The Community of The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis traces its heritage to 1860 and Herford, Germany, where the Sisters first taught school and cared for orphans.

Life was not easy for them in those days. It was the era of Bismark, the so-called "Iron Chancellor" of the country, and his "Kultur Kampf," which persecuted the church violently. Eventually, the Sisters were banished from their homeland.

The tiny band of 25 Sisters and four postulants, led by Mother Mary Xavier, took refuge in America and finally settled in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1875. Just as they did in their native Germany, the Sisters settled in to teach. But they struggled with great poverty.

A pastor in Peoria became aware of their plight and, in an effort to help, asked them to establish a much-needed hospital there. After the Sisters had begun their work in Peoria, young women from throughout the state, as well as Germany and Holland, sought entrance into the Community.