St. Charles, Illinois

Kane County

St. Patrick's Catholic Church

The Parish Once Included Geneva & Other Nearby Communities

       In 1840 or 1841 the pioneer Catholics of St.Charles met for divine worship at the homes of JOHN BARRY (where MOSEDALE house later stood), JOHN O'CONNOR (the old Jennings home), M. FLANNERY's, and several others.  Mass was celebrated by FATHERS DOYLE and FEELY, priests sent from Chicago to attend to Catholic settlers of Elgin.  In 1845 Rev. WILLIAM FEELY was appointed first resident pastor at Elgin, and from that date to 1853 he attended the Catholics of St. Charles, usually once a month.  In 1851, under the direction of Father FEELY, the church was built by JAMES O'CONNOR, assisted by his brothers PATRICK and DENNIS LONG.  JAMES O'CONNOR had built a Catholic church in Ottawa in 1848, and model St. Patrick's after it.  The land for the church had been generously donated by Mr. DARWIN MILLINGTON.

       The church was located on West Fourth and Cedar Streets.  St. Patrick's was completed and dedicated in 1852 by BISHOP Van De VILDE, second bishop of Chicago.  About 1853 Rev. PATRICK O'DWYER had a wide field of labor, attending to the Catholics of Elburn and West Chicago (then Turner Junction), members of the fold in Batavia and Geneva attending the church in St. Charles.  For many years at the early date the Catholic congregation was large and prosperous.  But when we of this day and age remember the many sacrifices made, privations endured and difficulties surmounted, our hearts are filled with affection and gratitude and we must  admire the fortitude and zeal of the pioneer priest and layman.  

Pastors of St. Patrick's Church

1840-1853 -  Fathers Doyle and Feely

1853-1860 - Father James O'Dwyer

1860-1862  - Father Murphy

1862-1863 - Father McGivern

1863-1864 - Father O'Sullivan

1864-1865 - Father Rigby

1865-1867 - Father O'Neil

1867-1870 - Father Campbell

1870-1875 - Father M. Pendergast

1875-1877 - Father O'Connor

1877-1880 - Father Spellman

1880-1881 - Father M. Zara

1881-1883 - Father Burch

1883-1886 - Father Gaulet, Sr.

1886-1890 - Father John Madden

1890-1897 - Father A. Gaulet, Jr.

1897-1905 - Father M. Stack

1905 -                - Father Timothy Ryan was born in Tipperary, Ireland April 21, 1864 and began his education in the national schools of that country.  He prepared for the priesthood at All Hallows College, Dublin, and was ordained June 23, 1889 by Archbishop Walsh of Dublin, for the arch-diocese of Chicago.  Father Ryan was assigned to St. Cecelia's Church, Chicago, as assistant pastor for thirteen years.  In 1902 he was appointed pastor of the Catholic Church at Harmon, Illinois, and remained at that place until coming to St.Charles in 1905.  Through his efforts Mount Saint Mary's Academy under the supervision of the Dominican Sisters of New York was opened in September 1907.

First Catholic Settlers

Following are the names of a few of the first Catholic settlers, descendants of whom largely constitute the congregation from St. Charles of 1908:

John BARRY

William BAYLESON

M. BRENNAN

Barney CASSIDY

Thomas COLLINS

M. DILLON

William DOHERTY

Thomas DOYLE

P. FAY

M and P. FLANNERY

Thomas FOLEY

P. GARRITY

Thomas HALPIN

Patrick JENNINGS

Patrick JOYCE

James KAVANAUGH

M. KEATING

John KELLY

B. KENNEDY

Mrs. KERWIN

M. LAWLER

Frank LENNARTZ

Dennis LONG

Dennis McAULEY

Thomas McCABE

Hugh McCLONE

John McCOY

Felix McFARLANE

A. McNEVIN

P. MORAN

Patrick MURAINE

Michael MURPHY

Thomas MURPHY and brother, M. MURPHY

John O'CONNOR

M. O'KANE

P and D. O'MALLEY

Patrick PILLAN

Cornelius REID

Thomas ROCHE

T. RYAN

M. SHEARIN

John SHEEHAN

Peter TURBET

George WELCH

The early settlers of Geneva which was then part of St. Patrick's Parish were:

ADAMSON

BOWENS

CANNON

CLANCY

Mrs. CROTTY

HOGAN

JOYCE

LANDERS

LAWLERS

MASTERSONS

McGREENS

NAVINS

QUINNS

WHEELERS

Source:  History of Kane County by Joslyn & Joslyn 1908

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