Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Mc Govern, Rev James J  D D 1839 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 12:04 pm

Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890

REV. JAMES J. McGOVERN, D. D. 

The record of the life of this gentleman, whose portrait appears on the 
opposite page, affords a striking illustration of the results of force and 
decision of purpose in a man, as well as of the power which an energetic and 
honorable character exercises upon the lives of others. From boyhood he has 
unceasingly applied himself to the gaining of knowledge and, as a consequence, 
is highly cultured and wields a large influence both from the pulpit and with 
the pen. Although he has been a resident of Lockport only about ten years, he 
is nevertheless inseparably associated with the most important religious 
enterprises of Will County in the ranks of the Catholic Church. Chicago was 
the native place of Father McGovern and there he was born March 25, 1839. He 
spent his boyhood in his native city, being among the first pupils attending 
the Dearborn public school, on Madison Street, and afterward studying classics 
in the University of St. Mary of the Lake. When fourteen years of age he was 
sent to Rome, Italy, where he entered the Propaganda College, remaining there 
ten years, graduating with high honors and earning the title of Doctor of 
Divinity. On his return to Chicago he was appointed Vice-President of the 
University of St. Mary of the Lake, and Rector of the Theological Seminary 
connected with that institution. When the university ceased to exist he went 
to Fulton, Ill., where he began the career of upbuilding for which he has 
since become noted. His efforts secured the erection of a beautiful church and 
residence, but the energetic priest; did not long enjoy the fruits of his 
labor in that city. The next location of Father McGovern was Bloomington, 
Ill., where the large church building which had been in course of construction 
was demolished by a cyclone April 24, 1868. He took hold of affairs with the 
characteristic energy which had led to his being sent to this field of labor, 
and not only rebuilt the church edifice, but also erected a residence and 
started a boys' parochial school which has since become an educational power 
in that city. When the new See of Peoria was formed he returned to his native 
diocese and took charge of the church in Rock Island, Ill., filling the place 
of the Rev. Joseph P. Roles, who went on a trip to the Holy Land. While 
occupying the temporary vacancy he was instrumental in the erection of 
churches at Edgington and Preemption, Mercer County. In 1875, Father McGovern 
was sent to Lake Forest, Lake County, where he built a church and parsonage 
and reorganized the parish, so that on his departure to another field of labor 
he had one of the most flourishing churches in the diocese. Lockport became 
his home in 1880, and here he has again founded a school which is rapidly 
gaining in numerical strength and reputation. He has the second largest church 
in Will County, a fine parish residence that he bought for the church, a 
devoted people, and his influence is unbounded. Rev. Dr. McGovern is a man of 
deep theological knowledge, classical information and literary taste, and has 
pleasant ways which gain good will and prepossess strangers in his favor. As 
an author he has gained wide repute, the chief work which he has written being 
the life of Bishop McMullen, of Davenport, Iowa, which ranks high among 
biographical writings, he has always been a liberal contributor to the public 
and Catholic press, and many to whom his voice is unfamiliar know him well 
through his writings.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 
 


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