Frederick Eis

Frederick Eis (January 20, 1843 – May 5, 1926) was a German-born Catholic bishop in the United States. He served as Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette from 1899 to 1922.

Biography

Eis was born in Arbach, then in the Rhine Province of the Kingdom of Prussia, part of the German Empire. He was the youngest of four children of William Eis and Catherine Dietrich.[1] His family emigrated to the United States in 1855, where they first settled at Calvary, Wisconsin, before moving to Minnesota.[2] They eventually settled in Rockland, Michigan, where he was taught Latin and French by a missionary priest, Martin Fox.[3]

In 1861 Eis began his studies for the priesthood at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee.[4] His studies were interrupted by the American Civil War, which prompted Bishop Frederic Baraga to send him to the College of Joliette in Canada to complete his studies.[2] During his final years at Joliette, he taught English, mathematics and commerce.[1]

Eis was ordained a priest by Bishop Ignatius Mrak on October 30, 1870 for the Diocese of Saulte Sainte Marie and Marquette.[5] His first assignment was as Rector of St. Peter Cathedral, Marquette, where he remained for three years.[1] He then became pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Calumet, 1873-1874, after which he served as pastor of St. Anne Church in Hancock from 1874 to 1880.[3] He then served at St. Paul Church in Negaunee, until 1890, when he began visiting California and Colorado during the summers due to poor health.[1] He then served as pastor of St. Sebastian Church in Bessemer, (1894-1895) and of Guardian Angels Church in Crystal Falls (1895–99).[3]

On June 7, 1899, Eis was appointed the fourth Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie and Marquette by Pope Leo XIII.[5] He received consecration on the following August 20 from Archbishop Frederick Katzer at St. Peter Cathedral.[5]

During Eis' 23-year tenure as bishop, he led the diocese through the nationalist controversies within the American Catholic community, and founded several charitable institutions and hospitals.[6] He resigned as bishop on July 8, 1922, at which time he was named titular bishop of Bita and an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne by Pope Pius XI.[5]

Eis died at age 83, and is buried in the bishops' crypt at St. Peter Cathedral.[6]

Notes
  1. Rezek, Antoine Ivan (1906). History of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie and Marquette. I. Houghton, MI.
  2. Rezek, Antoine Ivan (1910). "Diocese of Marquette". Catholic Encyclopedia. IX. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  3. Walling, Regis M., ed. (1990). The Diary of Bishop Frederic Baraga: First Bishop of Marquette, Michigan. N. Daniel Rupp. Detroit: Wayne State University Press.
  4. O'Donnell, John Hugh (1922). The Catholic Hierarchy of the United States, 1790-1922. Washington, D.C.
  5. Cheney, David M. "Bishop Frederick Eis". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  6. "12 bishops have led the diocesan church". Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette.
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