Hello to all, Can someone tell me when St. Martin's Catholic Church in St. Martin, MN was organized? I think that my great-great grandmother, Sophia (Rubly) Heisler died Dec. 10, 1869 in St. Martin. Was that church in existence at that time? Is there a community cemetery, or a Catholic cemetery in St. Martin? So many questions! I am planning a trip to Stearns County next summer to do some research. Thanks to anyone who can fill me in on this. Neither the church's website, nor that of the St. Cloud Diocese had historical information (that I could find). Ann Hefenieder Billings, MT

Ann: > Can someone tell me when St. Martin's Catholic Church in St. > Martin, MN was organized? From: HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY Church of St. Martin. This church is situated in the village of St. Martin, near the southern line of section 35 of the township bearing the same name. Among the earliest settlers were Henry Ley, J. C. Noll, Peter Hahn, Peter Frevel and Peter Kuhl, who came in 1857. The locality was known as Ley's settlement, and for a time as Holy Cross. In the absence of written records, it is impossible to say when and by whom the first services were held. Revs. Clement Staub and Bruno Riss are claimed as the pioneer clergymen and one of them is said to have celebrated the first mass in 1857 or 1858 in the house of Mr. Ley, who was always hospitable to the missionaries. At all events, Father Clement named the settlement and church. The first church, 24 by 37, was built in the fall of 1860, under the direction of Rev. Pius Bayer. At this time the congregation was composed of only nine families. An addition 24 by 24 was built to the church by Father Anschar Frauendorfer about 1870. Since November, 1872, the church has had a resident pastor, who, however, could hold services here on only two Sundays of the month, as he was required to visit a number of missions. Previous to this time St. Martin had been visited once a month from Richmond. In 1875 a parsonage was built, costing $4,000. The church was lengthened by another addition 24 by 30, in 1877, and now presented an appearance far from handsome. Early in the eighties a building fund was organized; a large brick church was commenced in 1886. The corner stone was laid June 15 of that year, and the church was dedicated by Bishop Seidenbusch on June 14, 1887. Its dimensions are 135 by 50; the material used is red brick; the cost was about $20,000. The present parsonage is built of brick and was erected in 1899. The old church was destroyed by fire in 1900. > I think that my great-great grandmother, Sophia (Rubly) > Heisler died Dec. 10, 1869 in St. Martin. Was that church > in existence at that time? Is there a community cemetery, > or a Catholic cemetery in St. Martin? Here's some info on Heisler's buried in Stearns County. It looks like your G-G-GM is exactly where you think she is! fields are: name born died cemetery comment HEISLER Josephina 1805 10 Dec 1869 72 b BUBLY HEISLER Leo F 8 Jan 1888 December 23, 1915 56 HEISLER Margaretha - - 72 See LOOSBROEK, Margaretha HEISLER Nicholas C 1899 1900 56 Son HEISLER Nicholaus 1805 6 Jul 1881 72 72 = ST. MARTIN CEMETERY: Located in the Village of St. Martin, St. Martin Township, Stearns County, Minnesota. The St. Martin Catholic Church has death records from 1858. 56 = ST. BONIFACE CEMETERY: Located in the Village of Cold Spring, Wakefield Township, Stearns County, Minnesota. St. Bonifice Catholic Church has the death records from 1879. Your Sophia is, evidently, Josephina. The "Bubly" in the comment field is almost certainly a misreading of "Rubly" on the gravestone. > So many questions! I am planning a trip to Stearns County > next summer to do some research. Be sure to stop at the Stearns History Museum (235 33rd Avenue, St. Cloud, MN). They have a lot of information on early settlers, all of the census records, and copies of all the early papers. Also, files on most Stearns County immigrant families. > Thanks to anyone who can fill me in on this. Neither the > church's website, nor that of the St. Cloud Diocese had > historical information (that I could find). > > Ann Hefenieder > Billings, MT >