St John Baptist Chapel was built near the home of John B Cassidy in the St Augustine Catholic Church Parrish.  Times when  long distance travel for family’s was difficult  to attend Mass,  priest from St Augustine In Leopold, Indiana would hold Mass at John B Cassidy’s near Ranger, Indiana.

John B Cassidy had a family cemetery near his home and was extended to family and friends,  The cemetery now, is owned and under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis

 

John Cassidy (aka Casady) most likely  came from Breckinridge co., KY in the 1810 census but in Perry county, IN in the 1820 census.  His daughter Elizabeth Rebecca who was born abt 1819 is listed as  being born in IN in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census. His son Thomas is listed in all of the census data from 1850 on as being born in KY (abt 1816).  John may have moved to IN sometime between 1810 and 1820.
Researchers analogy: The other factor is that Breckinridge county, KY is just across the river from Perry co., IN so John might have signed up with the Indiana militia for  the 1812 War because of some convenience factor.  Another factor is that the governor of the Indiana Territory (William Henry  Harrison) went into KY recruiting men to fight in the 1812 war to help defend the Indiana Territory.  More on War of 1812

A John Cassidy is listed as a Perry County tax payers of June and July, 1815.  More on tax payers

A John Cassidy in the First Permanent Settlers

A John Cassidy in Anderson Township

St John Baptist Church was located in what is now the south west part of Leopold Township and would have been located in Anderson Township at the time of building due to the fact Leopold Township was created out of Union, Oil, Clark and Anderson. John A. Courcier presented the petition in December, 1846.

A John Cassidy in Tobin Township

Thomas de la Hunt wrote; William Mitchell founded the third town in Perry County, on Section 33, Township 5, South, Range 2, West, which he had taken up in 1818, after coming from Virginia through Kentucky, with his wife, Mary Bruner, and their several children and named it Derby. On November 4, 1835, John Cassidy, then conducting a store at the mouth of Oil Creek (but who had been a County Surveyor in 1819) laid out for William Mitchell a town-site.  Read more

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Rev. Aug. Bessonies first trip from DIOCESE OF VINCENNES.

I got Father Joseph Kundeck to make me a little map or itinerary from Jasper to the little frame chapel built ~by Father Benoit in the woods of Perry county; (Leopold) and, map in hand, I left Dubois for Perry. The thirty-mile ride seemed to me a hundred, and I arrived towards evening at a place where I inquired, ” How far to the chapel?” I received for answer, so far as I could understand, “Five miles.” But I rode some distance and inquired again, and the answer was, seven miles. I knew then that I had gone astray. I happened to think of a Catholic settlement some six miles from the chapel. I then inquired, “How far to Cassidy’s, and, the answer being, two miles, I felt relieved of the strong fear of having to pass the night, as we say in French, a la belle etoile under a beautiful star. The direction being pointed out to me, I soon arrived at Cassidy’s Settlement. The old gentleman, John Cassidy, and his family received me very kindly, and promised to see me safe next morning to the chapel, where a son and daughter of the old man were residing with Father Benoit. To give a specimen of my English I will state that, at supper, which consisted of corn bread and fat bacon, after I got through with the first piece of corn bread I wanted another, and called for it by saying, “More corn, please.” They smiled, but my want was supplied at once. Next morning Mr. Cassidy started with me for the chapel, 6 miles distant, and did not cease to talk all the way; but I did not understand a single sentence, although I would once in a while say, Yes.

St. John’s on Sulphur Creek in the old Cassidy Settlement, just 1/2 mile east of Ranger, two mi. NE of St. Joseph, and 4 1/2 mi. SW of Leopold was organized by Rev. Julian Benoit soon after October in 1837. Prior to 1837 the people of Cassidy Settlement being about ten miles from Derby belonged to Derby.  Fr. Benoit visited them first from Derby till 1838 and then from Leopold in February 1840.

Fr. Bessonies, his successor at Leopold in 1840, built the first St. John Baptist Church, a log structure in 1841, on the one acre of land donated John Cassidy Sr. for whom the Church was named St. John Baptist. Bishop de St. Palais on July 22, 1849 confirmed 14 persons here, four of them being converts. Quite a number of early pioneers are buried there. The parish records began with 1852. St. John’s remained a mission of Leopold until a 1872, when the old Church becoming unsafe, was abandoned.

“1844, Rev. Aug. Bessonies, in Perry County, (Visits) St. Mary’s near Rome, also Cassidy and Troy stations.” History of the Catholic Church in Diocese of Vincennes, Alerding, p.239.

St. John Baptist Church, Section 8 John Cassidy Sr. and wife to Catholic Church, warranty deed, Sept. 13, 1841 plot of land for use of the Catholic Church in SW1/4, Section 8, T 5 S, R 2 W., Perry County, IN., recorded Sept. 30, 1841, Bk. C, p. 201.

Fr. A. Bessonies was pastor of Leopold and St. John’s Church until Feb. 20, 1853, at which time he returned to Europe, and returning was transferred to Ft. Wayne, IN.

The St. John Church was cared for by the Pastor at Leopold until July 21, 1877, at which time care was transferred to the Pastor of St. Mark’s. In the late 60s and 70s the Benedictines of St. Meinrad were active in assist St. Mark’s and the New St. John’s near Bristow. Conclusions from the History of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Vincennes, IN., Alerding, pp.308,327, 329.

“This is to certify that Francis Joseph Rhodes was born on the 21st of Feb. A.D. 1880; likewise that Sarah Briggita Rhodes was born on the 8th day·of March in the year 1882. This certificate is taken from the Baptismal Record preserved at St. John’s Catholic Church at Cassidy’s Settlement, IN., and to which I certify to be correct. Rev. Lawrence Fichter, Rector of St. Mark’s. Statement from the Pension Records of Sylvester Rhodes Jr., Co. G, 81st Reg. IN. Vols. (Time frame of this statement is 1890s following the Jan. 25, 1891 death of Sylvester Rhodes Jr.)

Ranger, Perry Co., IN.; July 8, 1897 To whom it may concern – This is to certify that according to the baptismal records of my Church Magdalene and Anna Isabella Rhodes were born respectively Nov. 19, 1875; Nov , 5, 1877. Their parents, Sylvester Rhodes and Martha H. Rhodes (nee Cassidy), being united in lawful wedlock. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal, Rev. C.P. Baron, Pastor St. John’s Church.” Statement from the Pension Record of Sylvester Rhodes Jr., Company G, Slat Reg. IN. Vols.

The 1876 Atlas map of Perry County lists both the Old St. John’s, Sec. 8 and the New St. John’s, near Bristow. Section 25 with school in sections 35.”The old St. John was the log Church that burnt soon after or before I was born. It was in that old Cemetery.” Statement of Agnes Hendershot Whitehead b. 1896, in correspondence with Anthony M. Jackson of Assumption, IL. Nov. 16, 1970, Derby, IN.The 1894 landowners’ map by George Minto does not list a Church in section 8, but lists St. Joseph Church in section 13. (not shown here)

All that remains at the Old St. John Church site is a large rectangular stones, that lie at Old St. John Cemetery.

Abbot Martin Marty O.S.B. of St. Meinrad about 1873 took in hand the neglected twenty families of old St. John’s parish. For awhile he held services in the public school building or in the open air near present St. Johns Church. This new location is 3 ¼ mi. north of St. Joseph, 3 mi. north of Ranger, 7 miles from St. Meinrad, and 6 1/4 mi from Leopold.

Abbot Marty built there the second St. John Baptist Church, a frame structure in use today. The corner stone was laid on April 12, 1874 and the edifice dedicated by the Abbot in 1815.” Information from the History of the Catholic Church in Perry Co., IN. by Fr. Celestine John Schwartz, 1935. Information from this History was forwarded by Monsignor J.J. Doyle, historian of the Indianapolis Archdiocese, July 31, 1981, St. John’s Church, Indianapolis, IN.