Untitled Document

Father Quinn and the St. Joseph Catholic Church

Father Quinn is a native of Illinois and was born on May 16, 1857 , and after completing his classics at Notre Dame University entered the Baltimore Seminary and was ordained in the year 1882. He spent a short time as assistant in Bloomington , Ill. , and was then assigned as pastor at Chebanse , Ill. , and later was given charge of the parish at Chatsworth , Ill. In the latter place he built a magnificent property consisting of a church, school and rectory. he entered upon his duties in Rock Island on October 24, 1905 , and immediately began the reorganization of the parish.

He met with such success that on April 15, of the following year, he was able to begin the rebuilding of the church and rectory, which was completed and dedicated on November 4, 1906 , a little over one year after his arrival in the city and at a total cost of more than $150,000. In the fall of 1912 he began the erection of a modern, four- story fire-proof school building which at this time (April, 1913) is almost completed. The building will cost in excess of $55,000 and will have ample accommodations for 600.

On the ground floor there is a large auditorium for the use of the various organizations of the parish. During the short time that Father Quinn has been in charge of St. Joseph's parish he has expended more than $100,000 in and about the improvement of its property, and with an indebtedness at the present time of less than $20,000, thereby demonstrating the value of business capacity in the administration of church affairs.

The title of Dean was conferred upon him shortly after he came to Rock Island and he is also a member of the Bishops' Council and for many years has been considered one of the leading pulpit orators of the state.

Soon after becoming pastor of St. Joseph's Church Father Quinn took up and successfully carried through the reorganization and incorporation of the Calvary Cemetery Association and instituted a number of parish organizations. For several years Father Quinn has had the able assistance of Rev. William J Cleary, who was born iu Momence, Ill., in the year 1882 and ordained June 6. 1906. Father Cleary is not only an eloquent speaker but has the faculty of organizing and directing the younger members of the congregation. In the year 1911 he established a branch of the Western Catholic Union in St. Joseph's parish and the branch is now composed of more than seventy-five of the younger men of the parish. Under the present administration St. Joseph's Church has identified itself with every public movement inaugurated for the advancement of the city and for the betterment of its people.

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

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Illinois Ancestors

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