The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-12-15
father KROECER WAS
An UNIQUE FIGURE
"Priest Healer of Epiphany
Acquired a Fortune Dur
ing Lifetime.
His FAME WORLD WIDE
Years Ago He Resigned From Conqre.
sationas Duties That He Might
Give More Time to Healing
His Lifework.

iiC'hI 1icttiet u ZAP pilulN VINO dltt
last Thursday, was Il remarkable mar
in many respects, and was one of the
most picturesque characters who ever
resided in South Dakota or the north
west.
Those who are III a position to know
something OF his personal and financial
affairs are positive that at the time
of his death he was worth not less
than $4,000, most of which was made
during the past six years.
Many of his patients regarded him as
a man possessing supernatural pow
ers. These Who remained in his hos
pital TO" u long time followed his
movements in fapt attention. and hung
upon his words as though they came
from the lips of 4 deity. Many in
leaving his establishment have been
heard to pronounce him a second
Christ.
Was a Native of Ohio.
Father kroeger was born at Cincin-
natl. O., January 25. 1853, of German
pafeltaEe. His father was a painter
OF moderate means. For Il period of
three years he sent his son to the pub
lie schools, afterwards placing him in
private school until he had fitted him
self for entry into the University of
Cincinnati.
After close application to his studies
the young man graduated from the
p~hilosophlca and medical curses with
the degrees of Phi. D. and NJ. D.. to
which was later added a D. D.. DR..
kroeger practiced medicine in his ma
tive city for a period of three years,
making a specially of lung trouble and
nervous diseases.
Then the Rt. Rev. Bishop Marty, of
the Dakota diocese, who knew him as
4 physician. induced him to take or
ders for the priesthood. After a brief
period spent as assistant pastor of
! i'AtnDIlp. ngriShaS II. vf,,.ir,,~t ..-Y
Lafayette, Ind, he was given the
church at Elkhart, Ind. where. he re-
NAMED for a period of fourteen years.
Father kroeger became DESTROYS of
a new field and began the pastorate
OF the Epiphany. s.. D.. church, from
which the town takes its name, ApriI
:, 1898. On December 26. 1901, he
celebrated the twentv-first anniversary
OF his ordination to the priesthood.
Soon Acquired Fame.
Upon the recommendation of Bishop
Marty, as there was no physician at
epiphany, Father Kroeger began to
prescribe for the aching bodies as we'll
as the dying souls OF his parishioners.
Ihe calls for his medical services grad
ualiy increased and patients began
coming TO him from distances. The
GOOD farmers in the n~eighborhood of
the little inland village entertained the
transientS as best they could. but in a
short time the volume of travel became
SO large that hotel accommodations be-
came a necessity and a gigantic frame
structure was erected.
The third floor, which was all in one
room and filed with cots for use in the
event of an overflow, was humorouslv
dubbed This School Section The first
and second stories above the basement
contained kitchen, dining room, parlors
and private rooms. Five years ago s.
mammoth sa%nitarium or laboratory
was completed and DIV. Kroeger moved
into it from the parsonage, in Which he,
up to that time, had been conducting
his medical practice.
The same year a hospital containing
about twenty rooms was built. This
was for the accommodation of con-
Sumptive cancer patients.
Resigned From Pulpit.
So much time from his pastoral work
was consumed by the arduous duties
connected with his practice that he was
finally compelled to ask for an assist
ant priest. His request was refused by
the church authorities, whereupon he
resigned from congregational duties. In
his own chapel he celebrated mass, and
such of his patients and employees as
wished to We're given the privilege of
attending.
This created friction with the author
tiles of the church, and on one occasion
Father kroeger was to
Rome for consultation with the vatican
authorities.
The same friendly consideration was
given all of his patients, whether rich
or poor. 1t was his practice to make u
minimum charge for an examination by
the x-ray machines, which he had in
stalled, and for the medicine furnished.
But If he patient was poor and did not
have the money to spare even this low
fee vas omitted.
Several bookseepers and a number of
stenographerS were employed by him.
The mail handled daily was larger in
amount than that of many a good sized
town. During the last few years the
Shipment of medicine had become phe-
nomenal, averaging many thousands of
boxes each month.
Catholics formed a majority, but all
religious denominations were represent
ed among his patients. who belonged tc
all walks in life. Perhaps the larger
numbe of them We're of the poor and
middle classes, but m were more
largely represented than any other oc-
cupation.
1t was nothing to see
ONE in silks, German women wear-
ing wooden shoes, priests and sombre-
clad Sisters of Mercy enter the same
buses at the nearest railroad town for
the purpose of being transported to the
home of the priest healer.
Patients Were Varied.
The residences of patients Were as
Earied8 as their appearance and Dress.
Parties residing at albuquerque, N. NJ,
and Tacoma WASH, onion occasion
arrived I'M c~nnjunction.8 Very large dele.
gatioris came from single communities
In nesignbafin states Delegations hi
sioUx Indians have followed fsae trail
EatlaeIss Il Ta2egs Notwithstanding
Ea9 agTs SFaEsUa$ sysgs fsafsasss3t ss