Religious Figure. Father DeSmet was the first Roman Catholic missionary to witness to the Native American tribes of the Platte and upper Missouri region. He brought the Christian church to nearly thirty tribes. In 1838 he established Saint Joseph's Mission for members of the Potawatomi tribe at Council Bluffs. Born in Belgium into a wealthy family, he was the most active missionary in the western world for over 30 years. In 1821 he joined the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, an order of Catholic men with a special interest in missions and education. He explored the plains and mountains, crossed the continent several times, founding missions wherever he went. During the era of the American Indian Wars, he promoted peace between the Native Americans and the white settlers. He died at the Jesuit community at St. Louis University. There is a full-sized statue of Pieter-Jan de Smet in Dendermonde Belgium. With other Jesuit explorers, he was originally buried at Saint Stanislaus Seminary near Florissant, but in 2003 the remains in this cemetery were relocated to Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis.
Religious Figure. Father DeSmet was the first Roman Catholic missionary to witness to the Native American tribes of the Platte and upper Missouri region. He brought the Christian church to nearly thirty tribes. In 1838 he established Saint Joseph's Mission for members of the Potawatomi tribe at Council Bluffs. Born in Belgium into a wealthy family, he was the most active missionary in the western world for over 30 years. In 1821 he joined the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, an order of Catholic men with a special interest in missions and education. He explored the plains and mountains, crossed the continent several times, founding missions wherever he went. During the era of the American Indian Wars, he promoted peace between the Native Americans and the white settlers. He died at the Jesuit community at St. Louis University. There is a full-sized statue of Pieter-Jan de Smet in Dendermonde Belgium. With other Jesuit explorers, he was originally buried at Saint Stanislaus Seminary near Florissant, but in 2003 the remains in this cemetery were relocated to Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis.
Bio by: Connie Nisinger
Inscription
Rev Peter John De Smet SJ 1801-1873
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