Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-06
WISCGNSIN'S NEW PRELATE.
The College of Cardinals Has Ap-
pointed Successor to the Late
Bishop Heiss.
The Milwaukee Archdiocese Viii
Have ali Efficient. Able and
Faithful Head.
Biography of the New AppOintee- He
is Deeply Educated and
Broad Man.

NEWARK, n. j., Oct. 30.-The college
of cardinals at Rome has chosen the Ri
Rev. Wynand Michael Wigger, D. D.,
bishop of the diocese of Newark.
to succeed the late Most Rev. Archbishop
Heiss in the Milwaukee archdiocese.
DR.. Wigger,s an extremely modest and
rnassuming man, has written to Rome
urging that he be not elevated to so high
a dignity in the church, and asking for a
reconsideration of his election. But the
Catholics of this diocese have little hope
that he will be permitted to remain here,
| for they know that a selection once made
at Rome is rarely considered. Therefore
they are reconciled to the inevitable
though they would dearly like to keep
him.
Dr. Wigger was born in New York City
on December 9, 1S41. His parents were
natives of Switzerland. He was educated,
primarily, at st. Xavier's college (Jesuit)
in New York, and became a theological
student at Seton Hall college, South Orange,
N. j., in 1861. He was commended there
for mis- department and studious habits.
He entered the Collegio Brigriole Sail
at Genoa in 1862, after the lamented
Archbishop Bayley had conferred minor
orders upon him at Seton Hall. He was
graduated at Genoa with high honors,
ranking among TIE brightest students
ever sent from that institution, and
was ordained priest in 1865. While
returning to this country on the
steamship Atlanta cholera broke out on
board On the arrival of the vessel at
quarantine In New York bay he asked
and received permission from Archbishop
Bayley to remain with the patients. He
ministered to the stricken ones until they
died or recovered, and the epidemic was
stamped out For this heroic act he was
commended by the passengers, the steam
ship company, the press and the public,
but he protested that he had merely done
his duty.
It was at St. Patrick's cathedral, New
ark, that DIR. Wigger first entered upon
his priestlv work, as one of the assistants
to Rt. Rev. Mgr. Doane, the pastor The
cathedral parish at this time embraced
over half of the entire city, for there we're
only two churches here for English-speak-
ing Catholics then. Now there are TWEEN
ty and the German Catholics have four
splendid churches. The italians and
Poles have church Of their own.
DIR. Wlgger, was consecrated bishop OF
the new diocese of Newark on October Is,
1881 Archbishop Corrigan, of New
I ork, his immediate predecessor, officlat-
ed, and Bishop McQuaid, of Rochester,
n. Y, DR.. Wiggers predecessor as pres
ident of Seton Hall college. preached the
sermon. He said that DR.. Wigger would
never disappoint the church, the pope, the
hierarchy, the priests, people or children,
and he never has. Among those at the
conservation were Bishops Lynch, of
Charleston, S. c.; Ryan, of Buffalo. n e.
Y; McNeirny, of Albany, N. Y; Nc
Mahon, of Hartford, Conn; the venerable
Loughlin, of Brooklyn, n. Y; and
Mgr's. Doane, Preston, Quinn, and
Seton. Over 10000 Catholics serenaded
the young bishop on the night after the
conservation, and a grand banquet at
which eminent citizens of New Jersey
were guests, was given in his honor. The
Catholic societies, the students of Sexton
Hall college, the priests and sisters of the
diocese, and the children presented him
with addresses and testimonials. The Or
iginaI diocese embraced all New Jersey,
but it was divided when DR.. Wigger was
made bishop. He was given the diocese
of Newark, and DIR. 0 Farrell the diocese
of Trenton, the former having two-thirds
of the Catholic population of the state,
Bishop Wigger needed courage i'll his new
field, for Archbishop Bayley, of Baltimore,
primate of the Catholic church of the
United States, and Archbishop Corrigan,
of New York, were his predecessors.
They had done great work, and of course
great deal was expected from the sue
cessor of such able men. DR.. Wigger has
more than met the expectations and hopes
of priests and people.
Private advices from Rome, received
within the past few days, state that the
formal announcement of Bishop Wig
gers appointment to the archbish-
ship of the Milwaukee diocese will be
made some time during November. 1t is
known that the council of bishops
recommended three names to their su-
periors at Rome, vtz.: Bishop Winand
NJ. Wigger. of Newark, n. j.; Bishop
Frederick Xavier Katzer, of Green Bay,
and Rt. Rev. John L. Spalding, OF Peoria,
Bishop Wigger's name heading the list.
It is said the honor of presentation was
rendered to Bishop Flasch, Of La Crosse,
but that he declined to have his name
considered In connection with the place.