Oconto in Oconto County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Mission of St. Francois Xavier

Photographed By Keith L, September 17, 2008

1. Mission of St. Francois Xavier Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

On December 2, 1669, the Eve of St. Francis, Father Claude Allouez arrived at Oconto, then a village of about 600 Indians. Here Allouez founded the Mission of St. Francois Xavier, the first mission in north eastern Wisconsin. Six French fur traders happened to be here at that time. The primitive chapel made of bark and cedar boughs remained until 1671 when the mission moved to Red Banks on the East shore of Green Bay.

Erected 1958 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 78.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Colonial Era • Native Americans. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1777.

Location. 44° 53.498′ N, 87° 53.047′ W. Marker is in Oconto, Wisconsin, in Oconto County. Marker is on Brazeau Avenue (U.S. 41) 0.1 miles south of Charles Street (State Highway 22), on the left when traveling north. Marker is next to the Oconto River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oconto WI 54153, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First Church of Christ, Scientist (approx. 0.3 miles away); Farnsworth Public Library (approx. 0.6 miles away); Oconto Site (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old Copper Culture Cemetery (approx. ¾ mile away); Nicholas Perrot (approx. ¾ mile away); Oconto County Veteran's Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); George Beyer Home (approx. 0.9 miles away); Stanley Toy Company (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oconto.

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry. “From 1667 through 1669 Allouez made a missionary tour of the western missions. He served as a missionary to the Potawatomi Indians in Wisconsin. The next year he was with the Mesquakie, establishing St. Mark’s Mission, and founding the mission of St. James among the Miami and Mascouten Indians, finally returning to Green Bay later that year. He said the first Mass in Oconto, Wisconsin. In 1671, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, he was a principal speaker at the ceremony that formally declared the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River valley as territory of the King of France.” (Submitted on August 19, 2012.)

Photographed By Melinda Roberts, August 7, 2012

2. Mission of St. Francois Xavier Marker

Inscription on cross: “On the Oconto River in 1669 Father Claude Allouez founded the first mission in eastern Wisconsin.”

Mission of St. Francois Xavier Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Melinda Roberts, August 7, 2012

3. Mission of St. Francois Xavier Monument

Cross is next to Marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,680 times since then and 262 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 9, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 2, 3. submitted on August 7, 2012, by Melinda Roberts of De Pere, United States. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.