st. john's church
1877 - 1968
originally the table rock mission, then st. wenceslaus
land records
An application for the National Register of Historic Places has been in process. These are some of records and information accumulated in the course of the research. Mostly these are the original documents, newspaper articles, and so forth.They will of course be digested for the application. Mostly they are in date order, including the histories, which are included by the date prepared.Land records at the Pawnee County Courthouse. Research by Sharla Cerra, November 2017
St. John’s Church is on Lot 1 of Block 40 of the Original Town of Table Rock.
The history of prior ownership is as follows. All are warranty deeds unless otherwise noted. There are gaps in ownership to the extent that the grantor is not the same person to whom the land was granted by the previous owner. It appears that the church was in the earliest days often held in the name of the priest serving the parish. It is likely that the names of the priests were not carefully recited in the various changes of title.
Charles Giddings to James and John McNutt
11/3/1873, recorded 2/20/1874, recorded at 3, 444
John McNutt to James McNutt
QC 5/23/1874, recorded 10/16/1874, recorded at M, 1, p, 455
James McNutt to James Gillett
6/16/1877, recorded 6/23/1877, recorded at 6, 29, p. 50
John and Mary Reuter to the Roman Catholic Church
Recorded 3/24/1879, recorded at book 7, p. 8
The date of the deed itself is still to be determined by a look at the actual deed.
James Gillett to James O’Connor, Vicar Apostolic of Nebraska
4/12/80, recorded 4/27/1881, recorded at 7, 633.
Rt. Rev. James O’Connor to Rt. Rev. Thomas Bonacum
10/24/1888, recorded 8/20/1917, recorded at 40, 12.
Rt. Rev. John Hennessy & Rev. John G. Glennon to J. Henry Tihen
8/7/1917, recorded 10/3/17, recorded at 40, 112
J. Henry Tihen to “Catholic Bishop”
9/5/1918, recorded 2/16/1921, recorded at 42, 509
L. B. Kucera, Bishop, to St. John’s Church
“Articles of Incorporation”
10/29/1931, recorded 11/11/1931 recorded at M10, 8
“Catholic Bishop of Lincoln” to “St. John’s Church Table Rock”
7/23/1932,recorded 8/1/1932 recorded at 43, 402
“Catholic Bishop of Lincoln” to “St. John’s Church Table Rock”
[?] “and in Burr, Steinauer, and Barneston and 18-2-9”[?]
Quitclaim deed, 5/29/1941, recorded 5/15/1942, recorded at B 47, 325
L. V. Barnes to “Catholic Bishop of Lincoln”
Instrument: “HFF” 5/29/1941, recorded 5/15/1942, recorded at B M 1, 606
“St. John’s Catholic Church to Village of Table Rock”
Easement, 11/1967, recorded 12/15/1967, recorded at M1, 206
“St. John’s Catholic Church of Table Rock” to Table Rock Historical Society
Instrument: “Con W,” 5/27/1970, recorded 11/3/1970, recorded at B 54, 224
“St. John’s Catholic Church of Table Rock” to Table Rock Historical Society
Instrument: Agreement, 9/4/1970, recorded 11/3/1970, recorded at M18, 408
St. John’s Church is on Lot 1 of Block 40 of the Original Town of Table Rock.
The history of prior ownership is as follows. All are warranty deeds unless otherwise noted. There are gaps in ownership to the extent that the grantor is not the same person to whom the land was granted by the previous owner. It appears that the church was in the earliest days often held in the name of the priest serving the parish. It is likely that the names of the priests were not carefully recited in the various changes of title.
Charles Giddings to James and John McNutt
11/3/1873, recorded 2/20/1874, recorded at 3, 444
John McNutt to James McNutt
QC 5/23/1874, recorded 10/16/1874, recorded at M, 1, p, 455
James McNutt to James Gillett
6/16/1877, recorded 6/23/1877, recorded at 6, 29, p. 50
John and Mary Reuter to the Roman Catholic Church
Recorded 3/24/1879, recorded at book 7, p. 8
The date of the deed itself is still to be determined by a look at the actual deed.
James Gillett to James O’Connor, Vicar Apostolic of Nebraska
4/12/80, recorded 4/27/1881, recorded at 7, 633.
Rt. Rev. James O’Connor to Rt. Rev. Thomas Bonacum
10/24/1888, recorded 8/20/1917, recorded at 40, 12.
Rt. Rev. John Hennessy & Rev. John G. Glennon to J. Henry Tihen
8/7/1917, recorded 10/3/17, recorded at 40, 112
J. Henry Tihen to “Catholic Bishop”
9/5/1918, recorded 2/16/1921, recorded at 42, 509
L. B. Kucera, Bishop, to St. John’s Church
“Articles of Incorporation”
10/29/1931, recorded 11/11/1931 recorded at M10, 8
“Catholic Bishop of Lincoln” to “St. John’s Church Table Rock”
7/23/1932,recorded 8/1/1932 recorded at 43, 402
“Catholic Bishop of Lincoln” to “St. John’s Church Table Rock”
[?] “and in Burr, Steinauer, and Barneston and 18-2-9”[?]
Quitclaim deed, 5/29/1941, recorded 5/15/1942, recorded at B 47, 325
L. V. Barnes to “Catholic Bishop of Lincoln”
Instrument: “HFF” 5/29/1941, recorded 5/15/1942, recorded at B M 1, 606
“St. John’s Catholic Church to Village of Table Rock”
Easement, 11/1967, recorded 12/15/1967, recorded at M1, 206
“St. John’s Catholic Church of Table Rock” to Table Rock Historical Society
Instrument: “Con W,” 5/27/1970, recorded 11/3/1970, recorded at B 54, 224
“St. John’s Catholic Church of Table Rock” to Table Rock Historical Society
Instrument: Agreement, 9/4/1970, recorded 11/3/1970, recorded at M18, 408
regarding the name of the church
the church at table rock, st. wenceslaus, john the baptist, then simply st. john's
It appears from first-hand sources that St. John's was originally known by a different name. Here is a list of the sources that relate to the church's name.
1882. The marriage license of Mary McBride and Peter Muller does not cite the name of a church, referring only to Father Rausch, who performed the ceremony, as a "Catholic Priest."
In his 1888 Report of the History of St. john’s refers to the church only as the Table Rock church.
A 1999 Wymore history that includes the history of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wymore, a history consistent with Father Rausch’s history. It says that the earliest Catholic masses were said in the homes of parishioners. The very first mass was said by Rev. Rausch of Table Rock and Tecumseh. The church at Table Rock was not named. http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/county/gage/books/jubilee/03.htm
In Mary Duder’s circa 1950s collection of remembrances Joseph Reuter, son of one of the founders, remembered that St. John's was originally called St. Wenceslaus. He received 1st Communion from Father Maley in August 1889 and he said that his 1st Communion certificate lists the church as St. Wenceslaus. He thought the name St. John was not used until the church was served by a priest from Steinauer.
Joseph Reuter’s memory is confirmed at least by Catholic directories in the 1880s.
Catholic Directories of 1883, 1886, 1888, 1897, 19056
There appear to have been three publishers of directories during the period 1883 to 1905:
.(1) Hoffman's Catholic Directory, Almanac, and Clergy List, Quarterly, for the Year of Our Lord 1886, Containing Complete
Reports from all Dioceses in the United States, 1886 Hoffman Brothers, Printers to the Holy Apostolic See, Milwaukee and Chicago, 1886. (The 1888 directory identifies the publishers as the M.H. Wiltzlus Company.)
(2) Sadliers Catholic Directory, Almanac, and Clergy List, Quarterly
(3) “The Official Directory: Catholic Directory and Clergy List for 1905”
1883 Sadliers
In an 1883 version of Sadliers' Directory, at pages 504-505, it lists St. Mary's in Wymore, Rev. A. Rausch, pastor, with stations at Odell, Liberty, Burchard Church of the Sacred Heart; Turkey Creek, Pawnee County, St. Joseph; Table Rock, Pawnee County, St. Wenceslaus; and Humboldt (no church listed). This directory was found at https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=b-DQAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.RA1-PA505
1886 Hoffman’s directory:
At page 265, it lists this under the Diocese of Omaha, served by Rev. A. Rausch, pastor, of St. Mary's in Wymore, and with stations at Sacred Heart in Burchard, St. Wenceslaus in Table Rock; Humboldt; Odell, Barneston in Gage County (no church listed), and Turkey Creek in Pawnee County (“Turkey Creek” was generally a reference to the Pawnee City area; the Steinauer area was generally referred to as “upper” Turkey Creek).
Found at https://books.google.com/books?id=WuDQAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA265&lpg=RA1-PA265&dq=table+rock+nebraska+wenceslaus+catholic&source=bl&ots=0QlXxuHr2t&sig=BHQWKsYscynebOSygvfrDqO57Pc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyx5PXxdbXAhUEwYMKHbPfBesQ6AEIUzAJ#v=onepage&q=table%20rock%20nebraska%20wenceslaus%20catholic&f=false
1888 Hoffman’s
The Hoffman's third annual edition in 1888, at page 273, lists Table Rock's church as being in the Lincoln Diocese and the name the church as St. Wenceslaus, "attended from Wymore."
Found at https://books.google.com/books?id=soNBAAAAYAAJ&dq=table%20rock%20nebraska%20wenceslaus%20catholic&pg=PA273#v=onepage&q=table%20rock%20nebraska%20wenceslaus%20catholic&f=false
1888 Sadliers
Sadlier’s directory, at page 251 lists the Rev. A. Rausch as pastor of St. Mary's in Wymore, and with stations at Sacred Heart in Burchard, St. Wenceslaus in Table Rock, a nearly finished, as of yet unnamed church in Odell; Humboldt (no church listed), and Barnston,n which was "attended occasionally."
Found at: https://books.google.com/books?id=CNPUAAAAMAAJ&lpg=RA1-PA251&ots=9hsM-chkdl&dq=google%20book%20Catholic%20Directory%20table%20rock&pg=RA1-PA250#v=onepage&q=google%20book%20Catholic%20Directory%20table%20rock&f=false
1905 “Official Directory”
1897 Hoffman's
1905 History
In this directory, at page 410. The church at Table Rock is identified as “St. John the Baptist Church,” a mission of St. Anthony of Padua in Steinauer, in the Lincoln Diocese. (Burchard continued as a mission of Wymore).
This directory was found at https://books.google.com/books?id=MLdGAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA410&lpg=PA410&dq=table+rock+nebraska+wenceslaus+catholic&source=bl&ots=hgAze6AATV&sig=IQc4zf8LiZAyTq7M5ngQPNkZegg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWsNKszNbXAhWI3YMKHVt-BgM4ChDoAQgnMAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
A 1987 history identifies the church only as St. John’s, that publication being “History of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, 1887-1987,” written by Loretta Gosen in 1986, published by the Catholic Bishop of Lincoln in 1986. Table Rock is listed in ten places, including pages 109 and 151. It was digitized by the University of Wisconsin – Madison on September 9, 2009. It was found at https://books.google.com/books?id=NwriAAAAMAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s.
as it was
1881, Bishop o'connor sends priests to celebrate a jubilee, a three-day celebration. table rock is included.3
Table Rock is mentioned in the Woodstock Letters, Volume XI, No. 1, January 1, 1882, available at the Jesuit Online Library. The text describes priests going to the various Jubilee Missions, with a section about Nebraska at pages 78 to 86. Table Rock is addressed at page 83.
At page 78, it begins with saying that the priests arrived for the purpose of giving “Jubilee Missions” at places to be designated by the bishop. A jubilee celebration in general is one that celebrates a 75th anniversary of something. At one point in the text it cites a Jubilee Mission “rather a triduum.” A triduum according to Wikipedia is a celebration of three days. In this case, the priests arrived in Table Rock on ,Saturday, July 16, celebrated mass on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and they left for Plum Creek (present day Steinauer).
At page 78, it begins with saying that the priests arrived for the purpose of giving “Jubilee Missions” at places to be designated by the bishop. A jubilee celebration in general is one that celebrates a 75th anniversary of something. At one point in the text it cites a Jubilee Mission “rather a triduum.” A triduum according to Wikipedia is a celebration of three days. In this case, the priests arrived in Table Rock on ,Saturday, July 16, celebrated mass on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and they left for Plum Creek (present day Steinauer).
From Rulo the Fathers traveled to Table Rock, where they arrived on Saturday, July 16th. Table Rock is a little town situated on the Atchison and Nebraska division of the Burlington and Missouri Railroad. Among the Catholics of the town and the surrounding country, only a few Irish and German families are to be found, the majority are Bohemians by birth or extraction. The Bohemians, at least those who have migrated to the State of Nebraska, and their offspring, are not at all remarkable for deep-rooted faith, or even middling religious fervor. And this explains the wonderfully meager results of the Mission. |
1882, first marriage in the church, peter muller & mary mcbride
Thank you to descendant Sandi Knippelmeyer for this copy.
1915 - double marriage delphine goodenkauf & frank miller
& felicia goodenkauf and muller
family members used both muller & miller
the new brides were sisters, the grooms brothers
1942, Sheriff at mass when auctioneer's car stolen
August 16, 1942 -- car stolen while the Sheriff at St. John's mass
1947, Gwen Burger & Vernuss Oenbring married at st. john's
Gwendolyn Louise (Burger) Oenbring, 84 of Pawnee City, Nebraska passed away on Friday, July 20, 2012 at home with her family. Gwen was born on July 15, 1928 at home in The Lindsley House, a two story limestone building constructed in 1872 which served as a hotel and was one of three commercial buildings that survived a devastating fire of 1920. The limestone construction and location one block from the public square at 706 Luzerne Street remains as a rare surviving remnant of Table Rock's early commercial development. Her parents, Peter E. Burger and Oneta (Criger) Burger had rooms there while her dad worked with the telephone line.
Gwen attended School District #45 Mount Zion in Nemaha County 7 years then finished at School District #49 Hillcrest in Pawnee County, also known as the Miller School. She then stayed home to help her folks on the farm northeast of Table Rock.
She met her future husband, Vernuss Albert Oenbring at the Table Rock fair when he threw rocks at her horse she was riding in the parade. They were married on October 2, 1947 at the St. John's Catholic Church in Table Rock and resided 6 miles south of Pawnee City for 42 years. To this union 5 children were born, Glenda Lee, Betty Ann, Roy Eugene, Gail Ann and Doris Ann. In 1990 they retired from farming and moved into Pawnee City. She worked part-time for the Little Brown Jug and was active with the grandchildren.
She belonged to St. Anthony's Church and Altar Society in Steinauer, State Line Club, Rural Neighbors Club, Red Hat Society and VFw Auxiallary 5289 for over 50 years and was on the Avenue of Flag committee. She enjoyed her flowers and decorating her home inside and out for special days. She loved watching Baseball games, especially the Cubs, and attended the Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals in Chicago at Wrigley Field and in St. Louis to see Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire play which she really enjoyed.
Gwen was preceded in death by her loving husband Vernuss Oenbring, son Roy Oenbring, parents Peter and Oneta Burger, brother Merle Burger, grandparents, Martin and Emma Burger and William and Mary Criger.
She is survived by her children, Glenda and husband Bob Anderson of Independence, MO, Betty and husband Dennis Korber of Palmyra, NE, Gail Oenbring and Bill Zagar of Bloomfield, MI, and Doris Oenbring of West Plains, MO, grandchildren, Jennifer Masonbrink, Brittney and husband Roger Caudill, Franklyn Rist and Chelsea, David Korber and Bradley Korber, great grandchildren, Kendra, Caudill, Talan Caudill, Miranda Rist, and Carsyn Rist, Inlaws; Dan and Melva Waldron, Mildred VanDeventer, Mary Ann Oenbring, Dan Roland, Shirley Oenbring, Cyril and Julie Oenbring, Robert and Marilyn Oenbring, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.3
Gwen attended School District #45 Mount Zion in Nemaha County 7 years then finished at School District #49 Hillcrest in Pawnee County, also known as the Miller School. She then stayed home to help her folks on the farm northeast of Table Rock.
She met her future husband, Vernuss Albert Oenbring at the Table Rock fair when he threw rocks at her horse she was riding in the parade. They were married on October 2, 1947 at the St. John's Catholic Church in Table Rock and resided 6 miles south of Pawnee City for 42 years. To this union 5 children were born, Glenda Lee, Betty Ann, Roy Eugene, Gail Ann and Doris Ann. In 1990 they retired from farming and moved into Pawnee City. She worked part-time for the Little Brown Jug and was active with the grandchildren.
She belonged to St. Anthony's Church and Altar Society in Steinauer, State Line Club, Rural Neighbors Club, Red Hat Society and VFw Auxiallary 5289 for over 50 years and was on the Avenue of Flag committee. She enjoyed her flowers and decorating her home inside and out for special days. She loved watching Baseball games, especially the Cubs, and attended the Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals in Chicago at Wrigley Field and in St. Louis to see Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire play which she really enjoyed.
Gwen was preceded in death by her loving husband Vernuss Oenbring, son Roy Oenbring, parents Peter and Oneta Burger, brother Merle Burger, grandparents, Martin and Emma Burger and William and Mary Criger.
She is survived by her children, Glenda and husband Bob Anderson of Independence, MO, Betty and husband Dennis Korber of Palmyra, NE, Gail Oenbring and Bill Zagar of Bloomfield, MI, and Doris Oenbring of West Plains, MO, grandchildren, Jennifer Masonbrink, Brittney and husband Roger Caudill, Franklyn Rist and Chelsea, David Korber and Bradley Korber, great grandchildren, Kendra, Caudill, Talan Caudill, Miranda Rist, and Carsyn Rist, Inlaws; Dan and Melva Waldron, Mildred VanDeventer, Mary Ann Oenbring, Dan Roland, Shirley Oenbring, Cyril and Julie Oenbring, Robert and Marilyn Oenbring, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.3
1950, table rock's christmas midnight mass held at 4 a.m.
January 11, 1950 Beatrice Daily Sun
1957, soup supper with pie, coffee, & pop
March 23, 1956
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1957, darlene mertes & emil dobrovolny married at st. johns
1959, pancake supper
April 16, 1959
first communion, father gregory petrus
Father Petrus and Luella Bernadt
Sharla Sitzman, Gail Oenbring, Steve Cumro, Cathy Bernadt, and Susie Kreifel. Father Petrus left in 1962, so this photo is probably 1961 or 1962.
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first communion, father joseph keaney
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Sherry & Sandy Sitzman
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summer school, circa 1965
Circa 1968, summer school, 1969, Sisters Frances Marie and Mary Joseph, by Sharla Sitzman
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Circa 1966, by Sharla Sitzman
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1966, a weekly bulletin
1968, last mass
histories
1888 report of father a. c. rausch
of his years at st. john's (1881-1888)
transcriber & location of original document unknown
| 1888_history_by_father_rausch.pdf |
1962 history by remembrance
mary duder's collection of
personal histories from church members
date is approximate; by content, collected circa 1953-1962
This history notes Father Petrus as the current pastor, and thus John Duder's observation that it must have been written between 1953 and 1962.
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NAMES CITED:
Note: not all cited were members of the congregation Father Joseph Blacha Annie B lacklaw Bert Blacklaw Josie Blacklaw Chatraw family Vincent Clema Father Jeremias Cronin Father Paul Donovan Frank Duder John Duder Julia Duder (Sister Mary Sigfrieda) Mary L. Duder John Dufek Father John Flynn Father James Gilroy Gondringer famiily Nick Goodenkauf Pete Goodenkauf Catherine Grof Theodore Grof Oval Howe’s grandmother Pete Huffman Peter Jasa Father J.A. Keen Mary McBride Father William T. McKenna Rev. James McNalley Father Philip Maley Dominic Mertes Jim Mertes Lena Mertes Anna Miller (Sister Kristine) Joseph Miller William Miller Peter Muller Bishop O’Connor Father P. J. O’Learn Father Gregory Petrus Sue Phillips Father P. F. Quiligan Father A. C. Rausch Rudolph Raitora Father Alois Reimbold Father Joseph Ress Jake Reuter John Reuter Joseph Reuter, father & son Frank Sochor Father O. N. Turgeon Father Edward A. Valasak Joe Zelenka | ||
1952 murals, story by vAlasek given in 1992
A letter and an interview
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father valasek dies in 1999 at the age of 80
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A "DP" - displaced person.
"RI" - Russian immigrant. Emil Biro not Bori | ||
the last parishioners
Members of St. John’s Catholic Church when it closed in 1968, According to records residing at St. John's as of 2017. There is a list of parishioners at the time of closing and a second list of those who voted for the church to be given to the Historical Society, which contains a few additional names.
Kenneth Albers family (Pawnee City)
Carl Bernadt family
Richard Blecha family (Humboldt)
Melva Burger family
Gordon Clement family
Martin Cumro family
Michael Donahue family (Pawnee City)
Lawrence Duder family
Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Ely
Myron Kent family
Mr. and Mrs. Art Klein
Miss Mary Kozak
George Kreifel, Jr., family
Henry Kressman family (Pawnee City)
William Marfice family
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mertes
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Miller
Mrs. Delphine Miller
Wilbur Miller family
Paul Mullins family
Edwin Oenbring family (Pawnee City)
Vernuss Oenbring family (Pawnee City)
Lawrence Petrashek family
Floyd Prine family
Eugene Puhalla family
Kenneth Rethmann family (Pawnee City)
Robert Sitzman family
Patricia Stevens
Ernest Thomas family (Pawnee City)
Gary Vrtiska family
Charles Wenzl family
Willard Wenzl and family (Pawnee City)
Kenneth Albers family (Pawnee City)
Carl Bernadt family
Richard Blecha family (Humboldt)
Melva Burger family
Gordon Clement family
Martin Cumro family
Michael Donahue family (Pawnee City)
Lawrence Duder family
Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Ely
Myron Kent family
Mr. and Mrs. Art Klein
Miss Mary Kozak
George Kreifel, Jr., family
Henry Kressman family (Pawnee City)
William Marfice family
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mertes
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Miller
Mrs. Delphine Miller
Wilbur Miller family
Paul Mullins family
Edwin Oenbring family (Pawnee City)
Vernuss Oenbring family (Pawnee City)
Lawrence Petrashek family
Floyd Prine family
Eugene Puhalla family
Kenneth Rethmann family (Pawnee City)
Robert Sitzman family
Patricia Stevens
Ernest Thomas family (Pawnee City)
Gary Vrtiska family
Charles Wenzl family
Willard Wenzl and family (Pawnee City)
1970 donation of the property
to the table rock historical society
a letter from george e. miller to father weber advocating donation
a brief history of the diocese of lincoln
This history begins with the formation of the diocese in 1887. Table Rock is not cited, but it became part of that diocese once it wa formed.
| history_of_the_diocese_of_lincoln.pdf |