Defouri, J. H., one of the early Catholic priests in Kansas, was born in St. John La Porte, valley of Isere, France, Aug. 29, 1830. He was educated for the priesthood and was ordained at Chambery, Savoy, in 1854. Soon after taking orders he came to America and in Nov., 1856, arrived at Leavenworth, where he remained until 1862, when he was sent to Topeka. In 1865 he made a journey to his native land in the interest of the church in Kansas, and upon his return the next year he was made pastor of the Church of the Assumption in Topeka. In Sept., 1876, he returned to Leavenworth and in July, 1877, was made vicar-general of the diocese. Some years later he left Kansas to take charge of the Church of San Guadaloupe at Santa Fe, New Mex. Father Defouri was a liberal contributor to the Kansas Magazine and other publications of that nature on topics relating to Indians and the early Catholic church in the southwest.