The Irish standard., 1904-12-17
FATHER KR0EGER
Beloved South Dakota Priest
Passes Away at Epiphany.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Power and Healed Many.

received here today of the death of
Father William Kroeger, which &C.
Cured at Epiphany, Hanson county,
last night. DIR. Kroeger's name is
known over the country as a great
physician, having healed thousands Of
people in the past ten years that he
has been practicing medicine. 1t was
about fifteen years ago that he located
ut the little inland village of Epiphany
rs the priest of the Catholic church.
He had received a fine education as
Il physician in the old country, and
us he went on his parish duties he
frequently prescribed for his parish
toner's, and always with remarkable
success, although it was not his inten-
ton to establish any reputation for
himself in this way, but out of the
charity Of his heart and his desire to
heal suffering humanity he treated the
cases he encountered.
1t was not long before, instead of
his making his pastoral visits his time
was employed by attending the people
who came to see him for their physical
wants. The cases We're very rare that
did not succumb to his skill, and they
began coming in such great numbers
that it was nearly impossible for him
10 attend to his church duties. Then
it WAS that the bishop informed him
that he must give up one or the other
uf his duties--tlat of the priest or
physician. The priest believed that he
was doing rs much for humanity by
treating their physical wants and
needs, and accordingly resigned from
thr work of the church, although to
,hiS day he maintained Il little chapel
in one corner of his great sanitarium,
where he has said mass every day, at
which many of his patients We're pres
ent.
After his withdraw wal from the Cath
die church, DR.. Kroeger then threw
Ms energies into his work. and for the
al
institution. The town of Epiphany
WHs but small hamlet, but with the
development Of DR.. Kroeger's institu-
'ion ii expected to grow and become Il
place of Importance. He fully eN-
@ccted to secure the construction of Il
branch Of the Chicago Il Northwestern
railroad to Epiphany as an aid to
building up the place, but up to his
death he was never able to have it
built, although year or two ago
there was considerable talk along that
line. Even though the railroad failed
to build, the people were not deferred
rom going to Epiphany for treatment,
and for years a stage line has been in
operation from Canova and Farmer,
,hc two points nearest the place, and
thousands Of people have been trans
ported to a man who was regarded
as Il great healer with medicines.
About seven years ago DR.. Kroeger
commenced the construction of a
building that today covers Il large area
IF ground and he has sanitarium
that is not surpassed in the northwest.
1t is 1GO feet long with an l. proiec-
ton fully half as long Not to men
tion all the appliances he has for X
ray machines. The building is heated
with steam and is equipped with
sewer connection, the doctor construct
ing Il sewer Il half mile in length to
AIRY the olfal to a running stream of
water. 1t was necessary in some way
10 care for the people who came in
such crowds, and hotel accommoda-
lions being scarce at the small town.
DR.. krOcger built two large hotels,
Aoth equipped with steam heat and
ether comforts. He has also con-
structed an iccmaking plant, has IL
large water tower to distribute water
throughout the buildings. Recently
the doctor purchased an expensive
printing plant to do his own printing.
us it should be understood that he is
the patentce of a number of remedies
that are sold in all parts of the United
States and they are even shipped to
Europe. He kept two teams con-
>tantly hauling freight from the de-
pots in the adjoining towns. Shortly
after establishing his printing office
Or. Kroegcr started newspaper
, which he circulated extensively.
d The investment that Dr. Kroeger
: has at Epiphany will reach the sum
of $4,000, and from the great practice
he has had his wealth has rapidly
crown. But there is humane part to
the great character of the doctor, and
/ it has been his custom in years past
to treat person without pay if they
were too poor to reimburse him, and
many is the kindly benediction that
has fallen on him for the generous
manner in which he has bestowed his
gifts. Instances have been related OF
him that sick persons have received
treatment from him, and when they
were without money to pay their rail
road fare home the kindly old docto,
unhesitatingly contributed the sun
necessary
Efforts We're made in the past two
or three years to get DR.. Kroeger tt
move his institution to some more &C