New Melleray Abbey near Dubuque, Iowa settled young Irish men in nearby Mills County to tend their herds of Black Angus cattle.

After the cattle market went under the men stayed in the area to extend the railroad into this part of Iowa.

Father Stack organized St. Patrick's in 1880 as a mission of St. Mary's parish in Shenandoah, Iowa.

[2] That year all of southern Iowa, including Imogene, was placed in the newly established Diocese of Davenport.

Edmund Hayes, a native of County Cork, was assigned as its first resident pastor the same year.

"[3] Hayes was independently wealthy having inherited his wealth from his brother who had owned silver mines in Nevada and oil and gold in California.

In addition to his many contributions to St. Patrick's, Father Hayes' influence was felt in Imogene as well.

[4] He died in St. Joseph's Hospital in Omaha in 1928 and was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery.

[3] St. Patrick's Church measures 130 by 65 feet (40 by 20 m) and its exterior is composed of Black Hylex St. Louis pressed brick.

The Gothic features are found in the pointed arched windows and door frames, the quoined stone surround of the large front window, the wall buttresses that flank the main entrance, and the stone trim on the gable.

Other features of the exterior include a raised foundation, corbelling under the eaves, a rounded apse on the rear of the church and confessionals that project from the side elevations.

The interior features a single nave that is capped with an oak ceiling that rises 65 feet (20 m) above the floor.

The Carrara marble high altar features a statue of Saint Patrick in its central tower.

Love of God, country, and family is visibly displayed in the stained glass windows that adorn the church.

The craftsmanship of the church windows was the creation of Italian glass masters which had been commissioned on behalf of families residing in Imogene.