Missionary. Then calmly folding his arms upon his breast with the name
of Jesus on his lips, and his eyes raised to heaven, while over his
face beamed the radiance of immortality, he passed away to the land of
the blest.

In conformity with the directions of the deceased, in due time his
companions prepared the body for burial, and to the sound of his
Chapel bell bore it slowly and solemnly to the place designated, where
they committed it to the dust, and erected a rude cross to point out
to the passing traveler the place of his grave.

James Marquette was of a most ancient and honorable family of the city
of Laon, France. Born at the ancient seat of his family, in the year
1637, he was, through his pious mother, Rose de la Salle, allied to
the venerable John Baptist de la Salle, the founder of the institute
known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools. At the age of
seventeen he entered the Society of Jesus, and after two years of
study and self-examination had passed away, he was, as is usual with
the young Jesuits, employed in teaching, which position he held for
twelve years. No sooner had he been invested with the priesthood, than
his desire to become in all things an imitator of his chosen patron,
St. Francis Xavier, induced him to seek a mission in some land that
knew not God, that he might labor there to his latest breath, and die
unaided and alone. His desire was gratified. For nine years he labored
among the Indians, and was able to preach to them in ten different
languages; but he rests from his labors, and his works follow him. He
died, May 18, 1675.

The Indians of Mackinaw and vicinity, and also those of Kaskaskia,
were in great sorrow when the tidings of Marquette's death reached
them. Not long after this melancholy event, a large company of
Ojibwas, Ottawas, and Hurons, who had been out on a hunting
expedition, landed their canoes at the mouth of the Marquette river,
with the intention of removing his remains to Mackinaw. They had heard
of his desire to have his body interred in the consecrated ground of
St. Ignatius, and they had resolved that the dying wish of the
missionary should be fulfilled. As they stood around in silence and
gazed upon the cross that marked the place of his burial, the hearts
of the stern warriors were moved. The bones of the missionary were dug
up and placed in a neat box of bark made for the occasion, and the
numerous canoes which formed a large fleet started from the mou