H. F. J. Kroll, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of H. F. J. Kroll
REV. H. F. J. KROLL, priest of the Catholic Church at Chesterton and it surrounding missions, was born October 4, 1855, in Baltimore, Md. He is the elder of two brothers born to Henry and Theresa (Freimuth) Kroll, both natives of Hess-Cassel, Germany. The elder Kroll still lives in Baltimore, engaged in the grocery business. Father Kroll was in the Baltimore Parochial Schools until thirteen years of age; then attended a priesthood preparatory college in the same city for two years; he then entered St. Vincent College, in Westmoreland, Penn., conducted by the Benedictine Fathers. After two years, he went to Milwaukee St. Francis Seminary, where he finished his preparation for the priesthood in five years; he was now ordained by Bishop Dwenger, of Fort Wayne, Ind., June 31, 1879, and given the Chesterton parish and its missions. When Rev. Kroll took the charge, it was encumbered by a debt of $1,500, the church poorly furnished, and a membership of thirty-five families, etc. The debt was paid over a year ago, the church well furnished, the number of families increased to fifty-five, the cemetery improved, a fine brick parsonage, 24x44 feet, erected and paid for; this is the fruit of the untiring and persistent energy and ability of its pastor. The intention of Rev. Kroll is to establish a Catholic school this coming winter. These facts show the church to be in excellent condition. He has a fine library of about 300 volumes. He, as all must be that enter his profession, has been a hard student, and is a fine scholar.
Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s) in Source: 302-303
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook