The History of Our Parish

St. Francis deSales Mission

Sometime after Father Brands (not to be confused with Father Francis Brand, future pastor of St. Henry Parish) built the 1839 log chapel in Tywappity Bottom the local congregation constructed a new log church on high ground in the Texas Bend Community. The new church stood in the center of the young Catholic community on the northwest portion of what is now [1973] the William R. Telker farm.  St. Francis deSales became the patron saint of the new mission parish.

Today [2003] a granite monument at the southeast corner of state highways N and O on the Telker farm north of Charleston stands near the original location of St. Francis deSales church.  Across the road from the monument the original cemetery of St. Francis deSales church remains well maintained by the Catholics of the Texas Bend Community. 

Known simply as Texas Bend Cemetery, the cemetery is, today, a self-endowed not-for-profit corporation governed by a board of directors.  The annual meeting of the board and the at-large membership is an occasion for great festivity, including a large potluck picnic with much food and drink for the old and young.

Reflecting the German heritage of the people of Texas Bend the cemetery contains a granite marker along highway N reading "Der Kirchhof" which translates, simply, as "The Church Yard".

The cemetery has expanded in recent years to accommodate the families of the community.  Burials are solemnized there when the need arises.

Parts excerpted from St. Henry Parish 1873 - 1973.