St. Louis Catholic Church

In the "Parish Counsellors Minute Book" of 1907 and 1908 the secretary was not reluctant to add a little cryptic humor:
 

March 3, 1907: 
The contract to build porches to front and rear of Rectory was awarded the Meyer Bros. for the sum of $122.00. Also the furnishing of new window glass and sashes at $2.75 per window for lower and $2.50 for upper story. After speaking different matters over pertaining to the parish and adjournment had followed, the trustees returned home happily after having taken something to satisfy the "inner man" with cold tea and so forth, which ordinarily make man happy under such circumstances. 
  
Sept. 29, 1907: 
It was decided that the house and lots north of school building be bought. from Mr. Chas. Johnsen. for the sum of $2,750.00 to serve as a residence for the teachers of St. Louis Church.
   
It was decided to sell three lots on Walnut St. south of St. Louis Church to Mr. Chas. Johnson for the sum of $250.00. 

Jan. 5, 1908:
Owing to the lack of sittings in church, it was decided that a graded platform be built in the church-gallery and pews be ordered. 
  
It was decided that the space in the school building formerly occupied as Sisters' residence, be arranged for a classroom, the partition to be taken out and the rooms to be papered. 
  
As there was no further business to be transacted, Mr. Henry Obermeyer, Mr. Herman Stapelkern per and Mr. Gerhard Schumacher who had served faithfully as parish counsellors for several years discontinued their office as such and Mr. Frank Meyer, Mr. Frank Thiel and Mr. Harry Blank, newly-elected trustees, were installed with appropriate ceremonies consisting of smoking of good cigars, playing exciting games of cards and indulging in a tasty lunch, music being furnished by a Batesville Phonograph Band. 

In the meantime a new baptistery, a donation from a couple in the parish, was begun. It was located between church and the rectory and provided a passage way between the two. Again Mr. Brown was the architect. St. Meinard stone was used in the interior and terrazzo on the floor. The Weberding Carving Shop produced the baptismal font incorporating ideas suggested by the Pastor. The Wm. Gutzwiller Co. was general contractor. 
  
This facility replaced the original baptismal font which had stood south of the confessional on the east side of church. This font was constructed of wood in a style imitating the altars. One Sunday afternoon in 1961 as the Pastor was intoning the prayers of the Sacrament of Redemption, a piece of the "ginger-bread" (wooden carving) fell from near the top of the baptismal font and landed near the basin where the baby would soon be baptised. No one was injured, but it pointed out the ever-present danger in this type of construction. When the artificial heat of winter dries out wood, it cracks, comes loose and falls without warning. Most of the "ginger-bread" has been removed from the altars because of this problem.
   
The first baptism in the new baptistery was that of Debra Jean Struewing, daughter of Herman and


Sylvia Struewing, on April 7, 1963. First Baptism in New Baptistery

Notes from Parish Vital Records

The first Baptism recorded at St. Louis is that of Mary Theresia, daughter of Stephen Geis and Marie Adelhaide Schodel Geis, on December 20, 1868, by Rev. John Gillig. The next year there were eleven Baptisms and the number has increased ever since, several years it went over 100. The total up to the end of 1967 is 4,630.

The first triplets born in Batesville were the Thiemans, August, Herman and William, sons of George and Wilhelmina Bosse Thieman, on March 6, 1893. They were baptized the following day.
Thieman Triplets 1893 

Triplets, this time three girls, Donna, Diana and Deborah, were born to Arnold and Shirley Fisher Giesting, on' June 20, 1963 and baptized June 23, 1963. 
Giesting Tiplets 1963
 
T'he first marriage recorded is that of Christian Bleile and Margaret Mauer on May 10, 1869, witnessed also by Fr. Gillig. 
 
The first death was that of Martha Elizabeth Blank, one year old daughter of John Blank, October 12, 1874. 

Land was added at various times and altered somewhat when the New York Central changed their tracks through town in 1906-07. 

A minimum was charged for a burial plot. $2.50 for each grave and its digging, the money going to the sexton. Later it became necessary to keep the grass cut and a system of annual care and perpetual care was begun for a specified fee.
   
Annually, on All Souls Day, or a Sunday near the same, the entire parish would march to the cemetery praying the rosary, a custom that persists till today (1968). At the entrance to the burial ground the church trustees would take up a collection for the maintenance of the grounds. There would be a "Libera", a sermon and prayers ending with blessing of the graves ,.

At the death of a parishioner the sad news would be rung out to all within hearing by the ringing of a single church bell "three consecutive times but once after the Angelus bell immediately after notification of demise and then again three times after the Angelus in the morning on the day of burial."
  
On November 1, 1912, the receiving vault in the cemetery was accepted by the trustees from the John Hillenbrand estate, G. M. Hillenbrand tendering the document of conveyance.
   
Nor did it seem at all amiss that the Land of the Dead should be used for the needs of the living if the Dead were not in immediate need of it. And that for a fee, too. Item from the "Parish Counsellors' Minute Book:" 
March 29, 1908: That the grounds adjoining the cemetery be rented to the Leroy B.B. Club for the consideration of $10.00 with the following conditions: 1) that said grounds be mowed entirely the latter part of June and once during the month of August and at the end of the season be properly cleaned up.
 

Click below to view the St. Louis Cemetery "Old Section" Information

Mapping of Old Adult Section

Mapping of Old Infant Section

Aerial View of Cemetery Indicating Location of "Old Section"