History of Vancouver, (Clark County) Washington United States of America

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Biographies:

Augustin Magliore Alexander Blanchet, R.C. bishop, was born at St. Pierre, Quebec, Aug. 22, 1797; brother of Francis Norbert Blanchet. He was educated at the little and great seminaries of the Sulpicians at Quebec. He was ordained in 1821, and began his labors in the missionary field in Canada. Later he was made canon of the cathedral in Montreal, where he remained till he was nominated bishop of the newly erected diocese of Walla-Walla in 1846. He was consecrated by Bishop Bourget on Sept. 27, 1846. In 1847 he went to his diocese, taking with him four Oblate fathers as well as two secular priests; here he remained for one year, doing meritorious work among the Indians, until the outbreak of the Cayuse war. On May 31, 1850, he was appointed first bishop of the diocese of Nesqually, the see of Walla Walla being suppressed. Bishop Blanchet was translated to the see, June 28, 1850. He built a cathedral and erected churches at Olympia and Steilacoom on the Cowlitz river, and among the Chinooks. Failing health induced him to resign in 1879, and he was made titular bishop of Ibora. He founded twenty-four churches, as well as colleges at Vancouver and Walla-Walla; several charitable and educational institutions, managed by the Sisters of Mercy, and planted flourishing Indian missions at Yakima, Fort Colville, and Tulalip. He died at Vancouver, Wash., Feb. 25, 1887.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Aegideus Junger, R.C. bishop, was born at Burtscheid, Aix-la-Chapelle, Germany, April 6, 1833; son of Johann and Josephine (Horst) J?nger. His father was a native of Holland and his mother of Burtscheid. He attended the elementary school at Burtscheid, and in 1842 the Kaiser-Karl gymnasium at Aachen, Germany, but on account of his father's death be returned home and continued his business of hauling coal from the mines, 1842-49. He was confirmed by Bishop Baudri, of Kolu, in 1845, and was sent to the American college at Louvain in 1858. He received minor orders in 1861; was made sub-deacon at Easter, 1862; deacon at Pentecost of that year; and priest, June 27, 1862, at Mechlin, Belgium, by Cardinal Engelbert Stercks. He left Antwerp for America, Sept. 12, 1862; was stationed at Walla Walla, Washington Territory, as a missionary, 1862-64; was called to the cathedral at Vancouver, Wash., by Bishop A. M. A. Blanchet as secretary in 1864; and on the resignation of Bishop Blanchet he was elected second bishop of the diocese of Nesqually and was consecrated bishop of Nesqually at Vancouver, W.T., Oct. 28, 1879, by Archbishop F. N. Blanchet, assisted by Bishop A. M. A. Blanchet and the Very Rev. J. F. Fierens, V.G. He visited his birthplace in 1884, where he was received with public demonstrations of respect, and he officiated at several confirmations and ordinations, afterward visiting the principal cities of the continent and returning to America in August, 1885. He died at Vancouver, Wash., Dec. 26, 1895.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor