Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-03
Death of Priest One Hundred
and Five Years Old.

Davenport Iowa pemocrat,1
A man remarkable for longevity. for
learning, and for personal experience
with great men and Important events.
died at Mercy hospital, near this city,
Davenport, Iowa, Saturday morning,
in che n hundred and fifth year Of
his age. Rev. Father George has
passed away. FIR. George Brophy was
born near the city Of Kilkenny, Ire
land, in August, 1775-the same. wear
that gave birth 30 Daniel 0'Connell.
He was ordained as priest in l79S'
Father BrOphy saw and conversed
with the great Napslson a great num-
Der OF times, lie was at the hedsi2e
OF Lafayette for a week before his
death, which occurred on the 10Th Of
May, 1884 He left F;anoe soms
time IN che year 1913, and came
to America, He landed in New
YORK and became paster Of st, Paul's
church there, and afterwards had
charge of other parishes in that citv.
he built no less than nine churches
there, and was constantly exertinp
himself to tho utmost TO promote the
interests Of his denomination. In his
parish was the Rev. Mr.. Bayley, rector
OF an Episcopal church. The priest
and rector met by chance, and an
acquaintance, warm and friendly, was
the result. Their favorite and never
exhausted theme was religion and
their difference of beliefs. The
Protestant had become a warm friend
OF the priest, and spent a very large
share Of his time in the library of the
latter. Finally, one morning, the
minister came in to Father Brophy's
presence with the announcement that
he had studied and thought the whole
subject ever, earnestly and prayer
fully, and had come to the settled con-
viction that the Catholic religion was
the only true faith, and that he would
henceforth be a Catholic. By Father
Brophy's advice he went to Rome.
and was there baptized and
received into the church. Such
were the circumstances of the conver-
sion from Professionalism to Ca
tholicism Of the eminent and re-
nowned Archbishop Bayley, of tho
diocese Of Baltimore, whose DE-
took place only a few years III
Father Brophy was on teras since
ship with Presidents y Jf friend
Fillmore, Pierce, Baer -aylor, Folk
coin, ia met j. .Ianan ana LIN
/ House. New " .-incoln at the Astol
10 he ;nang,' ork, when on his way
%cellent drated, and gained an ex.
nbr opinion of him. Father Bro.
came to Iowa in 1865, HAVING
purchased land in Boone county. with
tho idea Of establishing an Irish col.
ony there; but the project failed, for
some reason, and in the course Of
time his land decreased in value as
the flush times passed away. He
came to Mercy hospital three or fonr
years ago, 10 spend his remaining
years, his little property enabling him
70 live at ease there. He was very
simple IN els habits. Three ear AGO
he was able toread without speotacles.
and his memory was surprisingly
acute and accurate. In the fall Of
n he journeyed to Boone, attended
to some sales Of land and returned
all without any attendant. He 70.
tanned his mental faculties well until
about fourteen months since, when
they showed signs Of failure.
[The venerable and remarkable
priest alluded to in the foregoing ar.
ticle was an uncle, being the fathers
brother, Of Mrs, Mary Il. Ed.