Evening star., 1939-08-06
Capital SideIights
By viii P. Kennedy

The only Roman Catholic priest who
ever served in Congress-Father Gabriel
Rlchard-is to be honored in October by
the placing of statue in Detroit at the
approach to the beautiful Belle Isle
Bridge. The Governor is to issue a
proclamation for that occasion. Father
Richard has previously been commence
rated by the naming of street, library,
public school, council of the Knights
OF Columbus and his statue in the CITY
Hall In Detroit. Representative Louis
Rabaut calls attention to Father Rich
ards outstanding service. He was born
IN La Vile de Saintes, France. October
Is, 1857, and came to the United States
in 1892, settled in Baltimore and was
professor Of mathematics in st. Marv's
College, Md. He was sent by Bishop
Carroll as missionary to the Indians
IN the Northwest Territory and was sta
toned at what is now Kaskaskia, III, He
went to Detroit in 1893 and six years
later started an academy for young
women and seminary for young men
to study for the priesthood-the first
Catholic schools in Michigan. He was
appointed chaplain of the first regi-
ment of Michigan Militia and after fire
destroyed Detroit in 1905 he organized
the relief work. At the request OF the
Governor and other State officials In
1907 he delivered a series of religious
lectures to Catholics, the first of the
kind in the New World He brought the
first organ and first piano into the
State. He started numerous schools,
some OF which taught knitting, sewing,
spinning and weaving. He was one of
the first ever to organize instruction for
deaf mutes. He set up the first printing
press and published the first newspaper
in that State. His press likewise printed
textbooks, religious tracts. and the ter
ritor1al laws. During the War Of 1872,
because he refused to take an oath of
allegiance to Great Britain he was
prisoner of the British government in
Canada. With the Rev. John Monteith,
Presbyterian clergyman, he was CO.
founder Of the University of Michigan,
OF which he was vice president and pro-
fessor of OF its 13 departments. In
1923 he was the third delegate from the
Territory Of Michigan to Congress. He
was one Of the pioneers in the good roads
program and put through legislation
providing for the first of the territorial
roads in Michigan. His name Is perma-
nently associated with the opening of
the famed road from Detroit to Chicago.
He sponsored the establishment of q
district court in Michigan His salary in
Congress was devoted to the educational
institution he had founded. When an
epidemic of cholera swept Detroit in
1882, Father Richard administered tire
lessly to the sick and dying, and became
victim OF his own charity. Representa-
tive Rabaut eulogizes him as Michigan's
most patriotic and energetic crusader"
During the past week Representative
John E. Rankin OF Mississippi, known
as Silent John" "Kilowatt" and "Dyna-
mo" because of his tireless advocacy of
hydroelectrical development, was adopted
as an honorary member of the Chick
asaw Nation "in convention assembled"
This action was in appreciation of his
responsibility in the creation OF the
Matches Trace Parkway, dedicated to the
Chickasaw Nations for their service to
the United States in the War Of 1912,
and for his service in securing the re-
habilitation of the Ackia Battlefield and
dedicating it to the glories of the Chick
asaw Nation. The formal notification Of
this honor said: May the Great Spirit
of our forefathers surround you with His
presence always. The Chickasaws have
spoken"