Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-08-23
August %.

4
The Catholic church, which is permanep,
lime stone edifcs measuring abou, 100 fee, !,
'engih and sixty feet 10 width, was Commenced
A. ID. ie3s-was rooted in ls39-buti. M,
YET completed though rapidly progressing up.
uei Inc direction of,he present exemplary aud
universally esteemed pastor. the very Rev,d
j. Bonduei, V. G.-and of eomm;,,sa
consisting of Messrs. B F. Manaha.. JnIisn
La Rlvier, George P. Brisbois, f. Cbensve,,
sen. Joseph Brsbois and Oliver Cherriet 90,
Some of the Catholic Missionaries from
France visited and converted many of the r..
dams at this place a. very early period; bu,
the Rev'd Mr.. Dejan was perhaps the frs,
Catholic clergyman who oficiated a. the vii.
lage OF Prairie do CHEN. He came here in
1922; and the venerable and very Rev,d Ste.
phen T. Badin, subsequently visited the P,ai.
RE In 1927 The building of The church was
commenced during the ministry of the zealous
and interchangeable missionary. the Rev'dJo.
seph Crein, who left abou, fourteen months
ago, and was succeeded by the presen, pastor.
the very Rev. F ]. Bondue. the FIRST Ca,ho.
lie priest ever ordained in Michigan.
In connection with the Catholic church NAV
be mentioned an admirably conducted Sunday
school. with sixty pupils, under the direction
Of their pious pastor.
According to the returns Of the school COM
missioners, it appears that there are go chill
dren between the ages of four and sixteen in
the three school districts embraced in Prairie
du Chen; majority of whom, as well as of
the whole population, are Catholics.
There are several Protestant, congregations,
including Episcopalians, Meihodists and Pres.
byterians, at and around Prairie du CHEN; bu,
they have erected no place for Protestant wor.
ship and are. therefore, obliged from necessity
TO use the County Court room.
The Cour. House and Jail is strong. but
very common looking, stone building of two
stories high; the Jail and jaior's residence are
on the ground floor. and the second story con-
tains the Court room and Sherff's office.
There is one wooden building in Prairie du
Chen, which would not be tolerated if The
village was incorporated. alude 10 an ex-
,ensive hog-horel which stands between tailor
shop and tavern, on the Main-s,ree, in the prin.
cipal part Of the town. This swinsh menag-
cry is crowded with grun,eis. The horrible
stencil arising from this establishment impreg-
mates the atmosphere with swinish perfumery,
and thereby sensibly affects The olfactory nerves
of the passengers. and if not soon removed will
render the residence of an extra Esculapius
essentially necessary.
The country around Prairie du Chen is de-
lightful. salubrious. and well adapted to farm
ing purposes, being very fertile, and consisting
of beautiful rolling praires with a sufficient
proportion Of timber in the numerous oak
groves. The water too, of which there is an
abundance, is pure, clear and wholesome.
Iron ore is found at Rolet,e's coule or Mill
creek, four miles from the village. Copper
has been discovered at the Kickapoo river,
abou, 81 miles from here by Nessrs. Messer-
smith and Sterling.
Lead. in patch or gravel mineral. is found on
all the bluffs east Of the town. Joseph Bris-
bois, Esq, informs me that some has been
found by man ploughing within three or four
miles Of this place.
Many Of the springs in this neighborhood
are deeply impregna,ed with sulphur.
Numerous Indian mounds are seen between
this village and the Kickapso; every one OF
them are ia the shape Of cross ~iIh the head
towards the South.
In plouchipg some land Ia this section OF
country the square and beds Of gardens have
been discovered, where there are oak trees of
more than four feet in diameter, particularly
near the Menominee river. which empies into
the Chippewa.
A mail stage runs between Prairie du Chen
and Piatievills via. Lancaster three times
week.