Chapter 20 cont. SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL The mother church in the city of Davenport was the historic St. Anthony's, succeeded by the existing stone church.  This stone church was opened to divine worship on Christmas day, 1853.  In the fourteen years prior to that time the brick building now used as a schoolhouse was the church.  In June, 1856, St. Kunegunda's church was opened for German Catholics, and on June 29, 1856, the first stone of St. Marguerite's church, the predecessor of Sacred Heart cathedral, was blessed by Bishop Loras of Dubuque in the presence of a large assemblage, the sermon on the occasion being preached by Rev. John P, Donelan.  On the third Sunday of the following October the church was dedicated by the venerable Father Pelamourgues of St. Anthony's church.  The corner stone of St. Mary's church was laid on July 21, 1867.  No parishes were created until a few years ago.  Holy Family church was established, making five in all up to that time, in the city of Davenport.  The square upon which St. Marguerite's church was erected was the donation of Antoine LeClaire, Davenport's famous Catholic citizen and benefactor, and his generosity exceeded the donation of the site.  Bishop Loras had appointed Rev. Andrew Trevis the first pastor of the new parish, and for his use a frame residence was erected, which was later moved north of the church, and in 1859 converted into a school.  This frame structure was again enlarged later on so as to furnish schoolrooms and living rooms for the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who were placed in charge in 1861.  In 1859 a brick pastoral residence was erected; the place between it and the church was filled in 1866 by a building forming the left wing of the original church structure.  The materials for this addition were partly bought and partly donated, the work manifesting the good results of the first mission ever preached in Davenport by the noted Jesuit missionary, Father Damen, who made many converts at that time and greatly stimulated religious interest by his powerful exhortations.  In the summer of 1861 Antoine LeClaire added to his long list of benefactions by presenting to St. Marguerite's parish twenty acres of land lying north of the city of Davenport, which since then have been used and known as St. Marguerite's cemetery, thus perpetuating the original name of the congregation.  In September,  1861, Mr. LeClaire died, mourned by all the Catholics of the city and non-Catholics as well.  The memory of his charities and benefactions will ever be cherished in this city and his good works no doublt were powerful advocates for him at the bar of divine justice. In November, 1861, Rev. A. Trevis, suffering from a severe throat trouble, was obliged to seek relief in another climate, and therefore left Davenport, leaving St. Marguerite's church in charge of his young assistant, Rev. Henry Cosgrove, who had been with him since 1857.  Under the direction of this zealous and able young priest the prosperity of the flock advanced steadily and in 1865 the foundations were laid for a large addition to the church which was completed in 1866, greatly enlarging the edifice.  Father Pelamourgues and Father Laurent, assisted at the dedicatory ceremonies at the completion of the addition.  In 1870 and 1871 the brick schoolhouse was built at the northwest corner of the church square, which is in use today, with the large addition erected in recent years, accommodating now nearly five hundred pupils.  Originally the center room of the gournd floor was used as an assembly hall and parish library room, but the constant increase in the number of pupils gradually required the turning over of this room to the use of the scholars of the parish.  So great had been the progress and development of St. Marguerite's that when, in 1881, Davenport was erected into an Episcopal see, it was was chosen by the first bishop, Right Rev. John McMullen, D. D., for the cathedral of the new Iowa diocese. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L