Such is a brief sketch of the early life of the man appointed first bishop of Davenport.  A profound scholar, an eloquent preacher and an ardent churchman, when he took charge of the new diocese he threw himself into the work of building up the church in the promising field to which he had been assigned, with the ardor of an enthusiast.  On the 30th day of July, 1881, Bishop McMullen arrived in Davenport, and received a royal welcome not only from the people of his own church, but from citizens of Davenport generally.  After the ceremonies incident to his installation he took up his abode with Father Cosgrove, who for twenty-five years had been the pastor of St. Marguerite's church, and after a few days' rest began a visitation of his diocese in order to become acquainted with its condition.  He speedily placed himself en rapport, not only with the clergy but with the congregations of his diocese, and all became devotedly attached to the good man under whose guidance and through whose well directed efforts the interests of the church were rapidly advanced.  The priests of the diocese purchased and presented to him as an episcopal house the beautiful home of Antoine LeClaire, situated on a historic bluff overlooking the three cities of Davenport, Moline and Rock Island, and numberous other testimonials of their regard came to him from time to time.  In five months he visited almost every point in the diocese and confirmed more than six thousand people.  The labors which he undertook were too arduous, however, to be long endured, and in the first year of his administratorship his health broke down, and after a long continued illness he passed away, on the 4th of July, 1883, mourned by the church and the general public of his diocese, as well as by thousands of Catholics in Chicago and elsewhere, where he was known.  When Bishop McMullen began his labors in Davenport he had selected St. Marguerite's as the cathedral church, and Rev. Henry Cosgrove, D. D., pastor of that church, as vicar-general of the diocese.  Becoming thus the bishop's chief executive in looking after the affairs of the diocese, a large measure of responsibility for its welfare devolved at once upon Father Cosgrove.  He had a more extensive acquaintance throughout the diocese than any other priest, and a more intimate knowledge than any of them of the condition of the various parishes, of the opportunities for church extension and of the educational and charitable work to be look after. In his capacity as vicar-general he was called upon, when Bishop McMullen was stricken with the illness which ended his life, to take charge in great measure of diocesan affairs, and while the good bishop, up to the last hour of his life never lost interest in these affairs, it was Father Cosgrove who received his instructions and executed his plans.  Brought thus into a most intimate relationship to the diocese as a whole, and having demonstrated his fitness for the high office of a bishop of the church, by actual performance of many of the duties incident thereto, it was natural that there should have been on the part of the clergy of the diocese a desire that the Rev. Dr. Cosgrove should become successor to Bishop McMullen.  A petition to this effect, signed by nearly all the priests of the diocese, was sent to Rome, this being, it is said, the first instance in the history of the church in the United States in which the priests of a diocese petitioned for the appointment of one of their number as bishop.  It received the favorable consideration of the cabinet of cardinals and Father Cosgrove became second bishop of Davenport. 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