Linn County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

Churches

The Catholic Church
By the Rev. J. T. Tuohy, LL. D., S.T.D., Jonesburg
Source: Walter Williams, A History of Northeast Missouri Vol. I, 1913
submitted by C. Horton -2009

Previous to the excision of this county from the archdiocese of St. Louis, as provided at the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1866, various places containing Catholic settlers had been occasionally visited by priests. It was, however, only after the erection of the St. Joseph diocese and the annexation of this county thereto that we find any regular organization attempted. Accordingly, in 1866, we find for the first time the announcement of a parish, Brookfield. During the pastorate of the present rector, the Rev. Walter Tormey, M. R., which covers nearly half the age of the parish, a flourishing organization has been maintained. The Rev. D. A. Feely is associated with the pastor in all the work.

Marceline has come on the map somewhat later and is the seat of a flourishing parish under charge of the Rev. P. J. Cullen.