The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-12-16
KR0EGER WAS
AN UNIQUE FIGURE
"Priest Healer of Epiphany
Acquired a Fortune Dur
ing Lifetime.
HIS FAME WORLD WIDE
Years Ago He Resigned From Conare.
eationaI Duties That He Might
Give More Time to Healing
His Lifework.

0altCnai OulleS tndl u Ni'ShA
Give More Time to Healing
His Lifework.
Sioux Falls. s. D., Dec. 12.-Father
William kroeger, widely known as the
Priest Healer of Epiphany" who died
last Thursday. WAS a remarkable man
in many respects. and was one OF the
most picturesque characters who ever
resided in South Dakota or the north
west.
Those who are in Il 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 $150, 600. most OF which WAS made
during the past six years.
Many of his patients regarded him rs
a man possessing supernatural pom
ars. These who remained in his hos
pital TO" Il long time ollowed his
movements i'm rapt attention. n hung
upon his words as though they came
from the lips of Il deity. Many in
leaving his establishment have been
heard ito pronounce him :: second
I Christ.
Was a Native Of Ohio.
Father Kloeger was born at Cincin-
NATL, o.. January %, 1853, of German
parentage. His father was Il painter
of moderate means. For a period of
three years lie sent his son to the pub
lie schools. afterwards placing him in
private schools until he had fitted him.
self for entry into the University OF
Cincinnati.
After close application to his studies
the young nan graduated from the
philosophical and medical courses with
the degrees of Phi. D.. and Nj. d.. to
which was later added a d. d. DIR.
| I~,,~- ,,.r t;.,1 - ~ ,>,-
tive city for a period of three years.
making a speciality of lung trouble and
nervous diseases.
Then the Rt. Rev. Bishop Marty. of
the Dakota diocese, who knew him as
a physician, induced him to take or
period spent as assistant pastor of
Catholic parishes in Cincinnati. O., and
Lafayette. Ind. he WAS given the
church at Elkhart. Ind. where he re-
lnafned for Il period of fourteen wears.
Father kroeger became DESTROYS of
n new field and began the pnstorate
of the Epinhany. S. D.. church. FROM
which the town takes its name. April
2. 1893. On December &c. 1901. he
celebrated the twenty-irst anniversary
of his ordination to the priesthood.
Soon Acquired Fame.
Upon the. recommendation of Bishop
Marty, as there was no physician at
y ~ - w
prescribe for tileSaching bodies as well
as the dying souls of his parishioners.
The calls for his medical services grad
ually increased and patients began
coming to him from distances. The
good farmers in the neighborhood OF
the little inland village entertained the
transients AS best they could. but in I
short time the volume of travel became
SO large that hotel accommodations be
came a necessity and n gigantic frame
structure was erected.
The third floor. which WAS all i'm one
room and filled with cots for use in the
event of an overflow, was humorouslA
dubbed The School Section" The ti:sl
and second stories above the basement
contained kitchen, dining room. parlor:
n private rooms. Five years ago /;
mammoth sanitarium or laborator!
was completed and Dr.. kroeger moved
into it from the parsonage in which he
up to that time. had been conducting
his medical practice.
The am year Il hospital containing
about twenty rooms was built. Thi:
was for the accommodation of con
sumptive and cancer patients.
Resigned From Pulpit.
So much time from his pastoral worl
was consumed by the arduouS dutie:
connected with his practice that he wa:
finally compelled to ask for an assist
ant priest. His request was refused b.
the church authorities, whereupon h
resigned from congregational duties. II
his w chapel he celebrated mass, ant
such Of his patients and employees a
wished to We're given the privilege o
attending.
This created friction with the author
tiles of the church. and or one occasion
Father Kroeger was summoned t
Rome for consultation With the vatican
authorities.
The same friendly consideration wa
given all of his patients, whether ricI
or poor. 1t was his practice to make
minimum charge for an examination b
the x-ray machines. which he had in
: stalled, and for the medicine furnished
2 But If the patient was poor and did nc
!. have the money to spare even this 10y
fee was omitted.
: Several bookkeepers and'a numbe c
stenographers We're employed by hin
The mail handled daily was larger ]
amount than that of many Il good size
. town. During the last few years tn
: shipment of medicine had become phe
nomenal. averaging many thousands {
boxes Zach month.
Catholics formed Il majority. but a
religious denominations We're represent
ed among his patients. who belonged I
all walks in life. Perhaps the large
number of them We're CT the poor an
n middle classes. but farmers We're MOI
) largely represented IMAM any othef ot
: cupation.
1t was nothing uncommon to sc
women in silks. German women wear
t ing wooden shoes, priests and solnbr,
d clad Sisters of Mercy enter the san
busses at the nearest railroad town IL
the purpose of being transported to u
home of the priest healer.
y Patients Were Varied.
y The residences of patients We're 8
Q varied rs their appearance and dres
/, Parties residing a. Albuquerque, N. NJ
and Tacoma, Wash, on one occasiC
arrived in conjunction. Very large del,
e cations came from single communitit
e in neighboring states. Delegations
n Sioux Indians have followed the tn;
to Father Kroeger's health-restori!
d resort.
" Father krpeger Was practically tt
sole owner of the town where he die
He owned the bank. drug store, san