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The St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Farmington has had a rather checkered career since 1869, when three lots on the outskirts of the town were acquired by the few Catholics residing in the vicinity.
As a Mission it was attended from 1873 to 1875 from French Village; from 1875 to 1879
from Iron Mountain; from 1880 to 1883 from St. Joe Mines; and from 1883 to 1889 again from
Iron Mountain.
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In 1890 the parish received Father H. J. Shaw as its first rector. The church was
dedicated to St. Joseph.
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The successive pastors following Father Shaw were: Rev. John M. Kern, 1892-93; Rev. Arthur F. O'Reilly, from July 1893 to August 1897; and then Rev. J. J. Toomey until his death April 21, 1896. Father Toomey received his education in Ireland and Paris. As a Christian Brother he taught school in Ireland and Montreal, Canada. After entering priesthood he came to St. Louis and in due time became pastor at Farmington, whereupon he at once opened a school in the sacristy of the church.
In September, 1903, a new school house was built by him, and the Dominican Sisters installed as teachers.
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Rev. Bernard Stolte succeeded father Toomey, and was succeeded in turn by Father Joseph H. Collins. In 1912 the present beautiful Romanesque Church, with its attractive campanile, was built at a cost of $20,000. Fathers Morgan, John Ryan and John Kelly followed in succession, each spending a few brief years, and then Father Francis H. Shair came in 1924. Father Shair served 10 years, the longest of the pastors, and was followed by the present pastor, the Rev. Edward O'Toole in 1934.
The Ursuline Sisters took up the task of teaching in the school during Father Collins time, and the present teachers, the Sisters of the Notre Dame order, were introduced by Father Shair.
The school building now is inadequate to accommodate the pupils attending.
Present membership of the parish is approximately 600.
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