Sunday school conference at this place was enjoyed. J. W. Fager came in '91 and during his pastorate another ministerial convention was held and much good resulted. D. J. Klopp came in '94 and at present J. B. Michael is in charge. The following elders have served during these twenty-four years: D. B. Byers, H. Messner, S. F. Entorf and A. Haefle. Mr. Haefle is a resident of this city and we present elsewhere a picture of his residence which he erected in '94. El Paso is convenient to his many charges and he found the school and church influences and general surroundings such as one would wish in which to rear a family and he settled here permanently.
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH was organized in 1863 in this city by Rev. Fr. Terry, of Ottawa. Father Toner administered to the congregation one year and was succeeded by Frances Keenan, who remained in charge nine years. Soon after his coming here a church building was begun and in 1865 it was completed. The wings were added to the building in '72, making the entire work cost about $4500, with seating capacity for 500. Fr. Costa followed Fr. Keenan, but remained a short time and gave place in '74 to Thos. Keating, who was in charge several years. A parsonage was built early in the church's history and late in the '70s a school house was erected on the same block, which was well attended a number of years. Of late years, however, this has been discontinued and in '94 it was remodeled into a residence for the priest.
Following Fr. Keating, Fr. O'Kelly, then Fr. Burns and O'Neil, Dunne, Kelly and the present priest in charge is Fr. Quinlan, who came here two years ago. Fr. Kelly died while in charge of this congregation. At present there are about 150 families represented in the congregation of St. Mary's and before many months a handsome new church will be erected on the site of the present one. The church owns a beautiful cemetery one and a half miles north of the city, which is well laid out and nicely kept. A small cemetery east of the city is also owned by them, where repose the deceased members of German families of the congregation.
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