The Journal and Republican

Lowville, NY

Thursday, May 23, 1929

James Hefferman In 1828:

John Lynch, 1882;

William Curtis, 1832;

James Kelley, 1840;

John Slegel, 1841;

Michael Phelan, 1856;

David O'Keefe, 1860

—Father James McBride, of Utica, Said First Mass About 1840.

The first Catholics to settle in, what is now the parish of Lowville were James Hefferman, who came from Tipperary, Ireland, and settled in Martinsburg as early as 1828; John Lynch, from the city of Dublin, Ireland, in 1832; William Curtis, from Meath in the same year, and James Kelley from New York in 1840. Among the first Catholic settlers of Lowville were John Siegel, of Bavaria, Germany, not earlier than 1841; Michael Phelan in 1856, and David O'Keefe in 1860. Father James McBride, of Utica, is reported to have said the first mass in the parish at the house of James Kelley about 1840. The first parish in this part of the county was formed in the Diocese of Albany in December, 1866, including Lowville, Watson, Martinsburg, Harrisburg, Pinckney and Worth. Father Herbst was appointed by Bishop Conroy to take charge of Lowville and surrounding towns. He stationed himself in Lowville in 1865 and said mass in the court house. Father Herbst remained about two years and left in 1867.

Organized October 3, 1869. He was succeeded December 8, 1867, by Rev. Joseph Fitzgerald; a man, it is said, of much ability. Under his leadership St. Peter's church was organized October 3, 1869, and a house of worship was erected the next year on the eastern border of Lowville village at a cost of $5,000, and with a seating capacity of 500. The church building was erected on land given for the purpose by the late Hon. Dewitt Clinton West in what was later called Church street. When the church was built, neither Church street or other streets in that section of the village were laid out, the section all being pasture land. Father Fitzgerald was succeeded by Rev. William B. Nyhan in 1871. There were then in the entire parish eighty families, mostly Irish, some German. In May, 1872, Lewis county was placed in the Diocese of Ogdensburg. During this year a mission was given by the Jesuit Father Langcake, which had a good effect upon the people. The church attendance increased and a better spirit began to prevail, which; was increased and added to by Father Nyhan in a mission given in 1874. Still later the Jesuit Father Dewey gave a third mission as successful as the others. Father Nyhan was very popular among the people under his charge. The church edifice was improved, a new residence built for the priest in 1876, at a cost of $4,000, a pipe-organ installed, a new altar and sanctuary added. After a stay of twelve years in Lowville, greatly improving the church property and increasing the membership, he retired and took charge of the parish at Brasher Falls, where he died in 1914. He was succeeded at Lowville by Rev. Joseph Redington in 1883, who left the following year, when Rev. Michael O'Neil took charge December 1. 1884. Rev. P. H. J. Ryan assumed charge of the parish June 1, 1886, and was followed June 1, 1893, by Rev. Dean Charles J. McMorrow, a very popular priest, who died in Lowville March 15, 1893. Father McMorrow found the church hampered with a debt of $1,684.70, but by the end of the year he had the debt paid and had raised besides $1,736.37 for repairs and running expenses. He was succeeded by Rev. John H. O'Rourke. Under his charge extensive repairs were made to the church and a new bell placed 1n the bell tower. Father O'Rourke is now stationed at St. Patrick's church at Malone. Very Rev. George L. Murray, V. F., the present pastor, was appointed to St. Peter's in September, 1908, coming to Lowville from Copenhagen where he had served the preceding six years. Maple Ridge was still a mission of St. Peter's, but in 1918 Father Murray was relived of that mission which was made a part of the Glenfield Greig parish. The Catholic population of St. Peter's parish is approximately 1.300 and the parish is incorporated with a board of trustees consisting of the Bishop; Rt. Rev. Mons. P. S., Garand, vicar-general; the pastor, and two lay trustees, J. J. O'Connor and George C. Feisthamel, with Peter McGovern as treasurer. Rev. Father Murray is a native of Canton; was educated at Canton grammar and high school and was graduated from St. Lawrence University in the class of 1890. He was ordained to the priesthood July 26, 1890. He went to the Copenhagen parish in 1902, after serving as assistant at the St. Mary's cathedral at Ogdensburg and being assistant pastor at Churubusco, Paul Smith's and Ticonderoga.

McGrath Genealogy	Upperchurch Connections	What's New?	Contact