St. John's Catholic Church in Ogden had its beginning in 1869 when a priest from Boone began offering Mass in the homes of Ogden parishioners. In the late 1870's , the land west of the Des Moines River was attached to the Grand Junction parish. This arrangement continued for about 20 years.

In December of 1896, Father J.F. O'Doherty was appointed as the first pastor of St. John's, and a parish house was constructed. Father D.K. Hurley came in November 1898, followed by Father H.C. Hart and Father J.C. Murtagh. In 1902, St. John's purchased the old Zion Lutheran Church and moved it to their property in the northwest part of town, dedicating it on June 27th. The next pastors were Father D'Logue, Father J.G. Perrault in 1903, Father L. Shenkelberg in 1905, and Father A. Meyer in 1908. In 1914, Father Wolf was pastor and a large church addition was added.

In 1916, a strip of land for a cemetery was purchased east of Glenwood Cemetery, and Mrs. A.M. Van Steeberg was the first burial there.

Father J. Thoesnissen became pastor of St. John's in 1917, followed by Father J.F. Achatz, Father, A.J. Nuel in 1922, and Father P.F. Casey in 1924. Father G.O. O'Brine was replaced by Father T. Coffey in 1930, and Father Edward Lilly followed on June 6, 1935. Fr. Lilly remained until March 1942. He was succeeded by Father Emmett McCoy, Father John Doherty in October 1942, Father Lawrence Greteman in January of 1943, Father Othmar Koester in January 1950 and Father Francis Illg in 1953. Father Donald R. Smith became pastor in June 1965.