The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baraga, Frederick

BARAGA, Frederick, R. C. bishop, was born in Malavas parish, Debernitz, Treffin, in Carniola, June 29, 1797. When nine years of age he commenced his studies at the college of Laibach in his native province. He was distinguished for his linguistic ability and proficiency in general studies. He applied himself to the study of law at Vienna, graduating brilliantly in 1821. His inclination was, however, for the priesthood, and he entered the ecclesiastical seminary of Laibach to take a theological course. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1823. For the next seven years Carniola was the scene of his missionary labors, and during that time he prepared many books of devotion in the Sclavonic tongue for popular use, greatly improving his native language thereby. He determined to devote himself to American missions, and sailed from Havre in December, 1830, arriving in Cincinnati, Jan. 18, 1831, and first located at Arbre Croche, a village of the Ottawa Indians on Lake Michigan. Here he labored for two years, meanwhile compiling and printing a prayer and hymn book in the Ottawa language. He went to Grand river in the autumn of 1833, and remained there for sixteen months, when he repaired to Lapointe, and for eighteen years his labors were spent among the Indians of Lake Superior. Father Baraga's desire being to insure the permanence of his work among those untutored people, in the winter of 1836-’37 he compiled "The Prayer and Hymn Book and Catechism," "Extracts of the History of the Old and New Testaments, with the Gospels of the Year," in the same language; and his "Treatise on the History, Character, Manners and Customs of the North American Indians." in German, also a devotional book in the Sclavonic language. In 1837-’38 he paid a visit to Europe to secure funds for his mission, and had his Indian books printed in Paris. In 1843 he transferred his residence to the "Ance," where he composed his great philological works, a grammar and a dictionary of the Otchipwe (Chippeway) language. In 1853 Father Baraga was consecrated titular bishop of Amyzonia, and made Vicar-Apostolic of Upper Michigan. His missionary labors continued as before, and in 1854 he visited Europe and brought back with him twelve new laborers for the field. In 1855 he attended the provincial council of Cincinnati, and for the next few years the labors of his diocese engrossed his attention. In 1856 he was made bishop of St. Mary; and in 1865, when the see was transferred to Marquette, bishop of Marquette and St. Mary. The health of the venerable missionary had long been failing, when in 1866 he was struck with apoplexy in Baltimore, while in attendance at the national council. His condition improved sufficiently to enable him to return to his bishopric, where he died two years later, having performed a work of inestimable value in creating a literature of what had hitherto been the uncultivated language of savage people. He died at Marquette, Mich., Jan. 19, 1868.