Rev. Charles H. Virnig Biography


	This biography appears on page 1138 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. CHARLES H. VIRNIG.  

	Rev. Charles H. Virnig, pastor of the Immaculate Conception 
church at Winner and thus identified with the work of planting the 
seeds of Catholicism in western South Dakota and in nourishing the 
interests and growth of the church, w as born at Cross Plains, 
Wisconsin, October 6, 1879, a son of Adrian and Agnes Virnig. The 
father was a farmer in early life but afterward put aside the plow- and 
turned his attention to commercial pursuits, engaging in mercantile 
business. Success attended his efforts until, possessed of a handsome 
competence, he retired and with his wife resides in Cross Plains, 
Wisconsin.  

	Charles H. Virnig attended parochial schools in early boyhood and 
afterward pursued a classical course of study at Mount Calvary, 
Wisconsin. He later studied philosophy at St. John's University of 
Minnesota and theology at St. Meinrad, Indiana, after which he was 
ordained to the priesthood in May, 1906. He was assigned to his first 
mission at Meadow, South Dakota, in which connection he had charge of 
Catholic interests in one-half of Perkins county and part of Meade 
county, attending fourteen different missions, the nearest being ten 
miles distant and the farthest eighty-five miles. He had charge of that 
work for two years, after which he was sent to Faith, South Dakota, 
where he continued for two years. In June, 1914, he was assigned to the 
church of the Immaculate Conception at Winner, where he, has since 
continued and from this point he ministers to five out missions, his 
total charge numbering ninety families. When he was appointed to Faith 
there was not a single house there—only a cellar. He built the parish 
house at Faith and also the parish house at Winner and is now making 
improvements in the church property. He votes with the democratic party 
and is fond of outdoor life, but with him all interests are subservient 
to his purpose of upbuilding the church and advancing the material and 
spiritual welfare of his congregation.