On August 15, 1833, a number of German    immigrant families    arrived at Baltimore, Maryland aboard the ship, the Weser. The    majority of these families had been from Großwallstadt, Bavaria,    Germany and wished to take up land together in the New World    and form a new community. Among the ten or so families who    formed the community of Neuwaldstadt in Highland Township,    Franklin County was that of Michael Ripperger, Henry William    Geis, Ignatz Ripberger, Mathias Fussner, Franz Alois Bauer, and    Conrad Weiler.

   Father John A. Kohlman in his 1919 Directory of St.Peter Church    described Neuwaldstadt: "In those days the entire region was a    vast stretch of wild, virgin forest, into which, as it appeared, only a casual settler here and there found his way. However, these brave and courageous young men, undaunted and undismayed at the hazardous undertaking of attempting to establish their homes and seek their fortunes in the heart of an immense forest, where probably only beasts of prey had hitherto trodden, and where the axe of the 'invader' had not yet left its mark, forthwith assumed the arduous task which a guiding Providence has outlined for them."

The new settlers, having purchased government lands, went about the task of building single room log cabins. As these first homes were being constructed, additional families from the Old World were already arriving to take their place along with the first Neuwaldstadters.

In the midst of this, the people of Neuwaldstadt turned their attention to their spiritual wellbeing. Having been accustomed to the availability of both Catholic Church and priest in their Old World homes, they found the forests of Indiana in this regard severely lacking. In the spring of 1834, two German Catholics, Mr. John Heimburger of Yorkridge and Mr. Ripperger of Neuwaldstadt were met by Father Joseph Ferneding,"The Apostle of the Germans." It seems their meeting took place by chance as the two gentlemen were on their way to a mill on the Whitewater River. Looking across the river, the men saw a man on horseback who they thought looked like a priest. Hearing the men speaking German, Father Ferneding asked if there were any Catholics in the vicinity. The men informed him of Catholics in the surrounding areas and the noble Father promised to go back with them. The next day he celebrated Mass at the home of Mr. Heimburger with the promise that in the future he would return to the same village and also pay a visit to the Catholics at Neuwaldstadt.

In the meantime, the Neuwaldstadters decorated a large, hollow tree with various icons and religious emblems and fastened a large portrait of the Blessed Virgin Mary within. The tree acted as sacred place where the people could gather to pray and sing. These devotions were usually directed by Michael Ripperger. In addition to this, the people also made pilgrimages to New Alsace in order to attend Mass at the church in that location.

As early as the summer of 1834, Father Ferneding visited Neuwaldstadt and said Mass in the homes of William Geis and Adam Ripberger. Father promised to return and encouraged the congregation to commence the building of a house of worship. In 1835 the erection of a simple log church was begun. Land for the church was deeded to Bishop Bruté by Michael and Margaret Ripperger, Regina Ripberger and son John, and Margaret Geis and sons. On October 23, 1836, Ignatz Ripberger, one of the original founders, died. He was buried beside the church in what was to become St.Peter's Cemetery. In July, 1838, Bishop Bruté blessed the completed church and dedicated it to St. Peter. The new church having been named St. Peter caused the surrounding community to be known by the same.

With the new church in place, Father Ferneding increased the regularity of his visits and came once a month from 1839 until February 1842. After Father Ferneding left the service of the diocese, Father Michael O'Rourke of Dover assisted until 1844. Father Charles Oppermann celebrated Mass occasionally at St. Peter until Father William Engeln was appointed the first resident pastor of St. Peter in 1844. In 1852, Father began collecting funds for the building of a new brick church. In 1853, the present church was completed and dedicated by Bishop de Saint Palais. Upon the departure of Father Engelnin October of 1855 the church became a mission of the other local parishes. The priests which administered to St. Peter at that time included Father Joseph Rudolph, Father Weber, Father Beerschneider, Father Henry Köring, and Father Januarius Weisenberger.

In 1859 Father Leo Osrenkar, O.F.M., was appointed as the second resident pastor. Father Leo did much to enhance the beauty of the church by purchasing two bells, a high altar, and a fresco painting. In 1875, Father provided for the educational needs of St. Peter's youngsters by building a new school house and soliciting the teaching skills of the Sisters of St. Francis at Oldenburg, Indiana. The Sisters stayed as teachers until 1971 when the school was closed. After twenty-three years as pastor of St. Peter, Father Leo died in May, 1882. He is buried in St. Peter Cemetery among the many who he shepherded.

Father William Kemper succeeded Father Leo and was responsible for building the present rectory in 1883. He remained until July, 1886, when Father Ferdinand Hundt took charge. The pastorate of Father Hundt marks a turbulent time in the history of St. Peter parish. Father Hundt had a disagreement with members of the St. Peter school board and a petition was circulated asking for his removal. In response, the Bishop removed Father Hundt and officially closed St. Peter's from Easter 1889 to November 1891. During this time the parishioners went to church at Oak Forest, St. Mary-of-the-Rock and St. Leon. The children were likewise schooled at these locations. In time St. Peter reopened and has since been a vital parish. The succeeding pastors of St. Peter have been:

Father Joseph Fleischmann, 1891-1908Father Charles Wagner, 1908-1912
Father William Wack, 1912-1917Father John Kohlman, 1917-1938
Father William Knapp, 1938-1941Father Sylvester Bloemke, 1941-1950
Father Joseph Laugel, 1950-1962Father Louis Schumacher, 1962-1968
Father George Saum, 1868-1975Father David Senefeld, 1975-unknown.


Record of Contributors for the St. Peter Church Building Fund, 1853-1860:

Franz AMBERGERPhillipp ARIENSSimon BATH
Aloys BAUERFelix BAUERFranz A. BAUER
Valentine BAUERGeorg BECKERPaul BERNINGER
Matheas BUNFranze BUSALDCatherine BUSHALD
Amos CRISTValentine DIILLValentine DIILL
Heinerich DILLHeinerich DILLJoseph DIRKHIISING
Maria DIRKHIISINGRudolph DIRKHIISINGJoseph EISEMANN
Joseph EISEMANN, Jr.Nicolaus EISEMANNWendel EISENMANN
Christian ELLERICHRev. Father John ENGELNJohn EPPICH
Klara & Katherine EPPICHMartin FAUSTAugustin FECHER
Peter FECHERJoseph FEHLINGERMichael FRIES
Michael FRIESJoannes FRIOHLAnna Maria FUSSNER
Joannes FUSSNERJoannes FUSSNERJohn FUSSNER, Jr.
John J. FUSSNERMargaretha FUSSNERMatheas FUSSNER
Sussanna FUSSNERAdam GEHRICHSteffan GEIGER
Ignatz GEIGERICHGeorg GEISIgnatz GEIS
J. Adam GEISMatheus GEISMichael GEIS
Frederick GLASERMichael GROSSJohan HENZLER
Peter HERGENROTHERGeorge HILBERTGerhard HILBERT
Heinerich HILBERTHeinerich HILBERTMaria HILBERT
William HOFMANMatheas JACKLEPeter JACOB
Joannes JOHLERSussans JUNGJoseph KLOTZ
Franz KNECHTJoannes KNECHTIgnatz KOHLER
Adam KRAUSAloys KRAUSJoanes KRAUS
Joannes A. KRAUSJacob KUNTZAdam & Phillipp KUNZ
Nicolaus KUNZWilliam LINDERAugust MESSERSCHMITT
Fridolin MESSMERIda MESSMERGeorg METZ
Stefan METZAndreas MEYERAnton MEYER
Anton MULLERJoannes MULLERJacob NUSZBAUM
Janson PARRONS (?)Heinerich PETERAnton PFLUM
Margaretha & Walburga PFLUMH. RAUCHLouis RIESELMANN
John RIPBERGERJohn Adam RIPBERGERPeter RIPBERGER
Adam RIPPERGERAloys RIPPERGERGeorg RIPPERGER
Isador RIPPERGERMichael RIPPERGERMichael RIPPERGER
Herman ROSFELDAdam SAMJ. SAM
Adam SCHMITT (J. SENEFELD)Maria Anna SCHMITTStephan SCHMITT
Elizabeth & Francesca SCHNEIDERGregor SCHNEIDERJacob SCHNEIDER
Markus SCHNEIDERMagdalena SCHUCKTheodor SCHUCK
Theodor SCHUCK, Jr.H. H. SCHURBRUCKGeorg SEFERIN
Godfried SEIBELNicolaus SEIDERBalthazar SELM
Franz J. SELM (Katherine WAGNER)Franz Joseph SELMAntonius SIEFERT
Franz STADELMANAndrew STALLMANMaria STALLMAN
Aloysius STEHLINAnton STOLLMichael STOLL
Konrad STRASSBURGERJoseph STULBMeinhard & Wilhelm STURWOLD
Blassius TEGLEPauline TEGLENicolaus WAGNER
Conrad WEILERMichael WEILERMichael WIPPEL
Adam WISSELConrad WISSELJoannes WISSEL
Sebastian WISSELFranz WITTMANHeinerich WITTMAN
Sibilla WOLFERTAugust ZERFESJoseph ZIX (ZIN)


Those individuals who desire more information onthe history of St. Peter or who believe their families attended this parish are encouraged to contact David J Endres


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