The Rev. Laurentius Conrad was born August 9, 1829 at Neunkirchen, Diocese of Wuerzburg, Bavaria. He  studied at Aschaffenburg and Wuerzburg. He was ordained on June 14 and said his first Holy Mass on June 18, 1854. Soon after this, he embarked for America. Milwaukee Bishop John Martin Henni at once commissioned him to organize a parish to the west. He took up his residence in Cross Plains. His parents, Melchior and Maria Josepha Conrad, and his sisters and brothers, also came to this country and settled in Pine Bluff.

On April 24, 1856, a double wedding ceremony was performed by Father Adalbert Inama, O.Praem. Jacob Kalscheur married Father Conrad’s sister, Josephine; and John Keller married Anna Marie Kalscheur, Jacob’s sister. Another of Father Conrad’s sisters, Theresia, was married to William Kalscheur, a son of John (“Papa”) Kalscheur.

At his first mission at Cross Plains (St. Francis Xavier) and its neighboring missions (St. Mary and St. Martin), and also at East Bristol and Columbus, Father Conrad suffered many trials. On May 8, 1859, he became pastor of Holy Trinity, Milwaukee. From 1864-66, he live at Waterford to regain his health, and then returned to Holy Trinity. In 1896, he went to Rome and his home in Bavaria. He died at New Castle (Campbellsport) Wisconsin on January 27, 1905.

(Adapted from Centennial Jubilee 1854-1954, St. Mary Congregation, Pine Bluff, Wisconsin)