A hundred years in the records, and the future

The church records show that within these one-hundred years, there were 5894 baptisms (from 1877), 3021 First Communions (from 1914), 3124 Confirmations (from 1914), and 1991 Funerals (from 1887). Monsignor Cassidy stated that for the first fifty years of the parish, there were 2842 Baptisms, 1606 Confirmations, 706 marriages, and 913 funerals. Monsignor McNamara stated that since he came to O'Neill there were 580 Baptisms, 696 Confirmations, 68 Marriages, and 230 funerals. In the church Baptismal records, William Craig Barnes, born on January 2, 1877, of William Barnes and Honora Gallan, both of Battle Creek, and Mary Helen Leavy, of Thomas Leavy and Mary Reilly, both of Madison County, born on May 23 ,1875 , were both baptized on August 19.1877. On August 21, 1877, Mary Catherine Ryan, borii October 7, 1875, of John Ryan and Elizabeth Lafayette, both of Oakdale, was baptized. Mary Elizabeth Grenier born May 16, 1887, of Thomas Grenier and Caroline Patras of Frenchtown, was baptized on August 22, 1877. Emma Teresia O'Laughlin, born December 8, 1876, of Michael O'Laughlin and Bridget Murphy of O'Neill City, was baptized on August 24, 1877.

The funeral records show that Mrs. Andrew Mulligan died on August 9, 1887; Thomas Crane died on August 15, 1887; Francis Horace died on August 17, 1887 ; Peter Boyle died on August 28, 1887; Mary Cahill died on September 7, 1887; John J. Stannard died on September 10, 1887; and Timothy Biglin died on September 22, 1887. S. B. Howard bought a cemetery lot on May 5, 1888. Others to buy lots were James Jennings, May 12, 1888; James Crogan, May 25, 1888; M. Cavanaugh, May 28, 1888; J. J. McCafferty, July 10, 1888; Mrs. McNichols, July 15, 1888; Mrs. Fitzgerald, July 15, 1888; Thomas Canlon, July 25, 1888; Dan Stewart, August 31, 1888; Dave Stannard, October 11, 1888; John Keily, November 18, 1888.

Other sources than church records state that the first birth of a Catholic child in St. Patrick's was that of Joseph Ryan who was baptized with James O'Fallon at Father Bedard's First Mass in Tom Cain's shanty. John Grady was the first of the O'Neill colony to get married but he went away for both the bride and the ceremony. Thomas Hynes and Miss Ann Fallon were next married, both members of St. Patrick's church but married in the City of Omaha. William Fallon and Miss Anastasia Corcoran were the first parishioners to be married here by Father Smith. The first death of a Catholic in the parish was the infant daughter of Major and Mrs. M. H. McGrath, temporarily buried in the house corner until such time as St. Patrick's Church would provide a suitable graveyard for the resting place of its dead. When the late Patrick Joyce was accidentally killed in the canyons, where he went after a load of logs to build his claim shanty, the late Patrick Hagerty and General O'Neill and got them to make two deeds to the public for two graveyards. So Patrick Joyce was the first buried in the Catholic Cemetery.

What does the future bring? The faith family of St. Patrick's will make efforts to keep the education of its children as one of its primary thrusts. On October 11, 1976, discussion was begun by the parish school board concerning the Michael and Katherine Higgins estate but nothing happened. There was concern that if the total estate were put into the daily operation that the sacrificial spirit of the people of St. Patrick's might be lost which could possibly have resulted in the future demise of St. Mary's school. On January 3, 1977, an ad hoc committee of the school board, consisting of school board members Jim Shoemaker, Frank Tomjack, Ray Kallhoff, and Father Frank Dvorak began the ground work for a foundation and drawing up its bylaws.

On May 3, 1977, "The Articles of corporation and By-Laws" were approved by school board members James Shoemaker. Robert Finn, Frank Tomjack, Nick Ramold, Marilyn Mattern, Donna Cole, and Ray Kallhoff. On May 27, 1977 the State of Nebraska recognized it as an official foundation and the board members were chosen according to the specifications of the by-laws: President Ben Grady (a banker), Lois Shaffer as Secretary (non-parish member), Harold Krugman as Treasurer (non-Parish member), Father Martin Conley (pastor of St. Patrick's), James Shoemaker (President of St. Mary's School Board), I: D. Cronin (a lawyer), Lucille Dufek (parish member), Bernard Pongratz (parish member), and DeMaris Birmingham (an alumna of St. Mary's). It is the intent of this foundation that only the interest be used and that the principal will be there in perpetuity. Of the Higgins estate, $43,157.00 was put into operation while $36,683.00 and 400 stocks of A.T.&T. were put into the Foundation. Individuals in decades past have given bequests to the parish and school as memorials and it is now hoped that these will be given to the Foundation too, so that the youth of Saint Patrick's of tomorrow will have the same educational opportunities that the youth of 1977 have in St. Mary's.

We have much to be proud of in the past one-hundred years. It was a strong faith, lots of hope, and boundless love that has made Saint Patrick's a faith sharing family which has endured for one-hundred years. We hope that the next one-hundred years will witness the faith and generosity of the past one-hundred years, that God will be in our community and that by our good example we may continue to show others that we believe in Him and see Him in our friends and neighbors, in O'Neill, in Emmet, and in Amelia, and thus in Holt County, in our area of the world where we have been commissioned to love one another as He loves us.