HISTORIES:  The History of the Village of Dobie, Barron Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  03 September 2003
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Dobie is a pretty little hamlet of which the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
is the principal feature, located in the southwest corner of Section 36,
Oak Grove Township. The history of Our Lady of Lourdes Church dates back to
the year 1869, when mass was read for the first time by Father Nacli in
George Roberge's log cabin. Succeeding him was the well known Father
Goldsmith, who came twice and read mass in John LaBree's cabin. Father
Nolan came next and read mass in Honore Demers' home. Father Keller marked
the location of the first church. A missionary from Chippewa Falls read the
first mass in the new church which was a rather crude affair, but
sufficient to meet the demands of the people. Aristide Mireau, George
Roberge, Tom Kearney, and Tom Donnelly, assisted by several Protestant
families, did most of the carpenter work. In the year 1878, during the
winter, Father Dole came, remaining here nineteen years. He found the
little mission literally in the backwoods without either roads or bridges.
Fifteen missions were added to his charge--Rice Lake, Chetek, Barron,
Prairie Farm, Sand Creek, Cartwright, Shell Lake, Turtle Lake, etc. At the
present time Rice Lake has a beautiful church, and Chetek, Shell Lake and
Turtle Lake have their own respective churches and pastors. As soon as he
got settled down he set about erecting a church, schoolhouse and parsonage
at Stanfold (sometimes called Dobie-officially Route No. 3, Rice Lake,
Wis.), and afterwards at various other missions. The first man buried in
the cemetery was carried out on poles from Rice Lake via the Indian trail.
Father Dole possessed an iron constitution and he needed it. Traveling by
foot on the Indian trail through swamps and in all weather conditions to
answer a sick call twenty and thirty miles away were some of the
difficulties he had to encounter. It is said that at one time he received
news that one under his charge was dying about twenty miles away. He set
out immediately. Upon arriving at the cabin, utterly exhausted, he found
the sole occupant seated on his bench calmly smoking his pipe. Upon inquiry
as to where the dying person was he received the reply: "Father, I just
wanted to know if you would come if I were really dying." Nineteen years of
zealous labor in an immense field tended to weaken an otherwise strong
constitution and when fire swept down and burned both his church and house
his noble heart literally broke. "Like his Lord and Master", says the
Catholic Sentinel, "he cared nothing for money, and on the day of his death
there was found but one dollar and fifty cents in his purse. On his dying
bed he forgot self in his anxiety for his congregation and was often heard
whispering prayers for their welfare. His last words were: "For the love of
God let all Christians pray for me." After the death of Father Dole a
second church and parsonage was built by Father Brouillard, who remained in
charge for seven years.

 Succeeding Father Brouillard was Father Berrube. During his four years as
pastor he built the present church, 50xlOO feet, of mineral red rock. The
following Fathers came in their respective order: Archambeau, Colling,
Fitzpatrick, Van Heiden, Shell, Milecki, Pulch, LeGuillou, Dickoff (who
built the present brick-veneered parsonage), Kieffer, Rochon, to the
present pastor, Savageau. The congregation, as it is today, numbering about
110 families, extends about seven miles north, three miles south, five
miles west, eight miles east. Four Sisters of Notre Dame attend to the
educational welfare of the school children. Various societies have been
formed into which are grouped the married men, women, young ladies and
children.
REV. E. E. SAVAGEAU.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 1146-1147.


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