The history of Immaculate Conception Parish begins with the arrival of German immigrants into Monroe County. The first pioneers arrived here in 1783 and by June of 1816 they established Monroe County. The number of Catholics in this first German immigration was relatively small, but their numbers were to increase significantly from 1840 to 1860. Imagine that in 1852 there were only eight priests in Southern Illinios.

As time went on the parish found the resources necessary to perform various improvements to the church interior, build a separate residence for the sisters who taught in the school as well as construct a new rectory. In 1921 a new modern brick school building was constructed as the old church, which had been remodeled and enlarged several times to serve as a school, became entirely inadequate. By 1927 a new addition to the church began to take shape, which nearly doubled the length of the building. The re-dedication took place on labor Day of 1928. By 1944, in preparation for the centennial celebration of the parish, work began on the redecoration of the church interior. At the close of one hundred years there were 240 households in the parish and 130 children in the parish school.

By 1958 the church’s interior was in need of redecoration and the expansion of playground facilities was undertaken. An expansion drive brought in the needed funds. The school’s interior was also redecorated and other modernization work done, additional cemetery ground was acquired and in 1959 work was begun on a new (the present) parish rectory. Yet another school addition was constructed so that by 1965 400 students were enrolled. Another church renovation took place in 1965 concentrating on the exterior of the church building.