150 Years of SSND Presence in Teutopolis, Illinois
by Carol Marie Wildt, SSND

In 1838, a group of Catholic German immigrants, represented by John F. Waschefort, purchased more than 10,000 acres in Effingham County, Ill., for a new settlement. It was named Teu Topolis, “The City of the Teutons, or Germans.” As the settlement progressed, a church was built and a parish formed. During the next 20 years, itinerant and diocesan priests from Chicago served the people and private subscription schools were established.

In 1858, Teutopolis became part of the Alton diocese and brought the arrival of three Franciscan priests and six brothers from Bremen, Germany, to serve the people. In June 1860, Rev. Damian Hennewig, the first Franciscan pastor, contacted Mother Caroline Friess and requested School Sisters of Notre Dame to care for the spiritual and educational needs of the girls. In October 1860, he met with the area Catholics to begin the foundation of St. Joseph’s Seminary and College for the education of boys.

On December 7, 1861, Sister Margaret Mueller, superior, Sister Mauritia Uzmann and Candidate Margaret Rudolph arrived in Teutopolis. For six years they lived in a two-story log house owned by J. F. Waschefort. He loaned the house to the sisters on the condition that his daughters would be educated free of charge. The parish furnished the house and paid for the travel expenses of the sisters.

In May 1866, the cornerstone was laid for the two-story brick building, St. Mary’s Academy. By 1868, 35 girls boarded in the new convent/school. In addition to the academic studies provided in the parochial school, they were instructed in art, music and needlework. By 1883, the number of boarders had greatly decreased and St. Mary’s Academy was closed while the sisters continued to teach in the parish school. The sisters also assisted the priests as catechists for adult women converts.

During these early decades, the sisters’ missionary spirit was tested with many hardships: epidemics of measles, smallpox, influenza; sickness and several deaths among the sisters and candidates necessitating frequent transfers; poor heating facilities; crowded conditions, etc.

Increased enrollment in the parish school necessitated the construction of an annex to the school in 1913 and a new school building the following year. At this time, the school became a public school but the sisters and dedicated lay personnel continued to teach in it.

When Mother Petra Pfeifer visited in May 1917, the pastor pressed his case for a sister in the newly opened high school. Mother Petra felt she could not spare a sister for so small a high school. The pastor stated that if she did not give him a sister for the high school, he would get other sisters for the entire school and she could withdraw all the SSNDs. Since this was one of the early pioneer missions founded by Mother Caroline, Mother Petra did not wish to close it, so she promised to send a sister by September. Sister Ethelbert Dekum, 24, and two years professed, was appointed principal and superintendent of schools. She held this position from 1917 until 1955. Sisters Stephanie Flamm, Anthonita Donaldson and Margaret [Medulpha] McCormick followed her in this position until a lay person was appointed in 1970.

During these past 150 years, 25 women have entered SSND from Teutopolis and more than 200 SSNDs have ministered at St. Francis. Today, Sister Christina Marie Frick continues to teach in the grade school and Sister Ann Vincent Siemer ministers as a DRE in St. Francis Parish.

[Sources: Chronicles of St. Francis, Teutopolis, Ill.; History of Teutopolis, Sesquicentennial 1839-1989; St. Louis Province statistics]

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