History of the Parish -Sts. Peter and Paul Parish had its beginning in the little settlement near Gubser’s Mill in the year 1853. The first church and school was built of logs  and was evidently constructed under the supervision of Father Voll, as there is a Baptismal Record, signed by him in 1853, which states that he baptized  the person mentioned, “in the church of St. Peter.”
        
This property was owned by Mr. McCardy, who donated ten acres for the purpose of building a church, school, and rectory for the few Catholic families, who had settled here from Germany and other places from abroad. Mr. Frank Bezold was one of the members and as he was a stone mason, laid the foundation for the first church.
        
The first Holy Mass was offered at the home of Frank Bezold by Rev. Joseph Patchowski, S.J. Then came, once a month, Rev. John Voll from  Corpus Christi Church, Newport, Ky. Following Father VolI, came Reverends Schraudenbach, Schweiger, Schulte and Spitzelberger.
        
The first winter school was opened in 1857 and was conducted in German. After the year 1857 Mass was held once a month, by the Pastor of  Four Mile. In 1862, Rev. John Stephany, newly ordained, became the first resident Pastor. He did not remain long. Then The Most Reverend Bishop  sent a Benedictine Father to take care of the people once a month. In 1866 Father Gabriel, O.S.B., blessed the first brick church, for about this time  the little log church had become too small to accommodate all the members.
        
After the Benedictine came Reverends Schuchardt, Exeler, Cassander, Meiwes, Hundt, Teutenberg and Goebbels in quick succession. Then came  Reverend William Hinssen 1883-1888. It seems from the records that in 1874, Reverend William Cassander built a new Priest house and between 1877 and 1881 Reverend Meiwes built  a new school. Reverend Clement Keller became Pastor from 1888 to 1905.  He commenced a new Rectory which was finished by Reverend Wendelin  Goehrig, who was Pastor here from 1906 to 1909, when Reverend Joseph Broerman became Pastor until March 1, 1929.
         
The second brick church was built in 1899 under the direction of Reverend Clement Keller. The bell was dedicated on August 1 of the same  year. Mr. and Mrs. William Schack were the first couple to be married in this church.  For reasons of safety, this little brick church was torn down in 1927 and the present concrete basement church was built by Reverend Joseph   Broerman at a cost of about $22,000.00. This was blessed December 8, 1928, by The Most Reverend Francis W. Howard, D. D., Bishop of Covington.
         
After Reverend Joseph Broerman in 1929 came Reverends Stoechel, Bauer, and DeJaco. Reverend Louis DeJaco became Pastor for nineteen years, until his death on December 13, 1951.

L-R Unknown, Unknown in top hat, Rev Francis DeJaco, Bishop William T Mulloy, Rev Louis A DeJaco, Unknown Rev, Robert Trame in top hat-May 26 1948

 

During the last year before his death, Father DeJaco remodeled the rectory into a school and Sisters’ dwelling. The old school having been   condemned, was torn down and during the summer of 1951, a new parish house was erected.  In the early days of our parish, the school children were taught by lay teachers. The first one to teach was Mr. Silbersack, a man from our parish.

In 1916 the Sisters of Divine Providence were welcomed here as teachers.  This happy event occurred November 2. These sisters taught until 1948, when they were replaced by the Sisters of St. Benedict.  The first priest to be ordained from this Parish was The Most Reverend Ferdinand Brossard, D.D., who became Bishop of Covington. He came to this country as a child and attended the Parish School here. He received his First Holy Communion and was confirmed in the first log church. His parents are buried in our cemetery. He was Bishop of Covington from 1916 to 1923.  The second priest to be ordained was the Reverend Adam Schaak, O. F. M.  He was ordained June 20, 1912, and celebrated his first Solmen Mass here at Twelve Mile, June 28, 1912.

The following young ladies from the Parish embraced the Religious Life: Elizabeth Eisen, Albertine Eisen, Freda Zink and Mary Geiger, who joined the religious order of the Sisters of Divine Providence, and Marilyn Reis, who entered the Benedictine Order. The oldest married couple still living is Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Gubser, who are 89 years old. Our largest family was Mr. and Mrs. Frank Reis, who were blessed with fifteen children.

Our little mission church at Stepstone in Pendleton County, Kentucky, was started under the Reverends A. Schweiger and Andrew Stephen, and was visited by these two priests in 1856 and 1857. In 1858 the Reverend Spitzelberger visited it regularly every month. At first the Mass was read on the first Monday of the month in the Faulhaber homestead. After the Mass, the good priest administered the Sacraments and gave instructions.

By October 21, 1860, a new little church was built and named the Immaculate Conception Church. In later years, due to the progress of transportation and to the scarcity of priests, the people were asked to attend Sts. Peter and Paul Church at Twelve Mile.

Since the death of Reverend Louis DeJaco in 1951, Reverend Frederick Terhar has been appointed pastor of our parish and is doing everything in his power to help us. We are grateful to God for the many ways He has blessed our, parish.  It is our fervent prayer that God will continue to shower His blessings on us in the years to come.

 

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