JOSEPH A. DREIS, (Reverend Father); P. O. Potosi. Was born in Milwaukee Dec. 7, 1849, son of Philip and Catharine (Pfeil) Dreis, formerly of Nassau and Baden, Prussia. His parents now reside in Milwaukee; has three brothers - Henry, Antony and Philip; also, three sisters. Henry is now at St. Francis' Seminary. There he, also, fitted himself for the Church; orders conferred Dec. 17, 1872, by Archbishop Henni. At present, in charge of St. Thomas' Church of Potosi, and St. Andrew's at St. Andrew's (formerly known as "Dutch Hollow"), where he resides, both churches embracing 1,000 to 1,100 members. St. Andrew's Church was organized in 1846, with seven families as members, and Father Tusck in charge. The corner-stone of a new church building was laid Oct. 13, 1875, and is now completed and out of debt, and is one of the finest inland churches in the State; cash subscriptions of $20,000 were made, and voluntary labor to the amount of $10,000 more finished the church and school-house; and the Sisters of St. Francis occupy a substantial residence, being a part of the church property, Father Nicholas Thile, Superintendent. Construction, dimensions of building, as follows: Size, 46x110; height of wall, 30 feet; height of tower, 130 feet; foundation, 9 feet high and 3 feet thick; chapel, in the basement; 3 bells, weighing 400, 700, 1,200 pounds.

This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.