MAIN PAGE | Belgians in the Civil War |
Emigrants arrival | links | Sources |
BELGIANS IN AMERICA: Biographies of Belgian settlers
American Censuses 1850/1860/1870 : link to the censuses by States |
Distribution
according to the State of settlement : link to the State of settlement |
The settlers |
The Catholic Missions |
The Rev. Father Vermeersch, a native of Belgium, was appointed Rector of St.
Peter's Mission in 1863. It was through his influence and exertion that Saint
Mary's Academy was established is 1864 by the Sisters of the Holy Names who came
here from Portland. Little information is available about the events of the
pastorate of Father Vermeersch or his immediate successors. Father Vermeersch
was appointed pastor of the Umatilla Indian Mission October 30th.1865, and on
November 26th Father L Dielman, a Belgian, who had recently arrived from Luvian
succeeded him as pastor of The Dalles. A bell weighing 533 pounds and costing
$400 was placed in the belfry by Father Dielmzn, December 27th, 1866, and an
organ was installed about the same time. August 22nd, 1867, Father Dielman was
transferred from the Dalles and Father Coso was in charge for a short time,
being succeeded by Father Thibeau, who remained until March, 1868.
Source : O'Connor, Dominic, : A brief history of the Diocese of Baker City;
Baker, Or.: Diocesan Chancery, 1930, 229 pgs.