The first Catholics in Brown County were James Foley and Mary, his wife, of Mount Sterling. Devoted to their faith, they became the nucleus around which gathered the strength and growth of the Catholic church in Brown County. For a number of years prior to the establishment of any church Mount Sterling had been visited by Bishop Porter and Archbishop Kendrick, and mass had been said by them at private houses. Their efforts were fruitful in spreading the Catholic faith, and there naturally grew up the felt need of a church. Hugh Cullinan, Thomas O'Hara, and five others applied for a pastor, and Rev. Father Gallagher became the first resident priest of St. Mary's, which was organized in the year 1848, with about six or eight families, numbering about forty souls. It was in that first year that the first church edifice was built. This was a small, through for that comparatively early day, a respectable and seemly brick building, erected at a cost of $400 and with a seating capacity of about 300. It stood on a piece of ground now owned by Mr. Davis, not far from the present Court House, on a narrow street parallel to North street. [...]

Philip A. Howe was a native of Massachusetts, and came to the county a single man in 1830. He was a carpenter by trade, and plied his vocation as his services were demanded. When in the vigor of manhood, he married Jane McCormick, daughter of Wm. McCormick, one of the early settlers. Four children were born of this union, three of whom are living. Mrs. Howe died some years ago. The old gentleman is now residing in section 12. Another settler of 1830 was Thomas C. Tinnen, who was born in North Carolina, migrated to Kentucky when a young man, where he married Nancy Clark. In the fall of the year above mentioned, he moved with his family to this township, and settled in section 21, on the land now owned by Hugh Cullinan. At that time, there was a little log cabin on his premises, and here he wintered with his family. Besides his own household to obtain quarters in this cabin, was his brother Robert and his wife, one single brother and two sisters. The children of Mr. Tinnen were, Julia A. Christy, Hugh and Abner. The following spring he moved to section 15, where he resided until his death, which occurred about 1840. Mrs. Tinnen lived until 1867.