USA > New York > Jefferson County > Clayton > Historical sketch of the village of Clayton, N.Y. : and a complete history of St.Mary's parish > Part 2
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About the same time, a few people located on Washi- ington Island; they were James Carey, Joseph Cartier, Harry Hoyt who kept a tavern, Martin Herrick, Joseph Webb and a few others. Herrick and Webb built a saw mill in Carrier's Bay and kept store on Washington Island.
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CHAPTER V.
Rapid Growth of Cornelia .- Its Successive Industries. -Our Village Receives its Fourth and last Name, Clayton, in 1831 .- The Town of Clayton is Formed. -The First Town Meeting and the First Town Elec- tion .- Clayton Village is Incorporated in 1872 and Holds its First Village Elections.
From the year our village received its third name, Cornelia, in 1823, its growth was rapid, healthful and permanent, owing to a large business in lumbering, rafting and ship building, carried on first by William H. Angel, then by Smith & Angel, Martin Herrick, Smith & Herrick, E. G. Merrick & Co., in 1828, and later on1 by Fowler & Esselstyn, Simon G. Johnston and Thomas Rees. The ship building industry was started in 1832 by Smith & Herrick and was conducted on a large scale for over fifty years, but is now reduced to a few individ- uals whose business is not to build large vessels, but to build skiffs and small craft of every description., In 1887 the firin of A. Bain & Co. was formed and carried on the business of ship building for a few years, then was replaced by the St. Lawrence River Skiff, Canoe and Steam Launch Co., which moved to Ogdensburg in 1895.
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Clayton owes its growth, development and prosperity to these different firms and individuals, who by their energetic and successful enterprises, drew people here from all parts of the United States, Canada and Ireland.
Following are the names of a few who came here be- tween the years 1820 and 1840 :
John Rector, James F. Angel, R. G. Angel, Chauncy Pierce, Mrs. Thomas S. Reade, Aaron and Luther Eddy, Xura Bates, Dr. Amos Ellis, Mrs. Lonisa C. Carey, Henry Elliot, Dan Porter, Win. Johnston, Perry Cas- well, John Johnston. All these were protestants.
Among catholics I find, Paschal Bedard, Joseplı Belan- ger, Perrault, John Pike, Joseph Cartier, C. Picard, Francis St. Amand, Paul Desselerets, Moses Lefebvre, Juillet Rhodrigue, Amos Pilon, Peter Girard, John Bertrand, Frederic Campbell, Martin Kennedy, Thomas Brennan, Thomas Delaney, Terrance Mclaughlin, Wm. Hayes, John Tierney, Joseph Mason, Peter Rolland, Joseph Thibault, Thomas O'Flynn, Michael LeClure, Patrick Cantwell, Edward Conlon, John Smith and Richard Forestale.
The name Cornelia was changed to that of Clayton in 1831 in honor of John W. Clayton, U. S. Senator from Delaware. This change of name was made for the sake of politics. John W. Clayton was a whig and as the majority in the town were whigs they named their vill- age after him. Yet, the town of Clayton was formed only in 1833, and the village of Clayton was incorpo- rated only in 1872.
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The first town meeting was held in the house of Isaac L. Carter, June 4th, 1833, and the first officers elected were : Hubbell Fox, Supervisor; B. F. Faxton, Clerk; Gordon Caswell and Stephen Martin, Justices of the Peace; Jesse Noyes, Abraham Burdick, Barialı Carpen- ter, Jr., Assessors; Caleb Closson and James Barney, overseers of the poor; Samuel P. Payne, Llyod B. Far- rar, (or Trover), Elkonah Corbin, commissioners of high- ways; Alfred Fox, John Consaul, jr .; and Joseph Mason, commissioners of schools; Jonah Farrar, David Baker and B. F. Faxton, inspectors of common schools; Eras- tus Warner, collector; Erastus Monroe, T. Haskell, Syd- ney Spencer and Eldridge T. Tilton, constables.
The first village election was held at the Walton House, May 8th, 1872, and the following were elected; Elijah McCarn, president; S. G. Johnston, Win. Hawes and S. D. Johnston, trustees; Stephen Hale, treasurer; Charles M. Marshal, collector; C. H. Ross, clerk.
The railroad was built in 1873.
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CHAPTER VI.
The First Church Built in Clayton .- The District Schools .- The Patriot War of 1837 .- The Fire of June 6th, 1856 .- The Civil War of 1861.
The first church built in Clayton was the Methodist Episcopal in 1840. Six years previous to the above date Mr. Pliny Caswell organized a Sunday school class and became its superintendant. During all these years, frequent meetings were held in the schoolhouses and in private dwellings, but not till 1840 was the society reg- ularly organized. In that year, they built a church which is still standing and used by the society. But in 1881 and in 1888 the edifice was so materially rebuilt and enlarged, that no one would recognize the old church in this new one. Previous to 1855 there were two school districts in the village, divided by James street, and two school buildings. One of these was made of brick and stood where D. D. Butts' house is now located. The other was of stone and was erected on the lot on which the present school house stands. On ac- count of certain difficulties, which it is useless to 111e11- tion here, these school districts remained divided until November 1867 when a union school was founded and part of the present building constructed. To render this union school still more efficient, the people of Clay-
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ton in 1888 had it incorporated into a union free school and academy which has had many rivals since, but 110 superior in the county.
Clayton also contributed its share of notoriety to the Patriot war of 1837 and 1838. Patriots from both sides of the border lines rendezvoused at Clayton and made preparations to attack Kingston whilst the St. Lawrence was bridged over with ice. The arse- nal at Watertown was broken into on the night of February 19, 1838, and 400 stands of arms were taken. The arsenals at Batavia and Elizabethtown were also plundered. On the 20th of February recruits of patriots came to Clayton from all parts of Jefferson county and adjacent counties and brought with them a large supply of arms and ammunition consisting of 1000 stands of arms, 20 barrels of cartridges and a large store of pro- visions. " These robbers generally acknowledged Gen. Rensselaer Van Rensselaer as their leader. They openly avowed their intention of crossing the St. Lawrence on the ice and of making a lodgement at Gananoque, from whence to attack Kingston. There was neitlier organiza- tion nor discipline in this motley crowd and between those that assumed the lead, there were mutual jealous- ies and a want of plan, that neutralized every operation." "The weather was intensely cold, no provision had been made for their shelter and the men suffered from expo- sure. On the 22nd of Feb. a portion repaired on foot and in ships to Hickory Island, in British waters, about seven miles above Clayton, and there a difficulty arose
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about the command, which threw a damper on the whole affair. On calling for volunteers to proceed, 83 appeared at the Ist, 71 at the 2nd, and 35 at the 3rd call; then acting upon the maxim, 'Every man for him- self', the crowd dispersed, the officers with the greatest difficulty retaining men enough to remove the arms they had taken over".
Foolish as this invasion of Canada may appear, another attempt, not less hazardous and ridiculous, was made by a Claytonian and thirteen of his followers. On the night of May 30th, 1838, Bill Jolinson, ever since called "The Hero of the Thousand Islands," with a party of thirteen men, painted like indians, and armed with muskets and bayonets, rushed on board the British steamer Sir Robert Peel, that was taking wood at Mc- Donnel's wharf on the south side of Wellesley Island, yelling and shouting, "Remember the Caroline". The night was dark and rainy. The passengers, 19 in num- ber, who were asleep in their berths, were greatly aların- ed. They and the crew were hastily driven ashore, the boat then pushed out into the river and set on fire.
This event created the greatest excitement on both sides of the river, and the inhabitants of Clayton were frightened by the threats of the British, who proclaimed that unless Bill Johnson was delivered into their hands, Clayton would be plundered, pillaged and burnt to ashes. Fearing more trouble, Governor Marcy of New York and the Governor of Canada, then the Earl of Durham, offered large rewards for the arrest and convic- tion of the persons concerned in the crime.
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After baffling all efforts at pursuit for six or seven inonthis, tired of hiding, Bill Johnson gave himself up to the authorities, who sentenced him to one year in jail and fined him $250. After six months imprisonment he escaped, remaining concealed until tranquility was re- stored. Then he sought and obtained pardon from President Harrison.
The next important event worth recording in this short history, is the fire of Jimne 6, 1856. Nearly all the mercantile portion of this town was burnt to ashes in this conflagration. Thousands of dollars worth of 111 protected property was destroyed. But the business men were not disheartened and with promptness and energy, put up more attractive and substantial buildings and thus Clayton arose from its ashes practically a new town. Success has attended these business men ever since, and they are now rated among the most prosper- ous merchants in the county.
One of the most exciting events in the history of Clayton, is the civil war of 1861-1865. Fathers and mothers shed tears. Women and effeminate men were terrorized. Many parents advised their children to rill away to Canada. Wives in large number begged of their husbands to escape. As a consequence of these earnest and touching appeals, many womanish Clayton- ians fled, crossed the lines and lived in Canada inntil Lincoln's proclamation of pardon, with the only obliga- tion to report to the Provost Marshal of their district. These were called skedaddlers. To add to the excite-
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ment that prevailed at the time, the recruting officers paraded the streets with drum corps, gathered crowds and held meetings. In this way, they would create gen- eral enthusiasmn and get the men to enlist. Many of these officers were insulted and abused by wives and mothers, because they enticed their sons or husbands to go to war. These insults were taken in good part and laughed at.
There was a guard house on Mrs. Bridget Delaney's property where volunteers enlisted.
Mich Cantwell made great efforts to form a company of which he would have become captain, but he found only sixty recruits and on that account did not go to the war.
Yet all in Clayton were not cowards; many bravely faced the fire and volunteered to serve their country, and if need be, to crimson the fields of the south with their blood in order to preserve the integrity of the Union.
Among the volunteers are the following. The letter w after the naine, indicates they were wounded and the t they were killed. For this list I am indebted to John B. Bazinet.
1861
Geo. Donais
F. Gervais
James Ratchford
Louis Donais
Wm. Knight, w
W. N. Smith
Joseph Leronix, +
Wm. Desrosiers
Judson Carter
Peter Denis, +
Charles Classen, w
Tom Graves. +
Collin
E. E. Porter
Sam Graves, t
Joseph Gauthier
C. F. Blanchard
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1862
F. Favreau, w
James Cosselman
H. W. Moore
1. W. Eddy
Charles Hutchinson
Ed. Rushlow, w
Grot. Reid
Milo Estis
Angel Burton
I .. Marcellus, w
1863
Joseph Girard
Joseph Langevin
John Turcot Peter Mayer
J. Jenkins, w
Dan Spalsbury
James Daniels
Joseph Brabant, w Geo. Collins John Cook
W. D. Parish
Tom Collins
1864
John Bazinet, w
Wmn. Mckay
J. H. Taylor
Dennis Dufford
Alex Menard
Ed. Collins
Ed. Cartier
S. V. Frame
O. Rice
Alex Delmarse
J. W. Thompson
Justin Collin
12. R. McGraw
Jos. Toxuse
Walter Ellis
Alex Dubois
D. D. Butts, w
Geo. Youngs. t
Peter Delmarse
Wm. Joles
James Denis. + Tom Rushlow
Geo. Collins
Patrick Kanaley
H. J. Spalsbery C. T. Nunn
H. J. Gibbons
Robert Delay
M. Vandewalker
John Fitzgerald, +
J. Grandie, + G. Farr Fred Baltz
John Green, w
A. J. Snell
1865
Joshna Calhoun
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PART SECOND.
Complete History of St. Mary's Parish, Clayton, N. Y.
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Clergy That Attended to the Spiritual Wants of the Catholics of St. Mary's Parish, Clayton, N. Y.
Caissy, Rev. Father, from Ogdensburg, attended once in 1833 and once in 1834.
Gilbride, Rev. Michael, from Carthage, attended once in 1835.
Daly, Rev. Jolın B., O. S. B., from Watertown, attended several times in 1836.
Guth, Rev. Francis, from Rosiere, attended at regular intervals in 1837.
Guth, Rev. Francis, from Lafargeville Seminary, attend- ed at regular intervals from 1838 to 1843.
O'Dowd, Rev. John, from Watertown, attended once a month in 1844.
Guth, Rev. Michael, from Rosiere, attended once a month from 1845 to 1850.
Sheehan, Rev. Maurice, from Watertown, attended sev- eral times in 1850.
Guth, Rev. Michael, from Rosiere, attended at regular intervals in 1851 and in 1852.
Guth, Rev. Michael, resided at Clayton 1853 until June 1861.
Clarke, Rev. Michael, from Carthage, attended from July 4th, 1861 to August 1862.
Van Campenhant, Rev. Francis, from Watertown, at- tended from Ang. 1862 to Oct. 1862.
Harney, Rev. Luke, from Watertown, attended from Oct. 1862 to Oct. 1863.
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Sherry, Rev. James J., first terin resided at Clayton from Oct. 1863 to Nov. 1867.
de Saunhac, Rev. Paul, resided at Clayton from Dec. 1867 to July '73.
Perret, Rev. Father, from Rosiere, attended from July 1873 to Jan. '74.
Arents, Rev. T., resided at Clayton from Jan. 1874 to Aug. '75.
Craven, Rev. John, resided at Clayton from Aug. 1875 to Feb. '76.
Rossiter, Rev. Win., from Redwood, attended from March 1876 to June '76.
Brown, Rev. M. J., resided at Clayton from Aug. 1876 to July '77.
Sherry, Rev. J. J., second term resided at Clayton from June 1877 to July '83.
Smith, Rev. James, resided at Clayton from July 1883 to Aug. '83.
Brice, Rev. E. G., resided at Clayton from Sept. 1883 to March '95.
Garand, Rev. P. S., has resided at Clayton from March 1895 to the present date, Sept. 1902.
ASSISTANT PRIESTS.
Plunkett, Rev. Thomas, from Nov. 1878 to Nov. '79. O'Neill, Rev. Michael, from June 1881 to Aug. '82. Carraher, Rev. B., from April 1883 to July '83.
Derome, Rev. J. E., from Jan. 1899 to May 1902. Mayer, Rev. H., from July 1902 to the present date, Sept. 1902.
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CHAPTER I.
The Origin of St. Mary's Parish .- Fathers Caissy, Gilbride and Daly.
The Second Part of this History will undoubtedly prove to be the more interesting to catholics, as it treats solely of the origin and gradual development of St. Mary's Parish, and at the same time, gives the charac- teristics of all the priests who have had charge of St. Mary's church, and the names of those whom they bap- tized, married and buried.
No known priest visited Clayton before the year 1833. It is possible that Father Simon, who attended Rosiere and Carthage in 1832, may have come to Clayton dur- ing that year, either on sick calls, to say mass, or for some other purpose, yet there is no record of such a visit and the oldest people have no recollection of this pioneer missionary.
In the year 1833, Thomas Brennan, who was a devoted catholic, wrote to Rev. James Salmon of Ogdensburg, to inform him of the fact that thirteen children in Clay- ton had not yet been regenerated in the salutary waters of baptisin, and he begged him to send a priest to chris- ten thein. Father Salmon willingly acceded to this appeal full of faith and pathos and sent a certain Father
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Caissy, who has the honor of being the first known priest that visited Clayton and performed some ininiste- rial work.
He baptized the thirteen children, said mass in John Tiernan's house, heard confession and distributed holy communion to all the catholics then living in Clayton.
In 1834, Thomas Brennan wrote again to Father Salmon of Ogdensburg to kindly come to Clayton in order to marry him. Father Salmon again sent Father Caissy in his stead. The latter said mass at Thomas Delaney's, baptized the children that had been born since his last visit, administered the sacraments of pen- ance and holy Eucharist, then went to Brownville where he married Thomas Brennan to Mary Cantwell of that place.
The second priest to visit Clayton, was Rev. Michael Gilbride of Carthage in 1835. Like his predecessor, lie caine at the request of Thomas Brennan. He said inass in the home of the latter, preached, baptized a few chiil- dren and heard confession of all the catholics of this place, who were then very devout.
The third priest to attend Clayton was Rev. John B. Daly, O. S. B., of Watertown, in 1836. He came to this place quite a number of times, and said mass alter- nately at John Tiernan's, Thomas Brennan's, Thomas Delaney's and William Hayes'. Father Daly took a great interest in the little catholic flock of Clayton, and would stay here three or four days on each of his visits, employing his time in teaching the old and the young.
The three above mentioned priests died long ago. May they rest in peace.
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CHAPTER II.
The First Church is Built .- Rev. Fr. Francis Guth. -The Seminary at Lafargeville.
The fourth priest who attended Clayton, was Rev. Fr. Francis Guth of Rosiere, in 1837. He came at regular intervals, said inass a few times at John Tiernan's and Thomas Brennan's, then rented the upper part of Nath- an Tucker's house. This apartment was used during the entire summer of 1837 by the catholics, as a place of worship.
In 1838, Right Rev. Bishop, John Hughes of New York city, bought John Lafarge's residence at Lafarge- ville, together with the farm on which it is built, and converted it into a seminary. Father Francis Guth of Rosiere was appointed its first president, and he took up liis residence in the seminary. In his ardious work of teaching; Fr. Guth was assisted by the Rev. Fatliers Moran of New Jersey, Mark Murphy, Hoes and James Dougherty of New York. About fifteen students stud- ied there annually. Father James Mackey, who died in Ogdensburg, and Father Sylvester Malone, who died in Brooklyn, both studied in the Lafargeville Seminary.
As this ecclesiastical institution was far from all rail- road stations, the nearest being Watertown, about
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eighteen miles away, it was not a success, and therefore was closed in 1843. This was, properly speaking, the first ecclesiastical seminary of the diocese of N. Y. There was, it is true, another one started at Nyack at an earlier date, namely in 1833; but it was destroyed by fire before it was ever completed. The farm buildings were used as a temporary seminary, pending the comple- tion of the main building, but this incipient institution never emerged from its embryonic stage, as it never had more than five students in theology and two professors, Rev. J. McGarry, President, and Rev. Jolin McClaskey, Assistant.
After a few years trial, Archbishop Hughes was con- vinced that the Lafargeville Seminary was a failure, and he used every effort to have John Lafarge take back his residence, but as the latter refused, he sent his brother Patrick Hughes to occupy the building and to till the farm. Patrick Hughes died there in 1852, but his family continued to live on the farm until about 21 years ago. Mrs. Eugene Kelley, the millionaire, who died in New York city a few years ago, and who left to the Catholic Cathedral of N. Y., a bequest of $250,000.00 to build a lady chapel, was a daughter of Patrick Huges. The latter, his wife, a child and grand-children are buried in our cemetery.
As soon as the seminary at Lafargeville was opened in September 1838, the catholic people of Clayton went there to mass, and continued to attend divine services in that institution for a few years. But as Thomas Bren-
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nan was the only catholic in town who owned a team of horses, the other people were obliged to walk seven miles to mass, or use oxen, and as this was found some- what inconvenient at certain times of the year, Father Francis Guth was asked by the catholics of Clayton to come and say mass in their village, at stated intervals, as he had formerly done, when stationed at Rosiere. To this request Father Guth gladly acceded. From that time, he said mass at John Tiernan's and at Thomas Brennan's, but more frequently in the brick school house, erected on the lot now occupied by D. D. Butt's residence, and in the stone school house which stood on the site of the present one.
Father Francis Guth was instrumental in starting the building of the old frame church which is now used for an opera house. He took up three subscriptions at different periods. On the first, Thomas Brennan signed $80.00, Terrance Mclaughlin $50.00, Patrick Cantwell $50.00, Thomas Delaney $50.00, William Hayes $40.00, Edward Conlon $30.00, E. G. Merrick (Prot.) $50.00, Thomas Fowler (Prot.) $50.00.
Vincent LeRay de Chaumont donated two building lots, viz. the church and rectory lots to St. Mary's con- gregation.
The lumber for the church was bought at Carthage and at Brownville, the lime at Dexter, (then Fisher's Island), and all the material for the church was drawn by Thomas Brennan, who, as stated before, owned the only team of horses among the catholics of Clayton.
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1
This devoted man-may his memory long live-would start in the evening, traveling all night, and returning the following day at an advanced hour. When we con- sider the poor roads then prevailing and the long dis- tance travelled, this gentleman's work must be called lieroic, and his devotedness to religion unbounded.
The church was started in the winter of 1842. Mass was celebrated in it the following fall, but it was only enclosed and far from being completed either inside or outside.
Thomas Delaney got out the timber for the chureli. William Hayes and Patrick Cantwell dug the founda- tions and built the cellar walls. Daniel Delaney of Ogdensburg drew the plans and built the church. Ed- ward Conlon and John Cantwell did the lathing.
The church, when completed, cost between twelve and fifteen hundred dollars, a large sum in those days. After it was enclosed, the people spoke about leaving it in this unfinished condition, but Father Guth loaned them $300.00, and with a few subscriptions they com- pleted the edifice. When finished, the whole debt on the church was $300 due Father Guth and over a hundred dollars due Thomas Brennan. It was said, that whilst the churchi was being built, Thomas Brennan neglected his own work at home to lielp along the work on the new church, that he subscribed more money than his means allowed him, and that in consequence he was obliged to mortgage his farm, which mortgage he never afterwards redeemed, and that he lost his property on
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T
OLD ST. MARY'S CHURCH BUILT IN 1842 AND USED TILL DECEMBER 1889.
account of the church. I am happy to be able to state the true facts in the case. Thomas Brennan's farm was indeed mortgaged and part of it sold by the sheriff, but not on account of the church, as he was paid in full, or very nearly so, under Father Michael Guth's pastorate, by Messrs Thomas O. Flynn and Joseph Thibault, then trustees of the church. Fortunately, the latter always preserved Thomas Brennan's receipts for money recei- ved in payment of what St. Mary's church owed hin, which receipts I now have in my possession. As re- gards Farther Francis Guth's $300.00, they were paid to his brother, Rev. Michael Guth, several years after.
Father Francis Guth said mass in the new church as soon as it was enclosed, but not after it was completed, for he left in 1843 and the church was finished and dedicated only in 1844.
From here Fr. F. Guth went to Watertown, from thence to Buffalo, and finally to France, where he died. The reputation of sanctity, or self sacrifice which this zealous priest left after him, has never been obliterated in the ininds of those who knew him, and to this day, they venerate and bless his memory as that of a true apostle of God.
Father Francis Guth was born in Alsace-Larraine 011 the lines between Germany and France. He came to this country in the thirties, when he was considerably advanced in age. He was first located at Holy Trinity church, Philadelphia, Pa., then he took charge of Ros- iere in 1837, from which place he attended Clayton. I11
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1838 he was appointed president of the seminary at La- fargeville and became pastor of the whole of Jefferson County, excepting Watertown and a few other places under the care of the priest at Carthage.
Father Francis Guth was tall and stout, had a dark complexion, was very neat, dressed well, was a good speaker, a skilfull financier, was kind, meek, pions, and inost charitable towards the poor. May he be eternally blessed for all he did for the catholics of Clayton and the surrounding parishes. It is to be regretted that no records of baptisms and marriages performed by Father Francis Guth can be found.
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CHAPTER III.
The Church is Completed .- Dedication of the New Church by Bishop John McCloskey .- Rev. John O'Dowd.
The fifth priest to visit Clayton, was Rev. John O'Dowd of Watertown. He had charge of this mission, when the new church was dedicated by Right Rev. Bishop J. McCloskey, in 1844. This was the first time Clayton welcomed a bishop, and a large class was con- firmned, among whom Mrs. B. Delaney and Mrs. Thomas O. Flynn who are still living.
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