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THE SISTERS'
SCHOOL, formerly also known as St. Mary's Academy of Teutopolis, under the supervision of the Sisters of Notre
Dame, is presided over by Sister Verena, Mother Superior. This institution was founded in December, 1861, by sisters
from the Institute of St. Mary's, of Milwaukee, of the Order of Notre Dame, under Sister Marguerite Mueller, Mother
Superior, who was accompanied by Sister Mauritia Ultzmann, and the candidate, Marguerite Rudolph.
For
the first six years, the sisters occupied the large two story-brick house opposite the church. In 1867, their present
commodious two-story brick structure, situated near St. Francis' Church, was erected by the congregation. Two of
the lower, and one of the upper, story rooms are used for school purposes, and the others as a residence for the
sisters, except one in the upper story used as a chapel. The institution, which was formerly an academy for young
ladies, is taught by the sisters in all elementary branches, including music and fancy needle work, and is recognized
by the authorities as a district school, under a regularly constituted school board elected by the people. The
convent proper is a branch of St. Mary's Convent, of Notre Dame, of Milwaukee, Wis., which is the mother convent,
having general supervision of its management. There are seven sisters now residents of the Teutopolis Convent,
three of whom are employed in teaching.
Sister Verena,
D. N. D., of Notre Dame Convent, Teutopolis, is a native of Germany, and was born in the village of Gross Embach,
November 28, 1841. When three years of age, she accompanied her parents to America. The family settled in Baltimore,
where she began school life under the care of the Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1859, she went to Milwaukee, where
she became a student of St. Mary's Institute of the Order of Notre Dame. The following year she became a teacher
in the Milwaukee schools, and in 1861 was assigned to a position in the schools of Rochester, N. Y., where she
taught for seven years. She then returned to Wisconsin, where she was made Lady Superior of the Sisters' Convent
in Kenosha, where she continued until 1873. She was then assigned to the Convent of Notre Dame, of which she has
since served as Lady Superior.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and
Richland Counties Illinois, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Governors
of the State, and the Presidents of the United States. (Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887), p. 592. Transcribed by
Judy Rosella Edwards.
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