Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 532
REV. JEREMIAH O'SULLIVAN

One of the notable facts in the lives of the clergy of the Catholic churches is their keen interest in public affairs. Father Jeremiah O'SULLIVAN is no exception to this rule. He takes an active interest in public affairs generally, and while one of the youngest, at the same time is one of the most popular churchmen in Harrison county.

Father Jeremiah O'SULLIVAN, son of Patrick and Julia O'SULLIVAN, was born December 13, 1879, near Killarney, Ireland. The family ranks among the oldest in Munster, being direct lineal descendants of the O'SULLIVAN Beara and McCarty Mor. Jeremiah O'SULLIVAN was educated at St. Brendan;s Seminary, Killarney, and St. Patrick's College, Carlow, and was ordained priest In June, 1904. He went to England in September of that year and commenced missionary work as assistant pastor at St. Bernard's, Halifax, and a year later was transferred to St. Mary's, Bradford, where he continued work three and one-half years, then went to St. Joseph's, Pontefract, Wales. He traveled through the principal centers of interest in western Europe in 1906 and 1909.

In April, 1911, Father O'SULLIVAN arrived in the United States and resumed his ecclesiastical work in the diocese of Davenport, under Bishop Davis, and was appointed chaplain pro tem. to St. Joseph's Academy at Des Moines. Four months later he received the appointment to the pastorate of the Sacred Heart parish, Woodbine (which then included the outlying missions, Logan, Magnolia, Mondamin, Modale, Pisgah and Little Sioux.)

During his residence in England Father O'SULLIVAN was favorably impressed with English social life, customs, and characters; had considerable missionary experience and received about one hundred converts to the Catholic faith.

In the British general election of 1910 the Irish Home Rule bill was the question par excellence of the day. At this election, Colonel Shaw (advocate of the Conservative party) contested with Handel Booth (Liberal) the parliamentary seat for the borough of Pontefract. About eleven thousand votes were cast in behalf of these candidates. On the advice of Father O'Sullican, acting in accord with Mr. Redmond's mandate, the Irish vote was pledged in behalf of Mr. Booth, who carried the day by a majority of three hundred and forty votes. This was an important contest for the Liberal party, which was returned to power with a majority of only three members over the Unionist opposition. However, the Irish Nationalist party of eighty-five and the labor party with forty-two adherents, gave their support to the Liberals, thus securing to them a long lease of office, and at the same time placing the long-fought-for Home Rule Act on the statute book.

Grave consequences threatened the Irish voters of the borough, as no less than two hundred of the men were in Colonel Shaw's employment; however, the threatened danger passed over without mishap. Herein was an excellent example of the exiled Irish workman's love and self-sacrifice for his country's freedom.

Years of experience have furnished Father O'SULLIVAN ample proofs that the great majority of members in political parties, religious denominations, lodges and clubs are permeated by noble Christian and patriotic principles; and that where the weeks of prejudice and uncharitableness prevail the seeds were carefully planted by some crafty and mercenary politician, pulpit or platform lecturer or vile journal plying their trade on the want of knowledge and simplicity of a certain class, who may be otherwise excellent citizens. Hence in political issues he is not committed to party lines, his principle being �support the candidate who will honestly and without sectarian and party prejudice best serve the interest of the community.�

The first few months of Father O'SULLIVAN's visit to America was a period of unrest, he being undecided whether he should return to England immediately, or remain a year in the states. That question is now decided, and there is little doubt that he will spend the rest of his life under the Stars and Stripes.

Though Father O'SULLIVAN has been in this county but a short time he has indeed won a place as a representative citizen in the county and has acquired a wide acquaintance. He is pre-eminently a learned priest, and has an extremely promising future. He is popular with all people of the community in which the field of his labors is laid, regardless of politics or religious faith.

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