Rev. Hugo Victor was born on November 15, 1842, in Osnabruck, Hanover, Germany, to Henry and Mary (von Ende) Victor. After his father’s death in 1847, Hugo immigrated to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1852 with his mother and stepfather. He apprenticed as a cigar maker before studying for the priesthood, being ordained in 1869. Father Victor served in various parishes across the United States, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, before settling in Alexandria, South Dakota, in 1902. He is recognized for his dedicated pastoral work, including the erection of new church buildings and significant community contributions.
Rev. Hugo Victor, resident priest of the Catholic church in Alexandria, was born in Osnabruck, province of Hanover, Germany, on the 15th of November, 1842, being a son of Henry and Mary (von Ende) Victor, the latter being of the nobility of the great German empire, a representative of the well-known house of Magdeburg. The father of the subject was born in Doenitz, in the Black Forest district, on the border between France and Germany, his parents having been natives of France. He was accorded excellent educational advantages and became a musician of distinction, having been a composer of high reputation. His musical talents led to his being selected as leader of the band of the Red Hussars, this being the official band of the king of Hanover. His death resulted from an attack of cholera, in 1847, the subject of this review being about five years of age at the time. Father Victor was then taken into the home of his uncle, Daniel Sickel, with whom he remained about four years, at the expiration of which, in 1852, he came to America in company with his mother and her second husband, Frederick Halthaus, the family locating in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Though but ten years of age at the time of his arrival in the United States, Father Victor soon began to depend upon his own resources, finally entering upon an apprenticeship at the trade of cigar making, to which he devoted his attention until he had attained the age of sixteen, when he began the work of preparing himself for the priesthood. In 1859 he entered the Redemptorist Brothers’ College, in Annapolis, where he was graduated in 18—, being ordained to the priesthood on the 30th of June, 1869, by Archbishop Spaulding, in Baltimore. He was soon afterward sent to Savannah, Georgia, where he was assistant in the cathedral to Bishop William Gross. In 1874 Father Victor was given a charge at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, being transferred eight months later to a neighboring parish, where he remained one year, at the expiration of which he was assigned to a pastorate at Lancaster, that state. About one year later he was sent to take charge of St. Joseph’s church, at Racine, Wisconsin, but his health became impaired and after serving a few months he made a trip to Europe, for the purpose of recuperation, where he remained a few months. Upon his return to Wisconsin he was assigned to the pastorate of St. Joseph’s church, at Waterloo, remaining one year and then being sent to the church at Eagle, that state, where he continued to labor zealously and effectively during the ensuing four years, being thereafter stationed at East Troy, Wisconsin, for three years. He then passed a short time in Waterloo and was then sent to LeSueur, Minnesota, where he remained one year, passing the succeeding year at Northfield, that state. He then made a tour through Mexico and upon his return established the parish organization at Marshall, Minnesota, where he was resident priest four years, at the expiration of which, in 1892, he came to South Dakota. For the first year he was located at Hoven and was then transferred to Krausburg, where he was stationed eight years, within which time he effected the erection of a new church edifice and also left other unmistakable evidences of his spiritual and temporal zeal. In June, 1902, Father Victor came to Alexandria, and since that time he has accomplished a notable work, erecting a new parish house, which was completed within the year 1904. Father Victor is known as an able executive and organizer, and the work which he has done in the various fields in which he has lived and labored has been earnest, devoted, consecrated and signally fruitful in the furthering of the cause of the divine Master and in the uplifting of his fellow men. Father Victor is a forceful and logical speaker, his utterances being marked by earnest conviction, and he has the high regard of all with whom he comes in contact.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.