Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 5 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 21

Rev. Nicholas Dominic Joseph Becker, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church, was born in Neosho, Dodge county, Wisconsin, September 30, 1856, a son of Anton and Angeline (Ketthosen) Becker, who were natives of Trier, Prussia. The father settled in Dodge county, Wisconsin, in 1843, and there spent his remaining days. He was a teacher of architecture and was very prominent along professional lines.

Rev. Father Becker of this review was tutored in the old home by his father and also attended the parochial schools during his early youth. He was but twelve years of age when graduated from the parochial school and he afterward assisted his father in teaching. Later he attended the Seminary of St. Francis at Milwaukee and before entering the school had studied Latin. He remained a student there for nine years and studied under Dr. Joseph Salzmann and Bishop Flasch. He was also a student under the Rev. C. Christopher Wapelhorst and received all of his orders while attending St. Francis Seminary, save that which advanced him to the priesthood, to which he was too young to be admitted during his student days at St. Francis. He was ordained August 3, 1879, in the Sisters' Chapel at La Crosse, Wisconsin, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Heis, the first pastor of St. Mary's of Milwaukee, the first rector of St. Francis Seminary and the first bishop of La Crosse. He said his first mass on the 10th of August of the same year, in St. Mathew's church at Neosho, Wisconsin, his home town. He was at once appointed pastor of St. Mary's church at Pewaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained for twenty-four years and two months. He was then transferred by Bishop A. F. Schinner to his present parish, becoming pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church at Milwaukee on the 1st of November, 1903. Here he has remained. When he took up his labors the church was carrying an indebtedness of sixty thousand dollars. This he had wiped out and has put new windows in the church and added other improvements costing eighteen thousand dollars. He has collected for all purposes over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. During his priesthood the number of parishioners has increased to the extent of two thousand and he has also over one thousand converts, which is one of the best records of any priest in the state. It was Father Becker who established the negro mission of St. Benedict DeMoor and attended them for about four years, when he gave it over to the Kapuziner Fathers. Father Stephen is now rector and there are one hundred and fifty children in the school. Rev. Father Becker also assisted in building the Italian church, taking a very prominent part in the work at all times. At Pewaukee, Wisconsin, he also built the church and parish house and was a most influential factor in the town. He was looked up to as a leader by all, regardless of creed, his advice and counsel being sought in business matters as well as in church work. He was instrumental in having the railroad moved so that the depot was brought closer to the church. It seems that he could secure anything for the asking and he possesses splendid powers of organization, which have been of great value to him in carrying on his chosen life work.