Father John George Alleman, O.P.
1806-1865
"Pioneer of the Catholic Church in the American frontier"

     Fr. John G. Alleman served with great energy and success as a missionary priest on the Iowa/Illinois frontier.  In his words: "I came to be a missionary and such I will be as long as I am able."

     Fr. Alleman was born on December 3, 1804 in the Valley of Attenschwiller in Alsace, France.  In 1832, he was preparing to become a priest at the Dominican priory at St. Rose, Kentucky.  He was fluent in German, English and French.  In June 1834, he received the sacrament of Holy Orders.

     Because of numerous problems, Fr. Alleman was expelled from the Dominican community in 1840.  This did not weaken his desire to follow his vocation: as a secular priest, he started his new life in the Diocese of Dubuque.  Bishop Loras desperately needed priests, especially a German speaking one.  Thus, Fr. Alleman was a well appreciated addition.  In 1841 Bishop Loras appointed Fr. Alleman pastor of Fort Madison, Iowa, where he immediately began the construction of a small brick church for eight Catholic families.  By 1851, the congregation had grown to over 100 families.

     "My headquarters are in St. Joseph's Church in Fort Madison, but I travel around Burlington, Muscatine, Iowa City, West Point, Keokuk and almost anywhere German speaking Catholics have settled in Iowa, Northern Missouri or Western Illinois" stated Fr. Alleman.  His knowledge of languages made him a valuable asset, but also valuable was his fair treatment of the Indians.

     The broad familiar Teutonic face of the Alsatian priest was a beacon to numerous settlers.  His lone torn black cassock, broad brimmed hat, his fruitful gardens, his universal charity and his constant need for money were subjects for gossip.  Protestants, Catholics, Mormons and Indians recognized his leadership in time of fire, flood or tornado.  They respected his good judgment in selecting choice places for promising and substantial settlers.  Fr. Alleman worked side-by-side with parishioners.  On many fall days, he could be found on an island in the Mississippi cutting firewood for the church.

     Fr. Alleman's motto was: "I will plant, let others water, and leave it to God to increase - we must do our part, God will do His.  The soil God gave is a gift and we must use it."  Fr. Alleman cultivated flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and shared them with his parishioners.  He enjoyed trying to develop new strains of plants; it is claimed that he produced a flower named "The Alleman Rose."

     By 1851 Fr. Alleman's responsibilities changed.  Rt. Rev. William Quartes, the first Bishop of Chicago, urged Fr. Alleman to dedicate himself to this diocese, and Fr. Alleman selected Rock Island as the center of his apostolate.  "I told Bishop VandeVelde of Chicago that I would help him in Rock Island.  He has promised to secure a German speaking priest for that area, and a new field of work will be a challenge.  Also, I want to do all I can to further Catholic education.  Every place I could, I have started schools to instruct children in their Catholic faith.  It is the great need of the age.  I do not mind leaving Ft. Madison.  St. Joseph's is really developing with about 18,000 people.  With the grace of God, Catholicity will grow and flourish.  Illinois calls, so I must go."

     Fr. Alleman stepped off the "Itaska" at Rock Island in May 1851.  He looked for the home of John Ziegler with whom he would stay.  He soon learned about Chief Black Hawk and the watch tower.  Once or twice a week he would go to the Arsenal and would often send food to a few sick soldiers whom he had befriended on the island.  He watched the construction of the railroad and the bridges, encouraged that this would bring more settlers to the area.  His project of constructing a new church was taken up with such enthusiasm that he helped build a structure of limestone where St. Mary's church and rectory now stand.  This structure was dedicated to St. James, and the cornerstone was laid on August 31, 1851.  He soon, with the help of Fr. John P. Donelson, laid a firm foundation for St. Mary's, St. Joseph's, Sacred Heart, and St. Paul's churches.  He planted the roots of the Catholic church in Moline, where in 1857, the first church, a frame structure, was dedicated to St. Anthony.  Then following the completion of St. Anthony's; St. Mary's, Sacred Heart, and Holy Trinity churches in Moline; and St. Mary's and St. Anne's churches in East Moline were founded.  Fr. Alleman also organized Immaculate Conception Church in Hampton, Holy Name in Coal Valley, St. John the Baptist in Rapids City, and St. Patrick's in Edgington.  Twice a month he had Sunday services at St. Joseph's, and the other Sundays, he celebrated Mass at Nauvoo.  In his last seven years of ministry, he established seven mission churches.  Twenty-five years of constant traveling and hard work soon took its toll on Fr. Alleman.

     He was named Pastor at Collinsville, Illinois, but mental and physical conditions grew worse.  He was admitted to St. Vincent's Sanatorium in St. Louis in 1863 - diagnosis was melancholia (depression).  However, his breakdown more likely resulted from excessive labor, travel, and heavy responsibilities.  While he was very sick and weak, Fr. Alleman received word that he was received back into the Dominican order.  He was thrilled and replied: "The special vocation of the Dominicans is teaching and defending the truths of the faith.  They preach devotion to the Rosary.  I have lived up to these ideals all my life.  I was always a Dominican at heart."

     He died on July 14, 1865, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in an unmarked grave.  He died as he lived, a humble friar intent only on God's work, caring not about a name or record.

     Revival of appreciation of the name and fame of Fr. Alleman has been memorialized in a high school in Rock Island, Illinois.  Students who have attended or are attending Alleman Catholic High School are mindful of the work, zeal, and influence of this humble Dominican missionary priest.  The school bearing his name will live forever in the hearts of many people and God.