Right Reverend Joseph Rademacher

Right Reverend Joseph Rademacher

Joseph Rademacher (December 3, 1840 – June 12, 1900) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Nashville, Tennessee (1883–1893) and Bishop of Fort Wayne, Indiana (1893–1900)

Joseph Rademacher was born in Westphalia, Michigan, to Bernard and Theresia (née Platte) Rademacher, who were German immigrants.

In 1855, he began his classical and philosophical studies under the Benedictines at St. Vincent's College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He completed his theological studies at St. Michael's Seminary in Pittsburgh.

Attached to the Diocese of Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John Henry Luers on August 2, 1863. He then served as the first resident pastor in Attica, also attending to the nearby missions, until 1870, when he was transferred to Columbia City. In 1872 he became chancellor of the diocese and pastor of St. Mary's Church in Fort Wayne. He served as pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Lafayette from 1880 to 1883.

On April 3, 1883, Rademacher was appointed the fourth Bishop of Nashville, Tennessee, by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 24 from Archbishop Patrick Feehan, with Bishops Joseph Gregory Dwenger and John Ambrose Watterson serving as co-consecrators.

Following the death of Bishop Dwenger in January 1893, Rademacher returned to Indiana and

was named the third Bishop of Fort Wayne on July 15, 1893. Unlike his predecessor, he was known as a mild and approachable leader.

He was disabled by a stroke in early 1899, and was admitted to St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne and afterwards, St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago. Rademacher later died at St. Elizabeth's, aged 59.

Reference Source: WIkipedia

Rev Joseph Rademacher BIRTH 3 Dec 1840 DEATH 12 Jan 1900 BURIAL Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Crypt Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana

3rd Bishop of Fort Wayne Ordained Aug. 2, 1863 consecrated June 24, 1883

Joseph Rademacher, R. C. bishop, was born in Westphalia, Mich., Dec. 3, 1840. He studied for the priesthood in St. Michael's seminary, Pittsburg, Pa., and was ordained, Aug. 2, 1863, by Bishop Luers of Fort Wayne, Ind. He was pastor of St. Francis's, 'Attica, Ind., 1863 ? 69, where he also attended St. Joseph's mission at Marshfield; was pastor of St. Paul of the Cross, Columbia city, 1869?76; of St. Mary's, Fort Wayne, Ind., and chancellor of the diocese, 1877?80.

He was rector of St. Mary's, Lafayette, Ind., 1880?83; was nominated to the see of Nashville, Tenn., April 21, 1883, and was consecrated in St. Mary's cathedral, Nashville, Tenn., June 24, 1883, by Archbishop Feehan of Chicago, Ill., assisted by Bishop Chatard and Bishop Borgess. He labored successfully in that diocese until transferred to the diocese of Fort Wayne, by pontifical letter dated, July 14, 1893, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Bishop Joseph Dwenger . Jan. 29, 1893.

He resigned November, 1899, and died at Fort Wayne, Ind., Jan. 12, 1900.

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