The history of St. Louis church, Nokomis, dates back to the year 1859 when Father Colton of Litchfield began coming to Nokomis occasionally to take care of the few Catholics then living here. This was three years after the Post office had been established here upon completion of the railroad. Until 1867 irregular religious services were held in private houses, most frequently at the home of Thomas Tuohy who was foreman of the section and who kept a boarding house for the section men which stood just north of the railroad and just east of Spruce St.

Beginning with 1867 Fr. Thomas Cusack attended Nokomis regularly once a month and Mass was celebrated in what was know an Blue’s Hall at the corner of State and Spruce Streets. Fr. Cusack was succeeded by Fr. Edward Welch and he by Fr. Julian Turmell under whom , on July 4, 1870, the congregation was organized with the incorporated title of “St. Louis” Roman Catholic Church of Nokomis, Montgomery County, Illinois.

In 1871 a frame church was built for $2,300.00. The size was 34 x 54 feet and 20 feet to the ceiling. There were only 25 Catholic families here at the time, but they got generous help from Nokomis merchants in their project. Fr. Frederic Lohman of Hillsboro was the attending priest from 1873 to 1876 when he was succeeded by Fr. Peter J. Virnich. During his time here a necessary addition was made to the church and 3 acres of land were bought for use as a cemetery.

In 1881, Fr. John Storp became pastor here and a small frame house was purchased and enlarged; in 1884 Fr. Storp took up residence, thus becoming the first resident pastor. Fr. Patrick A. Lyons succeeded Fr. Storp in 1893 and was succeeded by Fr. Clement Johannes in 1897. During his time here-Johannes in 1897 to his death on January 10, 1940-St. Louis parish had its greatest growth and progress. A new church was a necessity. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1899, and it was ready for use in the spring of 1900. It covers a ground space of 55 x 120 feet. The auditorium is 84 feet deep and 40 feet from floor to ceiling. The original steeple-130 feet high-was torn away by a tornado on August 6, 1907, and was replaced by a more substantial one. At the same time the present Rectory was built and completed towards the end of 1908.

In 1917 St. Louis Parochial School was ready for classes, the School Sisters of Notre Dame being the teachers selected. In recognition of his great work Fr. Johannes was honored by Pope Pius XI, with the title of Monsignor in 1930. Incidentally, the day of which this honor was publicly conferred on him – March 25, 1930-saw one of the worst snowstorms in the history of Nokomis. Monsignor Johannes died on Jan. 10, 1940. Had he lived a few more months he would have reached the age of 80. Fr. Paul Heinen, who had been with the Monsignor Johannes for abut a year, was temporary administrator of the parish until Fr. John J. Hogan became pastor on March 14, 1940. He is still pastor in this Centennial year of Nokomis. St. Louis Parish numbers about 1000 souls. There are 179 children in St. Louis Parochial School who are still taught by the School Sisters of Notre Dame from St. Louis, Mo., together with a lay teacher, Miss Rosemary Keller of Farmersville. Such is a brief history of this parish. If it be true that “the way of judging the Future is by the Past” then, surely St. Louis Parish, Nokomis, Illinois, has great things ahead of it.

John J. Hogan, Pastor
 

Taken from the Nokomis Centennial Booklet 1856-1956