Saint Michael's Catholic Church. Irish Catholic settlers first came to this area in 1875. The community, first called Irish Settlement, was served by visiting priests beginning in 1879. Eight families joined together in 1885 to build a church, which they dedicated to St. Michael. The predominantly Irish membership was eventually joined by a number of German-American Catholics. A parochial school opened in 1891 and was operated by nuns of various orders until it closed in 1956. St. Michael's Cemetery (.7 mi. E) contains burials dating to 1878 and is maintained by the church. #7997