SOURCE: Commemorative biographical record of the west shore of Green Bay, Wisconsin 
Microfilm of original published: Chicago : J.H. Beers, 1896. 718 p. : ports.
LDS Microfilm #0924759     Pages 565 - 566

Rev. Peter PELE, pastor of the Church of St. John the Baptist, at Coleman, Marinette county, has, since entering the priesthood, had his field of labor in northern Wisconsin, having served various Churches and Missions in Florence, Waupaca and Marinette counties. 

Father Pele is a native of "La Belle France," born in 1849 in Brittany, son of August and Ann (Beaudry) Pele, who were born in France and passed their entire lives in that country, the mother dying in 1884.  Our subject was reared in Brittany, and there at St. Stanislaus College received his education.  Having come to America, he in 1883 entered St. John's College, at Collegeville, Minn., from which he was graduated and shortly afterward was ordained by Bishop Katzer in the Cathedral at Green Bay, Wis.  In 1889 he entered upon the duties of his first charge, at Florence, Florence county, and was next stationed at Lebanon, Waupaca county, where in addition to his regular duties he had charge of the missions at Manawa and Northport. Meeting with an accident there, however, he resigned his charge, and in 1891 came to Coleman, Marinette county, where he has since been pastor in charge, at first having also all the missions as far north as Amberg.

The Church of St. John the Baptist, at Coleman, Marinette county was established as a mission in 1881, and the Congregation, then comprising but ten or twelve families, was served by Rev. John Seubert, of Peshtigo, where they had previously attended.  From 1876 Father P. C; Menard, of Menominee, Mich, had also administered to the spiritual needs of the few Catholics here, and for a number of years mass was said in the schoolhouse, two miles east of Coleman. Father Seubert was succeeded by Father Renter, and he in turn, in 1882, by Rev. Charles Hoogstoel, from Stiles, Oconto county, who attended to the growing congregation for some years.  Application was made to the Right Rev. Bishop Katzer to come and see to the building of a church edifice, and he, being unable to come, sent the Very Rev. Norc. Kersten.   They were undecided in regard to the location, whether it should be at Coleman or three miles east; but a small church was finally erected between the two places, one mile east of the railroad station, at a cost of $3001 under the supervision of Father Hoogstoel. The congregation continued to grow until the old church was found inadequate, and with the question of rebuilding the old question of location again came up.  The West side was developing, and the Bishop decided that the church should be erected in the neighborhood of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad station. The first building collapsed while in process of construction, and one man was killed in the accident, but the work was resumed and the buildings was put up in 1889.   At that time Rev. J. A. Selbach had charge of the missions of Wausaukee and Coleman, and as far north as Michigan having his residence at Wausaukee. At the time the present church was built three acres were given by John Baptist Belanger for a priest's house and church, and three acres by August Beaudry for a cemetery.  In 1891, as above stated, Father Peter Pele became pastor; and on his arrival he found a debt of $1,493; but he has, by his untiring zeal and devotion to the interests of his  congregation, placed the church in a most flourishing condition. In the year of his arrival he erected the priest's residence, a fine two-story frame dwelling, at a cost of $2, 500; a fine main altar and two smaller ones have been added, and an organ has been purchased. He also prosecuted diligently the work of completing the yet unfinished church building at Wausaukee, which at that time was not even plastered; under his efficient management, however, the work was completed, a steeple was erected and provided, with a bell, the main altar and two smaller ones have been added, an organ has been purchased, and numerous other improvements made thereto.  On June 17, 1895, the church steeple was struck by lightning. In 1890 a church fair was held, by which the sum of $556 was added to the treasury, and the congregation then agreed to be incorporated under the law of 1883, organizing December 1 with Sinai Brault, secretary, and Louis Dupuis, treasurer.  The church now numbers about 125 families, including those at Pound, and Father Pele's labors are not confined to the people at Coleman and Pound, for he also says mass at Beaver, Ellis Junction and Wausaukee.  He has served various missions, at first having charge as far north as Amberg, and under his auspices the church at Amberg was erected from the foundations in 1893, and the same year was blessed by the Bishop.  Father Pele is a member of the Catholic Foresters at Oconto. When Father Pele came to the now flourishing village of Coleman it contained but three houses; and though his labors have been directed toward advancing the spiritual welfare of the community, he nevertheless has watched with interest the development of its material resources and the vast improvements which have been and are being made in this section. --[Since the above was written, Father Pele, exhausted by too  much work, in October, 1895, fell sick, and was obliged to stay three weeks in St. Vincent's Hospital, Green Bay.  After that time, his health improving,. his Bishop offered him St. Joseph's Church, West De Pere, Brown county, where he is now stationed, having charge there of St. Joseph's congregation.             BACK TO INDEX