Chapter 20 EARLY CATHOLIC HISTORY The following facts relating to the history of the Catholic church in Davenport have been taken from articles written by Rev. John F. Kempker and from others that have appeared in the Catholic Messenger from time to time. On the 22d of April, 1837, the Fathers of the Third Provincial Council of Baltimore petitioned Pope Gregory XVI that Dubuque be made an Episcopal see, having for its diocese all that portion of the territory of Wisconsin which lies between the west bank of the Mississippi river and the east bank of the Missouri river.  In an apostolical brief of July 28th of the same year the Pope appointed Very Rev. Mathias Loras as bishop of Dubuque and on the 2d of September, 1837, information was forwarded by letter to the archbishop of Baltimore and on the following 10th of December, Dr. Loras was consecrated by Bishop M. Portier in the cathedral of Mobile, Alabama. Bishop Loras was born on the 30th day of August, 1792, and was the son of parents who were prominent in society for their piety and devotion to the church.  On account of loyalty to the royal family the father was sacrificed to the brutality of the mob spirit then rampant in France.  Young Loras and his mother escaped injury at the hands of the revolutionists and he received his preparation for the priesthood in an old Carthusian house conducted by missionary priests.  He was ordained at Lyons in 1817 and soon afterward was appointed superior of the seminary of Largentiere, where he remained several years.  Later he joined a band of missionary priests who were conducting spiritual conferences in the Lyons diocese, in which he was engaged when he accompanied the bishop of Mobile to this country, arriving at New Orleans December 24, 1829.  He reached the seat of the new diocese on the 3d day of January, in 1830.  In the organization of the diocese the bishop appointed Loras as vicar general as well as pastor of the cathedral church.  When the Spring Hill college was opened Father Loras was one of the professors and in 1833-34 was president of the institution.  The Fathers of the III Provincial Council of Baltimore proposed Dubuque for a new diocese and Bishop Rosati pointed out Father Loras as a worthy incumbent.  He was recommended by the assembled fathers as eminently deserving and his choice for the uncultivated but promising territory proved providential.  In the month of Auguse he received from Rome the announcement of his appointment.  After his appointment he went to France where he remained a number of months, returning in the fall of 1838 accompanied by Revs. Joseph Cretin, J. A. M. Pelamourgues, and four sub-deacons, August Ravoux, Remigues Peliot, Lucien Galtier and J. Causse.  Proceeding on their journey to Baltimore Father Pelamourgues and the four seminarists remained at the St. Mary's Seminary while Bishop Loras and Father Cretin continued on to St. Louis.  Here they were compelled to remain for the winter on account of the weather and the closing of navigation on the river.  At. St. Louis the Creoles avowed they never knew anyone to preach better than the Bishop of Dubuque.  In the spring Father Pelamourgues joined his superior and soon after Easter they continued on their way to Dubuque on a Mississippi steamer, arriving at their destination on the 19th day of April, 1839.  On the day following the prelate baptized an infant, the first baptism recorded in the register of Dubuque.  After 21st the new bishop was solemnly installed in his cathedral church, with the assistance of Revs. Joseph Cretin, J. A. M. Pelamourgues and S. Mazzuchelli.  On the 23d of May Bishop Loras visited Davenport, where he blessed St. Anthony's church.  In 1849 he commenced the building of his new cathedral and in December, 1857, he celebrated holy mass therein and on the following day suffered an attack of paralysis.  On February 18th he offered up the holy sacrifice and seemed cheerful.  Later in the day  he showed much pleasure and vivacity in greeting Father Emonds, who had then arrived on his return from Europe.  Early in the evening he retired.  At about 8 o'clock Father McCabe heard moaning and when the Bishop's room was entered he was found unconsicious.  He closed his eyes in death the following morning, February 19, 1858. 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