HOVESTADT BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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HOVESTADT, William - b: 0 Germany
source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - 
page: 429
residence: Montrose, Deepwater Twp

Rev. William Hovestadt. The story of the work and struggles of the Immaculate 
Conception Parish of Montrose would be incomplete without some mention of the 
man who has made it what it is. Fr. William Hovestadt was born in Germany of a 
German father and an Alsatian mother. He received his early education in the 
primary schools of his native land. His classical education was received at one of 
the recognized Gemnasiums from which he proceeded to Botingue for his 
philosophical studies. He made his theological course at the University of 
Louvain. After his ordination, Father Hovestadt came to America to seek, like 
many other immigrants, that broader field of labor and the better opportunities 
for good that seemed to be lacking at home. He and his congregation, though of 
German origin or of German descent, refuse to be known except as Americans. 
They are fully conscious of the blessings of liberty and they fully appreciate the 
opportunities offered in this land where "rich and poor stand equal in the light of 
freedom's day." They are doing their bit for Old Glory. In their church hangs a 
service flag displaying thirty-four stars - the boys who have gone to fight the 
battle of freedom. In 1872, when the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad was being 
built through Henry County, Missouri, the town of Montrose was laid out and the 
typical American railroad village soon began to rise on the site of the new town. 
About this time thrifty German farmers, hearing of the beautiful, mild climate of 
Missouri and of the fertile plains and prairies around Montrose, began to come 
down from Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and the less favored parts of Missouri, and 
Montrose and the adjacent parts of Henry County began to assume the appearance 
of a German settlement. Most, if not all, of the new arrivals were Catholics who 
quickly realized that it behooved them, if they were to abide permanently in this 
new country, to procure some means of attending to their religious need and 
obligations. The first step was to procure the services of a priest. In 1879 
Reverend Father Daly was appointed to look after the spiritual welfare of the 
Catholics of Montrose. In the same year a little frame church 20x26 feet was 
erected. A few of the pioneers, who helped in the good work, are still alive to 
tell the story of their early struggles: Joseph, Frank and Jacob Wagner, the 
Witmer and Lenartz families. The new parish grew so rapidly that within a few 
years a necessary addition of twenty-four feet was made to the church. In 1888 
the Fathers of the Precious Blood were placed in charge of the parish by Bishop 
Hogan. So rapidly did the parish grow that a new and larger church was built in 
1887 by Rev. Edward Jacobs, then pastor. In 1903 Rev. William Hovestadt was 
appointed pastor of Montrose. There were in the parish at that time fifty-three 
Catholic families. The church property, on which was a debt of $1,087, consisted 
of the original frame church and the new brick one erected in 1887. The newly 
appointed pastor proceeded at once to place things generally on a more desirable 
basis. A collection amounting to $1,113 was taken up and the debt was wiped out. 
A school was the next urgent need of the parish. The old public school property 
was acquired at a cost of $1,500. An additional expenditure of $650 sufficed to 
render the building suitable to the needs of seventy-five children. The rectory at 
that time was also renovated at a cost of $800. While these improvements were 
under way and perhaps because of them the Catholics in and around Montrose 
were steadily increasing in numbers and the need for more accommodation began 
to be apparent. The subject of a new church was broached, but the people, many 
of whom were new arrivals to whom Henry County was as yet but a land of 
promise, were not inclined to assume new burdens and responsibilities. In 1909 
the pastor felt that the time was ripe to begin preparing for the greater things of 
the future. He established a sinking fund to which old and young made generous 
monthly contributions till at the end of three years the amount in the treasury 
was nearly $5,000. The congregation now numbered ninety-three families. In the 
autumn of 1911 plans and specifications having been made and approved, ground 
was broken for a new church. June 11 was to be a "red letter" day in the Catholic 
annals of Montrose. It was the day appointed for the laying of the cornerstone by 
Right Reverend Bishop Lillis of Kansas City. It was to have been a gala day. All 
was set for a big celebration but the weatherman tried to spoil everything by 
sending thunder and lightning and rain. But it would take more than the worst 
that the weatherman could do to dampen the ardor of those who had set 
themselves to build a house to the Lord. The congregation turned out en masse 
and the cornerstone was laid. The new church, a masterpiece in Romanesque, was 
dedicated in the fall of that year. When completed it had cost $32,000. The 
beautiful high altar, the gift of the school children, cost $1,250. Only God knows 
the numberless acts of self-sacrifice and of self-denial that the little ones of 
His house made to present Him with their gift. The public school buildings of our 
American cities are, for the most part, the pride of the communities they serve. 
What is true of the best equipped public school in the State is true also of St. 
Mary's Parochial school of Montrose. It is built of brick and Carthage stone. The 
basement is fitted up as a gymnasium and play hall for the pupils in inclement 
weather. The first story is divided into four large class rooms, while the third 
story is divided into a large theater and rest rooms. The building was erected at 
a cost of $17,000. There are in school 160 children taught by four Sisters of St. 
Benedict. The course of studies embraces the usual grade course to which will be 
added soon the high school and commercial courses. This school, like all similar 
Catholic institutions, is supported by the Catholic people of the parish, who do 
their full duty towards the public schools by paying their share of the public 
school taxes. At present a beautiful rectory is under process of construction at 
Montrose. It is the last item in the splendid parochial "plant" and when finished 
will be in harmony with the rest of the magnificent work done by the Rev. 
William Hovestadt.

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