The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-05-03
INTERESTING FACTS
ABOUT EARLY
HISTORY.
Contained in Catholic Encv-
clopedia---First Settlers
Had Troubles.

The early day strivings of Catholic
settlers for recognition in this ter
ritory are graphically recounted in
a complete and authentic history of
the diocese of Duluth contained in
the new Catholic Encyclopedia. The
rapid growth of the see during it's
twcnty-three years of existence is
tellinsly reviewed, and the general
scope and influence of the ecclesiasti-
cal. educational and charitable work
of the diocese reviewed at length. In
terestains statistics have been COM
piled by the author. Thomas r. Nee
han of New York. Much new infor-
nation will be found in the follow
ing excerpts:
"The diocese of Duluth. established
October 3, 1889, suffragan of the
archdiocese of St. Paul. U. S. A.. COM
prises the counties of Aitken. Becker.
water. Cook, Grow Wing. Hubbard,
ltasca, kittson. Lake. Marshall. Nor
man. Pine. Polk. Roseau. Red Lake,
M%ahnornen. Koochiching. and st.
Louis, in the state of Minnesota, an
area of 39,439 square miles. The first
white men and the first Catholics to
visit this region We're the French fur
traders who. under Groseilliers, are
recorded as having shipped furs from
'-'i Y III WV II VI eSSOloIH Du
Lhut. the French officer. adventurer,
and fur trader, after whom the see
city is named, was there in 1879. Aft
or a varying existence as trading post
and frontier settlement. Duluth was
incorporated as a town in May. 1857.
The first priest in Minnesota was
Father H%ennepin, who in 1850 was "a
prisoner among the Sioux. He explor-
ed h Mississippi and at st. Paul
named the falls in honor of st. An
thony, writing a glowing description
of them in 1858. Wandering mission
aries made infrequent visits to the
Indian tribes and scattered Catholics
of the region down to 1899, when the
Rev. Joseph Cretin. a Jealous French
priest, began an active and successful
missionary career. The Seventh Pro-
vincial Council of Baltimore 1S49)
recommended to Rome the erection
Of a new see at st. Paul for the ter
ritory of Minnesota. and the appoint
ment of Father Cretin as it's first
bishop. which plan was carried out.
Father Cretin had beer in the terri
tory for some time, trying to revive
the old indian missions and evangel-
ize the Canadian voyageurs who went
there for the fur trade.
We're Many Indians.
THE numerous Indians roaming in
the wilderness had nearly forgotten
the doctrines of christianity preached
to their ancestors by the RecolIects
and Jesuits more thar a century be-
fore, but they were still anxious to
have the "bIackrobes" come among
them once more. In 1875 the Vic
ariate Apostolic of northern Minne-
sofa was established, and these two
divisions of the whole state continued
until May 4. 1888. when ST. Paul was
raised to the rank of an archdiocese
with the four suffragan sees of Du-
luth. WinOna. jamestown (now Far
go) n st. Cloud. the last named be-
ing the new title for the Vicariate
of norther MINNESOTA. Duluth, the
see city. was within these old limits
of the Vicariate. In 1866 the few
Catholics there were brought togeth-
cr by a visiting missionary. They
numbered only about two dozen ra-
miles in 1870. and Father John Che
bull. an Austrian by birth. attended
them as a mission from Superior. and
built the first frame chapel for their
use. Other priests of the formative
period were Fathers G. Keller. a
German; J.. B.. NJ. Genin. a French
Oblate: Joseph Buh. Charles Wer-
wyst. Joseph Staub. Christopher MUIR
ply and G. j. Goebel.
THE Rev. James McGolrick, a
member of the council of Bishop
ireland Of st. Paul. and rector Of the