St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-01

Rt. Rev. John Ireland was born
at Burnchurch, Kilkenny county, Ire
land, April IL, 1888. His parents came
to this country in 1S49, settling at Chi
cagO, where he attended school at st.
Mary'S of the Lake. Three years SUBJ
sequently his parents moved to st. Paul,
where they have since resided, emf
nently respected and beloved in the
community. -as---s-a--.
In 1858, under the auspices of Bishop
Cretin, Bishop Ireland left for France
priest, the Rev. Thomas O'Gorman of
Rochester. The sanity Father Ravoux,
who is still spared to us, acted as their
mentor on this journey. At MeXimieux,
AK. were passed four years of prepara-
tory study, another four years with the
Marist Fathers of Hyeres, Var, COM
pleted the theological course. In 1861,
Father Ireland returned to st. Paul,
and was ordained priest by Bishop
Grace the same year, Dec. 81.
In 1862, two years after he was
ordained priest, Father Ireland be-
came chaplain of the Minnesota Fifth,
which was part of the Army of the
Tennessee. The bishop not only speaks
with genuine enthusiasm of his army
experience, but keeps up his acquaint-
ance and connection with his old army
comrades through the soldiers state re-
unions, which he regularly attends.
In 1875, Bishop Ireland was named
for
THE SEE OF NEBRASKA,
but at the earnest suggestion of Rt.
Rev. Thomas l.. Grace, supported by
personal visit to Rome, the Holy Father
revoked the briefs for such appoint
ment, and conferred upon him, instead,
the cOadjutOr biShopric of st. Paul,
Dec. 81, 1875.
The inception of his colonization
scheme came about in this way: When
Bishop Ireland was young priest his
duties as the assistant of Bishop Grace
made it necessary for him to travel a
great deal throughout the state. There
were settlements of Germans, Scandi-
navianS, French and Poles in Mime
sofa, as thereAwere throughout the
United States, but no Irish farmers in
any numbers either in Minnesota or
elsewhere. He recognized in the fat,
undulating plains, varied by wood belts
and watered by crystal lakes and
streams, which twenty years ago were
public and railway lands in Minnesota,
exceptional opportunities for his coun-
trymen to secure fine homes. Under
standing the gregariOuSneSS of the Irish
hard labor and poverty in cities and
towns more attractive than American
frontier farm life, though it gave sure
promise of competency and even Opu-
lence, he evolved the idea
of an organized effort to yet
Irish families out in numbers ON these
lands, and, by thus giving them COM
partnership and churches, induce them
to make permanent farm settlements.
The plan of founding colonies was this:
! he bishop secured loans of sufficient
sums from wealthy Catholics to enable
him to purchase
TRACTS OF RAILROAD LAND.
Of course, the alternate sections, be-
ing government land, could be entered
by his settlers under the presumption or
homestead acts. Such of them as were
possessed of but very limited means
took these government lands, while
others were sold farms on long time
with but nominal interest. Having ma
tured his plans, the bishop began his
colonization in 1875. In the early spring
of that year he got out seventy-five
families. There were six months OF
fine weather before them. and the
bishop, by warning them as to the
proper preparation for the long and
vigorous winters and advice in other
matters and kindly encouragement,
succeeded in getting these first expert.
mental Irish colonies firmly rooted,
where a man of less pronounced per-
sistent energy and wisdom must have
failed.
In 1876. seeing that Capitalization was
desirable. Bishop Ireland entered into
negotiations with the ST. Paul & Pacific
NOW the st. Paul, Minneapolis d Mani
toba), the st. Paul u Sioux City and the
Northwestern railroads for certain land
along their lines. The contract was
that lie should control these lands for
three years at prices ranging from S. to
81 per acre. During the years of 1877,
1878 and 1879 Bishop Ireland controlled
more land than any one land agent in
America, having at that time at his
absolute disposal considerably more
than 500, 0O0 acres.
The business affairs of these colonies
were conducted OH the strictest business
principles. The bishop gave of his
energy, time and influence in unstinted
measure, but each and every settler was
required to stand sQuarely on his own