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. 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.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the

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Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.

Location. 42° 2.637′ N, 86° 8.751′ W. Marker is near Dowagiac, Michigan, in Cass County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater South Bend

and in Southwest Michigan.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: First Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 2.6 miles away); Indian Lake Cemetery (approx. 3.6 miles away); Dowagiac Civil War Monument (approx. 4.3 miles away); Criffield-Whiteley House / Harry and Sara Ethel Whiteley (approx. 4.3 miles away); St. Paul's Church / Episcopal Church (approx. 4.4 miles away); Willis M. Farr (approx. 4½ miles

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 9, 2023

2. Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church Marker

away); Dowagiac World War II - Korean Conflict - Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 4½ miles away); 19th Michigan Infantry Memorial (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dowagiac.

Marker in front of Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 22, 2013

3. Marker in front of Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, April 22, 2013

4. Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Burial Site of Chief Leopold Pokagon image. Click for full size.

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

Headstone and Grave of Rev. Louis Baroux image. Click for full size.

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 1,710 times since then and 96 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.