Rev. James J. Heidegger Biography This biography appears on page 1708 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. REV. JAMES J. HEIDEGGER, who has pastoral charge of the Church of Epiphany, at Epiphany, Harrison county, was born in the Tyrolian district of Austria, on the 18th of March, 1846, and after securing a proper preliminary education began preparing himself for the priesthood in 1859, in which year he entered the Jesuit college at Feldkirch, Austria, where he completed his course, having graduated in 1867. In the same year he came to the United States, proceeding to the city of Cleveland, Ohio, where he completed his theological studies in St. Mary's Seminary, under Bishop Rapp, being ordained to the priesthood July 5, 1870. He was then given a charge at Avon, Lorain county, Ohio, where he remained until 1878, having erected a church edifice, a parish house and a parish convent. In 1878 Father Heidegger was transferred to Fort Jennings, Putnam county, Ohio, where his initiative and executive ability again came into marked evidence, since he erected a church building and also established several auxiliary missions. He held this pastorate until 1885, when he was assigned to the important charge of St. Mary's parish, in Sandusky, Ohio, where he had a congregation of more than eleven hundred families, and there he labored zealously until the spring of 1893, when he returned to Europe, remaining until June of the following year, both of his parents having entered the life eternal during this interval. He then came again to the United States. and after passing a short time in St. Cloud, Minnesota, he came to Yankton, South Dakota, where he held the office of convent chaplain until 1899, having in the meanwhile remodeled a building and converted the same into the present Sacred Heart Hospital. In 1896 he effected the purchase of the building of the Episcopalian college in Vermillion, and forthwith converted the same into the convent of St. Joseph. In September, 1899, Father Heidegger assumed his present charge, and among the tangible results of his zeal and devotion is the present handsome and consistent church edifice, which was completed in 1901. He has the affectionate regard of his people, who have given him a full measure of sympathy and co-operation, and he has the unqualified esteem of all who know him, being a man of high intellectuality, broad and tolerant views and most gracious personality.