Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-01-16
Feom the Notes for MacCabe's Gazetteer

Feom the Notes for MacCabe,s Gazetteer
of Wisconsin,
ANTIQUITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
IN WIsCoNsIN.-lt was remarked by Dean
Swift that " the Spaniards ALWAYS common
ced the settlement eta new country bv the
erection Of a Church; he English BY build
ing Tavern, and the French by erecting a
Fort" In justice to the latter. however, it
should be remarked that in taking posses
sion of a new country, they were not un-
mindful of the duties they owed to religion.
Accompanying every French military expe-
dition in the early settlement of the Ameri-
can wilderness, (where almost intolerable
sufferings was TO borne,) was always to be
found Catholic priest who. when militia
ry post was established or fort erected. ac-
ted not only as chaplain TO the army, but
also as missionary to the Indian tribes in
the district The expedition 10 the Green
Bay country, in the 9TH century, was like
similar expeditions, accompanied by chap
lain who was probably the first Catholic cler-
gyman regularly stationed in that country:
but the Jesuit mss 'onaries, at an earlier Pc
Rod, had successfully undertaken the con-
version ofthe Indians TO the flock of Christ.
These plous ministers of the gospel usually
set out on voyage from Quebec during the
spring and arrived IN the fall at Mackinaw.
where they would winter, and from whence
they would proceed in the spring, 10 Green
Bay, the Mississippi and New Orleans.
The first church in the Territory was
erected by the Jcsuits at the ''Rapids Des
Perez" six miles above the head of Green
Bay, so netime in the middle of the 18th
century, and was dedicated 10 St. Francis
Xavier. In digging foundation for house
a short time ago on the site of that church.
a splendid silver Os:cntoriam was found.
which | have lately seen in the possession
ofthe very Rev. T. Il. Bonuel, the late Ca
tholic pastor of Green By, and which has
the following inscription engraved thereon
q Ce Solcil este doune par Mr.. Nco-
ms Perrot Ia mission de ST. Francis Xave,
en- la Baye Des Pvoun.s t 1885,
TRANSLATION:
"This sun was given by Mr. Nicolas Per-
rot TO the mission of ST. Francis Xlvicr at
Sinking Bay, 1856"
The French photography of the above in
scription corresponds with the or,hocrapy of
the age in which it was Written, and the vc-
ry inappropriate name then given to the de-
llghitul and salubrious bay now called
Green Bay" was derived from a tribe of
filthy Indians styled "Pvounts ~ or sinking.
who inhabited that neighborhooI and who
lived chiefly on fish.
The Jesuts remained at I" Rapids Des
Peres " Rapids Of the Fathers until they
were removed from the field of their labors
by the illusrious Pope Gangcnela in consc-
qucncc of some political d faculties then ex-
isting between the French and English 60
venmcnts in relation 70 this country.
Subsequent 10 the departure of the Jesu;;s
but one priest was successfully stationed at
Detroit then Gale l'Ponci;rain,' to administer
to the spiritual wants of the Catholics all
over Michigan and Wisconsin. And at one
time the Catholics of Green Bay had been
thirty years without seeing clergyman.
In l 922 the very Rev. Gabriel Richard,
V.G.,p1s.or of the st. AIMS Detroit, and1cle-
gate to Congress, visited Green Bay. and be-
tween that period and the year 1881, the
visited by American, French and German
clergymen, including the Right Rev. B shops
| Fenwick of Cincinnati, and REESE of De-
troit, and the Rev. Mcssrs, Desan and Bldn
of Michigan. In 1881. the very Rev. Mr.
Mazzachalli an ltalian,) took charge of the
mission at Green Bay, and erected the large
church of ST. John the Evangelist. at Mono
bonneville, between Green Bay and the
Rapids Des Peres; and in 1884, he built
the spacious college attached to the church,
which is not yet completely finished. In
| 1884 the Rev. T. j. Van Den Brook a na-
tive of iIolland,l commenced bis mss on at
Green Bay, and in 1888, the Rev. Mr.. f.
L. Bonuell, the late, uniyers lily esteemed,
learned and exemplary pastor, commenced
his spiritual labors at that place.
Formerly the Catholic Church of w $
consin, as well as that of Michigan, WAS un-
der the spiritual jurisdiction of the B shop of
Quebec; subsequently, however, Michigan
J and Wisconsin were annexed to the Diocese
of Cincinnati and in 1891 was erected into
a separate Diocese styled the Dice csa of
Detroit. In the fill of 1913, Wisconsin W is
erected into a new diocese, named the Dr.
Geese of Milwaukee, and the Right Rev
DR.. Henri, late of Cincinnati, appointed its
first Bishop.
The number of Catholic churches now in
Wisconsin is Ia, number building 20, and
the number of Cltholics in the Territory
may be estimated at over $4,000 souls.
Mr.. De Langlade, a French Catholic, and
the great grandfather Of Messrs. Charles A.
and Alex. Grignon, the intelligent and wor-
thy proprioors of Grand Kankalin, was the
first white man who removed his family TO
Wisconsin. He settled at Green Bay and
built the frs; house there on the ground
4 now occupied by the dwelling house of John
P. Arndt, Esq. j. p. b. NC.
| IT, ~