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REV. CLAUDE JEAN ALLOUEZ
APOSTLE OF THE OTTAWAS
THE HARBINGER OF CHRISTIAN LOVE TO THE VARIOUS INDIAN
TRIBES OF WISCONSIN IN THE FOX RIVER VALLEY
1622--1922
At the time that the illustrious Francis de Sales, Bishop
of Geneva, was passing to his eternal reward, there was born in
France, a child, who in time was to become a no less successful
worker in the vineyard of the Lord, though far away from the
sunny slopes of his native land.
It was Claude Jean Allouez, "The Apostle of the Ottawas,"
of whom Bancroft says: "He has imperishably connected his
name with the progress of discovery in the West." And, Father
Verwyst:
"Fa ther Allouez may justly be called the 'Apostle of Wis­
consin,' for he is the founder of every Indian mission within the
limits of our State."
Claude Jean Allouez was born in eastern France, at St.
Didier-en-Forest, Haute Loire. The date of his birth, it seems,
remained unknown to John Gilmary Shea, Bancroft, and other
early historians; now, however, thanks to the researches of
Father Camille de Rochemonteix, who in 1896 published his
work on the Jesuit missions, it has been fixed as June 6, 1622,
just 300 years ago.
Little is said of his childhood; his early education was re­
ceived at Puy (the capital city of the district in which his par­
ents lived) under the tutelage of the renowned Saint Francis
Regis, which fact suggests, that evidently, he came of a well­
to-do family. He graduated from the college of Puy at the age
of seventeen. In September, 1639, he entered the novitiate of
the Jesuit order at Toulouse, where the next three years were
5


FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
spent; later on four years were devoted to higher or advanced
studies after which he was occupied for three years in teaching;
then followed his course in theology, which was pursued at Tou­
louse for another four years. He was ordained to the priesthood
in the year 1655.
A year later, in recognition of his scholarship, ability as an
orator, as well as his sanctity of life, Allouez was appointed lec­
turer, or preacher, in the celebrated cathedral town of Rhodez
(Ro-da'), capital of the department of Aveyron, which from its
sunny crest and slope overlooks the Aveyron River gently flow-
ing at its base. But all the beauty and grandeur of his native
place could not quench the fire of missionary zeal, which, as in
the hearts of all Jesuits, glowed within the breast of
Allouez. The opportunities and honors of the pulpit appealed
not to his soul-it was his holy and only ambition to spread the
light of the Faith, to carry salvation to the children of the forest
in far away lands. No wonder, therefore, that Allouez received
his appointment as missionary to New France from his superior
at Toulouse, Père Rocette, S. J., on March 3, 1657, with an ecsta­
cy of joy, and realizing tha t his wishes and hopes were
about to be fulfilled, exclaimed: "Seigneur, je suis à vous!" "Lord
Jesus, I am Thine."
Father Allouez was now thirty-five years of age. He is
described as a man of middle stature and sturdy frame; his
Superior says of him: "He is possessed of a vigorous constitu­
tion, of a fine mind and disposition, of good judgement and great
prudence; he is firm in purpose, proficient in literature and theo­
logy, and eminently fitted for missionary work."
Accompanied by two lay brothers, Father Allouez sets out
for the coveted field of labor in the Western World, the compan­
ion and guest of the newly appointed governor, Viscount d'Ar­
genson; the latter resplendent in the decorations received at the
most dazzling court in Christendom; the former, with only the
simple emblem of his Divine Master-the Crucifix-adorning his
habit.
Landing at Quebec on July 11, 1658, Father Allouez was
soon occupied with the multifarious duties of mission life among
the various Indian tribes along the St. Lawrence River. He at
6


FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
the same time assiduously applied himself to the study of the
various Indian dialects, especially the Huron and Algonquin, in
which latter language he became especially proficient. Some time
after his arrival at Quebec he writes: "To convert our Indians,
we need work no miracle, except that of doing them good and
suffering without complaint, except to God, regarding ourselves
as useless servants."
In 1633 while Father Allouez was supcr ior at Three Rivers (*)
Bishop Laval in recognition of his "piety, purity of life, and
ability," created him Vicar-General of the Mission in the West,
and all missionaries to whom the Bishop had given or might
subsequently give faculties for that district, were made subject
to him. This act dated July 21, 1663, is the first act of ecclesias­
tical jurisdiction of the Church in our Western States.
Being later on appointed to the Ottawa Mission as successor
to the saintly Father Menard, he sets out for this post and ar­
rives at Montreal from Three Rivers in 1664, only to find, that
the flotilla of canoes, with which he was to journey, had departed.
And so, a year of anxious waiting had to pass before he could
take up his labors there. The flotilla at last returned, some time
in May of the following year, composed of more than four hun­
dred sa vages of no particular tribe, a motley crew from among
the various nations which had fled westward from the more sav­
age Iroquois. Finally, on August 8, 1665, Allouez departs with
his "Angels of the upper Algonquins" as he was pleased to call
them, in spite of the treatment which he received at their hands,
which was anything but angelic.
During the preparation of Father Allouez and his six donnés
(attendants) for the long voyage, no encouragement was offered
to them by any of the Indians; on the contrary, their sullen si­
lence forebode impending trouble which, when they reached the
Ottawa River, burst upon them. Father Allouez was told in no
uncertain terms, that if he dared to follow them farther, they
would abandon him on some desolate island.
This threat seemed about to be executed, for owing to the
fact that the canoe which carried Father Allouez had become un-
("') Trois Rivieres, a city of St. Maurice County, Quebec, Canada.
7


FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
to God after refreshing in them the memory of our mysteries."
Having traversed the south shore of Lake de Tracy during the
month of September, on October the first, 1665, the flotilla en­
tered Chequamegon Bay, where it encountered at least seven
Indian tribes, that were living as one community,-eight hun­
dred of the men were fully armed. The great number of
these people encouraged Father Allouez to begin here
his missionary labors. He accordingly built a little bark
chapel which he dedicated to the Holy Ghost, calling
the site, "La Pointe du Saint Esprit." The Jesuit map,
said to have been drawn up by Marquette and Allouez,
places the mission of the Holy Ghost on the main land on the
Bayfield peninsula, at the head of Chequamegon Bay, and not on
Madeline Island, as is sometimes stated. Father Allouez says:
"This section of the lake shore where we have settled down,
is between two large villages, and is, as it were, the center of all
the tribes of these countries, because the fishing here is very
good, which is the principal source of support to these people."
He was now occupied from morning until night in receiving
the Hurons, Algonquins and members of other tribes, instructing
them, baptizing and teaching their children, who soon learned,
as he says, to "chant the Our Father and Hail Mary."
It is a marvelous spectacle that imagination pictures for us
as we follow Father Claude Allouez in the narrative of his first
missionary efforts on the lower shore of Lake Superior.
Na ture everywhere is still in her primeval glory. The peace
of the virgin forest and the lake shore is still undisturbed, save
for the gentle swish-swash of the wave, or high above, for the
soughing of the wind-swept tree-tops. Here and there, at rare
intervals, where the hunting and fishing may be better, some
roving band of savages stops and makes its camp. The braves
devote the day to foraging for food supplies, while the squaws
remain at home to cure the meats, prepare the food and perform
the general drudgery. At night they gather around the camp
fires or in the wigwams. It is needless to say, that all the squa­
lor, the filth, the brutality and debauchery that go with savage
life are there. And, it is into such haunts that the lone and soli­
tary missionary ventures-sublime for his trust in God and great
9


FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
because of the love that he bears to these, the least of his
Master's children.
They are startled by his advent, but curiosity finally pos­
sesses them. They want to see the Blackrobe and to hear him
speak. They marvel at the story of the good God who offered up
His only Son that others might have life-everlasting. It is an
unbelievable tale. They ridicule the missionary and heap con­
tumely upon him. Sneers and taunts are his reward, but nothing
daunted, he holds his peace and fearlessly goes on with the work
of salvation, until finally some primitive soul feels the touch of
Divine Grace and yields itself to Christ.
What a joy for the missionary when amid such surroundings
the first fruits of his sowing are garnered!
Th us it was that Father Allouez began his career as mis­
sionary among the Hurons and Algonquins of Lake Superior, and
rested not until the day of his death, visiting tribe after tribe
throughout the vast expanse of territory from Point du Saint
Esprit in northern Wisconsin, to the present states of Illinois
Indiana and Michigan.
He says, "God gave me the grace to make myself understood
by more than ten different tribes, but I confess it is necessary
to beg Him for patience in order to suffer joyfully the contempt,
raillery, importunity, and arrogance of these savages."
Polytheists, the Indians offered sacrifices to the idols repre­
senting their deities. The sun was an especial object of venera­
tion. Tobacco was a common oblation. It was usually thrown
at the idol or object venerated. An account also is given of the
sacriñce of a dozen dogs to an idol, for the purpose of allaying a
pestilence.
Idolatry, sorcery, polygamy, and the revolting practices
characteristic of pagan life, flourished to the fullest among the
Indians, forming as it were their social and religious creed. Yet
in the midst of these conditions Father Allouez converted many,
baptizing in the year 1666, four hundred children. This encoir>­
aged him to move his little chapel to the center of one of the
larger villages; unfortunate move, for the Indians incited by t�1e
chief of the sorcerers and their medicine men wrecked the little
chapel which forced him to withdraw to his former site.
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FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
On May 6, 1667, he set out for Lake Nipigon or Alimibegong
to visit the Nipissiriniens who had fled north from the savage
Iroquois, and who, in part, had been converted to Christianity,
but for some years had not seen a priest. This was a most
hazardous journey. They had to paddle their canoe twelve hours
a day with little or no food, until the twenty-third, when they
succeeded in getting a plentiful haul of sturgeon.
Having met some Christian Nipissiriniens, Father Allouez
gathered them together and erecting a bower he built an altar,
celebrated Mass and gave an instruction to his little congre­
gation.
Here he met two women, mother and daughter, who had
been captured by the Iroquois and had escaped from captivity,
but had been retaken again, after which they were closely
watched, and, if possible, more cruelly treated. One day, how­
ever, they found themselves under charge of a single Iroquois,
the others having gone to hunt. They saw their opportunity.
The girl asked the unsuspecting brave for a knife with which to
dress a beaver skin which had been given her to prepare. He
handed her the knife. In an instant she had buried it in his heart;
her mother finished the work by beating out his brains with a
block of wood. They then made for their own country, which
they eventually succeeded in reaching. An incident of this kind
was nothing unusual in the life of these people.
Allouez reached the Nipissirinien Village on June 3. Find­
ing among the many idolators twenty Christians, he remained
with them for two weeks, returning thence to La Pointe, after
having traveled a distance of nearly fifteen hundred miles.
It is almost incredible that in the midst of the licentious­
ness and depravity of savage life, souls should be found willing to
embrace the faith of Christ with its doctrine of selfdenial. Yet
Father Allouez was often comforted by the almost Christian per­
fection of some of his neophytes; and the edifying
death-bed scenes he describes, more than compensated
him for his many trials. He narrates: "One was a
young girl, fourteen years of age, who diligently attended
all the catechetical instructions I gave, and joined in the prayers
which I had them say, of which she had learned a good many by
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FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
than described,-ridicule from idolators, insolence, hunger, ill­
treatment of all kinds, are what Fathers Claude Allouez and
Louis Nicolas endured in their efforts to christianize the savages.
In 1669 Allouez again reported to his Superior at Quebec.
He did not, however, return to the Ottawas at La Pointe, for as
he had previously informed them, they were obdurate and did
not respond to the graces so generously bestowed on them. He,
therefore, determined to "shake the dust from his shoes and
lea ve them."
The Pottawatamies had frequently invited him to their
country. This was not, however, for the purpose of receiving re­
ligious instruction from him, but rather to secure his protection
from the ill-treatment of some young Frenchmen who had come
among them to trade.
Arriving at the Sault, he continued his journey southward,
accompanied by two French voyageurs. This voyage, perilous at
any season, was doubly so at this time, November the third. Cold
piercing winds; rocks and shoals; sleeping upon the bare ground
at times; waking one morning to find themselves covered with a
mantle of snow, their canoe covered with ice, so that it barely
could be kept afloat; tossed from island to island; such were the
delights of this mission trip.
At last they chanced upon a cabin of Pottawatamies, who
welcomed them and shared their store of provisions with them,
which consisted principally of "fene," the nut of the beech tree,
roasted and pounded into flour.
The voyage terminated on the eve of St. Francis day, at the
mouth of the Oconto River. On the Feast Day, December the
third, Father Allouez offered up the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, at
which eight Frenchmen attended with great devotion. There it
was that the foundation of the third and greatest mission of the
Northwest, "St. Francis Xavier," was laid, and not at Green Bay,
as some writers have chronicled, but near the site of the present
city of Oconto. Here six French traders had taken up winter
quarters in the mixed Indian village of Sauk, Fox, Winnebago
and Pottawatami.
The Indians of this place were said to be "unusually bar­
barous, lacking in ingenuity, not knowing how to make a dish
14


FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
or a ladle." The missioner and his companions found it difficult
to get material for a cabin, and still more difficult to sustain life
on Indian corn, acorns, and a few fish. But Allouez made no
complaint; his purity of purpose,-to win souls to God-lightened
every burden and seasoned the poorest fare.
The attention of Father Allouez was first given to the Sauks,
the most barbarous of the tribes. He spent his time in
visiting the cabins, baptizing, catechising and teaching; those
who seemed well disposed were taught to chant the Pater and
Ave' in their own tongue.
On the seventeenth of February he crossed the Bay to visit
the Pottawatamies who were camped on the east shore, about six
miles from the mouth of the Fox River, a site now known as "Red
Banks."
The following day, calling a council of the elders, he explain­
ed to them the mysteries of the Faith, the suffering of the lost
soul and the eternal joy of the just, which so impressed them,
that they asked him to send them an instructor, or to remain
with them. Encouraged by their demeanor, he visited them in
their cabins, instructing them as best he could. A week later,
on February 23rd, he set out on his return trip to his village.
Uufortunately, the intense cold coupled with a high wind and
deep snow prevented them from crossing the bay, and obliged
him and his companions to spend the night on the ice. Continu­
ing the journey next day, Father Allouez writes: "I had my nose
frozen and I had a fainting fit that compelled me to sit down on
the ice, where I should have remained, if by Divine Providence I
had not found a clove in my pocket, which gave me strength
enough to reach the settlement."
The fire of Divine love, thus enkindled in the breast of these
simple children of the forest during his visit to Red
Banks, descended to succeeding generations. In later
years, it especially flashed to a bright flame in the life of Mar­
garet Okeewah ("Noko") (*) who, when forty years old, paddled
(",) "N oko" is the Indian word for Grandmother. She was thus famil­
iarly greeted and welcomed by Green Bay's best families a generation ago.
Noko lived to be one hundred twenty-five years old; died Feh. 13, 1868; she
was buried from Holy Cross Church, Bay Settlement, by Rev. Father Daems,
and rests in Holy Cross cemetery at Bay Settlement.
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FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
her canoe from Red Banks to the city of Milwaukee, to receive the
Sacrament of Confirmation from the Rt. Rev. John Martin Henni,
first bishop of that See.
May not Red Banks be called holy ground, "The place where
first they trod?"
Desiring to establish a mission among the Outagarnies,
(Foxes) a branch of the Algonquin family, who were located on
the banks of the Upper Fox River, Father Allouez left St. Fran­
cis on April sixteenth to journey southward. He spent the first
night at the head of "Baye des Puants" (Fetid water) now Green
Bay, entering the Rivière des Puants (Fox River) which he
named St. Francis. His first stop was at the weir set by the
Sacs at the Rapids, afterwards Rapides des Pères, on April the
seventeenth.
While the navigators, to avoid the rapids, pushed their canoe
through the shallows or made portages when necessary, our
missionary set out on foot along the banks of the Fox River,
entranced at every step by the exquisite beauty of the scenery
about him, which to his enraptured soul was but a symbol of the
greater joys that God has in store for His own. And thus the
little party made its way to Rapid des Croche, Grand Kekalin,
Little Chute, Grand Chute (city of Appleton), Lac des Puants,
which he named St. Francis (now Lake Winnebago), Lake Butte
des Morte, Poygan, Winneconne; all of which localities may claim
to have received the blessing of Wisconsin's great apostle.
Crossing Lake Winnebago to the present site of the city of
Oshkosh on Sunday, April the twentieth, Father Allouez cele­
brated Mass there, and then pursued his course to the upper Fox,
River, through Lake Butte des Morte to the Wolf River, finally
reaching the Outagamie village on the twenty-fourth. Unfor­
tunately, French traders seemed to have dealt unfairly with the
people of this village, and in consequence, their attitude to the
French, in general, was not only one of distrust but of open hos­
tility as well. This deserved prejudice made it doubly hard for
the missionary, who says: "If these men (referring to the
French traders) behaved as they ought, I should have less trou­
ble in giving these poor people better ideas of the whole French
nation."
16


FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
village (Machkoutench, 'Fire Nation') on the Upper Fox, nine
miles from the site of Portage city, where he arrived on April 29.
Here he found the Miamis who, driven from northern Indiana
and eastern Illinois into Wisconsin by the fierce Iroquois, united
with the Mascoutens.
Like the Outagarnies, these people received the missionary
with great joy, presenting to him their choicest gifts. "This is
well, Blackgown, that thou comest to visit us; thou art a Manitou;
we give thee tobacco to smoke. Let the earth give us corn, and
the rivers yield us fish; let not disease kill us any more, or fam­
ine treat us any longer so harshly." To all of which the priest
replied that he was only a servant, a messenger to them from
the Creator of all things.
The Mascoutens were allies of the Outagamies, their customs
and language being somewhat similar. The missionary had little
difficulty in understanding them and in being understood by
them in turn. He instructed them in the mysteries of holy
Faith, spending the few days with them in prayer and exhorta­
tion, begging God's blessing upon the Mission of St. James which
he established on the Feast day, the first of May, 1670.
They beseech the Blackgown again and again to remain
with them. Father Allouez promises to revisit them at no dis­
tant day, and prepares with his two Frenchmen for the return
trip. Wind and tide must have been most propitious, for the
next act chronicled is: "Father Allouez preaching to the Meno­
minees (Wild Rice) at the mouth of their river on the eighth of
May and here establishing the mission of St. Michael. Two other
missions founded among the Menominees, it is supposed, were
those at Suamico, and Pensaukee in Oconto county."
In the autumn of the same year, 1670, Father Allouez accom­
panied by Father Dablon, now superior of the Western missions,
again visited the Mascoutens. On reaching the rapids at Kaka­
ling (Kaukauna) they discovered a stone idol to which divine
homage was paid by the savages. The face was painted in typi­
cal Indian style, while around its base, as votive offerings, were
strewn tobacco, arrows and other gew-gaws by them considered
precious. The missioners caused the idol to be raised from its
pedestal, and thrown into the depths of the river.
18


FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
Allouez was heartily welcomed by his spiritual children of
the St. James Mission, and observed with keen delight the fav­
orable impression made on Father Dablon by the place and the
people. Father Dablon says he is not surprised that the Miamis
joined their allies (the Mascoutens) in this favored place, the
beauty of which had about it something of a terrestial paradise.
"Flying visits," these of the Missionary must have been, for
from the September of 1670 to May, 1671, he visited the Mascou­
tens, Miamis and Kickapoos on the upper Fox; the Optagamies
on the Wolf, the Sacs on the lower Fox and Rapides des Peres;
and around Baye des Puants, the Sacs, Foxes, Pottawatamies,
Menominees and Winnebagoes.
In May of 1671, in response to orders from his Superior,
Father Allouez, attended by a Frenchman and an Indian, departs
for Sault Ste. Marie, to assist at the great pageant, arranged to
commemorate the taking possession of the Western World, from
Lake de Tracy to the South sea, in the name of the Grand Mon­
arch Louis XIV, king of France and Navarre, by his emissary M.
de Lusson. The story reads like a fairy tale.
A strange and picturesque assembly took part in the festivi­
ties; there were French coureurs de bois from the depths of the
forest, Indians of fifteen different tribes with as many chiefs,
dressed in all their savage panoply of war, four Jesuit priests,
Seur Lusson, Monsieur Talon and last but not least Nicolas Per­
rot, who seemed to have been the moving spirit of the entire cele­
bra tion. I t is no stretch of the imagination to record this as one
of the greatest and most unique gatherings in the history of
pioneer America.
One can well imagine the awe and wonderment of the simple
natives, when amid pomp and pageantry, to the sound of music
and the crash of fire-arms, extolled by address after address, to
the shouts of "Vive Ie Roi," a monarch in a far off land was pro­
claimed King and Ruler of the these vast regions. And thus the
Jesuit missionary, the soldier of fortune in these distant parts,
the voyageur and the Indian chief hailed the sovereignty of the
Bourbons in our land, and the fleur-de-lis floated over the vast
territory a part of which is now Wisconsin.
But after all, the great and the most impressive feature of
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FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
the celebration consisted in the planting of the Cross and in the
veneration shown to the emblem of Christianity by that motley
throng, and in this Father Claude Allouez was chief actor.
This wonderful demonstration took place June the fourteenth,
Sixteen Hundred Seventy-one.
The celebration over, Allouez accompanied by Father Andre
returned to Baye des Puants. It was at this time that Joliet was
appointed to search for the "Great River," -so much talked of.
Marquette, not the experienced Allouez, was commissioned to
accompany him. Though such be the fact, it was, nevertheless,
the knowledge of the geography of these parts and the exper­
ience of Father Allouez which stood the explorers in good stead,
and while just credit is given Joliet and Marquette for the dis­
covery of the Mississippi, it should not be forgotten that Allouez
"blazed the trail."
Early in 1671 war broke out with savage fury between
the Nadouesis (Sioux), the Iroquois of the Northern regions, and
the Ottawas and Hurons of La Pointe. The Sioux were the vic­
tors; those of their enemies who fell into their hands were treat­
ed with unspeakable cruelty; those who were fortunate enough
to escape, fled from their villages and sought asylum at Sault
Ste. Marie.
The mission at La Pointe was now deserted and Lake Super­
ior was closed to French enterprise. Henceforth it is the mission
of St. Francis Xavier which becomes the center of Jesuit opera­
tions in Wisconsin. This in 1671 was moved to Rapides des Peres,
where on the east side of the Fox River, Fathers Allouez and
Andre constructed a little cabin and chapel.
Why was De Pere chosen ?-Father Allouez having founded
every mission in Wisconsin from La Pointe to its southern limit
realized that this site possessed unusual advantages. Nature
had been most lavish in showering blessings on this spot. The
noble Fox majestically sweeps by in its onward course to the
sea, while sentineled on either bank are stately oak, beech, maple,
and other forest kings, plentifully interspersed with fruit trees­
apple and plum, besides grapes and berries of various kinds.
Skillful contrivances for catching fish, inventions of the
Sacs of these rapids, are most peculiar and confined it seems ex-
20


FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
at this time over two thousand Christian Indians belonging to
this mission.
In 1676 a fine new church was built at De Pere by Father
Albanel, S. J., successor to Father Andre. Palisades were erected
around the church for protection against attacks. Within this
enclosure were dwellings, trading houses, shops, etc. It is said
Nicholas Perrot assisted in the construction of this church. In
any case, a beautiful Monstrance bearing the following inscrip­
tion on its base: "Ce Soleil A Eté Donné Par Mr. Nicolas Perrot
A La Mission De St. Francis Xavier En La Baye Des Puants
1686." (Eng). This Solary was presented by Mr. Nicolas Perrot
to the Mission of St. Francis Xavier at Baye des Puants 1686-
connects his name with the structure.
This Monstrance was plowed up at the site of the Mission
at De Pere in 1802. It is now in the Historical Archives, Madi­
son, Wis. Its use,-a receptacle for the Blessed Sacrament, when
carried in procession, or in giving Benediction.
On the death of Father Marquette, which occurred May 19,
1675, it became necessary to select a successor for the Illinois
mission, no less able and zealous, and the indefatigable Allouez
was chosen for this important position.
He left De Pere in October, 1676, with two attendants. As
it was late in the season, they were obliged to remain among the
Pottawatamies near Green Bay until the ice had formed on bay
and lake. They equipped their canoe with a sail and placed it
on runners, so as to be propelled over the ice by the wind; when
this failed the canoe was drawn by hand. Reaching the present
site of Sturgeon Bay, they portaged their canoe through the
woods to Lake Michigan, which Allouez entered and called the
Lake of "St. Joseph," because it was on March 19th, the feast of
this Saint, that they took to the water again.
Arriving about the middle of April at the mouth of the Chi­
cago River, (or some distance up the stream.) Father Allouez
was met by a band of eighty Indians, led by their chief who wel­
comed him with every token of cordiality. Many of this band ac­
companied him later on to Kaskaskia, the greatest settlement of
the Jllinois (near Utica, Ill.) which he finally reached on April
27, 1677.
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FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
Marquette had promised that he would send them another
"Blackrobe" in his stead if he did not return. Allouez' coming
was the fulfillment of this promise. He was received with great
reverence, almost as "an Angel from Heaven;" they escorted
him to the very cabin in which Marquette had lived and placed it
at his disposal. He began at once to explain the purpose of his
visit,-"to preach to them the true God, living and immortal, and
his only Son, Jesus Christ." As would be expected here, his dis­
course was listened to with rapt attention.
The Missionary erected a small altar in the cabin of a lead­
ing chief; holding up the Crucifix he explained to the expectant
crowd the mysteries of holy Faith. He says, "I could not have
desired a larger audience or closer attention." The religious
spirit manifested by these various nations in attendance was
most gratifying; "the younger children were brought to be bap­
tized, the older ones to be instructed."
On May the third, the feast of the Holy Cross, Father Al­
louez caused to be erected in the center of the village, a cross
thirty-five feet high. The ceremony was attended by a large con­
course of the Illinois, and the instructions and exhortations were
listened to with becoming reverence. Y oung and old devoutly
venerated this emblem of salvation; the children with spiritual
fervor came to kiss the cross, while the older people requested
that it be planted firmly so that it may never be in danger of
falling.
Allouez did not long remain here, as he was temporarily call­
ed to another field, butlater in 1678 he returned again to spend
the remaining years of his life among his beloved children of the
Illinois, ministering at the same time to twenty different tribes.
Rev. T. J. Campbell, S. J. says, "He wrote much about his
mission, always graphically and interestingly, and one reads
with the greatest delight the account of the events that occurred
there; his descriptions of the country, of the habits of the peo­
ple, etc. He remained eleven years in this apostolic field, jour­
neying incessantly and ministering to his Indian children, until
on the night of August 27-28, 1689, near what is now Niles,
Michigan, on the St. Joseph River, he breathed his last, in the
sixty-seventh year of his life. He is credited with having in-
24


FATHER CLAUDE ALLOUEZ
procession that returned to its wigwam homes; bereft, desolate
and uncertain of the future.
Thus ends the life story of the heroic Claude Allouez.
In recent years the good people of Niles have, by public sub­
scription, erected a huge granite cross on the probable site of
Father Allouez' grave. It is near the St. Joseph River which it
overlooks. A bronze tablet at its base bears the following in­
scription: (*)
"To the memory of Father Claude Jean Allouez, S. J., whose
intrepid courage won the admiration of the Indians; and whose
Apostolic zeal gained for him the title of The Francis Xavier of
the American Missions.
"Father Allouez was born at St. Didier, France, 1622, and
died near this spot in 1689.
"Erected by the Women's Progressive League, Niles, Michi­
gan, 1918."
The citizens of De Pere have erected a monument to the
memory of Father Claude Allouez, near the site of the St. Fran­
cis Xavier Mission. This monument was unveiled by the State
Historical Society of Wisconsin, September 6, 1899.
Father Claude Jean Allouez has no statue in the "Hall of
Fame," nor has the Catholic Church yet placed his name in her
Calendar of Saints, but every generous mind who scans the story
of his superhuman sacrifice will acknowledge that-"Greater
love than this, no man hath."
(*) Photo of monument and inscription by kindness of Rev. V. F. Ducat,
Pastor of St. Mary's, Niles, Michigan. .
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26





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REFERENCES
Catholic Church in Colonial Days John Gilmary Shea
Early Narratives of The Northwest Louise Phelps Kellogg
Jesuit Relations Reuben Gold Thwaites
Missionary Labors of Fathers Marquette, Menard and Allouez .
. ... ... ... ... ... " Chrysostom Verwyst, Rev. O. S. F.
Parkman Club Papers Joseph S. La Boule, Rev. (A Sketch)
Pioneer Priests of North America T. J. Campbell, Rev. S. J.
Wisconsin Historical Collections Lyman Draper, and R. G. Thwaites








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