Petras Končius

Petras Končius /Peter Cuenz, Koncz, Kuncz/ (g. c. 1840 m. [[Purvaičiai{Purvaičių]] kaimas, Kantaučiai parapija, Žarėnai valsčius, Telšių r. - pirmasis lietuvis JAV kunigas.

Gyvenimo kelias

Studijavo Vilnius seminarijoje (one source mentions seminary at Zitomiro), būt had to flee during insurrection of 1863;

studied at Jesuit academy in Rome, where he gained doctorate in theology; through Jesuit benefactors, further law studies at Sorbonne in Paris;

completed studies at St. Francis sem., Milwaukee, WI; first Lithuanian priest ordained in US in 19th century - Oct. 18, 1871; (Prince Demitrius Augustine Gallitzin (1770-1840), harboring strain of Lithuanian blood, was ordained at Baitimore in 1795; labored in southwestern Pennsylvania, gaining appellation, “Apostle of the Alleghenies,” aUusion to Allegheny mountain range; arranged for traditional Lithuanian vytis [knight] on own tombstone.); pastor, St. Hedwig (Pol.), Milwaukee, WI, 1871; St. Stanislaus (Pol.), Milwaukee, WI, 1872; St. Mary (Pol.), Manitowoc, WI, 1873; St. Patrick (territ.), Chesterton, IN,' 1874 St. Mary (Pol.), Otis, IN, 1875; lacking in national directory, 1876-78, though briefly at Shamokin, PA; St. Wenceslaus (Bohemian), Baitimore, MD, 1879; pastor, St. Stanislaus (Pol.), Baitimore, 1879 to his death, Feb. 8, 1886.