Indiana was admitted to the Union as a state December 11, 1816; there were but thirteen counties. Total inhabitants: 63,905 ... and 12,112 voters. 
 
Ripley County was laid out December 21, 1816. The County government was established a little more than a year later, early in 1818. 
  
The first railway in the United States was built in 1825. In 1832 a railway to connect Indianapolis and. Cincinnati was planned. As a state capital Indianapolis was seven (7) years old. The railway across Ripley.County was started in 1852 and completed In 1853. This was done by pick and shovel, men tearing away at the hills, and filling in the valleys.

During the time when this railroad was being built, Batesville was laid out in lots. The township map consisted of 45 lots in December 28, 1852. Two of the early settlers - Joshua Bates and Edward Neil "both of Dearborn County" bought the first plat, although prior to this there were a couple of families "home-steading." After Batesville was platted, George Riesenger built the first house. 
 
It should be mentioned that as far back as 1837 the Catholics from around Batesville went to church in Oldenburg and late in the 1850s, also to Morris. The citizens of Protestant faith centered their worship in Huntersville which adjoined Batesville and was laid out as a town in July 1841. Between the years 1860 - 1870 Henry Boehringer built a row of dwellings on the north side of North Street (now called Boehringer) in the Herman Schrader addition. He also built a large three-storied and basement frame structure on Broadway (now known as East Pearl Street) called "Boehringer's Hall", in which he took up his residence. This is where the Catholics decided to congregate. They floored the basement and it was used twice a month for Mass offered by Franciscan Fathers who had arrived at Oldenburg, August 7, 1866. The Spiegel and Yest families boarded the priests on these occasions.

Blank's Novelty Factory Crew - Lower row, from left to right: John Blank, Frank Johanning, Jake Blank, Joe Blank, Charles Tekulve. Second row, from left to right, George Fisher, Lou Nickel. Florence Blank, Mat Weigel. Joe Gauck. Top row, from left to right. John Muckerheide, John Seitz, Nick Blank. Joe Fisher, Herman Ochs, Joe Goldsmith.

Several members of St. Louis parish earned the undying gratitude of the community of the whole surrounding area when on October 29 and 30, 1932, Margaret Mary Hospital was dedicated. Mrs. Margaret Hillenbrand, her daughter, Mary A. Mitchell, her sons, George M. Hillenbrand and Mr. and Mrs. John A. Hillenbrand, had made this facility possible through their generosity. The Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis from Hartwell (Cincinnati) Ohio, staffed the hospital from its opening until August of 1967. 
   
The Franciscan Fathers provided a Catholic chaplain right from the beginning. Fr. Lambert Brockman, O.F.M., is the present (1968) chaplain, though no longer resident there, since the Batesville Community Hospital Corporation took over operation upon the departure of the Sisters.
   
During the course of the years several additions have been made to the facility as needs dictated, and, at present, plans are well along to add a new and modern wing that will serve the increased demands for up-to-date medical attention. 

Margaret Mary Hospital