Rev. Father Paul Limacher

Rev. Father Paul Limacher, pastor of St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church of Waterloo, was born in Fluehli, canton of Lucerne, Switzerland, June 16, 1826, and is a son of Anton and Mary Limacher. In his native country he was reared to manhood. His education was acquired in the parochial schools and in the Catholic College of Lucerne. It was in 1847 that he crossed the Atlantic to America, landing on the 1st of May in New York City, whence he went to Chicago. He made the journey by way of the Erie Canal, St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, for there was not a railroad built to the western metropolis at that time. He continued his studies in Chicago, in the University of St. Mary's of the Lake, completing the course, and was afterward appointed curator in the college.
Mr. Limacher was ordained on the 31st of July, 1851, and entered upon his priestly duties in Highland, Madison County, Ill. He there remained for ten years, but his labors were very arduous, and his health thereby becoming impaired, he was forced to leave his first charge. On the 10th of September, 1861, he came to Waterloo and began his labors in this place. He was instrumental in erecting the fine church edifice here in 1883, at a cost of $32,000. He has charge of all the Catholic institutions at this place including the Holy Family Convent, which he erected in 1865. He has a membership of two hundred and fifty families in his congregation. A most excellent choir furnishes the music for the church, and each Sunday the children are instructed in the Sunday-school. In the Catholic day school there are two hundred pupils under the care of five teachers. Sister Anastasia is the Sister Superior of the convent. The church is in a flourishing condition financially, owing to the excellent management of its pastor, who is aided in his work by Father Kaercher, the assistant pastor.
Father Limacher has lived a devout and holy life and has the love ad esteem of his members. He has held his present pastorate since 1861, and has seen the church grow from a small beginning until it has reached its present large membership. On the anniversary of his thirtieth year in this place, his members and those of other denominations united in celebrating the day, and gave him some handsome presents in token of their esteem. Again, on the fortieth anniversary of his ordination, there was another large gathering to celebrate the occasion. The church has several societies, namely: the St. Vincent, St. Peter and Paul's Society, the Catholic Knights of Illinois, the Young Men's Society, the Roseary Society, and the Holy Angel Society among the children.