The Catholic Church at Union City was begun in 1854; Rev. Sheon, of Sidney, was pastor one year. Rev. Hemsteger, from Piqua came in 1855; Rev. McClare came next and established a chapel on the farm of Mr. Weis, two miles from town; Rev. Hemsteger came again, and stayed four years; Rev. Shellhammer, from Greenville, then came, remaining until 1862; Rev. McMahon was next until 1865. During his pastorship a church was built on Plum Street north of Oak Street, frame, and about 1870 a large bell was added. Rev. Lamour was pastor from 1867 to 1870. Rev. Von Schioedler, 1870 to 1871; Rev. Noll, 1871 to 1875. Rev. Jeremiah Quinlon succeeded, who was pastor until 1890, when he was succeeded by Rev. F.A. King. The congregation is thriving and prosperous, with a property of four lots, a church, a parsonage, nunnery, and a school-house; has also a cemetery, out of town two miles north of the Salem Pike. St. Mary's School is taught by Sisters of the Holy Cross and is attended by 100 pupils. A flourishing day school has been maintained for many years by the Catholics, which has been, for a considerable time, free to all comers, through the munificence of Peter Koontz, lumber dealer in Union City, and a member of the Catholic congregation.

The congregation in 1890 was worshipping in a substantial but unpretentious and wholly inadequate edifice, and Fr. King's first thought was to provide a fairer and properly commodious house of worship for his people. There was only about $1,200 in the church treasury, but this apparent lack of material funds did not deter the earnest pastor, and it was not long until his efforts toward the enlargement of his parish were rewarded by the assurance of a fund sufficient to guarantee the completion of the work he had in mind. In 1891 the corner-stone of the new church was laid with imposing ceremonies, the Rt. Rev. Joseph Braurmer officiating. On February 12, 1895 - proud day for St. Mary's parish - the new church, splendid and complete, was dedicated to the service of God, the dedicatory service being presided over by Bishop Chatard. This new church cost nearly $25,000, and so well have its finances been managed that the congregation is practically out of debt. The church is well furnished and stands a substantial local monument to the zeal of good Father King and the earnestness of his parishioners. The present congregation numbers 126 families.

With its passing as a place of worship the old church did not lose its usefulness however, as it is now constantly occupied as a place of meeting of the several auxiliary societies of St. Mary's. In this old structure are held the meetings of the Catholic Benevolent Legion and the Catholic Knights of St. John.

St. Mary's cemetery is a beautiful spot of consecrated ground. Containing five acres, and the pride of the parish is manifested in keeping it in faultless order.

In addition to his duties as pastor of St. Mary's, Father King is also charged with the spiritual direction of the adjacent mission at Winchester. This is an interesting and growing mission, at present containing about a dozen families and full of promise of large future development. The church building is a frame, was built in 1882 by Rev. J.H. Quinlon and cost $600. -- Ex.

History of the Catholic Church in Indiana. Volume 1. Edited and Compiled by Col. Charles Blanchard, 1898 --- Pages 460, 461.

As far back as 1852, it is of record that Rev. John Quinlon, afterwards Bishop of Mobile Alabama, Visited the Catholic families of Union City and vicinity. He administered to their spiritual wants until 1854, and was succeeded by Rev. Sheon, the resident pastor at Sidney Ohio. In 1855, we find the name of Rev. Hemeteger of Piqua Ohio, attending Union City as a Station.

As a mission Union City was visited from Piqua, Sidney, and Greenville Ohio for a number of years. The first church was a chapel erected on the farm of Joseph Wise, about two miles east of town, under the supervision of Rev. McClare, in the year 1856. Father Hemeteger again had charge from 1857-1860. He was succeeded by Rev. Thripe of Piqua Ohio, and soon after by Rev. Shelhammer of Greenville Ohio. The number of Catholics was rapidly increasing, and in 1865 a brick church, with a seating capacity of 250, was erected on Plum Street. At the present time this building is used as a hall and chapel. Rev. McMahon was in charge of St. Mary's Parish from 1862 till 1867. When the diocese of Fort Wayne was established in 1857, every doubt was removed as to whether St. Mary's Church was in the archdiocese of Cincinnati or, what was up to that time , the diocese of Vincennes. From 1857 St. Mary's Parish has been attended by priests of the Fort Wayne diocese.

Rev. Lawrence Lamour was the pastor from 1867 till 1870. After him Rev. Frederick Von Schioedler had charge, and was succeeded by Rev. Martin Noll, who attended Union City from 1872 till 1875. During the pastorate of Rev. Jeremiah Quinlon, which extended from 1875 till 1890, funds were being called for the erection of a new church, as the old church was too small to accommodate the congregation. The number of souls at this time had increased to 650. Father Quinlon's successor was the Rev. Francis A. King, who was the pastor from 1890 till 1899. It was under his pastorate that the present church on the corner of Plum and Hickory streets with a seating capacity of 600, was begun and completed before the close of 1892, at a cost of $25,000. The Rev. Michael Byrne was the pastor at Union City from 1899 till the spring of 1901, since which time the present pastor, the Rev. John Durham, has had charge of the congregation. The church property, situated in the center of the city, consists of four lots or a half block, on which are the beautiful brick church, the school-house, a hall, and chapel, the priests' and the Sisters' residences. A commodious new school-house and Sisters' house is being erected at the present time.

The parish has a Rosary Society of one hundred and forty-three members. A Young Ladies Society of sixty five members; a Columbian Literary Club of eighty members; the Holy Angels Sodality of ninety members; the Knights of Columbus of one hundred members and also the Catholic Benevolent Legion.

The Sisters of the Holy Cross conduct the school which is attended by eighty-one pupils. The parish has 126 families, numbering 580 souls. When the erection of the new school was begun in 1887, St. Mary's church was out of debt, and had about $500 in the treasury, not counting a liberal subscription.

The mission, St. Joseph's Church at Winchester, is attended from Union City. Ex. The Diocese of Fort Wayne, 1857-September 22, 1907 by the Most Rev. H. J. Alerding, D.D. Pages 262 - 263

Middle History

Rev. John P. Durham came in May 1901, to remain in charge for eight years. During his time the old frame school building facing Hickory Street (where the rectory is now) was torn down and the present brick structure on Plum Street where the present hall is now) was erected in 1907. The indebtedness was wiped out when he left on Jan. 1, 1909, to become pastor at Marion. Father Durham was made the Vicar-general of the Diocese of Fort Wayne in 1925 and in acknowledgment of his ability in that responsible position received in 1931 the honorary title of Monsignor from the Pope. The Rev. Joachim Baker was next appointed pastor of St. Mary's Parish. He built the present parsonage, a substantial and well appointed building. The pipe organ, a gift of the children of John Koontz Sr., was also installed during the time of Father Baker. The pipe organ is of some historical note as it is the first electrical switching pipe organ in the United States. It was installed by Wicks Organ Company. Apparently judging from the letters sent to the company by Father Baker and later Father Schmitz it had a few bugs that had to be worked out before it finally became operational. In 1915 the Rev. John Schmitz whose happy and genial disposition won many friends, came to Union City. He was the pastor during the World War and helped extensively in every endeavor during that period. The parish had twenty-seven men and two nurses, Helen Brady and Agnes Tobin in the service.The Rev. James Durham succeeded Father Schmitz in 1922 remaining until 1925. He was an orator of some ability. Rev. M.F. Shea took charge later that year (1925).

Parish Priests through the Years at Saint Mary's
Rev. John Quinlan	1852-1854
Rev. Sheon	1854-1855
Rev. Hemsteger	1855-1856
Rev. J.B. McClane	1856-1857
Rev. Thripe	1860-1861
Rev. Shelhammer	1861-1862
Rev. John McMahon	1862-1867
Rev. Lawrence Lamour	1867-1870
Rev. Fredrick VonSchroedler	1870-1872
Rev. Martin F. Noll	1872-1875
Rev. Jeremiah H. Quinlan	1875-1890
Rev. Francis A. King	1890-1899
Rev. Michael J. Byrne	1899-1901
Rev. John P. Durham	1901-1909
Rev. Ignatius Rauh	1909-1909 (half year)
Rev. Joachim P. Baker	1909-1915
Rev. John M. Schmitz	1915-1922
Rev. James H. Durham	1922-1925
Rev. Michael F. Shea	1925-1935
Rev. John A. Bapst	1935-1935 (resigned after two weeks due to illness)
Rev. Theo J. Hammes	1935-1941
Rev. Aquinas Knoff	1941-1946
Rev. James M. Fitzgerald	1946-1954
Rev. Fred Schroeder	1954-1961
Rev. Michael A. Reineck	1961-1963
Rev. Joseph W. Grace	1963-1965
Rev. James T. Keane	1965-1983
Rev. John H. Zahn	1983-1994
Rev. Dennis J. O'Keeffe	1994-1996
Rev. Dennis J. Goth	1996-1998
Rev. C. Alan Funk	1998-Present