In 1854 Father Francis Xavier Pierz published these lines in an article for a German Catholic newspaper, extolling life in Minnesota Territory, "I do wish, however, that the choicest pieces of land in this delightful Territory would become the property of thrifty Catholics who would make an earthly paradise of this Minnesota which Heaven has so richly blessed."

Tim Hoheisel, author and historian, presented on his recent research into the life of Father Pierz and his role establishing German Catholic settlements in Central Minnesota. Hoheisel is the former Executive Director of the Codington County Historical Museum in Watertown, SD. He holds an MA in public history from St. Cloud State University and is presently doing Doctorate degree work in American West, agricultural, and rural history at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.

He is the co-author of a pictorial history book Images of America: Watertown and Codington County, South Dakota, and created and directed the book project Skeletons of the Prairie: Abandoned Rural Codington County, South Dakota.

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