Józef "Joseph" Conrad Knitter, Rev.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149745697

Joseph Clement Knitter, pastor of St Josaphat's Catholic church, in Milwaukee is a native of Kruszyn, Coeln, Western Prussia and was born on Nov 24 1879, coming to this country with his parents in 1888. He was educated in St Hedwig's parochial school, Milwaukee and later entered Marquette University, in which he was graduated in 1900 with the degree of A.B. and from the same institution received, in 1902 the degree of A.M. He was ordained from St Francis, June 19 1904 by Bishop Messmer and said his first mass at St Casimir Milwaukee June 26 1904. His first appointment was that of administrator at St Vincent's church, Milwaukee and his duty was to take charge during the illness of the pastor. After remaining there eight months he was appointed assistant pastor of St Josaphat's, the largest Polish church in the Northwest and so served from March 1 1905, until Jan 1 1907, being made at the latter date the pastor of the same church and is now ofiiciating as such. There are in this parish between 1.700 and 1,800 families and it is the largest parish in the Northwest with the exception of one in Chicago. Six thousand persons take communion at Easter time. There are 1,700 children in the parish School, which is the largest number that can be accommodated. St. Josaphat's church, which is built of the stone from the old Chicago postoffice and begun in 1894, was finished in 1901, has an ordinary seating capacity of 2,200, but has held upon occasions as many as 5,000 at one time. The church property is worth about $100,000; the organ cost $10,000, but could not be rebuilt at the present time for less than $15,000. Briellmaier & Sons were the architects of the church. Rev. Father Knitter has as assistant pastors Rev. Casimir Olszenski and Rev. Francis Cyerwinski. Father Knitter belongs to the Catholic fraternity the Knights of Columbus. His parents are Roman Alexander and Mary (Bielawska) Knitter, both natives of the same place, where their son was born and are both living. The former was born in 1853 and the latter in 1851. The father came directly to Milwaukee upon his immigration to the United States and is a machinist by trade. The paternal grandfather was for many years a teacher in Prussia.