The following information was taken from the history book at the time of St. Joachim's 250th Anniversary in 1973.
In the early 1900's before a church was erected at Tiff, Missouri Father Luke Kernan, pastor of St. Joachim Old Mines, would come to Tiff to offer Mass in the home of Frank (Toksoe) Boyer, a two room log structure. The early community at Tiff was begun early in the century when a man from Buffalo, New York, by the name of John Campbell, came and organized a Corporation under the laws of the state of New York called the South East Missouri Barytes Company. He sold shares to the local land owners and built the earliest barite (tiff) washer at Tiff, Missouri. He also bought mineral land and constructed homes, approximately forty in number, for the miners. He built a bungalow for himself across the road from the present St. Joseph's School building and a Company store adjacent to the present Sitzes store. The tiff washer was located somewhere in the same general area. He operated the store on a pattern after the plantation stores of the South. Miners took their pay for ore in merchandise. After this Company store was built, Mass was offered and the sacraments were administered in the hall above it until the first church was built.

On June 10, 1905 Archbishop John Joseph Glennon acquired the property consisting of thirty-two hundreths of an acre from the South East Missouri Barytes Company for the erection of a church at Tiff. Father Kernan was still pastor at St. Joachim at this time and it was under his direction that the first church was built. It was a structure of plain rectangular design made of wood with bell tower and the sacristy extending out from the building approached from the outside by a stairway. The front was entered at ground level. The altar was plain. The body was filled with bench type seats. It was heated in winter by a wood stove in the rear. It was dedicated to St. Joseph. The man who built the church was "Coot" Cole. Reverend Tim Dempsey of St. Patrick's Church in St. Louis donated the necessary vessels and vestments. Father Kernan and sometimes a Redemptorist priest from Mt. St. Clements College in DeSoto came to minister to the mission parish. They would spend the night at John Campbell's.

Mrs. Mary Magdalen Boyer was the first organist. She took her own organ to the Church until they acquired one. Mr. Ben R. Boyer donated the property for the church cemetery. People came from all the surrounding villages, Blackwell, Barytes, Bellefontain, Cadet, Cannon Mines, Fertile, and Shibboleth to Mass and the devotions at St. Joseph's.

Father John H. Cook was sent to St. Joachim Parish in 1919 as associate pastor under Father John Daly. Father Cook assumed more of the duties of the mission at Tiff. In May of 1923 St. Joachim Parish was divided and St. Joseph's became a parish and Father Cook was appointed its first pastor. Father Cook moved into the basement of the church while he planned and built the rectory, and after that the school. Some of the men living in the area came and helped him build. Miss Alla Boyer, who had been teaching in the public schools came to teach at St. Joseph's She also became Father Cook's housekeeper besides helping in many more ways.

In 1935, on a Friday evening in Lent, following the Stations of the Cross, the frame church caught on fire and burned to the ground. All was lost, including records. Soon afterwards, Father Cook set out to build a new stone church.

On Sunday, August 9, 1936, the cornerstone was laid for the new church. The Most Reverend Christian Winkleman of St. Louis officiated at the ceremony. Ten visiting priests also attended and listened attentively as the Bishop congratulated Father Cook for his work and his efforts at St. Joseph's. Following the ceremony a picnic was held and ladies of the parish served dinner to the large crowd which attended the ceremonies. Much planning and work went into the new church. Father Cook was his own architect, contractor, and did much of the work with his own hands. He obtained a stone cutter from DeSoto, John Norris, who taught Mr. Henry Bourisaw how to cut stone and Andrew Aubuchon who worked with Mr. Bourisaw. The stone was gotten in Washington County near Washington State Park. The carpenter, Earl Bohn, also came from DeSoto. Men of the parish worked under him. Among them were Lucian Aubuchon, Harry Aubuchon, Steve Boyer, Charley Boyer, Elmer Boyer, Edward Boyer, Wallace Boyer, and Tom Daugherty. They mixed and poured the concrete by hand. The stone church cost the parish about $6000.00.

Religious instruction for those who did not live near St. Joseph's or St. Joachim's schools was taken care of in the homes. Laymen taught the children and adults and, upon completion of instruction presented them to the parish priest for final preparation. Mamie Bouchard taught in the early years during Father Cook's pastorate. Later, Daphne Farrell continued the process of educating new members in the faith. In its early days the parish had to depend upon socials, picnics, fish frys and square dances for income. Pete Buford's local band furnished the music while Winfield Young managed to floor. On September 26, 1948, a very large fall festival was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of St. Joseph's Parish. Father Cook's pastorate at St. Joseph's ended on October 16, 1948. He was replaced by Father Alphonse Hoormann who remained pastor until 1955. He was followed by Father Francis Matyas who remained until 1961. Following Father Matyas, Father Albert Danter took charge of the parish until 1966 when St. Joseph's parish again became a mission to be cared for by St. Joachim Parish.

In May of 1969 a Parish Council was formed to take over the management of the parish. Bernard Roderick was the first council chairman followed by Glennon Daugherty. Richard Villmer is presently serving as chairman. Lindell Johnson has been treasurer ad maintenance supervisor of the buildings and the grounds and the cemetery.

Organ music is taken care of by either Lindell Johnson or the Daugherty girls. The choir is composed of the Daugherty, Boyer, Govero, and Pinson girls who lead the congregation in singing. The church is cleaned by the women and young people who also decorate on special occasions. The rectory is occupied by a family of the parish. The school building is used for council meetings and business affairs. The Incarnate Word Sisters from St. Joachim conduct religion classes there also.

St. Joseph's Parish is a group of people who are striving to serve God. They have kept the church alive and continue to make it a part of their lives. They are the church and fill their roles faithfully. They deserve these words of congratulations as they celebrate their 50th anniversary in 1973.