Biography: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Rev. Bonfilio BALDI ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, December 2007 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ History of northern Wisconsin: containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources, an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories, biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers, views of county seats, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881. p.1181 Rev. Bonfilio Baldi, a Catholic priest of St. Charles Borromeo. He is a member of the order of the Servites (or Servants) or Mary. He was born in Italy (near Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus), March 11, 1842. He began studying for the ministry at the age of fourteen years, at Perfugia, where the Persian Pope, Louis XIII, was Bishop and Cardinal. He remained there until 1860, at which time the Italian Government went to take the State of the Pope, and Mr. Baldi was expelled; he then went to Romie in 1860, which was free, and in going there and passing through a little village called Narni, he was put in prison and kept overnight; the following day was liberated, when he went to Rome, and remained from 1860 to 1870, and finished his studies, and April 18, 1870, he started for America, after going to his native place to see his mother, where he remained one month; then he started on his journey, going through Parish France; remained two weeks; then to London, England, and remained one month, and July 1, 1870, he started for Liverpool and took the steamer for America, and arrived in New York City July 13, 1870; went to Philadelphia nd remained one week; then directly to Green Bay, Wis., where, at the house of Bishop Joseph Malchar, he remained two weeks; then he was sent to Menasha, Wis. He could not understand our language. Remained there until November, 1871, and was sent to Appleton to take charge of the Irish Congregation of St. Mary's Church, and remained until August, 1875; then went to Chicago, where the Order of the Servites of Mary owned five acres of land on West Jackson street, he being a member of the same. They built a brick church and house for themselves and students who wished to join the order. He had charge of the congregation of Lyons, near Riverside, and build a church; was there one year; then engaged entirely in missionary work until September, 1879. He then went to Preston, Minn., and took charge of St. Patrick's Church, also had charge of a church in the country eleven miles, and was there one year; then went to Menasha, Wis. He visited many portions of Minnesota and Dakota; returned to Menasha, Oct. 27, 1880. There is a school in connection with the church at Menasha, conducted by the Sisters of Notre Dame of Milwaukee, Wis., in a flourishing condition, with an average of 140 pupils. They have made many improvements, under the guidance of Father Baldi, around the church and school buildings.