Frederick Eis

Frederick Eis (January 20, 1843 – May 5, 1926) was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie-Marquette in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from 1899 to 1922.

Biography

Early life Frederick Eis was born in Arbach, then in the Rhine Province of the Kingdom of Prussia, part of the German Empire (present day Germany). He was the youngest of four children of William Eis and Catherine Dietrich. When Eis was age 12, his family emigrated to the United States in 1855. They settled first in Calvary, Wisconsin, then Minnesota and finally in Rockland, Michigan.

In 1861, Eis began his studies for the priesthood at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Due to the American Civil War, Bishop Frederic Baraga sent Eis to study philosophy and theology instead at the College of Joliette in Joliette, Quebec. During his final years at Joliette, he taught English, mathematics and commerce. After his ordination, Eis served in the following parishes in Michigan:

Rector of St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette (1870 to 1873) He was known for being helpful to men wanting to enter seminary and women wanting to join religious orders. He is buried in the bishops' crypt at St. Peter Cathedral.