished an
afternoon of entertainment.
     Immaculate Conception Parish has grown from 40 families to its current
190 households. It is clustered with Holy Family Parish in Emmetsburg,
Sacred Heart in Ayrshire and Sacred Heart in Ruthven.