Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-31

Cs
of Epiphany and Kroeger, s. D., estab-
lished medical practice that EXTENDED
almost from ocean to ocean ana ried
possessed of quarter of million pol-
lars worth Of property, this was pu'
incidental. He embarked In THESE en-
terprises because he was an honorapie
man and determined to live up to MS
agreement to pay the debts left at Blk
hart and estimated variously at from
SEC, 900 to 100000.
Case Taken to Rome.
IT was because he felt it incumbent
upon him to do this that he later pc
came involved in trouble with his own
church. The bishop had become ols-
pleased because he thought Father
Kroeger was not attending strlctlS
enough to his parish duties at Hplp-
hany. Father Kroeger was holdine
services In his hospital, and politely
but firmly declared that he must con-
time to do so. He asked for an as
sistant priest, but the bishop thougnt
one man should be able to care 1or ~
small parish and refused. Ine case
eventually was carried to Rome anu
Father Kroeger made a trip 10 tne Val-
lean, and, it is supposed from the en-
suing silence, that he made satls-
factory explanation.
The following account OF ralhe.
Kroeger's disappearance from Eiki .f'-t !.
was written by a correspondent OIL 'hat
town: -. -
Fikhart Ind, Dec. 29-The dearh or
Rav. Father William A. Kroeger at ms
home in Epiphany, S. D., on Thurs lay
December 8, has brought wildly 10
mind the sensation and distress Wn'cn
was caused among his parishioners ana
friends when, one morning IN De"a.a-
her. 1891, it was discovered that the
trusted pre,ate had decamped, leaving
creditors Nicse claims aggregatea
inany thousands Of dollars, to explain
their .,,rrrise as best they could.
These creditors included business
men. professional money lenders, MEM
bers Of his parish, including loWs
whose security savings were imp.':'tiv
and unreservraly entrusted to the n, ~
father. and even brother clergylne J.,
who were AT the he'd OF parishes In
naighbo:inS towns. Rev. Mr.. kroegar's
most intimate friends and chief 5usl-
rass Sponsors We're dCsnfoundei end
their cfagrin snd disappointment were
intense ara rsost depre ssing, for he Lad
held his friends with a magnetism of
unusual power and their belief In him
was phenomenal. The mans ability to
'avorably impress his intimates was
s,ugumented by his general reputation
for executive capacity and administra-
tive ability. After coming to Elkhart
in 1880 to be priest in the only Cath
Ole church here, that of st. Vincent
de Paul, struggling parish, he had
set about to erect a suitable and at
tractive edifice, SO much more pre-
tentions than any other church build
ing in Elkhart, UP to that time and for
several years after that it was dignifed
with the descriptive term cathedral
Thru indefatigible energy and the APP
plication Of exceptional zeal and re-
sourcefulness the head of the parish
was able to see his ambitions realized
so far as the church proper was con-
cerned, tho the denouement in his f.
nancial affairs came before he had built
the rectory that he had planned.
Crisis Was Unexpected.
The crisis in Rev. Mr.. Kroeger's af-
fairs in Elkhart came quite unexpect-
eddy to all save himself. and even yet
the impulse that caused him to drop
priestly dignity and obligation to seek
escape from embarra ssment in ignomi-
nous flight is subject for conjecture.
This stress Of financial difficulty came
as the result of too much speculation
in matters secular, an overwhelming
ambition to shine in business affairs
of fu ho
Of prosperous and constantly growing
arish in a little city that was fast
lrging to the front as one of the most
4portant towns of this section. He
rs chief promoter Of the DR.. Kroegel
ough Cure Co., which spent large
mounts in advertising a remedy of
Rev. Mr.. Kroeger's compromising; he
became owner of dray line of consid-
cradle proportions; he embarked in the
grocery business and in fact, was in
terested either as the head or silent
partner In number of other business
enterprises. When they failed to prove
profitable or even elf-sustaining he
fell back upon the loans of friends or
the funds that had been entrusted to
him by confiding parishioners, some of
whom, as above indicated, We're humble
tho thrifty.
The fact that the investments were
bad was not revealed until after his
flight, for none who were aware OF
Father Kroegers apparent business
acumen and unimpeachable integrity
would have doubted him for an in
slant. Many harsh things were said
after his unceremonfous flight and he
was held in memory more bitter than
sweet, for some of the victims. as we'll