Bishop William Quarter, 1806-1848 : First Catholic Bishop of Chicago

William Quarter was born on 21st January 1806 at Killurin, near Tullamore, son of Michael Quarter and Anne, nee Bennett. His brothers were John, Walter and James. Local tradition has it that their house was near Killurin crossroads. It was a mud-walled thatched dwelling and stood there up to the 1940s.

The Quarters were said to have been educated in a hedge-school in Killoughy run by a Thomas Rourke. He was a great teacher of languages and a number of his students became priests.

At the age of eight years William Quarter's education had progressed sufficiently that he could enter a boarding school in Tullamore run by Rev. Mr. Deran a retired Presbyterian clergyman who was considered to be one of the finest classical teachers of his time in the country. Following two years of study there, William advanced to the school of Thomas and William Fitzgerald which was housed in the building where Tullamore Motor Works House is today. Here he spent about six years preparing for entry to St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. Meanwhile Fr. McAuley from Broughal, Kilcormac returned home from the United States. He was a frequent visitor to the Quarter household in Killurin where he spoke of the dreadful plight of the Irish Catholics in America. Young William was so moved by these stories that he considered his mission in life to be there rather than in Ireland.

Having got the blessing of his bishop, Dr. Doyle and his parents he departed for Canada in 1822. Eventually making his way to Emmetsburg in Maryland he entered the seminary there. In the following year he was made Professor of Greek and Latin. He went to New York in 1829 where he was ordained to the priesthood the same year. He spent much of his time among the poor and suffering. Under his guidance schools were set up to cater for the needs of the poor children.

In 1834 the Diocese of Chicago was established and Fr. William Quarter who was consecrated bishop in 1844 was appointed to this new See where he was joined by his brother Walter who had been ordained earlier. They set about building schools and paying off the debt on a newly built church. By the end of his first year as bishop the Cathedral was paid for and a university and seminary were established.

The enormous amount of work that he undertook brought about his early death. At the age of forty-two he died in April 1848 and was buried in his cathedral.

The name Quarter is no longer to be found in Killeigh parish. In fact at present it is very scarce in Ireland if at all any exists. The first reference we find to the name in the area is on a headstone in Castlebrack [near Killeigh but in Mountmellick parish, Co. Laois] graveyard to the memory of Margaret Quarter who died in 1777. Another, to the memory of Walter Quarter who died in 1801, is also in Castlebrack. There is little doubt but that the latter is of the same family as the bishop who had a brother Walter.

Outside of Killeigh parish we find that they were in Rosennalis parish, Co. Laois in the 1820s, Tinnahinch, Co. Laois in the 1850s and in Mountmellick parish records in 1869.

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