File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Cindy genealogy@eurekanet.com December 14, 1998

Anthony, Ohio

St. John's Church In The Past Century St. John the Baptist Church is located at, what for many years was known as Anthony, Ohio, named for Anthony Niggemeyer who for many years was postmaster and operated a general store there. At that time, there was no free delivery mail system. Everyone secured their mail at the nearest post office. In later years, the mail is being delivered by carrier from Guysville, Ohio. St. John's is believed to be the oldest Catholic Church in Athens County. It was started by a number of German families who after a long voyage lasting for several weeks, by boat arrived at Pomeroy, Ohio. They bought land near the Athens and Meigs County line, twenty miles from Pomeroy. There were anxious to obtain land where they could build homes and a place to worship God. Life in the new country was very hard, but they enjoyed freedom they had never known before. When these first settlers came to the Ohio wilderness, more than a Century ago, they dedicated their Church to the memory of the great prophet of the wilderness, St. John the Baptist. The first settler was Martin Schuler who bought land in 1838. He was followed by the following families: Buragard Sees, John Schuler, Anthony Rappold, Valentine Smith, Jacob Ulrich, Peter Greeze, John Huffman, Peter Timmoney, and Jacob Kenkoskia. The first Mass was read in the home of Buragard Sees by a Priest from Gallipolis, Ohio about 1844. The early settlers built their first church of logs near the Meigs County line about 1845 and had services there until 1861. The old cemetery is still there. Before this time, the families walked to Pomeroy occasionally to attend Mass and other religious services. By this time, many more Catholic families were arriving which made a larger Church necessary. Among the new settlers were the Staab, Niggemeyer, Kinnen, Josten, Warner, Klingenberg, and other families. Mr. Staab donated three acres of land where the present Church and cemetery is located. Here a frame structure was erected in 1861. This Church underwent extensive remodeling during the pastorage of Father J.B. Mattingly. For many years, Mass was celebrated one Sunday each month. Because of poor transportation facilities, which meant travel to Guysville by railroad and then horse and buggy the remaining seven miles. The Priest resided in the home of Anthony Niggemeyer or the Peter Josten home while ministering to the people of St. John's. On Sundays when there was no Mass, the people congregated at the Church and were led in prayer by one of the men of the parish. SOURCE: "Dedication of the New Saint John's Church, Guysville, Ohio, June 18, 1967" by Gertrude Weisenbach, retired schoolteacher who lived in the area. A new church was constructed when the original church burnt. ***********************************************