Sister's school was opened in the building contiguous to the church. This school, started then by a small number of men, has been kept up ever since. In 1863, the German-speaking Catholics bought several lots on the southwest corner of Sixth and Main streets, and at once built the two-storied brick building, still extant there, for $8,000, on them. The Sisters' school was at once moved into this, which is still used for the same purpose. Meanwhile the number of Catholics has so much increased, that it was thought best to divide the one big congregation into two; this was effected in 1863, and according to languages, viz., St. Mary's congregation retained all the English and French speaking and St. Joseph's all the German and Bohemian speaking families. The latter congregation resolved to build a church for their own use near their schoolhouse; it was commenced in 1864, by laying the foundation, on the southwest corner of Sixth and Main streets; owing to adverse circumstances, however, the work was discontinued till 1869.

In the meantime, another Reformed Catholic Church had been built in the east end of the county, in the town of Greenfield, known as "St. Joseph's on the Ridge." This church, a very simple log building, received its first stationary priest in 1867, by the name of Rev. Father Florentine, O. M. Cp., and, excepting short intervals, has had one ever since. The old church was replaced by a new brick structure in 1870. It is a very substantial building, and, for a country church, also beautiful. In 1872, through the agency of Rev. P. Schmidt, then Pastor, the congregation built a schoolhonse, all of brick, worth about $4,500, and at once opened their parochial school. A new parsonage, of brick, worth about $2,500, was added the year following. All these buildings were designed and erected by the architect, M. Joseph Limfelder, of La Crosse.

Another Reformed Catholic Church was built in the town of Washington in 1871. It is a small structure, and of frame, and never has had a stationary priest, but is regularly visited by the priest from "St. Joseph's Ridge." The church is popularly known by the name of "St. Peter's on the Ridge."

A new era opened for the Catholics of the city and county of La Crosse in 1868. Up to that year they had belonged to the Diocese of Milwaukee, then comprising the entire territory of the State of Wisconsin. In the above given year, the diocese was divided into three-Green Bay, La Crosse and Milwaukee-of which La Crosse embraced that part of the State which lies between the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers, with La Crosse as the resident place of its Bishop, and therefore named "Diocese of La Crosse." Its first Bishop was Rt. Rev. Michael Heiss, a most learned divine and universally highly-esteemed priest previously to his removal to La Crosse, President of the Milwaukee Priests' Seminary (see his biography in this work); was consecrated on the 6th day of September, 1868, in the Cathedral of Milwaukee. He came to La Crosse on his name's-day (September 29) of the same year, where he took up his residence in the old parsonage of St. Mary's. How wisely Pope Pius IX had acted by appointing him the first bishop of the new diocese was soon apparent. St. Mary's was still the only Catholic church in the city. He at once gave St. Joseph's congregation a priest of their own (Rev. H. Kampschroer), and encouraged them to build their intended new church, the foundation of which had been laid already, as we have seen above. The plans were revised, and the work resumed as early in the spring of 1869 as the weather permitted. In 1870, on the first Sunday in October, the structure was finished as far as it is now, and solemnly dedicated by Very Rev. M. Kundig, of Milwaukee, Rt. Rev. Michal Heiss attending the Vatican Council at Rome. The church is a Gothic structure, and, when fully completed, will be a beauty among the churches of the Northwest. It is built of brick, and the size is 140x62. Hard times and other adverse circumstances have, up to date, prevented its entire completion. Aside from the cost of the lots on which it is built, more than $35,000 has been expended on the building-a sum of money altogether too big for the 200 families of the congregation to raise in two years. By means of the Bishop's most generous liberality and the incessant labor of Rev. H. Kampschroer, the Pastor, the debt was paid off in 1877. The same congregation put up a very spacious and solid parsonage in 1880. Headed and encouraged by their Pastor, Rev. P. Geyer, they commenced

work in July, and in November the house was already prepared for occupancy. The building is of brick, and situate a little west of the church. It has cost about $4,000. St. Mary's congregation had meanwhile not been idle either. Encouraged by their zealous Pastor, Rev. James Schwebach, who has been in charge of it ever since 1870, they built a spacious and substantial schoolhouse on the southwest corner of Seventh street and Cameron avenue, in 1872. Its size is 40x50, two stories high, built of brick, and has cost $5,000.

Early in the spring of 1874, they commenced work on a new church, by which to replace the old frame building. It was completed as far as it is now in 1875, and solemnly dedicated to divine service by Bishop Heiss, on the 7th day of October. The church has retained the old familiar name, "St. Mary's.' It is built of brick, in the Roman style, Mr. Joseph Leinfelder being the architect and builder. Its size is 44x115, and costs about $16,000, and, when fin

ished, will be one of the neatest buildings for public worship in the city.

The Bohemian Catholics being increased in numbers considerably (to about one humdred families), resolved to form a congregation of their own by the name of "St. Wencelaus," and, consequently, to build a church for themselves. Bishop Heiss favoring their plans, gave them a priest in the person of Rev. Leo Suchy.

The church edifice was commenced in the summer of 1873, energetically pushed on, and the building fully completed in the next summer, when it was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Heiss. It was built of solid brick, 40x90, by Mr. Joseph Leinfelder, in the Roman style, and is situated on South Winnebago street, between Ninth and Tenth streets, and cost about $7,000. In the winter following, the congregation built also a schoolhouse, opened their parochial school at once, and by dint of great exertions have kept it up ever since. The schoolhouse is worth about $3,000. Right after, desiring to complete their necessary parish buildings, they put up a nice parsonage, at the cost of some $2,000. Both of these buildings are on the same lots on which

the church is situated.

In the summer of 1877, the Catholics of the Fifth Ward (North La Crosse), wishing to give their children an appropriate education, bought the old public school building of that ward, moved it to lots previously bought for that purpose, fitted it up for use and at once opened a Sisters' School in it.

Besides these buildings, put up for the different parishes of the city, and, therefore, for the immediate interests of the Catholics in and about the city, other buildings were erected more for the use of the entire diocese. The first and largest of this kind is St. Rosa de Viterbo's Convent, situated on east side of Ninth street, between Market and Winnebago streets. The corner-stone was laid early in October, 1870. The architect and builder, Mr. Joseph Leinfelder, pushed the work on so energetically that already in 1871, the Franciscan Sisters removed from Jefferson, Jefferson Co., Wis., into it, making this convent their mother house. The building was not put up at once as it is now, it was done by degrees; first the main part, then the north wing and main chapel, and, finally, the south wing and adoration chapel. It is a magnificent, spacious and beautiful structure, and costs at least $75,000, furniture and ornamental work not included. The Sisters are conducting the orphan houses of the diocese, the parochial schools in this city and diocese generally, and a number of such schools in other States. The convent was commenced and finished under the present Superioress, Mother Antonia.

In 1875, Bishop Heiss, for the interest of his diocese, built an orphanage on South Winnebago street, west of the Bohemian Church. He finished it the same year at the cost of $6,000, and at once moved the orphans into it. Soon it was found too small to be convenient, and, therefore, another was built in Sparta, Monroe Co., Wis., where he housed the girls, the boys remaining in La Crosse. The next and last building put up by him in this city is the "Bishop's residence," on the corner of Eleventh and Ferry streets. Under great personal inconveniences, he had remained in the parsonage of St. Mary's until the buildings needed for the wants of his people in the city and diocese of La Crosse were supplied, and, financially, in a safe state. The residence he built for himself and successors is one of the best in the city, and admirably suits its purpose. It was built by Mr. Joseph Leinfelder, and costs $14,000,

lots, furniture, etc., exclusively. It was commenced in the summer and finished late in fall of 1877.

The Catholics of the city and county of La Crosse suffered a great loss in 1880. Their dear Bishop, Rt. Rev. M. Heiss, who had been laboring for their interest so faithfully and successfully, was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Milwaukee, by Pope Leo XIII, on the 14th day of March. It was done so at the special request of the Most Rev. Archbishop of Milwaukee, who desired to have his trusted friend around himself to share his arduous duties in his old age. Most Rev. M. Heiss retained, however, the administration of his former diocese until May 30, when the Holy Father appointed Rev. H. Kampschroer formerly Rector of St. Joseph's Cathedral its administrator. Up to the day of this writing (April 25), the vacant See of La Crosse has not, as yet, received another Bishop.

Right Rev. Michael Heiss D. D., first Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse, was born in the Parish of Pfahldorf, Bavaria, on the 12th day of April, 1818. After frequenting the parish school of his native place for five and a half years, he commenced the study of Latin at the early age of nine and a half years. Having finished the classical course of studies with eminent success, he studied philosophy and theology for four years at Munich, Bavaria. The University of this city of learning and art was then very famous, if not the most famous throughout Germany. Among his professors were the following well-known scientific men: Doctors Gorres, Dollinger, Mohler, Phillips, Schelling, Schubert, Neuman, Thiersch. For a part of these four years he lived in an Episcopal Seminary, where he was appointed Perfect of the students. On the 18th day of October, 1840, he was ordained Priest by the Right Rev. C. A. V. Reisach, then Bishop of Eichstadt, and afterward nominated Cardinal, in the church at Munchenburg,; ten days afterward, on the 28th day of the same month, he said his first mass. For some time his Bishop kept him still in the seminary, to act as its Perfect; he then sent him as assistant Pastor successively to Raitenbuch and Pleinfield. In September, 1842, Rev. M. Heiss made up his mind to emigrate to the New World, which resolution he carried out as soon as possible. On the 3d day of November, 1843, he embarked from Havre, France, and after a long and tedious voyage, he arrived in New Orleans, La., on the 18th day of December. Thence he proceeded at once to the Right Rev. Flaget, Bishop of Louisville, Ky., who appointed him Pastor of the "Mother of God" Church, in Covington, Ky. At that time application had been made to the Pope for the establishing of a Roman Catholic diocese in Wisconsin. Accordingly, the Diocese of Milwaukee, comprising the entire State of Wisconsin, was established, with Milwaukee as the place of residence for the Bishop. The Rector of Holy Trinity's in Cincinnati, Ohio-the present venerable Archbishop of Milwaukee, Most Rev. M. Henniwas appointed its first Bishop. Rev. M. Heiss, whilst officiating in Covington, had made his acquaintance, which very soon grew into a friendship so true, that never afterward could be broken. When the Breve, appointing Rev. M. Henni Bishop of Milwaukee, arrived from Rome, Rev. M. Heiss was easily prevailed upon to go along with him. In the spring of 1844, both started from Cincinnati, for the then far North, Wisconsin. It was a long and weary journey of precisely fourteen days; they arrived in Milwaukee on the 2d day of May, 1844. Here Rev. M. Heiss remained with Bishop Henni until 1850. He was appointed Rector of St. Mary's, the first German Catholic Church of that city, but he had also to attend to the religious wants of all the Catholics around Milwaukee. His district was very large; it extended west as far as Jefferson County inclusively.

He

When in the year 1849, the Bishops of the United States convened in a National Council, at Baltimore, Md., the Right Rev. M. Henni took Rev. M. Heiss along as his Theologian. There his liver complaint, from which he had been suffering already for some time, grew worse; he was advised to go to Europe for relief, which advice he acted upon in the next year. stayed in Germany for two and a half years, meanwhile holding responsible positions. The liver complaint having left him entirely, he returned to the New World in 1852, in spite of the remonstrances of his many friends in Europe. We find him again in Milwaukee, as the Bishop's Secretary in 1852 and 1853. Just then Bishop Henni commenced building a Seminary,