Father Cassidy comes, and another look at the early years

Photo caption: The young Father Michael F. Cassidy

In July of 1886, word was received that Father Michael Francis Cassidy was to be the pastor of Saint Joseph's in O'Neill. He was born in the County of Cavan, Ireland, on June 14, 1853. He received his education at Saint Patrick's College in Cavan, Ireland. His course in philosophy was made at Saint Bonaventure's in Alleghany, New York, and his course in theology at Saint Sulpice in Montreal, Canada. He was ordained to priesthood by Right Reverend James O'Connor, Vicar Apostolic of Nebraska, October 8, 1878. His first appointment was as assistant at Columbus, Nebraska, where he remained until April,1879. He was then sent to Rawlins, Wyoming, as the first pastor of that place. It is seldom that a priest has sway over so large a territory as was Father Cassidy's first post, for the whole state of Wyoming was apportioned to three priests. The parish of Rawlins alone covered a radius of four-hundred-and-fifty miles to the north, three-hundred miles to the west and one hundred miles to the south.

But before we begin the pastorate of Father Michael Cassidy, let's look back at another version of the early history of Saint Joseph's Parish in O'Neill. It is said that the Catholics of O'Neill comprised the largest and most influential denomination in the city. Father Peter James Bedard was pastor, doctor, and homesteader in the French Canadian colony at Frenchtown in Antelope County.

From all indications Father Bedard's visits were infrequent and caused some concern among the early residents. They had been promised a resident priest by General O'Neill before they moved out to O'Neill City. When this promise was not fulfilled, the residents appealed to Bishop James O'Connor, Vicar Apostolic of Nebraska for help. Bishop O'Connor sent Father John Curtis of Lincoln to look into the matter. On November 23, 1876, Father Curtis arrived in O'Neill and sent this report to Bishop O'Connor: I have only just arrived here. Three days of hard staging, and I think I ought to send you immediately information, such as I have been able to obtain concerning Father Bedard. He has not been here since spring of this year. He was in Frenchtown, where he has a homestead of 160 acres of fine land, on which he has built a log church and a cabin to live in about a month ago. I was told by the postmaster in Frenchtown that he, the priest, had gone to Sioux City, whence he intends to return to his claim in spring next.

Here I have learned that he is in Yankton (sick). So he is likely to be found in one or the other place . . . It appears to me that it is a disagreeable surprise to see a priest sent here to investigate. A nice little church is nearly finished here which is in itself almost a contradiction of the report.

The Elkhorn Valley is the most beautiful country in Nebraska.

The O'Neill colonies are particularly beautiful in location. I will tell you more when I return.

Even with Father Curtis' letter to the Bishop, there were still many obstacles that were threatening the O'Neill colony. General O'Neill was faced with the failure of the Irish Emigrant Aid Societies and he realized that he would be unable to continue his colonizing work unless he obtained backing from other sources. He continued to keep the public informed about his efforts. He then heard that there were prospects of a railroad being built which would serve the O'Neill settlements and bring more people into the area. He wrote to A. W. Hubbard, the President of the Covington, Columbus, and Black Hills Railroad who answered the General and stated: We think the work in which you are engaged will result in lasting and permanent good to all of Northern Nebraska. We will be glad to work with you to bring about the results desired.

With this in mind the General wrote to Bishop O'Connor explaining the work he had already done in Holt County and his hopes for future settlements. In his reply on January 13, 1877, Bishop O'Connor expressed interest in the General's work, suggested that he colonize railroad lands because of the assistance which the railroad companies would offer, and promised that he would see to it that the settlers would have priestly ministrations. Although the financial support needed for further colonizing efforts was not forthcoming, the moral support given by the Bishop's letter encouraged him to continue his work.

As the General was working to get more colonists to come to O'Neill City, it is apparent from Father Curtis' letter that a church was under construction. The location of the church and its adjoining grounds were on lots one through four, eleven, twelve, and fourteen through sixteen on block four and the land was donated by Patrick Fahy. A church committee to oversee the construction and operation of the parish was also organized. The members included: John Grady, Patrick McOy, John Cronin, James Enright, and John Kelley. John Maybury, the only carpenter in O'Neill City, was contracted to build the church. When completed the building measured eighteen feet by thirty-six feet and was without seats or pews and had no bell. Building material had to be hauled by oxen one-hundred-and-thirty-five miles from Wisner, Nebraska, which was the terminal of the F.E. and M.V. Railroad.

The cost of erecting the church was five-hundred and thirty five dollars which Maybury had difficulty in collecting from the congregation. On May 21, 1877, he secured a mechanics lien against the church, the first lien ever issued in the county. Several months later he sent Bishop O'Connor a letter asking for his intervention in helping collect the money due him. Whether or not Bishop O'Connor intervened is not known. The official organization of St. Joseph Parish was accomplished in 1877 when two trustees were appointed by Bishop O'Connor. The new parish extended to the Holt County lines on the east and south, on the north by the Niobrara River, and by running a line through the middle of range thirteen on the west.

As the parish was taking form, General O'Neill was still trying to get more colonists for the O'Neill area. Early in 1877, the General published a circular containing a copy of his letter to Bishop O'Connor, a copy of Bishop O'Connor's reply, a copy of the letter of A. W. Hubbard, President of the Covington, Columbus and Black Hills Railroad, and a copy of O'Neill's letter promising to select favorable sites for colonies along the Union Pacific, the Burlington, and the Missouri Railroads. This circular was also sent to each Nebraska State Legislator and to the Governor of the State of Nebraska begging for financial assistance.

Meanwhile, Father John Curtis, the representative of Bishop O'Connor, together with O'Neill and the General's friends, Michael McCarthy and Patrick Hynes, inspected the counties of Platte, Merrick, Hall and Buffalo. They reported that these lands were excellent for those settlers who were interested in railroad lands and improved farms; in other words, for those who could afford to pay a little more than the average pioneer. They chose the land in Greeley County as being ideal for homesteaders. McCarthy and Hynes immediately decided to remain in Greeley County, and sent for their families and friends. The General went back to Pennsylvania in March,1877, and gathered his fourth and final group of colonists, numbering seventy one people. The majority of this group settled in Holt County, having arrived there sometime during the month of April. Those who settled in Greeley County arrived there early in May, 1877, and optimistically overcame the obstacles they met, which were similar to those first encountered by the Holt County colonists from whom they undoubtedly obtained much advice and encouragement.

The General decided that this new Greeley County settlement should be called O'Connor, honoring the Vicar Apostolic from whom he received so much encouragement.

On November 1, 1877, the General and a businessman from Omaha, Mr. John McCreary, purchased property from the Burlington Railroad and dedicated 160 acres of it to be used as the townsite. In 1880, Bishop O'Connor chose a different site three and one-half miles from the original one where the town was eventually built. Thus it can be seen that the Bishop was in close contact with the General as the Irish colonies began to flourish on the prairies of Nebraska.

On January 8, 1878, General O'Neill died at St. Joseph's Hospital in Omaha due to complications of asthma, a severe cold, and pneumonia. He was forty-three years of age, survived by his wife and three children of O'Neill and his mother, one brother, and one sister, all of Elizabeth, New Jersey. His funeral was conducted in Saint Philomena's Cathedral, in Omaha, on January 11, 1878, with the Most Reverend James O'Connor officiating. He was, and still is, buried in Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Omaha.

He had the courage to head west and helped lay the foundations of St. Joseph's Parish in O'Neill, Nebraska, and its early pastorate of Father Smith and the first church that was built here and the second church which was completed with the appointment of Father Michael Francis Cassidy.