Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1912)
I The Omaha Sunday Bee Magazine Page "Patsy" McGovern, Omaha's Own Son, Wins to High Place ft'fisSw A ' "552- ---..'l '5llaPO?!r ' rh? II A ' J ?iS iw. ;" ' --wi " r fcmapyrw -, J :; .- V j ' 3 mz 1 . jis3&8 m- .sjsyyy REIGHT0N'8 fint graduating cli, I I sent out In June, 1S91, had In It Just I I fire boys. They wre Jamei C. Klniler, itiicDaei r. J u tonnor, w ill rijnii and Patrick A. McGovern of Omaha and Frank Otia of Humphrey, Neb. - Every one of the fire has proved that his early training In the Institution was good, for they have all von their way worthily in the world. Kinsler Is practicing law In Omaha, Flyan la a successful . civil engineer In Montana, O'Connor ft secretary of the Powell Supply company In Omaha, Otis Is the head of a large concern In fit. Paul, Minn., and McGovern lias recently been designated as bishop of Cheyennei Wyo. It is with "Patsy" McGovern, born and raised In Omaha, that this article deals in particular. Ills classmetes admit that he was "wnu" boy In the days when bis playground out of school hours was about the neighborhood of Fifteenth and Jack son streets That "the child Is father to the man" baa veri fication anew in the career of "Patsy" McGovern. This loving diminutive of the noble old name of Patrick attached itself to bim In childhood as natnrally as ever nickname attached Itself to any lad the other youngsters love for himself alone. Ills mother died when be was but 5 and he was the baby of a large family, lie lost his father by death a few years later, but hla natural merit kept him gladsome, clean and truthful. It he knew how to tell a lie, he would not, and bis word was good In settling many a small dispute. That fact Is a tradition among those who remember him as a boy. The father and mother of the new bishop of Cheyenne moved from Cincinnati to Keokuk, la., shortly after being married, 'ihey did not remain long In Iowa, but set out for Omaha, even then getting on the map as "a good town." They ar rived her in the spring of 1856, and soon after the head of the family bought two lota on which to erect a home. When the modest cottage was finished the discovery was made it had been built on the wrong lots; In fact, was a block east of its Intended location, having been put np on lanj owned by the noted "Tom" Murphy, at fourteenth and Jackson. Neighbors did not make trouble for each other in those days, and no fine points of law were raised against the removal or the new nous) to McOovern's lots. Here the new bishop of Chey enne was born October 14, 1S72. In the boom days the family sold this property, now occupied by the Savoy hotel, for $ IS, 500. It is worth sev eral times that sum now. "Great changes have occuraed In the neighbor hood of the old home In recent years," said Father McGovern. ' As I first remember the old place there were terribly steep hills on every side, and we used to have grand sliding In the winter. We never called It 'coasting- in those days Just slid ing. And It wasn't the boy with the newest or costliest sled thst alwsys beat In the raco down ' hill. The home-made article was most in evidence and often won. Mostly we went down laying flat on our stomachs, and to sit op and steer with one leg sticking out behind wasn't at all fashionable. It was the m-ual thing to get a good grip with both hands on tb front of the sled, and very often one boy would be on top of another. If the sled was strong enough." At the time the MctJoverns, of whom there were eight children, lived at Fifteenth and Jackson a more or less "creek" flowed through a depression in Jackson street. In rainy weather this creek supplied the grandest old swimming hole that ever ran before a bos s door. Thus the very steep hills in winter and the creek In summer were the sources of most elegtnt sport. Jumping the creek or swim ming In it and scampering up and down the moun tainous hills then dominating that neighborhood 'twas the sport of kinrs in very truth. The Joyful exercise alfo developed a length of limb that was often stretched to the flying limit to escape the punkteen? for fmt." pbr of boyish tnlsrhlef. In tf.ese rugged topographical surroundings Tatsy" 1 88S"TTSi ' uroovEiar-AQjB: 23 McGovern lived his boyhood years, having for play mates, besides his own brothers, Frank and James Kennedy, Phil McMillan, Bert Murphy, John sn l Pete Toner and the Wlnshlp boys. Of his education when ha entered Creighton, In 1881, the bishop-elect aays: "It consisted of some Instruction received In a very primitive school whlcb stood on the southeast corner of Thirteenth and Jackson, and a little more of the three R's I got at the old convent on St. Mary's avenue, about where the Kimball residence now Is. I never bad the chance to attend a parochial school." He intimates quietly that he was hungry to learn as a boy; and that be has deeply appreciated his duties and responsibilities as a man and a pastor Is conceded by everybody who knows blm. He has been growing In priestly grace and useful citizenship ever since, never sparing himself In any work where duty called blm. He bas been active in social welfare work for many years, in addition to carrying the burdens of a large parish. Withal, he Is a very mod eat man, Innately genteel and of deep refinement. Father McGovern Is not today an eloquent man. In the ordinary meaning of that term, but be is scholarly In thought and utterance and baa tbe ready command of an extensive vocabulary. His talks betoken a mastery of good, strong English. He possesses the gift of humor and repartee pecj llarly accredited to tb race from whlcb he springs. A friend of many years' standing aays of him: "No opportunity came to him In his youth to visit tbe Blarney stone. It wss 3,000 miles and more away, and when he did go to Ireland six years ago the trip waa superfluous, so far aa kiss ing the famed rock was concerned. The quality attributed to the Blarney stone was born with him; only more refined, gentle and Insinuating, and minus the sometimes questionable palaver. His keen and happy writ bas bloomed on many notable occasions, to the great delight or discomfiture of his hearers, but there is no sting in It. He ,s too considerate of tbe amenities to hurt anyone." "I have never had any trouble with church finances," said the pastor of St. Peter s In a recent conversation; and those who (new him of old aee nothing In this to wonder at. It Is related that, as one of the carrier boys for The Bee, in the '80s, route 41 fell to his lot. This route had a particu larly large delinquent list. In spite of the rule re quiring payment monthly, A delinquent owing 11 was supposed to be summarily cut off tbe list, and it was up to "Patsy" to make good, collect the sums overdue and Increase the list, if possible, for the carrier's pay waa based on the number of sub scribers. A chum of those days who also carried a Bee route says that within a month McGovern had all the old subscribers in good standing and bad materially increased tbe list. "Bright and early every Saturday morning," says the chum, "be was out on bis collecting and drumming tours, with a winning smile In his eyea and a cheery saluation as a lura for the coin." "He was never In the 'jug' while at Creighton In the old days, and that means he was a con scientious student," said James C. Kinsler, talking of his old schoolmate. "But be waa as mischievous as a box of monkeys, though always in a good natured, fun-making way. He and Phil McMillan were the to rut-ups of the school, and yet I don't recall that 'Patsy' McGovern ever got Into th-? jug." That was a room where students who didn't have their lessoas well were sent to write a tire- '1 souie number of lines after school. It was not n favorite pluce with tlu boys, for the preceptor of studies wasn't at all stingy in setting the stunt to be done-under such circumstances. I have It in mind that perhaps 'Spike' Kennedy can testify something along the same line." This preceptor of studies mentioned by Mr. Kinsler was a certain Father Murphy, and in re calling his methods Father McGovern himself let off a smile or two full of reminiscent relish when the matter wss mentioned. "jle was an Irishman, rather small, and he had red hair," said Father McGovern. "Ho was a splendid man, but very severe with atudenta who were at all inclined to play truant. The circus grounds In those days was at Twenty-fourth and Farnam, where Senator Millard's former residence stands, and, of course, the circus always had at traction for boys. Aa preceptor of studies It was his business to punish all infractions of the rules, and no guilty lad could escape." Father McGovern also recalled another reminis cence connected with the corner of Twenty-fourth and Farnam. "It was a good deal of a journey to Creighton from the district east of Sixteenth street and south of Farnam, so we used to rut through tbe high school grounds. Frequently thee would be clashes between the college boys and tlfc high scboo! students. It was the habit of a cer tain bunch from both schools to 'accidentally' meet after school in tbe big pasture, as it was then, at that corner, and they would have a battle royal. Those were great fights, with now one side having the best of It, and then the other would claim the victory. No one was ever seriously burl that I re call, but many a boy ached or took home some small mark of battle after the scrimmage." The bishop-elect was not asked to commit him self as to active participation In the school fights. T. F. Kennedy of the Bradford-Kennedy com pany was as ready to talk of his boyhood chum as a hungry man Is to tackle home cooking. "Spike"' Is chock full of picturesque vocabulary, but hla philosophy is sound. "When you consider that 'Patsy McGovern was a motherless boy at 5, and that he lut bis father a few years later, he bas made a grand record. It would be hard to say anything too good about blm. As a boy be was in an environment not of the best, because all around that neighbor hood were the toughest kind of kids. Some of them later on became had men end finished bad. He was altays a straight lad, absolutely reliable, clean and true at every step of the road. He nearly cut a foot orf my brother 'Jim' one day at our place while swinging an old scythe in cutting grass, but he was hurt worse than the boy with tha ci't, A.E'l I remember the doctor who was called wanted to amputate th foot right ott. Mother took a hand then and th foot was not cut off. It is a perfectly good foot today, and when It was saved Patsy' McGovern was more pleased than anybody. Of course, as a very quiet, well behaved youngster, I had little to do with the mla-chlef-makers; but I have always undorstood that young McGovern had more fun than auybody In a nice, subdued way. It would be a dull time, In deed, when he could not start something, and bo never needed much aasistance. I don't recollect, however, that he was ever turned over to the tender mercies of Father Murphy. To my mind that Indi cates 'Patsy' McGovern, waa always a clever boy. "He will make a hit out west beyond any ques tion. He is Just the kind of man for that assign ment; broad-minded, alway full of confidence In the future, courteous and pleasant aa the day la long. He has the qualifications of a first-class administrator. The only kick I have heard Is that Omaha Is to lose him." M. P. O'Connor said he had very pleasant mem ories of his acquaintance with Father McGovern from boyhood days on. "He was a good, level headed boy, a trifle Inclined to make a little mis chief medicine now and thVn, but on the whole a consclentlour student, who showed that he had am bition to go ahead. McGovern could always be relied on to have his lessons, because he would not shirk work for play." Of the "Jug," which lingers so acutely in thes minds of the others of Crelghlon's first class, O'Connor asserts he knows little. "I don't remem ber that I ever got a peek at Its interior," he said, "and If there had been any chance I would cer tainly have demanded a Jury trial, and I think Father McGovern would, too, at that time. Father Murphy was the real thing as a disciplinarian, and any boy that was too much for the others to handle was turned over to him. He was able for any of them." This same Father Murphy had a shrewd wit of hia own, as well as a strong arm and a keen mind. Here Is a paragraph he wrote giving bis Impres sions of the college snd its surroundings In ih; early 'SOs: "Though the college was free, the number of students was small, which, however, is no valid proof that they all belonged to the select aris tocracy. They could neither understand the beauty of Greek nor the utility of Latin. Many came to hibernate, and when summer dawned they pre ferred to follow the occupation of the Hebrews un der Pharaoh, for Omaha waa noted for Its excellent quality of brick clay. North of the college was a rich pasture terraced west to Twenty-sixth street, the home of the bear and the chickens. It supplied a common resting place for horse and man, four cows and the setting sun. Among the quadrupeds was the electric cow, so-called because at the ap proach of eny atmospheric disturbance she inva riably gazed at the moon, that the dip of her needle might point more graphically toward th magntl pole." ' When he returned from tb seminary at Cin cinnati after graduating Patrick McGovern was stilt too young to be ordained to th priesthood. Tha canonical age for ordination Is 24 years, and h wss not quit 23. After waiting a few month a dlspensntton was obtained and be Was ordafned by Bishop Scannell. Asked as to when he first conceived th deslr to be a priest. Father McQovern replied, modestly, "From my earliest years. I thought It waa a won derful thing to be allowed to minister at th altar, and I have never changed my mind." Young McGovern had th felicity ot being goad a priest In tb sam church wher h had been christened and confirmed, wher he bad began hla service at the altar aa a lad of , where his parents had worshiped before him and ot which b was afterward pustor for nine years. H admits It Is a souros of great regret to him that h cannot be elevated to the high office of bishop In th same church. Tha march of progress has mad that Impossible. At the banquet held last week by th fourth de gree, Knights of Columbus, wher Father McGov ern waa the guest of honor. Father James W. Stea aon paid this trlbut to th bishop-elect: "During a period of nine years we lived together at old St. Phllomena's, in company with tb ven erable and dear old Father Kelly. I can confidently say that they were nine ot th happiest years of my life, because no brother of mine could hav treated me with a greater measure ot kindness, could have been more affectionate towards me, could have regarded my welfare and happinasa with greater conalderation and feeling than did Father McGovern. lie was ever the genial friend, th pru dent counselor, the wis administrator, and, abov all, the sterling example ot what a Catholic priest should be, both in public and private life. "It waa frequently remarked during those nln years, and is still spoken ot by tbe friends who knew us, that no two priests in Omaha were vr such devoted friends and companions aa war Father McGovern snd mysejf. October, 1S07, wit nessed the tearing down of tbe old cathedral, eon sequent upon the sale of St. Phllomena's property. This led to our separation ss priests la th same parish, since Bishop Scannell granted us a divorce when he appointed Father McGovern paator of St. Peter'a parish, which had become vacant. How ever, though no longer standing In the relation of pastor and assistant, still our mutual friendship has never ceased for an Instant. Tha same cordial feeling and closest friendship hare existed uninter ruptedly to the present moment. It has been xay pleasure dnring th last four years to visit Father McGovern frequently to receive his prudent ad vice and to be instructed by his example. "When the news of bis appointment to th bish opric of Cheyenne was announced I feel perfectly confident in saying that not one of his numerous friends and admirers rejoiced more than I did, be cause I realised that Rom bad mad a most Ju dicious selection, and that th honors ot th episco pacy could not hav come to a more worthy, effi cient and deserving priest. "The unfeigned delight ot his larg clrcl of friends at his elevation to th bishopric of Cbeywnn is tempered by a feeling of deep regret at his de parture from our midst; but In bidding Father Mc Govern God speed in hia new mission la Wyoming all of us are buoyed up with the earnest hop and prayer that some time in th future we may hav the intense pleasure of welcoming him back to his native city as bishop of, Omaha." t J