Name: Semersheim, Joseph John
Born: 02/10/1878
Where Born: Jasper, Indiana
Ordained: 07/06/1903
Where Ordained: St. Meinrad, Indiana
Served From-To: 1903-1959
Died: 06/14/1959
Where Died: Huntingburg, Indiana
Buried: Jasper, Indiana – St Joseph Cemetery, Block 11 Lot J, Grave 1 – 07/16/1959
REV. JOSEPH J. SERMERSHEIM. One of the favorably situated and commercially prosperous cities of Perry County, Indiana, bears the name of Tell City, and because of its many advantages in the way of good government and educational and social opportunities it has become the seat of many religious bodies that serve to add still further to the general welfare. One of the older of these bodies is Saint Paul’s Catholic Church, of which Rev. Joseph J. Sermersheim is priest in charge.
Father Sermersheim was born at Jasper, Indiana, February 10, 1878, a son of Joseph F. and Minnie (Burger) Sermersheim, both born near Jasper, and there the father was born in 1852. He followed the watchmaker’s trade for many years. His four children all survive: Joseph J., Carl, Irma and Clement.
Of studious habit and earnest, thoughtful, religious temperament, Joseph J. Sermersheim was early designed for the church. After completing his course in the Jasper parochial school he entered Jasper College, from which he was graduated in 1894. One year later he entered Saint Meinrad’s Seminary, where he completed his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood in 1901. For two years afterward he served as assistant at Saint Boniface Church, at Evansville, when his physician interrupted his arduous labors and sent him in search of health in out-door life in Texas. Returning greatly improved; he resumed his work with his old zeal and in 1906 became pastor at Saint Mary’s Church in Floyd County, and in 1925 became pastor of Saint Mary’s Church of Washington, where he continued until June, 1929, at which time he came to Tell City, as pastor of Saint Paul’s Church, and here he has two assistants, Rev. Francis E. Reeves, who has been associated with Father Sermersheim since 1929, and Clement I. Conen, who has just been assigned to this pastorate.
Not only as a man of learning but as a kind, pleasing and gracious personality Father Sermersheim was warmly welcomed at Saint Paul’s. He has become acquainted and highly esteemed in the city even outside his own parish, because of his helpful charities and unselfish Christian character. He is widely known throughout the Diocese of Indianapolis to both ecclesiastics and laymen.
Father Sermersheim also has charge of the mission churches at Derby and Magnet. The Derby station is one of the oldest mission stations in the state, baptismal records going back to 1830.
Saint Paul’s Church was organized soon after the founding of the Swiss colony at Tell City, the present edifice being erected in 1873. The parish now consists of about 500 families and a good parochial school is maintained, with an enrollment of 378, including only the eighth grade. When Father Sermersheim took charge he found the school greatly overcrowded and one of his chief efforts has been to enlarge the school building and equipment, including a fine auditorium, the total improvement costing about $110,000.
His interest in his adopted community extends to other interests outside his parish and he is a member of the local Kiwanis Club and of the Chamber of Commerce.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
