Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Agency History | Order of Microfilming

 Introduction

The records of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1844 - 2001, were transferred for microfilming to the Center for Archival Collections, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, in October 2001, with the cooperation of Father Thomas Gorman of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

The collection consists of baptisms*, first communions, confirmations, marriages*, Book of the Elect, interments and deaths. Due to inconsistencies in pagination and transcription of data, researchers are encouraged to refer to all volumes within each series. (See order of microfilming for a detailed list of these records.)

This register and this collection was prepared by Jennifer Golis in November 2001.

*There is a seventy (70) year access restriction on baptism and marriage records. No restrictions apply to the remainder of this collection.

 Agency History

The history of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church began in 1842 when the first of the Catholic settlers came from Germany and began settling in the area of Delphos. In 1844, Father John Otto Bredeick became the pastor to the Catholics. He held mass in a log cabin. During this time he purchased ninety-two acres of government land and he began platting it into lots and streets, this included setting aside land for the church. In 1846, the first church was built. In 1853, the need for a larger church was realized and a larger and more modern church was built.

In 1872, fire swept through Delphos, destroying a large part of the town, including the pioneer log chapel and frame school. In 1880, the parish's third and present church was completed.

Over the years the parish experienced steady growth. The parish began with several hundred parishioners and now has over six thousand members. To accommodate this growth the church has been renovated and remodeled.

Mossing, Lawrence A. S.T.D. History of the Diocese of Toledo. Northern Ohio - West Section Missionary and Parish History. Diocese of Toledo. Toledo, Ohio. 1984. Pages 32 - 39.

 Order of Microfilming

Roll 1

1. Index of Baptism Records, 1844 - 1920
2. Index of Baptism Records, 1844 - 1905
3. Index of Baptism Records, 1906 - 1910
4. Index of Baptism Records, 1910 - 1914
5. Index of Baptism Records, 1914 - 1919
6. Index of Baptism Records, 1919 - 1924
7. Index of Marriage Records, 1845 - 1924
8. Index of Marriages in Baptism Books, 1844 - 1924

Roll 2

1. Index of Baptisms and Marriages Recorded In Marriage Books, 1908 - 1924
2. Index of Death and Cemetery Records, 1844 - 1998
3. Record Book, 1844 - 1910
   • Baptisms, 1906-1910
   • Index of Baptisms, 1870-1910
   • Index of Marriages, 1844-1866
4. Record Book, 1844 - 1910
   • Baptisms, 1844-1863
   • Marriages, 1845-1910
   • Interments, 1844-1910
5. Register of Families of the Congregation, 1864 - 1866

Roll 3

1. Baptisms, 1844 - 1905
2. Baptisms, 1910 - 1914
3. Baptisms, 1914 - 1919
4. Baptisms, 1919 - 1924

Roll 4

1. Baptisms, 1924 - 1929
2. Record Book, 1940 - 1957
   • First Communions
   • Confirmations
3. Record Book, 1957 - 1970
   • First Communions
   • Confirmations
4. First Communions, 1910 - 1939
5. First Communions, 1971 - 1988
6. First Communions, 1988 - 2001

Roll 5

1. Confirmations, 1858 - 1937
2. Confirmations, 1969 - 1986
3. Confirmations, 1986 - 2001
4. Book of the Elect, 1945 - 1989
5. Book of the Elect, 1990 - 2000
6. Marriages, 1910 - 1924

Roll 6

1. Interments, 1910 - 1957
2. Deaths, 1957 - 1975
3. Deaths, 1975 - 1999
4. Deaths, 1999 - 2001

Roll 7 (RESTRICTIONS APPLY)

1. Baptisms, 1929 - 1934
2. Baptisms, 1934 - 1939
3. Baptisms, 1939 - 1947
4. Baptisms, 1947 - 1952
5. Baptisms, 1952 - 1956

Roll 8 (RESTRICTIONS APPLY)

1. Baptisms, 1956 - 1960
2. Baptisms, 1960 - 1965
3. Baptisms, 1965 - 1970
4. Baptisms, 1972 - 1980
5. Baptisms, 1980 - 1988

Roll 9 (RESTRICTIONS APPLY)

1. Baptisms, 1988 - 1997
2. Baptisms, 1997 - 2001
3. Marriages, 1924 - 1940
4. Marriages, 1940 - 1958
5. Marriages, 1959 - 1975
6. Marriages, 1975 - 1990
7. Marriages, 1990 - 2001

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