Near Dowagiac in Cass County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Photographed By Duane Hall, April 22, 2013
1. Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church Marker
Inscription.
Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church. . Chief Leopold Pokagon and his tribe of Potawatomi Indians built a log church here in 1838 and deeded the forty acres of land on which it stood to the Catholic Bishop of Detroit. Pokagon, who came to Silver Creek Township from his village outside of nearby Niles, was buried on this site in 1841. During the early 1840s the Holy Cross Fathers of Notre Dame in Indiana ministered to the Indians. In 1844 Father Theophile Marivault became the church's permanent priest; he was followed by Father Louis Baroux who served most of the years from 1847 to 1870 and was buried here in 1897. In the mid-nineteenth century many Irish immigrants settled in the vicinity and attended this parish. The white frame church built in 1861 burned in 1886 and was immediately replaced by this present structure.
Chief Leopold Pokagon and his tribe of Potawatomi Indians built a log church here in 1838 and deeded the forty acres of land on which it stood to the Catholic Bishop of Detroit. Pokagon, who came to Silver Creek Township from his village outside of nearby Niles, was buried on this site in 1841. During the early 1840s the Holy Cross Fathers of Notre Dame in Indiana ministered to the Indians. In 1844 Father Theophile Marivault became the church's permanent priest; he was followed by Father Louis Baroux who served most of the years from 1847 to 1870 and was buried here in 1897. In the mid-nineteenth century many Irish immigrants settled in the vicinity and attended this parish. The white frame church built in 1861 burned in 1886 and was immediately replaced by this present structure.
Erected 1977 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number L348.)
Location. 42° 2.637′ N, 86° 8.751′ W. Marker is near Dowagiac
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, Michigan, in Cass County. Marker is on Leach Road, 0.2 miles north of Topash Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 51841 Leach Rd, Dowagiac MI 49047, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Marker in front of Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Photographed By Duane Hall, April 22, 2013
4. Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Photographed By Duane Hall, April 22, 2013
5. Burial Site of Chief Leopold Pokagon
When the present church was built in 1886, the right corner of the church was built on top of the grave of Chief Pokagon
Photographed By Duane Hall, April 22, 2013
6. Headstone and Grave of Rev. Louis Baroux
Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 876 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on April 23, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 2. submitted on March 13, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 23, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.