Sacred Heart Catholic Church-1873

GAFFNEY, OFARRELL, TRACY, COOK, RYAN, BOWEN, WOLFE, CRANEY, MULLEN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/7/2008 at 16:35:45

The Jackson Sentinel
Centennial Edition, 1938

Sacred Heart Catholic Church Has Been in Existence Here Since 1873;
Father J. B. Gaffney First Pastor
Present Edifice Was Erected in 1915 and Completed in 1931

Sacred Heart church of Maquoketa was built in 1873, under the pastorate of the Rev. J. B. Gaffney, who resided at Otter Creek. The county seat was moved to Maquoketa from Andrew in that year, and brought with it several Catholics who were anxious for a local church. While the first group comprised not more than a dozen members, perhaps, it grew rapidly, and within a few years the entire debt of the church was paid off.

Father John O’Farrell succeeded Father Gaffney, attending Maquoketa from Deep Creek parish, now also known as Petersville parish, which lies in the Davenport diocese.

The first resident pastor of Maquoketa was Father T. Tracy, who followed Father O’Farrell, coming here in 1880. He later was moved to Delmar, however, about 1883, and attended Maquoketa from there.

The Rev. W. Cook and the Rev. J. W. Ryan served for short periods.

For almost a quarter of a century, beginning in 1890, the Rev. John F. Bowen served this charge from Delmar. Under his care the parish made wonderful strides and more than trebled its membership. The church was repaired and refurnished, and keen interest in the welfare of the parish was enjoyed. In 1904, under Father Bowen’s direction, the church netted more than $2400 which was used in buying a fine location in the central part of town. The present attractive brick edifice now stands on this lot. It took some years to get enough money to build, but the members were loyal and the pastor ambitious. It was about that same time that the cemetery location was bought, which has since been platted into an attractive burial ground.
Fine Church Built

About 1914 the division of the Dubuque and the Davenport diocese was made, and Father Bowen, who had always been interested in the Maquoketa pastorate, was thus automatically taken from this charge as his resident church, Delmar, was in the Davenport diocese while Maquoketa was in Dubuque diocese.

It was at that time that the Rev. J. M. Wolfe was given this parish and it was he who built the fine brick church on East Platt street which since 1915 has been the pride of the local people. A pleasant parochial residence was also erected, and Father Wolfe became the first real resident pastor of the parish. He remained but two years, and was followed by the Rev. L. P. Craney who came in May, 1916.

Father Craney served this parish and the Baldwin charge, residing in Maquoketa until his death. During the almost 14 years of his service here he emphasized the spiritual and moral development of his membership. He was loved and respected by the entire commonwealth and his harmonious association with Catholics and non-Catholics alike made him a power for good in the town.

In 1930 the Rev. J. A. Mullen was appointed to the parish, and great progress has been made since his arrival here.