Where is Masquelet's Place? One of the most fascinating things about history is to dig up something and not being able to find out much about it. The following is a case in point and it occurs very near Effingham and Teutopolis. In reading Hartman's book Diocese of Springfield in Illinois Diamond Jubilee 1853-1928 I came across the following passages: "One of the oldest parishes of the diocese, next to Quincy, and Ste. Marie, is Teutopolis. Its history dates back to 1833. An organized body of Catholic Cincinnatians, who had been prospecting out west, had stated a colony there in 1837. They purchased a tract of land comprising 10,000 acres at $1.25 per acre. With the first settlers came a priest, Reverend Joseph Masquelet, a native of Elsace. The first Divine Service was held in this new settlement towards the end of November 1839. The following year, 1840, a small log church was built, 32x28, and dedicated to St. Peter. Friction and dissension, however, soon broke forth which induced the pastor to build a second log church at a distance of one and a half miles from the former. It was built on his own land, "Masquelet Place." The internal parish dissentions were, however, not allayed. On the contrary, they continued to grow for many a year, causing much discomfiture and annoyance to the various pastors, making the parish rather notorious for its stubborn opposition to the efforts of the clergy. Father Masquelet, tired of the ill feeling and opposition manifested toward him, left Teutopolis in 1842 for New Orleans. There he was assigned a parish and built a fine church. Twice he returned on a visit to Teutopolis, in November 1855, and again in the seventies, when he donated a set of costly vestments to the parish. After his last visit he returned to his native land, where he soon died." 1 "Pastor: Rev. Joseph Masquelet, (November 1839-43). According to Clem Uptmor II, His father, Clemet Uptmor I, Messrs. Waschefort and Bergfeld obtained the consent of Father Masquelet while they were yet in Cincinnati to be their pastor in the new colony. According to Mr. C. Nake, a brother-in -law of Father Masquelet, the priest lived with his parents near Greenup for two years and from there alternately attended Piquet's Settlement (St. Marie) and Teutopolis. He now moved with his parents to Teutopolis. At first he seems to have boarded at Ginnevers, (Judge Barney Overbeck's Farm) where Father Masquelet also baptized several children. In February 1840, he began to cut trees for the log church, the exact dimensions of which are unknown, probably being 32x38 feet. The log church was surmounted by a low steeple in, which hung a bell, shipped from Cincinnati and said to have weighed seven hundred pounds. When Father Masquelet got into trouble about his salary, the people complained to the Right Reverend Celestine De. La St. Hailandiere, then bishop of the diocese, that the Pastor did not know Low German which a pastor at Teutopolis needed because the old people understood High German but imperfectly. And the priest must needs explain some things to their children in Low German. Father Masquelet now built a church one and one-half miles west of Teutopolis and started a cemetery there. Charles Eversman hints that perhaps he would eventually have started a town there; but this is uncertain. Father Joseph Masquelet labored later on in New Orleans, Louisiana, and eventually returned to France (Alsace). He came back again to visit Teutopolis first in 1855 and again in the seventies (from France) and gave a sum of money and a number of vestments to the Teutopolis church. Soon after his return to his native country he passed away." 2 Never before have I found a reference to "Masqulet's Place" as being a settlement or a church before.. One and one-half miles West of Teutopolis place it just South of the present Crystal Banquet Hall. In looking at the land patents I find that Masqulet's did title land from the government in Section 17 in Teutopolis township. However this is one and one-half miles East not West of Teutopolis as Eversman states. My question is where is this land? Was Eversman incorrect and it was on Masqulet's parents ground. What became of the church building and the cemetery? Where the bodies taken up and removed to the present church cemetery? Someone in Effingham County may have this information on their deed but as of right now it is a mystery. 1. Joseph J. Thompson, editor, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois Diamond Jubilee 1853-1928 (Hartman Printing Company, Springfield, Illinois 1928), p. 666 2. ibid pp. 185-198 Check out the following: http//www.effingham.net/kperkins for more information if you are interested. Sincerely, Kevin Perkins Agriculture and Computer Technology Beecher City Jr/Sr High School