Rev. Joseph Wentz, from Germany, served at St. Joseph Hill from 1855—1857.  He was the first priest to record baptisms and marriages.

Baptism names recorded during this era include: Huch, Bauman, Korbe, Ehringer, Jung, Strobel, Renn, Stobel, Darr, Weidner, Schotmoeller, Biesel, Holler, Sehr,Gerig, Cuddy, Popp, Herwig, Baier, Schneider, Schalk, Zill, Martin, Pontrisch, Graf, Fry, Kleehamer, Meier, Korner, Koener, Kramer, Schipfer, Enslinger, Nientied, Weismoeller, Hurle, Fufterer, Schubnell and Schmidt.

After the congregation grew to about 70 families, in 1857 they petitioned the Bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes for a residing priest.  However, due to the shortage of available priests, their petition was not immediately heard.  It would be two more years before a resident priest would be assigned.

Rev. Edward Faller, pastor of St. Mary’s in New Albany (Annunciation), served the parish from 1857 until late 1859.  The number of Catholics in the area continued to grow.

August 6, 1855, election day, also known as "Bloody Monday", brought about the climax of the Know-Nothing agitation. The Know-Nothings attempted to keep the foreign born citizens from the polls in Louisville.  Intent on winning the election at any cost, the Know-Nothings repulsed with stones and bowie knives any German or Irish who approached the polls. Several Germans were killed and the mob threatened to burn down St. Martin's church (Catholics at that time seemed foreign to some, since they used a foreign language in their services and were governed by a "foreign" hierarchy).

 

Fr. James Andrew Michael became the first resident priest and native born priest.  His arrival was announced by the ringing of the bells as the people rejoiced at the arrival of their spiritual director.

 

During his four year stay he built a large brick parsonage valued at $1,500,  which still serves as the rectory today.  Fr. Michael labored himself, quarrying rock for the building. 

In 1858 corn was 40 cents a bushel, eggs were 15 cents per dozen, butter was 18 cents per pound and chickens were $1.25 a dozen.

In 1854 there was a long dry spell, where it was asserted by one writer that the temperature rose over 100 degrees for one hundred days.