EARLY DAY HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
IN BATTLE CREEK, NEBRASKA
The history of the Catholic Church in Battle Creek and Madison County dates back to the early history of the area. It is thought that Philip A. Hughes probably said the first rosary in the county as he walked across the prairie selecting a homestead site to file on. This was in the summer of 1865. He and his family took up permanent residence on the site selected just north of Battle Creek, in the spring of 1869. They had spent the three previous summers in temporary residence in this part of the state, returning to Omaha each fall to avoid the rigors of winter on the prairies for which they were not prepared.
Mr. Hughes had interested other Catholics in coming to this territory so other settlers moved in within a year or two. Among these, were his brother Frank P. Hughes, Pat J. O'Neill, Sam Kent, Pat Manning, M. J. Rooney, Tom Schally, John McKerrigan, and others.
During the first couple of years, an occasional visit from an itinerant priest was the only religious service the homesteaders had. In the fall of 1872, at the request of these people, Bishop James O'Gorman of Omaha appointed Father J. M. Ryan of Columbus to take temporary responsibility for this little community. On his first visit, he said Mass in the log cabin home of P. J. O'Neill, about three fourths of a mile north of Battle Creek (now owned and occupied by the Paul Moore family. Mr. Moore tore down the building only about fifteen years ago. What a pity it was not spared). At that time he baptized many children whose
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
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