St. Cloud, Minnesota, is about 220 miles from my hometown. As a (Protestant) kid, I sometimes wondered about the name. I love clouds and weather, so why SAINT Cloud? Clouds can't be saints. But I never researched it, and then moved far away in young adulthood. I've also known about a French St. Cloud, from prior reading about the French Revolution and the ill-fated Royals (as a Protestant / 10 years ago). Again I wondered, but with so many distractions it was quickly forgotten again without research. Okay. Now I'm Catholic, again reading about the ill-fated French Royals, and I must know. https://diaryofanaccidentalhermit.blogspot.com/2015/09/meet-my-cousin-saint-cloud.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clodoald He was a Merovingian prince. That family supposed by some to be direct descendants of Christ and Mary Magdalene (that they'd married and produced at least one child). NOT SAYING I BELIEVE THAT, btw. The Merovingians are interesting, though; mysterious. Anyway! I like you, St. Cloud.
Saint Clodoald: A Light for a World Trapped in Darkness: https://catholicexchange.com/saint-clodoald-a-light-for-a-world-trapped-in-darkness/
My relatives were among the first white settlers of the St. Cloud MN area. They were on the land in the same county before the town was named. Not quite sure why a Frenchman got to name the town since the area was settled mostly by German Catholics. But here is the story of why it was named after the French town (and Saint)... https://www.startribune.com/st-cloud-minnesota-saint-cloud-france-clodoald/600072932/
Thank you! I wish now I'd visited St. Cloud while still living nearby, but I was Protestant then... From that article: He was a Merovingian prince. Merovingian royalty wore their hair long.
Because the French and Belgian missionaries set up and explored those areas probably quite awhile before German settlers came. I once went to that Cathedral in St. Cloud. Look at the, I assume most populated county in MN. Hennepin, who was that? Father Hennepin of Belgium, so the life of the French and Belgium explorers and missionaries is all over. https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2013/08/legacy-fr-hennepin-looms-large-mississippi/ Legacy of Fr. Hennepin looms large on the Mississippi Fr. Louis Hennepin spent only a few months in Minnesota, but his influence is undeniable. One just needs to look at the maps and roadsigns, the influence is all over. Look at the great state of Iowa's flag. It incorporates the French flag into it, it appears to me. This influence is all over well, all over the Midwest that is and includes Missouri but I'd say it is strongest in Michigan. Even saying Mills Lacs, the French language again. Des Moines in Iowa. I really like the state capitol building in Iowa. Very nice.
I love to fish that lake. Lots of big walleye. My godparents (aunt and uncle) lived by that lake. They moved from that area, as well, to by the lake. I wonder if your dad is my cousin or uncle.
