The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-09-28
LOCAL PAPER RECALLS ODD IN
cIDENTS IN GREAT PRELATE'S
CAREER - CHANCE MEETING
GUIDES ARCHBISHOP IRELAND
TO ST. PAUL AND EMINENCE.

CAREER CHANCE MEETING
GUIDES ARCHBISHOP IRELAND
TO ST. PAUL AND EMINENcE.
On the occasion of Archbishop Ire
lands eightieth birthday the St. Paul
Daily News had the following article.
But for a chance meeting of two
former schoolmates on a Chicago
street in the year 1852, Archbishop
Ireland might never have become a
leading citizen of st. Paul.
Years before that, in Kilkenny, Ire
land, Richard Ireland and John O'Gor-
man were schoolmates. 1t was about
the time of the dark famine in the
late '4O's; a time when talk of emigra-
ton was in the air, and sheer. neces-
sity drove thousands of Irishmen to
America, then generally looked upon
as the land of plenty.
Ship for New, World.
Not long after he left school, young
O'Gorman joined thee westward-m NOV
ing throng, and took ship for the new
world. Richard Ireland, married and
settled down in Kilkenny for while.
In few years he, too, became pos
sessed of the spirit which carried SO
many of his fellow-countrymen over
seas and followed their lead, though
by that time he and, his old friend,
John O'Gorman, had lost track of one
another.
One day, early in the spring of 1852,
the two old friends met on the street
in Chicago. Each had family of
young children and each was still I'M
decided as to the spot in which he
ultimately would settle down, so con-
ferences on the subject were most nat
ural. ssl 8.sz-
About that time there was much ex-
ploitation of the steamboat line be-
tween Galena, ILL.,, and st. Paul, Min
nesota, was being advertised as a
| health resort as well as an agricul-
tural paradise and immigration was
getting under way. After consider
able debate the two young Irishmen
decided to take their families to the
new territory and try their fortunes
there.
| There were no railroads. Prairie
schooners afforded the only means OF
long-distance transportation, and four
| of these were hired to accommodate
| the party of travellers. The journey
across Illinois consumed not only
days, but weeks. Another long lap OF
| the journey remained to be made by
| water. from Galena to st. Paul. But
| it was accomplished without accident
1 and the first week in May, 1852, saw
the two families landing at the foot
of Jackson street.
Attends Easement School.
John Ireland, who later became one
of the worlds most distinguished prel
ates, was then IA years of age. With
his sisters, and with the O'Gormar
children. he was entered at once il
/ the parochial school then conducted
in the basement of a building at Sixth
and Wabasha streets.
i From the very first, this boy anC
Thomas O'Gorman, five years younger
and now Bishop of Sioux Falls, s. D.
4 attracted the attention of Bishop Gre
tin, at the head of the diocese of st
Paul, and a year from the following
Il September he arranged to send boil
boys to the College of Maximieux, ;
very old diocesan institution of learn
ing in the south of France.
j They were sent under the care o
Father Rayoux, one Of the earl,
French missionary priests in st. Paul
John Ireland remained there eigh
years, being ordained priest in ST
Paul at the end of that time. Thoma
O'Gorman, being the younger, spent i
years in the college.
Almost directly after his ordination
Father Ireland became chaplain of tn
5th Minnesota regiment, which mad
I an honorable record during the Civ
: wad. His own share in the regiment
history of gallantry was conspicuou
J one and earned for him the undyin
respect of every Minnesota veteran.
) After peace was declared he n
: turned to ST. Paul, which has sine
} been the scene of all his activities a
J parish priest, Bishop and Archbisho
. and as a powerful factor In civic a
lwell as religious life.
4