Cretin, Joseph

Cretin, Joseph a Roman Catholic bishop, was born at Lyons, France, in 1800. He came with bishop Loras to America, and succeeded Petiot among the Winnebagoes, where he built a church and school, which failed in competition with the state schools in 1848. On January 26, 1857, he was consecrated first bishop of St. Paul, Minnesota. After great exertions for the promotion of the interests of his diocese, bishop Cretin was struck down with apoplexy, February 22 following. See De Courcy and Shea, Hist. of the Cath. Church in the U.S. page 641.