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The Omaha Sunday Bee Magazine Page
"Patsy" McGovern, Omaha's Own Son, Wins to High Place
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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."
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