Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1902 — ARCHBISHOP FEEHAN DEAD. [ARTICLE]

ARCHBISHOP FEEHAN DEAD.

Head of the Catholic Diocese of Chica* go Passes Away. After an illness lasting several month*, Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan died Saturday afternoon at the parochial residence in Chicago. His demise came as a shock, but was not altogether u surprise, owing to his feeble condition. For nearly twenty-two years Archbishop Feehan administered Ihe affair*, spiritual and temporal, of the great Chicago archdiocese, the second iu the United States. The legislature of Illinois passed an act making the Catholic archbishop of Chicago a corporation sole, and the privilege has been of great benefit to the Catholics of the archdiocese. The archbishop’s Investments were invariably prudent, and the wealth of the organization has steadily grown. Personally the late archbishop was poor, and he tert very little property to his reln.*ves. In politics, secular or ecclesiastical, Archbishop Feehan never dabbled. H* was liberal, and the politico-economic beliefs of his flock did not concern him. He had no ambition beyond that of faithfully performing his important duties and looking after the welfare of the churches, schools and charitable institutions within his jurisdiction. He avoided controversy and general ptiblic questions, though he was doubtless in sympathy with what is called “Americanism" in Catholic teaching and tendency. A fire that started in Uttinges’ storehouse on Burke street, Plattsburg, N. Y., fanned by a high wind, spread to adjoining buildings and would certainly have swept away one-third of the business portion of the town had it not been for the timely arrival of several hundred soldiers from l’lattsbnrg barracks, who worked bard as volunteer firemen. The total loss was $125,000, insurance $75,000. William. Riecke, aged 35 years, while working o» his farm near lonia, Mo., was struck by lightning ami instantly killed.