Holy Childhood of Jesus (Mascoutah, Illinois) Parish Records

Compilation copyright by Gloria Dettleff

SCCGS presents this data unaltered and as donated to the Society for genealogical research purposes only. SCCGS does not certify the accuracy of this data but recognizes it was done in good faith by an experienced compiler. In keeping with the compiler’s wishes and SCCGS’s Terms and Conditions of Use (click), you may use unique elements that are part of a unique family history or genealogy but may not otherwise publish material from this site in whole or in part in any electronic, print or other medium. For special circumstances, seek required permission in writing from SCCGS and the compiler.    Commercial use is expressly prohibited.

Introduction to Holy Childhood  | ♦ | Baptisms (1857–1906) A–G  ♦  H–N  ♦  O–Z  | ♦ | 

Marriages (1858–1931)

Burials are published in Mascoutah Township Cemeteries

If date is offscreen, please use the scroll bar at bottom of this window. 

Brief History

Mascoutah, first called Mechanicsburg, lay in the area called “Looking Glass Prairie” in St. Clair County. People from people from Germany and Alsace-Lorraine settled this are circa 1837.

Holy Childhood parish in the Diocese of Belleville was founded in 1839, then in the Diocese of Alton, and attended by Rev. Henry Meyer until 1842. The next three priests, the Reverends Joseph Kuenster, G. Ostlagenberg and Joseph Baltes, were pastors assigned at St. Peter’s in Belleville. In 1857, Holy Childhood got its first resident pastor, Father Francis Bloesinger.

The parish school was operated by Ursuline sisters of Louisville, Kentucky and later, the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.

Pastors

Pastors who served during the time these records were compiled were the Reverends Henry Frohboese (1858), Peter Rosendahl (1859–1868), Franz Gerhard Leve (1868–1875), Anton T. Pieke (1875–1907), Charles Kuhlmann (1907–1916), Msgr. Joseph Kaup, V.G. (1916–1926), and Ferdinand Weyrich (1926–1962).

About these records, this database, caveats

• Baptisms: L, J, S and Z look alike, see page 23 for example.
• Burials: Previously published and available in Mascoutah Township Cemeteries book (note that the cemetery is actually in Shiloh Valley Township).

• The Society and the compiler recommend researchers verify information provided on the SCCGS website with the original record extracted from images are online at FamilySearch. Also, verify the actual place buried with the cemetery sexton’s book, an obituary, funeral card, death certificate, or probate record. Courthouse, IRAD, and library addresses.
• Researchers are urged to correlate information here with that found in other records before forming conclusions about a person, family, or relationship. Further research (scroll down).
• Baptisms 1906–12 Oct 1930 are on microfilm roll number 108 (see sidebar).
• If the image is unsatisfactory (much ink bled through), request help from the Archives of the Diocese of Belleville at (618) 722-5057.
• Square brackets [  ] indicate wording added by the compiler to clarify an entry.
• Terminology reflects the time period and Roman Catholic Canon Law, both have changed over time.
• Cramped handwriting, faint images, possible transcription errors, and names spelled phonetically or with diacritical marks will undoubtedly affect this compilation. Search tips may help locate an ancestor’s name if misspelled.
• Given names abbreviated in the church book are spelled out when the English equivalent is certain (Elizabeth for Eliz., Louis for Ludovicus). When no apparent equivalent was known or ambiguous, the Latin name or initials were transcribed.

Sample citation to a specific record in this database

Gloria Dettleff, compiler, “Holy Childhood (Mascoutah, Illinois) Catholic Baptisms (1857 – 1906) A–G,” St. Clair County Genealogical Society (https://stclair-ilgs.org : date viewed) ; [ancestor’s name, date of baptism].

Sample citation to a digital image of the original church register

The FamilySearch website provides a citation with each record.

Further Research

• Births filed at the Courthouse (1878–circa 1912) are on the SCCGS Member website.
• Civil marriages filed at the courthouse are indexed on the Illinois State Archives’ Statewide Marriage Index to 1906, and in the SCCGS Quarterly 1906–1950 beginning with Volume 30 Number 2 (2007).
• If a person died in Missouri 1910-1968, access their death certificate on the Missouri Secretary of State web site.
• The Illinois State Archives’ Statewide Death Index (1916 – 1950) is the gateway to order less expensive death certificates through the Illinois State Genealogical Society than the County Clerk’s office.
• Deaths and Stillbirths filed at the St. Clair County Courthouse (1878–1916) are abstracted in the SCCGS Quarterly, Volumes 31–43 (2008–2020). Use the surname index and Table of Contents to narrow a search.

Translation Aids

• Latin language aids
• French language word list
• Given names translated from French and Latin into English , courtesy American-French Genealogical Society.

Bibliography

1. Burnett, Betty. A Time of Favor: The Story of the Catholic Family of Southern Illinois. St. Louis, Mo.: Patrice Press, 1987.
2. Diocese of Belleville. Centennial Heritage Festival and Picnic, Sunday, September 27. Belleville, Ill.: The Diocese, 1987.
3. [Diocese of Belleville]. History of the Catholic Diocese of Belleville Illinois 125th Anniversary. Strasbourg, France: Éditions du Signe, 2011.