John Bernard Hemsteger (1827 – 1878) – He was born in Alt Schermbeck, Westphalia (Germany), the son of John Joseph and Anna Catherine Hemsteger and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1851. He completed his seminary studies in Cincinnati and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1854. He came to Piqua in 1855 as the first assistant pastor to the English mission church (St. Mary’s) before founding the German congregation (St. Boniface) in 1855 and promoting the construction of the first church on Adams Street. Father Hemsteger moved to Columbus in 1859 and become the pastor of Holy Cross Church where he remained until his death. In 1868 he become the first Vicar General of the Columbus diocese.