Crawford County WI Archives Church Records.....St. Gabriel's Parish ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 27, 2007, 9:54 pm JOHN LAWLER, PIONEER CATHOLIC LAYMAN [Photo - JOHN LAWLER] The name of John Lawler is so interwoven with the general history of Prairie du Chien, that a history of any of its major institutions within the last century would be, to say the least, incomplete without mention of his share in their upbuilding. The influence of the foremost Catholic layman in St. Gabriel's century-long existence has so impressed itself upon the religious, moral, and educational life of the local community, as to make imperative, in this centennial history of the parish, a somewhat extended treatment of the man and his work. It was a blessed providence that directed the footsteps of John Lawler to Wisconsin in the middle nineteenth century. One would, judge, normally speaking, that a large metropolis, like Chicago or New York, would have been more suited to a man of his exceptional type than a small inland town, like Prairie du Chien, could possibly be. Yet it was to Prairie du Chien he came in 1857, passing by the two great American cities on his way. In New York he tarried only long enough to get himself a position—and a wife, a Miss Catherine Din on of Pierpont. By happy chance, the position he secured brought him in touch with the railroads, for it was a railroad that ultimately determined the place that was to be the scene of his future life's work. Perhaps it was another happy chance that he had married a wife. Be that as it may, following the urge of the times, 'Young man, go West,' the enterprising young Irishman in 1855 shook the dust of New York from his feet and turned his face towards Chicago. But the city of Fort Dearborn and John Wentworth did not long detain the man, who one day was destined to be associated with historic Fort Crawford and a little Wisconsin town. After two years spent in Chicago, he received an appointment in 1857 as station-agent of the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad at Prairie du Chien. John Lawler was a young man of twenty-five, when he took up his humble occupation; but so rapid was his rise that before he had reached his fortieth year, he had held successively the offices of General Agent of the Milwaukee Railroad and President of the Northwest Packet Company. In the latter position he owned and operated the first successful pontoon bridge in the country. His own conception, he had constructed it in 1873; and for many years it proved a splendid investment, and attracted nation-wide attention. The placing of the pontoons, we are told, drew engineers from far and near. The original structure lasted for nearly half a century. The success of Mr. Lawler as a business man alone would warrant him a high place in the history of Prairie du Chien; but as a man and a Christian, he has merited a place, even more secure, in the history of its religious and educational progress. As a fitting tribute to his work for education, the Knighthood of St. Gregory the Great was conferred on him at the hands of Pope Leo XIII. Physically a large man, he was large in every other way. Though the Lawlers had come to America as poor Irish immigrants in 1836, John Lawler, by his energy and intelligence had forged his way to the front in everything lie undertook. But in the Christian John Lawler that energy and intelligence were ever obedient to a delicate moral sense that made for his sterling integrity. Wealth lie had, but he put it to noble use. Always an active member of the Catholic Church, he contributed liberally to the work it had undertaken in the local community. To his active and generous support Catholic education in Prairie du Chien is indebted for much of its splendid progress, and the glory redounding to its educational institutions has been shared in by the town itself. In his zeal for the good of religion, Mr. Lawler was never unmindful of his other responsibilities, as a citizen. Perhaps no one act of his showed this concern more than the moral and financial aid he gave to the building in 1875 of the first public high school in Prairie du Chien. Probably, too, no other man could have rectified, at least with as little friction as he, the discordant school system, then prevailing throughout the state. In recognition of his civic services the Governor of Wisconsin conferred on him the title of 'General.' In his short life of fifty-nine years he accomplished much. It is now forty-five years since the great, heroic soul passed away, but the good he did lives after him. The memory of John Lawler has not passed away; and if Prairie du Chien should ever forget his benefactions in its behalf, the very stones of its streets would cry out. He lies buried in St. Gabriel's cemetery. May God rest his soul. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Centennial History of St. Gabriel's Parish PRAIRIE DU CHIEN WISCONSIN 1836 1936 DR. P. L. SCANLAN, M. D. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/crawford/churches/stgabrie29gbb.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb