Seeing that this a a levergun forum and that leverguns are inextricably tied to the American West, a great-great-great-great uncle of mine was Father Pierre-Jean DeSmet, SJ, known to the Plains Indians as "Blackrobe." All missionaries were referred to as "blackrobes," but in the case of Fr. DeSmet, the term was capitalized and became his universally-recognized name throughout the northern Plains.
Fr. "Blackrobe" DeSmet was a Belgian-born Jesuit missionary that was instrumental in bringing Christianity to the Plains Indians from Missouri up through the Dakotas, Idaho, and into Washington and Oregon. He was so widely respected by many tribes and nations of Native Americans that he was able to sit in council with Chief Sitting Bull in seeking peace between the Sioux and the US Government at a time when Sitting Bull had any whites killed that attempted to parley.
DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, MO, and DeSmet, SD, DeSmet, MT, and DeSmet, ID are named for "Blackrobe DeSmet."
For more about Fr. Pierre-Jean DeSmet:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04752a.htm
If the hair was cut shorter and dyed black, that would be my late father sitting there. So much so that I get goosebumpy looking at the photo.
Noah
