Near Vermillion in Clay County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Bruyer Church

July 11, 2021

1. Bruyer Church Marker

Inscription. August Bruyer, his wife, Josephine (Simon) and their sons, John and Julius, were born in France, coming to America about the middle of the nineteenth century. By 1858, they had settled in Fairview Township, 4 miles east of what was to be Vermillion. They were Catholic and in 1859, August donated ten acres for a church site and cemetery. In 1860, a small log dirt floor church was built thereon sited on the SW of the SE of the NE of Section 15, Township 92 North, Range 51 West. This was the first Catholic Church building in South Dakota. The church was dependent thereafter on transient priests until 1879, usually from St. Peter's Church, Jefferson, established in 1862. There was no other Catholic Church in Clay County. In 1879, a resident pastor was appointed for the Church and under the supervision of Father Hennesy, a new and commodious frame church was built, south of the present cemetery, on a site on the south side of the road. The first log church was located on the southeast corner of the present cemetery. This new church served the Vermillion community until a new church was built in Vermillion in 1885 under Father

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Collins. In 1905 the Fairview parish was discontinued and the members attached to the Vermillion parish. In the Fairview cemetery, gravestones are to be found bearing the names of Bruyer, Lynch, Carey and other early settlers.

Erected 1966 by Marquette Assembly, Knights of Columbus, Sioux Falls and South Dakota Highway Commission. (Marker Number 425.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.

Location. 42° 47.194′ N, 96° 50.979′ W. Marker is near Vermillion, South Dakota, in Clay County. It is on South Dakota Route 50 3 miles west of Interstate 29, on the right when traveling west. Pull off highway and park on asphalt/grass road leading to St. Agnes Fairview cemetery's gated entrance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vermillion SD 57069, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East River.

It is also in

Bruyer Church Marker & St. Agnes Fairview Cemetery image. Click for full size.

July 11, 2021

2. Bruyer Church Marker & St. Agnes Fairview Cemetery

The marker has moved, but not very far from where it was. It's now closer to the St. Agnes Fairview Cemetery entrance.

the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: First Rural Electric Cooperative (approx. 1.1 miles away); a different marker also named First Rural Electric Cooperative (approx. 1.3 miles away); Jerry Seaman (approx. 2.7 miles away); Burbank (approx. 2.9 miles away); Homestead Rest Area (approx. 3.2 miles away); The Great Missouri River (approx. 3.2 miles away); Buhrstone (approx. 3½ miles away); Prentis Park (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vermillion.

Regarding Bruyer Church. The "new and commodious frame church" described is no longer evident in the farmed field on the south side of the road (see photo). One of the street photos on Google Earth shows the southeast corner of the current cemetery where the original log church was situated, but remnants

Photographed by Rich Pfingsten, April 1, 2009

3. Bruyer Church Marker

From a distance.

were not readily evident. The cemetery though is clearly evident and sporadically placed stones are placed throughout a sparse grove of trees.

St. Agnes Fairview Cemetery Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rich Pfingsten, April 1, 2009

4. St. Agnes Fairview Cemetery Entrance

Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 13, 2011, by Rich Pfingsten of Forest Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,787 times since then and 66 times this year. Last updated on August 19, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2021. 3, 4. submitted on January 13, 2011, by Rich Pfingsten of Forest Hill, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.