Catholic Parishes
Episcopal Churches
Jewish Synagogues
Lutheran Churches
Presbyterian Churches
United Churches of Christ
United Methodist Churches
Baptist Churches
Bible Churches
Other Churches

Dubuque Genealogy Coordinator

HOME

Logo by Ginger Cisewski

Nestled on the eastern slope of hills in north central Dubuque County, the spire of St. Joseph Church, Rickardsville, attests to the faith of the typical American in his God. The origins of the parish go back to a nucleus of French settlers from the Trois Rivieres District of Quebec, Canada. The location of the original church was at Five Points, across the valley, south of the present church. As early as 1840, Bishop was visiting the locality to minister to the spiritual needs of the settlers. The first church, constructed of logs, was erected in the early 1840's. Father Joseph Cretin probably organized the parish and served as its first pastor. The early baptismal and matrimonial records of the parish were kept ot the Cathedral in Dubuque. The records preserved in the parish begin with the year 1852. Father Victor Bodon, who was pastor at that time, served the parish until 1860. In that year, the location of the church was changed to Rickardsville and a large frame church was built. From 1860 until 1875, Rickardsville and Holy Cross were served by one pastor who resided at Holy Cross. In 1875, Rev. M. J. Quirk was appointed resident pastor of Rickardsville, and built a substantial frame rectory. He was succeeded by Revs. M. M. Doly; J. P. Brady; M . W. McCarthy; and T. Mahoney. Father George Clarke arrived in Rickardsville in 1893 and was pastor until his death, Sept. 4, 1922. He had spent all of his years as a priest in the parish. The present brick church was dedicated in his pastorate in 1905.

Other pastors who succeeded Father Clarke were: Revs. Hubert Holsters; Joseph Richard; Hermon Dietz; Msgrs. Victor Hintgen; Henry Scharphoff; and the present incumbent, Rev. John P. Smith . The first French settlers were succeeded by an influx of Irish families, then later farmers of German descent from neighboring parishes settled in the Rickardsville parish. Today, it is typically American in its racial composition.

The parochial school was begun in 1927, during the pastorate of Father Holsters and has about 145 pupils enrolled in 8 grades at the present time. The Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque have served in the school since its foundation and are assisted by lay teachers. During the pastorate of Father Deitz, a fine new brick parish house was built. During Msgr. Hintgen's pastorate, Rickardsville became a part of Leo Central Catholic High School in Holy Cross. Msgr. Scharphoff consolidated the participation of the parish in the Central High School.

Today the parish consists of about 125 families. About oneself of these commute to Dubuque for work, and the other half are engaged in the pursuits of agriculture.

Source: 1967 Atlas of Dubuque County
Compiled by the Title Atlas Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota