St. Joseph Church in Crawford County was founded by Reverend John P. Dion in 1855. The original small log building located 5 miles south of Milltown, was destroyed by fire. In 1858, Father Dion oversaw the construction of the second log built St. Joseph’s. It was erected at the site of the old St. Joseph Cemetery on Milltown-Leavenworth road.

By 1885 the congregation had outgrown the small church and Fr. Martin Andres planned and built the third St. Joseph Church. This structure was built a quarter mile east of the cemetery. It was a frame building costing $650. On April 3, 1974 the church was destroyed by a tornado. In the devastation was found an unbroken jar of Holy Water and our current baptismal font. Services after the tornado were often held in parishioners’ homes until a new location was determined.

In 1976 Fr. Andrew Diezeman returned to assist in the rebuilding. The diocese stipulated that the new church would be on a main county road so all people would have easy access. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Briscoe donated 10 acres of their farm located on State Road 66 two miles from Marengo. A small garage-type building was built and services were held there until August 27, 1978. Rev. Monsignor Frances Tuchy dedicated the current church. Fr. Diezeman remained at St Joseph until retirement in 1990. His successor was Fr. Fred Denison until his transfer to St. John in Starlight, Indiana. Fr. John Fink served while administrator of three parishes, St. Joseph in Marengo, St. Michael in Bradford and St. Bernard in Frenchtown. When it became too difficult for Fr. John Fink to travel to all three churches, Fr. Fred Denison returned after his retirement in 2010 to serve the parish community.  Fr. Joe Villa then Fr. Aaron Pfaff served as administrators during this period.