Melcher, Joseph

Melcher, Joseph a Roman Catholic prelate, studied and took his doctor's degree at Modena, was ordained in 1830, and became chaplain to the court. In 1843 he came to America with bishop Rosati, and was stationed at Little Rock, Arkansas, whence he was transferred to St. Mary's Church, St. Louis, Missouri, of which diocese he became vicar-general. He remained pastor there until he was made the first bishop of Green Bay, Wisconsin, July 12, 1868. He introduced several working orders, such as the Ursulines, Franciscan Tertiaries, Servites, etc. Dr. Melcher died December 20, 1873, at the age of sixty-six, leaving a flock of 60,000 and sixty-nine churches. See De Courcy and Shea, Hist. of the Cath. Church in the United States, page 598.