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THE town of Yocemento, Ellis County, Kansas, was founded in 1906. The reason of its existence was the erection of a cement plant by a corporation formed by a number of Hays citizens, headed by I. M. Yost. The men employed as common laborers were mostly Hungarians. These men were Catholics. In order that they might have the ministrations of their holy religion the Capuchin Fathers took charge. holding services in private homes. The farmers in the vicinity of Yocemento saw the opportunity for the creation of a parish. They asked permission for the building of a church. Permission being granted, they erected a frame church on a site west of the first bend of Big Creek. The church was later moved to its present site and was dedicated to St Agnes.

With the failure of the cement plant after a few years' operation the Hungarian population drifted away. The following families, all German-Russians and Germans, remain: Alois Kreutzer, Anton Jounger, Frank Pfeifer, Lorenz Rohr, Frank Orth, George Orth, Bernard Denning, John L. Gerstner, Frank Seib. Mrs. Melchior Bittel, John Peter Weigel and Andrew Kiesner.

The first priest to take charge of the parish was Rev. Father Julius Becker, O.M. Cap., who said mass in the home of one of the Hungarians. His successors were Rev. Fr. Eugene, Rev. Fr. Didacus, Rev. Fr. Vincent, Rev. Fr. Justin, Rev. Fr. Basil, Rev. Fr. William, Rev. Fr. Gilbert, Rev. Fr. William, Rev. Fr. George, Rev. Fr. Justin, Rev. Fr. Pancratius, Rev. Fr. Walter, Rev. Fr. Maurice, Rev. Fr. Florence, and Rev. Fr. Jordan, the present pastor. All these priests are fathers of the Capuchin Order.

Picture: Rev. Fr. Jordan Hammel, Pastor St. Agnes Church, Yocemento, Kans.

Picture: St. Agnes Church, Yocemento, Kansas

Transcribed from The Golden Jubilee of German-Russian Settlements of Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas, August 31, September 1 and 2, 1926