St. Francis German Roman Catholic Church

This condensed history of the German Roman Catholic St. Francis Church, of Dayton, Ky., is furnished by authority and is reliable.  At the end of the forties, about 1847, several German families settle in and about Dayton, Ky. (at that time called Jamestown.)  As there was no Catholic church on this side of the Ohio river, the early settlers were compelled to visit St. Francis de Sales Church, Walnut Hills, O.  Later on some of them attached themselves to the newly erected Corpus Christi Church, Newport, Ky., and several children were christened in that church by Rev. Father John Vall.  In 1849, before a church was built here, the men of this settlement organized the St. Joseph's Men's Society, and in 1853, the married ladies formed the St. Mary's Visitation Society.

 As early as 1847, three lots were purchased from the land company of James Berry, Henry Walker, and Matt McArthur, and one lot was donated by this company.  The number of Catholic families increased steadily, and had reached twenty-seven in 1853.  The erection of a church became therefore a necessity.  The good pious people started to erect a small church, after obtaining permission from the Rt. Rev. Bishop John Spaulding, of Louisville, who afterwards became Archbishop of Baltimore.  The bishop himself gave a handsome donation towards completion of the new church.  At that time, the diocese of Covington was not yet organized, but was instituted the following year, 1854.  After completion of the little church, a resident pastor, the Rev. Father Michael Herzog, was stationed here.  He also dedicated the church, on which occasion the Messrs. Andreas Machinot and Mathias Poos, who are still members of the congregation, served as altar boys.  During the administration of Rev. Father Herzog the priest house, in the rear of the church, was built, and in 1854 the St. Aloysius Young Men's Society was organized.  The congregation and their faithful pastor were well pleased with their achievements and worked harmonoiously together until the Rev. Pastor was compelled, on account of bad health, to relinquich the administration of the congregation.  In July, 1854, he returned to Switrzerland, his native home, where, after a few years, he died. 

His successor was Rev. Father Carl Schafroth: under his administration (in 1858) several lots, outside the city limits, were bought, and in 1859, some of them were dedicated for cemetery purposes.  Father Schfroth was pastor from June, 1857, until September, 1860.  He was succeeded by Rev. Father Frances Grome, who was pastor from September, 1860, until May, 1877. In 1866 the congregation acquired three additional lots alongside the parsonage, where the new school house is now situated.  In 1865 the number of Catholic families had increased to 150 and it became necessary to provide for a larger church to accommodate the people.  Therefore the present but not very large (40 x 112) but beautiful edifice was erected.  Notwithstanding the fact that the people willing contributed, by donations, collections, etc., a very heavy debt had accumulated after completion of the church.  After the removal of Father Grome, Rev. Father Wm. Cassander was made pastor for a short period.  His successor was Rev. Father Bernard Hildebrand, who held the office of resident pastor from October, 1877 till October, 1879, when Rev. Father Wm. Cassander was again transferred to his former charge.  He occupied the office of pastor from October, 1879, until August 1886.  Owing to his energy and perseverance, the financial troubles were somewhat surmounted, and the congregation is indebted to him for his untiruing and ceaseless labors in behalf of their spiritual and earthly welfare.

 August, 1886, witnessed the arrival of the present pastor, Rev. Father Stephan Schmid.  He has worked earnestly for those in his charge.  The members of our congregation have shown their appreciation of his sincere labors, and have manifested their esteem for his high personal character, notably so, at the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood, Sept. 25, 1895.  During his administration substantial progress has been made.  In 1888 the spacious schoolhouse was built.  Over 200 children are daily attendants there.  Afterwards a residence for the sexton was built near the cemetery, and an exceptionally fine vault on the enlarged graveyard.  The Church has been beautified by the erection of two new altars and eleven new windows.  The year 18989 brought a new parsonage, the old priest house being prepared for the school sisters.  The members of St. Francis' congregation have worked faithfully and harmoniously, and if their work in conjunction with the present pastor in the future shal;l be on the same line the blessing of Almighty God, we hope, will be bestowed upon them.  C. D. W.

The GAR (a short history of the organization is at this site) held it's annual encampment in Dayton in September,1898.  All of the Dayton images and texts dated 1898 are from the souvenir booklet prepared for the occasion.