USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
be used for the erection of a church, each member agreeing to con- tribute a certain amount each month. The following is a list of the names of those who were charter members of this Association:
William Williams Thomas Kane John Quinn William Belton John Gile Patrick Mullhollan Roger Fitzpatrick Bernard Manion John McCallin
George Belton Robert Belton Thomas Ryan
Peter Mullhollan
James Mullhollan
Thomas T. Baker
James Eagan Patrick Terriel
John Atchinson
Thomas Mahoney
Michael Murtiguh
Peter Mahoney
John Shields
Patrick Gallagher
Martin Welch
Subsequently the following became members of this Association and paid their monthly dues for the purpose for which the Association was organized:
William Duffey Michael Felvey
Robert Anderson
James Dorran
Joseph O'Hare
Daniel Dorran William Brown Peter Kennedy Edward Black James Tomey Pat. Ward
James Carson Patrick Bahret James Beck Neil Brosnel James Shoffrey Patrick Butler
William Cunningham
David O'Connor Andrew Key
John Crilly Pat. Hopkins
Michael O'Rielly Maurice Pendegrast William Fibes James Gilligan Hugh Mullhollan
Joseph Donaghue Finton Shelar Andrew Murtaugh
Hugh Hart Patrick O'Mara
Among those whose names are mentioned above, the following were residents of Hyde Park : William Cunningham James Shoffrey Pat. O'Mara Finton Shelar
Pat. Butler David O'Connor Michael O'Rielly Andrew Key
-...
James Quinn John Madden Lawrence Murphy Patrick Cox
616
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
On August 8, 1835, a deed was executed by John Delafield and Harriet Delafield his wife, to the Rev. John Du Bois, Catholic Bishop of New York. This deed was recorded May 21, 1836, in the Dutchess County Clerk's office in Liber 59 of Deeds, at page 263. Consideration, $1.
This deed conveyed a lot on Mill street and it was given to the Catholics by Mr. Delafield "to have and to hold the same and every part and parcel thereof unto the said party of the second part and his successors in office as Catholic Bishop of New York, forever; nevertheless upon the following express conditions: That the erection of a Catholic church be commenced on said premises within a con- venient time and be completed within two years from this date and that the said premises be occupied forever for Catholic worship and for no other purpose whatever, and in case said church shall not be erected and completed after said two years, and in case the premises shall at any time be used for any other purpose than that of a Catholic church, then and in that case the estate hereby granted shall cease and determine and shall revert to the grantor, his heirs and assigns as fully and as amply as same would have been held by him or them in case this conveyance had never been made."
This was the first property obtained by the church authorities, and it was on this lot that the first church in Dutchess County was erected. This edifice was small in comparison to the. present building. It now forms the rear portion of the present church. It extended east and west, instead of north and south and stood well back from the street. The front of the little church faced the river, and the entrance was through the alley which now runs parallel with the modern church and between it and the rectory.
Subsequently the church authorities purchased a number of other lots of land adjacent to the above, upon which the rectory and the old building known as the "Library Building" are built.
Fr. Philip O'Rielly was succeeded by Rev. Patrick Duffey (1837) who became pastor at Cold Spring. His missionary field extended to Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Saugerties. Towards the end of this year, Newburgh was made a separate mission, and Fr. Duffey was appointed its pastor. It was at the termination of his brief adminis- tration that St. Peter's Church was dedicated, viz: November 26, 1837, by Bishop Du Bois, assisted by Rev. William Quarter and
617
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Rev. Patrick Duffey. Towards the end of this year Poughkeepsie was made a separate parish, with Saugerties and Rondout as its dependencies. Fr. Duffey died at Newburgh June 20th, 1853, in the fifty-ninth years of his age.
The Rev. John McGinnis was, about November 24, 1837, appointed by Bishop Du Bois, pastor of Poughkeepsie, Saugerties and Rondout, as appears by the following letter, a copy of which is to be found in the church records :
"November 24, 1837, New York:
A copy of the letter of the Right Rev. John Du Bois appointing me to the pastorate of Poughkeepsie, Rondout and Saugerties.
'The Rev. John McGinnis, in whose prudence and zeal I can rely, is authorized by me to attend as Pastor, the three congregations of Poughkeepsie, Rondout and Saugerties if they will all concur, to the best of their abilities to contribute to his decent support. I leave to his prudence to distribute his services among these three so that they each shall be attended at least once a month.'
Signed,
JOHN, BISHOP OF NEW YORK."
About the end of 1839 he was transferred to New York City. There he built the Church of St. John the Evangelist and was made pastor of St. Andrew's, New York, and subsequently transferred to Jamaica, Long Island.
Following Fr. McGinnis January, 1839, came the Rev. John N. Smith, who became pastor of Poughkeepsie, Sangerties and Rondout. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. He came to the United States in early youth, in 1818, and was ordained in about 1828. In 1833 to 1837 he did service in Alexandria, District of Columbia. He was assistant at St. Peter's, New York, in 1838 to Rev. Dr. Power, V. G. He was an energetic and charitable priest. He erected a small frame church at Rondout. In 1842 he was sent from the Poughkeepsie pastorate to St. James's Church, New York, where he remained as pastor until 1848. He died February 16th, 1848, a martyr to charity, having contracted ship fever at the dying bed of Fr. Frank Murphy, then at the quarantine station of Staten Island, taking care of the immi- grants. He was buried under the Cathedral.
His successor as pastor of Poughkeepsie, Saugerties and Rondout was the Rev. Myles Maxwell, who was born in Ireland, educated for the priesthood at LaFargeville, N. Y., and at St. Joseph's Seminary, Fordham, ordained by Bishop Hughes January 5, 1841. Fr. Max-
+
618
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
well became pastor at Poughkeepsie about July, 1842, succeeding Fr. John N. Smith, and remained until about September, 1844. Fr. Max- well was noted for his zeal, learning and fidelity to duty, as well as for his candor and winning simplicity. He was pastor also at Rondout. He died August 31st, 1849.
Following Fr. Maxwell, about May, 1844, came Rev. Joseph P. Burke, who remained until about September, 1844, when Rev. Michael Riordan became pastor of St. Peter's Church, Poughkeepsie.
Rev. Michael Riordan was born in Kilfennane, County Limerick, Ireland, Christmas Day, 1821. He came to this country when young and entered Fordham. He was ordained a priest April 14, 1844, by most Rev. John Hughes, and was by him assigned to Poughkeepsie. He came here about September, 1844, where he remained until his death, June 13, 1870. Fr. Riordan has been practically regarded as the founder of the church. His pastorate of twenty-six years was one of faithful and useful work. When he came to Poughkeepsie the number of Catholics was small and a strong prejudice existed against them in the community. Fr. Riordan, by his benevolent work and his upright life, succeeded in overcoming this prejudice almost entirely, and though he was not a man of broad and liberal habit of thought as have been some of his successors, he was universally respected and esteemed, and his death was sincerely mourned by many outside his own communion.
During his administration the church was enlarged. In 1850 the house and lot, No. 15 Mansion street, was sold at auction and Mr. Peter Thielman, a German member of the church, bought it for the parish for a rectory, the deed being executed to Archbishop Hughes of New York. It continued to be used as a rectory until 1860, when the present house adjoining the church on the west was built and the property on Mansion street was sold to Peter Shields. In 1852-3 the church was enlarged to nearly its present size and shape. The old building was remodeled so as to form the transept, and the main body of the church, or nave, was built. It was dedicated in 1853, and its completion was the beginning of a new era in the history of the Catholic Church in Poughkeepsie. Its construction was due almost entirely to the persevering efforts of Fr. Riordan, who also succeeded, during his long term of service, in erecting the rectory above referred to, a library connected with the church and the two
619
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
large commodious parochial schools now being used, together with the house occupied by the Sisters, on North Clover street. During his whole term, the church continued to grow and prosper, increasing in numbers, means and influence. He performed his work well. He was a power for good. He aimed to be of service, spiritually and materi- ally, to his people. He worked for the cause of education, for a loftier civilization and a higher grade of citizenship. He was a strong advocate of Christian education. On May 1st, 1860, he purchased the property upon which the girls' school is erected, on North Clover street, and on April 7, 1868, he purchased the property on the south side of Mill street upon which the boys' school is situated. Prior to the opening of these schools he provided teachers for the education of his children, and the old library and the basement of St. Peter's Church were used as school-rooms. Fr. Riordan, during the early days of the Rebellion showed his patriotism and sympathy for the Northern cause by his speech at the flag raising on Market street, May 28, 1861. He also presided at a flag raising at St. Peter's Church, Saturday evening, May 18, 1861. The Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle of that time said that Fr. Riordan's address was "a sound and eloquent appeal to the patriotism of his auditors and well worthy his reputation as a man and a scholar."
He was a strong advocate of temperance, and during his pastorate St. Peter's Temperance Society was organized, and upon the occasion when he presented the Temperance Society with the American Flag, November 2, 1867, he said: "Take this and in my heart I know that none of my children will ever dishonor it." During his time the ceme- tery on East Mansion street was enlarged by purchases of land adjoin- ing. The first lot had been purchased in 1841; the cemetery on the Salt Point Road was purchased by him December 30, 1854. In this cemetery a handsome monument is erected to his memory, and on March 22, 1908, a handsome memorial window was placed in St. Peter's Church. The funeral of Fr. Riordan was one of the largest ever held in Poughkeepsie, and was attended by all classes of people.
After the death of Fr. Riordan, Rev. Francis Caro, of Cold Spring, was sent to St. Peter's as its pastor, and he remained at Poughkeepsie a little more than a year. Fr. Caro was born in Italy. During his pastorate, one of the finest celebrations of St. Patrick's Day ever held in Poughkeepsie took place, Friday, March 17, 1871. The day was
620
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
observed by four masses at St. Peter's Church and by a parade in the afternoon of the various societies attached to the church, the parade being reviewed by Mayor Eastman and the Common Council from the stoop of the old Poughkeepsie Hotel. Succeeding Fr. Caro, came Rev. Patrick Francis McSweeney, D. D., in February, 1872. He was born in Ireland in 1838. He came to this country with his father when he was about eleven years of age and the ship on which they made the voyage was wrecked off the coast of Delaware and the two barely escaped with their lives and were compelled to walk forty miles afoot to the Delaware River, where they got a boat to take them to Philadelphia. In 1862 Fr. McSweeney was ordained a priest at Rome. He was appointed to the Church of St. Joseph, Sixth avenue, New York, and from there he went to the old Cathedral Church on Mott street, New York. In January, 1871, he was ap- pointed pastor at Peekskill, N. Y. Subsequently he was transferred to Poughkeepsie in February, 1872, and remained until November, 1877, when he went to St. Bridget's Church, New York City. Dur- ing his term he transferred the control of the two parochial schools to the Board of Education of Poughkeepsie, so that the same could be used as a part of the regular public school system. At the time they had an average attendance of about seven hundred scholars. This was known as "The Poughkeepsie Plan" and it worked well for many years. It was during this time that the Church of St. Mary was organized (1873) but not incorporated until 1879. It was also during his time that the Church of St. Peter was incorporated, the certificate of incorporation being dated April 19, 1875, and recorded in the Dutchess County Clerk's office May 1st, 1875, the first trus- tees being the Most Rev. John McCloskey, Archbishop; the Very Rev. William Quinn, Vicar-General; Rev. Patrick F. McSweeney, D. D., pastor ; John Kelly and John Hart. The beautiful painting back of the altar, which came from Rome, was presented to the church by Fr. McSweeney just about the time he was leaving. From Poughkeepsie Fr. McSweeney went to St. Bridget's, New York, as pastor, where he remained until he died, February 24th, 1907.1
1. The Star of the Sea Council, C. W. B. L., has placed In St. Peter's Church as a memorial to Rev. Patrick F. McSweeney a handsome painting called "The Angel of the Resurrection." It was presented to the church in September, 1908.
Dr. Edward McSweeney, in August, 1908, arranged for a permanent scholarship at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, N. Y., for St. Peter's parish, in memory of the late
--- --------
REV. JOHN H. BRIODY.
1
621
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Following Fr. McSweeney came Rev. James Nilan. Fr. Nilan was born at Castle Daly, County of Galway, Ireland, September 27, 1838. At the age of fourteen his uncle, Rev. John Ryan, brought him to this country and placed him at St. John's College, Fordham, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1860 as one of the honor men of his class. After graduating he entered the Diocesan Theological Seminary at Fordham, where he remained a year and then, with Rev. Dr. Morrow, he went to Rome. At the American College there he completed his theological course, and had the distinction of being the first priest ordained in it for New York. In the same class was ordained the late Archbishop Corrigan for the diocese of Newark. The ceremony was performed in the Basilica of St. John Lateran by His Eminence Cardinal Patrizzi, on the 19th of September, 1863. . Upon his return to this country in 1864, his first mission was to the Church of the Holy Cross, New York City, where for four years, August 21st, 1864, to August 7, 1868, he labored with all the zeal of a newly ordained priest. He was then promoted to the pastorate at Port Jervis. Here a new church edifice and an orphan asylum are monuments to his labors. At that time Port Jervis had ten out-stations and all these it was the duty of Fr. Nilan to attend. It was at Port Jervis that the system by which the parish schools were placed under the direction of the Board of Education was originated. Later it was tried success- fully by Dr. McSweeney, as before mentioned in our own St. Peter's schools here in Poughkeepsie. Fr. Nilan became pastor of St. Peter's Church, Poughkeepsie, November 16, 1877. His untiring labor in this part of God's vineyard has brought it to where it now is, a model parish spiritually, intellectually and socially. In season and out. of season he strove to lift his fold to his plane of sanctity. He was most attentive to the sick. Day or night, rain or shine, he answered to the call of duty. During his pastorate many important changes and improvements were made in St. Peter's Church. He had the four beautiful paintings placed in the sanctuary, representing "The giving
Rev. Patrick F. McSweeney. In speaking of the scholarship, Dr. McSweeney sald: "My brother wanted this scholarship established, and I had it placed in St. Peter's parish here, because, although my brother had been away from Poughkeepsle thirty years when he died, I am sure that his heart was here and that he loved St. Peter's. I therefore wanted to have his monument here, such a monument as will be better than brass or stone."
The scholarship will be for a boy from St. Peter's, who can pass the required ex- aminations.
622
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
of the key to St. Peter," "The restoration of sight to St. Paul, after his conversion," "St. John, the beloved Disciple," and "St. James." He had the church enlarged. New stained glass windows, new sta- tions, a new marble altar, new heating system, the frescoing of the interior of the church and the acquiring of adjacent property and other things might be mentioned in connection with the fact that prior to the time of his death he paid off the debt on the church and left it clear and unincumbered. No one who has had the privilege of close contact with Fr. Nilan can question his wide range of subjects, the wonderful accuracy and ripeness of his knowledge. As a theologian, he stood in front rank. As a linguist, there were few to excel him. He spoke Italian fluently, being the spiritual director of the Italian Benevolent Society. He numbered German also among his linguistic acquirements. As a citizen he was ever ready to further any project for the city's advancement. Many civic societies had his name on the list of members. He was well known as an advocate of temperance, believing, and truly, that much of life's misery is caused directly or indirectly by intemperance. It would be impossible to condense into the short space here allowed, a life history crowded with events worthy of record. Fr. Nilan's life and deeds are indelibly impressed on the hearts and souls of a loving people. Toward the close of his twenty- fifth year as pastor of St. Peter's a most elaborate program to cele- brate worthily the glorious event was being prepared by a committee organized for such purpose. Suddenly, in the middle of the arrange- ments, Fr. Nilan became sick and died; Saturday, November 15, 1902. His body lay in state till the morning of the 18th of November, when the solemn High Mass of Requiem was sung. Rev. Patrick F. Mc- Sweeney was Celebrant, Rev. Henry F. Brann, D. D., Deacon, and Rev. Gallus Bruder, Sub-Deacon. A panegyric was delivered by his life long friend, Very Rev. R. L. Burtsell, D. D. The mass was at- tended by His Grace Most Rev. John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York, who pronounced the absolution at its close. Among those pres- ent were Archbishop Ireland of St. Paul, Bishop Quigley of Buffalo, Monsignor Mooney and Monsignor Edwards of New York, Monsig- nor Cannon of Lock Port, Monsignor Kennedy of the American Col- lege at Rome, Monsignor Nugent of Liverpool, Eng., and upwards of one hundred and fifty priests. The funeral was one of the most imposing, if not the most imposing the City of Poughkeepsie has ever
623
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
witnessed. A number of religious societies of St. Peter's and other parishes walked in procession to the grave. The funeral cortege was over a mile in length, and both sides of the street were crowded with people, whose tear bedimmed eyes gave proof of the affection they bore to him whose remains were passing to their last resting place in St. Peter's Cemetery. The thought has occurred to many, how strange it was that the Angel of Death should call him away on the eve of the day upon which he was to celebrate his jubilee. God knew best. He wished Fr. Nilan to celebrate his jubilee with Him in heaven. The pall bearers were Dr. Edward M. Burns, Dr. John H. Cotter, Patrick C. Doherty, Thomas J. Furlong, William J. Leahey, Hugh Lavery, John J. Mylod and John Nevins.
Fr. Nilan was chaplain of Florentine Council, No. 304, Knights of Columbus.
His parishioners have erected to his memory a handsome monument in the cemetery on the Salt Point Road, and on July 12, 1908, they also placed in St. Peter's Church a handsome memorial window.
After Fr. Nilan's death Rev. William Livingston was, on Wednes- day, December 31st, 1902, appointed pastor of St. Peter's Church by Right Rev. Archbishop Farley. Fr. Livingston is a native of Ire- land, having been born in County Monohan in 1857. At the age of fifteen years he came to this country and entered the dry goods house of A. T. Stewart as a cash boy. He was advanced while in the employ of Mr. Stewart, but notwithstanding this, he did not remain. He then in succession worked in an importing house, a drug store, and as a newspaper reporter. He was not satisfied in any of these posi- tions but assumed them that he might eventually be able to enter college and prepare himself for a more holy and elevated life. In 1880 his desire was gratified when he entered the college of St. Francis Xavier in New York City. So zealously did he apply himself to his studies and so great was his capacity for mental exertion and hard work, that at the time of graduation he was conceded to be one of the most promising young men that had ever been graduated from the college. In September of the same year Fr. Livingston went to Troy, N. Y., and entered the Seminary there. Here he continued until his ordination to the priesthood. That took place in 1887. He was, shortly after being ordained, assigned to St. Stephen's Church, New York City. In 1889 he was made rector pro tem of the church of
624
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
White Plains. In September of the same year he was appointed director of St. Joseph's Seminary at Troy, remaining there in that capacity until the Seminary was closed, in 1896. He was then trans- ferred to the Seminary at Dunwoodie, Yonkers, N. Y., where he be- came professor of Church History and Liturgy. A year later he became Chaplain of the House of Good Shepherd in New York, and in 1900 he was assigned as pastor of St. Mary's Church at New- burgh, N. Y. While there he succeeded in enlisting the co-operation of his parishioners to a most remarkable degree and was able to pay $9,000 of the church debt. Fr. Livingston is one of the brightest and ablest priests of the State. He is a true gentleman of culture and refinement and has attained a prominence in ecclesiastical circles that is remarkable in so young a man. He is a lecturer of wide repu- tation, and his services as such are earnestly sought after. In many important stations filled by Fr. Livingston since his ordination he has been an energetic and indefatigable worker. He has shown wisdom and discretion and rare administrative power and is a man of pro- gressive ideas.
He is a man of frank, honest disposition, one who combines in an admirable manner dignity with cordiality, and one to whom people are drawn irresistably.
Fr. Livingston, while in Poughkeepsie, was a prominent member of Florentine Council, No. 304, Knights of Columbus. He was Chap- lain of the Council, and laid the corner stone of Columbus Institute on Washington street, on October 12th, 1904.
During his administration of the affairs of St. Peter's Church, Fr. Livingston made it a point to keep his people in thorough touch with his plans. He was an eloquent preacher and interpreted the lessons of Christ's life in a manner interesting and instructive, and explained the Gospel so clearly that he never failed to make a vivid impression on his hearers. He had the happy faculty of interesting in various phases of his work all classes of his parishioners. He took particular interest in the young people, and as a consequence he was idolized by the boys, with whom, at times, he was most strict, and by the mem- bers of the young ladies' societies. While in Poughkeepsie, he proved himself a good, true priest, kind, benevolent, and sympathetic, an ideal administrator of the material matters that must be looked after by a rector, a citizen, loyal, patriotic and public spirited. Through
1
625
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Fr. Livingston's efforts, a monument was erected to the memory of Samuel Neilson, the Irish patriot, who died in exile at the home of a friend in Poughkeepsie, August 29, 1803. The monument was erected in the Rural Cemetery on the one hundred and second anniversary of the death of Neilson. The inscription on the monument is as follows:
"Sacred to the memory of Samuel Neilson, an Irish Patriot of 1798, one of the founders of the United Irishmen, who sacrificed his fortune and his life in the cause of his country. Born in County Down, Ireland, in September, 1761. Died in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., August 28, 1803. Erected by the Ancient Order of Hiber- nians, Division No. 2, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., August 29, 1905."
The oration on the occasion was delivered by Fr. Livingston. In January, 1906, Fr. Livingston was appointed pastor of St. Gabriel's Church, New York City.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.