Rev. George MacConnachie Biography


	This biography appears on page 148 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				REV. GEORGE MacCONNACHIE. 
Rev. George MacConnachie, pastor of St. Bernard's Catholic church at 
Redfield, where he took up his abode on the 1st of October, 1900, came 
from Edinburgh, Scotland, and is a native of Banffshire, Scotland, born 
February 16, 1875. His parents were John and Jessie (MacDonald) 
MacConnachie, who spent their entire lives in the land of hills and 
heather. The father conducted an extensive distillery business in 
Scotland and was a prominent citizen of that part of the country in 
which he lived. It is said, moreover, that his name is frequently on 
the lips of every old settler in the eastern part of the country. He 
passed away in 1887, while his wife survived until 1888. 

	At the usual age George MacConnachie began his education in the 
schools of Scotland, which he attended until he reached his fourteenth 
year. He then entered Blair's National College of Scotland, in which he 
spent five years, after which he became a student in the Royal Scotch 
College at Valladolid, Spain, where he remained for seven years. He was 
then ordained to the priesthood in Spain, after which he returned to 
Scotland, where he remained for six months. He left that country for 
America on the 24th of March, 1900, and, making his way into the 
interior of the country, settled at Redfield in October, taking up his 
work as pastor of St. Bernard's Catholic church. His efforts here have 
resulted beneficially to the parish. He has erected the parish house 
which he now occupies and in 1909 he was instrumental in building St. 
Bernard's church. Every rock in the church was blasted by him. The 
church is an attractive edifice and stands as a monument to Father 
MacConnachie's devotion to the cause. Moreover in the fifteen years of 
his connection with the church he has never missed a service. He enjoys 
fishing and hunting but the only recreation he has are trips of a few 
hours around Redfield. He relates many amusing experiences of his 
boyhood in the hills of Scotland, has "the saving sense of humor" and 
is a most interesting talker, but at all times his priestly duties are 
his first thought.