Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano, containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of many of the Early Settled Families.

Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co 1895
Copied & transcribed by our dear friend, Elaine O’ Leary 
 

Page 319

REV. FATHER JOHN KASTER, pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Shawano, Shawano county, is a native of Wisconsin, born January 6, 1864, at Green Bay, Brown county.

Castor Kaster, father of our subject, was born February 6, 1831, at Meersdorf, Prussia, Germany, whence, in 1854, when a boy, he emigrated to the United States, stopping in Detroit eight months, later settling in Green Bay, Wis., where he worked at the tailoring trade, which he had learned in Europe, having made it his life work, and is still carrying it on in Green Bay.  In that city he was married to Miss Anna Verschragen, a. lady of Holland birth, born September 30, 1829, and six children were born to them namely: Frank (following the trade of tailor in Green Bay), Joseph (a book-keeper in Green Bay), John (subject of sketch), Anna (who died at the age of twenty-five years), and Peter (1) and Peter (2) (both deceased in infancy).   The father is one of the highly respected citizens of Green Bay, where he was a pioneer in his line of work, in which by industry and square dealing he has made a success, securing a well-earned competency.
The subject proper of this sketch, whose name introduces it, received his elementary education at the common schools of the city of his birth, and at the age of fifteen entered St. Francis Seminary, near Milwaukee, remaining there until he was twenty-four years old. On April 3, 1888, he was ordained to the priesthood, the ceremony taking place in the Cathedral at Green Bay, and the first charge given him, which was on June 6 following, was the congregation at Neshkoro, Marquette county, in addition to and in connection with which he had several missions. Here he labored until September 18. 1890, on which date he was transferred to Shawano, where the new church building, commenced in 1889, was as yet in a very unfinished condition, especially the interior, but which under his charge has since been completed in a thorough and satisfactory manner. Father Kaster has also the care of missions at Waukechon, Gresham and Leopolis, all also within the limits of Shawano county.   He is very popular among members of all denominations, and his connection with his own church, wherever his pastorate has been, has been marked by evidences of progressiveness and improvement.