- REV. THOMAS DEMPSEY. The face and figure of the Rev. Father
DEMPSEY, pastor of St.
- Victor's Catholic Church at Monroe, Green county, are familiar,
he having been in charge of that parish for more than eight years.
Nor is it too much to add that by his gentle manners, kindly
sympathy and consistent Christian life he has endeared himself,
not only to his flock, but to the community at large, without
distinction of creed.
- St. Victor's was originally a mission station, established
about 1850, and the first mass was
- celebrated by Rev. J. COLTON, of Shullsburg. Masses were
said from time to time, and the sacraments administered, as occasion
permitted, by clergymen from that point and from Janesville until
1860, when the number of Catholics in the locality appeared to
the Bishop of the diocese to be sufficient to justify the establishment
of a parish, and the appointment of a resident pastor. Rev. T.
SULLIVAN was the first to fill the position. During his pastorate,
which extended over a period of six years, the first church edifice
was erected. Father SULLIVAN was transferred to Beloit, July
1, 1866, where he died, many years ago. He was succeeded by Father
William O'CONNELL (until May, 1867), John MURPHY (until June
18, 1868) and John CASEY. Father CASEY was a believer in the
efficacy of a well-conducted religious paper, and in association
with Dr. NOLAN he founded the "Catholic Vindicator,"
the office of publication being subsequently removed to Milwaukee,
and the name of the journal being changed to the "Catholic
Citizen," under which caption it has attained a widespread
influence and a large circulation. Father CASEY was assigned
to another parish in July, 1871, and finally closed his long
life of active service and good works at Milwaukee, in the spring
of 1900. His successor at St. Victor's was Rev. Michael WENKER,
who was followed by Rev. E. McGINTY. The latter, in 1880, was
transferred to a parish at Janesville, where he still remains.
The next pastor of the church at Monroe was the Rev. Father WRYNN,
who gave way, in 1883, to the Rev. H. O'BRIEN. He remained until
1892, in which year began the pastorate of the devoted and zealous
clergyman whose life is briefly sketched in the succeeding paragraphs.
- In 1891, fire destroyed the sacred edifice around which centered,
for thirty years, the pious
- aspirations of St. Victor's parishioners, and which was the
focus of so many tender and sacred memories. It may be perceived,
therefore, that the task confronting the new one who had less
faith, might have been appalled. But Father DEMPSEY's courage
never faltered nor did his confidence in the sustaining grace
and power of God for a moment desert him. He at once set about
the task of rebuilding, in which he found the self-sacrificing
piety of his people a cause for thanksgiving. In September, 1893,
a new building was dedicated, in which the congregation still
worship. It is a handsome structure of brick, and stands surrounded
by large, well-kept grounds, on which has been built a neat,
yet commodious parochial residence. The church and rectory are
a monument - silent yet speaking - to the piety, self-denial
and earnest zeal of the Roman Catholics of Monroe. The congregation
comprises some 125 families, and in 1899 a new altar was built
in the church, at a cost of eleven hundred dollars.
- The Rev. Thomas DEMPSEY is a native of the State which he
well loves, having been born in
- Dodge county, of which his father, Cornelius, was one of
the pioneers. The father is deceased, but his widow (Father DEMPSEY's
mother) is yet living, her home being at Spokane Falls. To them
were born fourteen children, three of their sons having served
with gallantry though the war for the preservation of the national
integrity, one of whom laid down his life in the service of his
country. Michael was a member of the 14th Wis. Inf.; James, who
was killed in the battle of Corinth, was in the 17th Inf.; and
Edward belonged to the First Heavy Artillery, another son, Dr.
Peter DEMPSEY, was for several years a successful physician at
Milwaukee, but failing health enforced his retirement from practice;
he sought health in Mexico, and died in that country. The only
surviving daughter of the family is in the convent of Notre Dame,
and is known as Sister Edgar.
- Father DEMPSEY received his early education in the public
schools, and studied theology at St.
- Francis Seminary, near Milwaukee, where he was ordained to
the priesthood in June 1876. For six months after ordination
he was assistant to Rev. George WILLARD, of St. Joseph's, Fond
du Lac, where he was given pastoral charge, of the congregations
at Eden and Byron, in Fond du Lac county. His next charge was
at Highland, Iowa county, from which post he was transferred
to Monroe.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 595-596.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|