Koeltztown, Missouri

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Koeltztown is an unincorporated community in southern Osage County, Missouri. It is located about fifteen miles southeast of Jefferson City. It is one of the oldest settlements in Osage County. The community was founded in 1858 and named for its first postmaster, August Koeltz. Mr. Koeltz was not Catholic but donated land for a catholic parish in hopes of encouraging settler in the area to establishing a town. There were a few raiders that came through during the civil war but no major conflicts. The settler were primarily of German origin. St. Boniface parish was founded in 1858 by the Arch Diocese of St. Louis. A log church was built. The current church was built later in 1878, in the gothic revival style with local brick and artisens. The school was built in 1908, again of the great Koeltztown Brick. The Notre Dame sisters taught all grades there until it's close. The parish was incorportated into the newly organized Diocese of Jefferson City, in 1956. St. Boniface Parish was to be the sister church of St. Joseph Parish in Westphalia. The architect ran away with most of the funds and the smaller gothic revival church was built. St. Boniface is the mother church of St. Aloysius-Argyle, Holy Family-Freeburg, and St. Cecilia-Meta. There was a large hotel and saloon owned by Joseph Otto and later turned into a county general store by Matt Wulff and Agnes Wulff. The town was a farming community and had a blacksmith and wagon maker as well as a shoe maker. It never really grew to be much of town because the Rock Island Rail Road missed the town do to some dispute over land prices. The Rail Road went to the southwest of the town and a new town of Argyle, MO sprang up in 1908, just three miles away from Koeltztown. The town still remains and the church, school and rectory are it's hallmark. The parish expects to celebrate the town and parish birthday in 2008 with a grand 150th celebration. The continued contributions and devotion of the towns people and parishioners are reflective in the continued upkeep of the grounds and buildings as well as the faith of the community. Come and visit St. Boniface Parish anytime.