Parish History

It was about 1854 or 1855 when the first Catholic settlers, a few Irish Immigrants, located near Monmouth.  Priests attended these people from Burlington, Iowa until the summer of 1856 when Fr. John Christopher Fitman, an Irish Priest from the Diocese of St. Louis, came to Galesburg.  From there he took care of St. Augustine, Macomb, and Monmouth missions.  Fr. O’Neil of Galesburg, Illinois was the first regular attending priest.  He came in 1857 and served until July of 1863.

Mass was celebrated under the old cottonwood tree which stood in the northeast section of the square, and sometimes in the first Warren County Court House.  At other times, it was said in the homes of Stephen Canning, David Haley, and William Shields.

In 1863, Fr. Powers succeeded Fr. O’Neil in charge of the Mission and in 1864, in response to his missionary fervor; the little group of Catholics in and about Monmouth erected a simple frame church at the northeast corner of West Boston Avenue and North C Street.   It was known as the Church of the Epiphany and cost $3,000.  This was later sold to the Second Baptist Church, moved to the South part of town and subsequently destroyed for a modern brick building.

Fr. Howard followed Fr. Powers and remained until November 1869, when Fr. Joseph D. Bowles was appointed the first resident pastor of Monmouth.  He remained until 1872.  With the arrival of Fr. Bowles, the parish records began.  They disclose the first baptism was that of Mary Ellen Quinn on November 21, 1869.  The first marriage was that of Edmund Lee and Margaret O’Neil on January 23, 1870.

In 1872, Fr. Luby who remained until August 1873 succeeded Fr. Bowles.  Fr. James Halpin came next and served for three years until 1876.  The out-missions at Raritan (St. Patrick’s) were built during 1876. Fr. Thomas Francis O’Farrell served from 1876 - 1878.  Fr. Thomas O’Farrell served next and built the church in Alexis.  He was pastor from September 1876 to November 1878.  Fr. Michael M. Weldon served in 1878-1879, followed by Fr. William Murphy, July 1879 until September 1882.

Fr. F.C. Duffy was appointed pastor in 1882 and served until 1887.  It was during his pastorate that the cornerstone of the new brick church was laid in 1883.  This was on the corner of West Broadway Avenue and North B Street and was built at a cost of $25,000.  It was at this time that the name of the church was changed to the Immaculate Conception Church.  Bishop John L. Spalding dedicated the new church on October 5, 1884.  The dedicatory lecture was given by Rev. Fr. Basche of  St. Ignatius College who stated during his lecture:  “This is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of Heaven.”  Fr. Martin F. Kelly succeeded Fr. Duffy in August 1887.  It was during his pastorate that the parish purchased St. Mary’s Cemetery.

In 1908, while Fr. P.V. Egan was an assistant, a modern two-story brick rectory was built east of the church. The land was purchased from H. B. Webster.