By 1840, the Great Plains beavers were almost extinct, and thus, the fur trade in Missouri. The Indians weren't faring well either. American Indians faced thousands of settlers carrying new diseases and a desire for land. In 1825, the Osage Indians, under pressure from the American government, signed away their Missouri and Arkansas territory. The Indians were moved to reservations in Oklahoma. Our area is part of the Osage lands. 

St. John's 'Gildehaus', as it is know in the area, was founded in 1839 as a mission called St. John the Baptist by the Jesuit Fathers. It is called St. John's 'Gildehaus' to honor John Dietrich Gildehaus and his wife Anna Clara, who in 1848 donated by deed the original property consisting of about 10 acres. In 1865, Dietrich bequeathed the remaining 23 1/2 acres of the so-called church farm to be passed to St. John's Church upon the death of his wife, Clara. The property in total encompasses about 33 1/4 acres. In February 1939, ownership of the property was passed from St. Louis University (the holding corporation of the Jesuit Missions) to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Archbishop John Joseph Glennon.

A codicil to Dietrich's will contains the following: "In consideration of what I have done for this church called the St. John's Church at this place, I devise that the priest shall deliver Solemn Mass for me and my family every three months from this time forward. Given under my hand the 22nd day of July, 1865."

Dietrich and Clara lie buried in our cemetery.

The parish is located in a rural, unincorporated area of Franklin County, Missouri. The parish boundaries are in the townships of Union, St. John's and Boles.

The present brick church was built in 1863. The rectory about 1875. Both church and rectory are still of sound construction.