Rev. Joseph M. Barre Biography


	This biography appears on page 804 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				REV. JOSEPH M. BARRE.  

	Rev. Joseph M. Barre, pastor of St. Mary's church at Clear Lake, 
was born in France, November 19, 1869, a son of Joseph and Mary (Bazin) 
Barre. During his active business life the father carried on 
merchandising and farming but is now living retired. The mother has 
passed away.  

	The preliminary education of the Rev. Joseph M. Barre was 
acquired in the public schools of his native country and later he 
attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He afterward became a student in the 
University of Rennes and pursued his studies in theology and philosophy 
at Vannes in the department of Morbihan. Having determined to take holy 
orders, he was ordained to the priesthood on the 8th of June, 1895 and 
celebrated his first mass in his home town of Meneac. He afterward 
engaged in teaching in St. Martin's College at Rennes, Ille et Vilaine, 
where he continued for a year, teaching history and literature He was 
afterward located at Valognes in Normandy for a year and spent eight 
years at Redon, after which he was assigned to St. Mary's church in 
Halifax in November, 1903, continuing there for two years. On the 
expiration of that period he began his labors in the United States, 
being assigned to Sioux Falls, where he was given charge of several 
missions, with headquarters in Sioux Falls. four years ago he was sent 
to St. Mary's church at Clear Lake, Deuel county, where he has since 
been in charge and he is now the spiritual director of about five 
hundred people. The parish was founded about fifteen years ago and 
Father Barre is the first priest to make his home in Clear Lake. He has 
purchased the parochial residence and has made extensive improvements 
in the church property. He belongs to Watertown Council of the Knights 
of Columbus and, having become a naturalized American citizen, votes 
with the republican party.