The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-04

day OF November last. 1t was not unex-
pectcd, for it was known last September
that he was weak and failing.
The tuh name Of the pioneer priest was
John Anthony Marie Pelamorgues. H.,
wls.born in ST, Gcnevieve, France, in the
year 1905, it is believed His mother told
him, when he was twelve years old, she de
sired he should enter the priesthood, and
from that time his training and education
were for that purpose. When about
twenty-three years of age he was ordained
a preist. and soon was on the way to
America, his mission being to assist Rev.
DIR. LoIas (wh) was the first Catholic
Bishop of Iowa.. and Father Mazzuchelli,
who were doing great work for their
church in this western region. He arrived
in Davenport on the first day Of August,
1889. He found church ready for his
uses-now the brick school house in the
rear Of St. Anthony 's-which had been
dedicated in the preceding spring, with
Father Mazzuchelli as pastor and so com
menced his work as pioneer priest, and
was priest of st. Anthony's for twenty
niue years. When he arrived there we're
between 400 and 500 Catholics, and two
priests, in Iowa. When he departed for
France, in May, 1868, never to return,
there were Y priests and $4,000 Catho,
lies in the state,
Having the honor Of his intimate
acquaintance since 1851, we always looked
up to him as father, brother and friend
A life 30 pure and uusciGSh few have
known. Mr.. D. n, Richardson, of the
Davenport Democrat, who also knew him
well, writes the following notice Of the
good Father, which we adopt as fitting
tribute to this departed friend:
His sympathie5 10 those times of trial
aud privation5 were not confined to the
members Of his own church, but it is we'll
rememb ered by the carly settlers that
Father PalaDorgues was found at the bed
side OF the suffering, regardless of creed,
church or nativity; nay, the good Father
was as much respected and as warmly
welcomed as a family friend among the
Protestant portion of the little hamlet as
he was among the people of his own
church. Loved by all alike, he was wei
coined 10y all.
The school which he opened in 1910 was
the first common school in the place, and
had among its scholars as many children
OF Pedestrians as OK Catholics. About the
first steps taken towards establishing the
present fire department was by Father i.
and his church bell was the first bell that
ever rang in Davenport and which is sill
doing duty on the very spot where it was
left by our old friend when he went away.
At the cry of Gre he would sound the
alarm, and at such times all knew that
they were wanted, and With him as leader,
good work was done,
He was great worker in his garden,
among his pet birds and flowers, apd
when the young men met in the o.
square to play ball, as they FREQ moi
the good Old man was alter ,4ently dit
tally or act as Gnp'~ them to ''kee
days, when stear~ &c. In these ear
;ommunioa'i' ,poats were the way
the ice .on with the outer world, whe
srr would commence moving in II
.lng, he would ring out the glad ney
from his old bell that all might know.
fact, that old bell in Father P's. han
was the town clock for year after yea
never failing, never far out Of the wa
faithfully ringing at G 4. NJ, ~ NJ and
the evening; and churches, schools al
work went by Father Pe|amorgue's bell.
In the latter years OF his stay, as we a
in!ormed by Mr.. Davenport, the good {
man often took pleasure in visiting t
District Schools, and coming to find G
how well they were managed, said nIu
in their favor Yet all the days ot
living here he kept his school and to
great interest in all matters of cducati
the youth,
A man of thorough piety, he was u
one of great benevolence. Mr.. Davenpr
tells us Father 2. never asked his peo
for money. yet he always had son
spontaneously given and no really nee
one was turned away emptyhaDded.
poor girl came to town to get W.
and could not readily find it. he it '
who would help her to q place, or pay
board until one could be found From
great abundance Of his finely kept g
den, many needy were, in season, suppl
and in all works of charity or benev1
enterprises he was among the foremost
The entire people were sorry that
went away; and at u meeting OF the
ncer Settlers, 10 January, 1871, mot
was unanimously adopted that an addr
be sent to him, at Ste Geneyive, Fran
showing their earnest desire for his ret
to this city. The committee on whom
duty devolved were, Hon. Jno. +. Dill
Il. s, Barrows, ID. G. Eldridge, Hon.
p. Cook, Wm. Van Tuyl, Israel Hall
Ebenezer Cook.
1t will be noticed that this earnest
peal TO good man to return aid t
charge of his flock was made by ONE
the leading meu of the City, and who "
not Only not members OF his church,
were members Of Protestant churches
In May, 1871, Father Pelamorgues
sponded in letter, which was at the t
published, letter full Of good will to
men, from which we make the follow
extract
"Impelled by desire to do some good tC
fellow men in country which l thought emit
uncivilIzed, and inhabited by Indians, | left
parents. my country. alithat was dear to me,
followed the good and Jealous Bishop Loras
thought as did that he was going to preach
gospel 10 the Indians. Bat GOD had disposed OF
wise, and sent us as pioneers to prepare. you
also, yourselves, the way to cmigrants of all C,
tries. You know, as well as my self, what we
to suffer, the number OF 50 many good friends
worthy citizens that prematurely
amongst us, from exposure and from the nee
necessaries OF life; but we can say that they
cared for much as the resources of the old set
permitted. We were all united and Always reat
help one another. Perhaps no newly settled c
try its first INHABITANTS charitabl,
wards one another, though we had come from