Father Timothy Sullivan, after his appointment to St. Patrick's, also ministered to their needs and to this day has many friends who are mindful of his kindness in the days of want.
The first resident priest in Marion was Father Laffin, who came in 1890. At this time and indeed previous to this the chief settlers in the Marion district were the Senekir family, the Reillys, the Davises, Colburts, Zimmermans, and Zackeries, and these were the first who took hold and established the first church.
The church, by reason of the fewness of its members, was a difficult problem to maintain. It was supported chiefly by the active and energetic assistance of the people in holding sociables and picnics and such other ways and means as were worthy of the noble cause.
When the building was completed there was an indebtedness of $1,800, and nothing to pay this amount from. The sale of the property was threatened by those who held the lien on the church. But the zealous and hard-working members of the congregation set to work, and in two years this amount was paid off.
After Father Laffin's departure the charge was taken by Rev. J. Hartigan, now at Strawberry Point. For eight years this zealous and interested young priest labored early and late for the welfare and comfort of his flock. During his time the present parochial residence was erected at a cost of $3,000. It is a modest, unpretentious building, but fitted up with all the modern systems of hygienic and healthful appliances. Not content with being comfortably housed himself, Father Hartigan decided to secure also a becoming habitation for his Lord and Master. He decided that a new church was now a matter of necessity in Marion, and gradually he got the members of the congregation to his way of thinking. He held fairs and sociables to obtain the necessary funds to make his dream a reality, and at his transfer from Marion he left in the church treasury more than $2,000 as a nucleus for the new church building. The completion of the work was, however, reserved for his no less interested and zealous successor.
Writing of the conditions in Marion at his appointment, Fr. Hartigan says:
"I got my appointment to the charge in the winter of 1896, about December 1st, and I shall never forget my feelings on arriving there. I found the parish in excellent condition to try a man's grit and patience. There were about thirty-five families, more or less actively engaged in parish work. There was a debt of upwards of $3,000, with no home except a log cabin, and an old church that had stood the test of the winters' blast for well nigh forty years. I heard murmurs on all sides, some thinking that all their property would be lost. I had many expressions of sympathy. I told the people in very few words that I was not looking for sympathy (although I needed it), that I was sent there to work, that works, not words, were of more avail in those circumstances. I tried to arouse their fainting spirits and told them to go and put their shoulder to the wheel, which they did with a willingness and energy that was beyond my most ardent aspirations. In about two years we had the parish clear of debt. Then it was necessary to build a home to supplant the poor log cabin, one of the old landmarks that did its work for well nigh half a century. To show the dilapidated condition of that abode I may say that I was frequently compelled to move my bed around to escape the rainfall. But thanks to the generosity of the people and their willingness to work and to give, the home was built in almost as short a time as it would take to tell it. It was a gigantic undertaking at the time, but where there is a will there is a way, and the home was built and paid for in about one year after the church property debt was liquidated. That home cost about $3,000, and every cent was paid before it was occupied. Then the cement sidewalks were laid at a cost of about $120, and last but not least came the greatest struggle of all. The parish had progressed so far so well, and it was my desire and the people's desire that their work should be crowned with success. The crowning work of all was the building of that magnificent little church that now stands on the corner of Tenth street. It was not my privilege to see it built before I left the parish, but for that purpose the people and myself labored tooth and nail in season and out of season, so that when I got my appointment to Strawberry Point in October, 1904, I turned over to the present pastor upwards of $2,000. I may say before I close that the spiritual advancement of the people more than kept pace with the material development of the parish."
Rev. P. M. Loughnane, the present pastor of St. Joseph's, was born in County Kerry, Ireland. He received his classical education at St. Brendan's Seminary, Killarney, and studied philosophy and theology at St. Patrick's College, Thurles, where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 18, 1803. Coming to Dubuque, he was assigned as assistant to Very Rev. E. McLoughlin, at St. Mary's, Clinton, Iowa. He was afterwards transferred to take charge of the parish at Sabula. Thence he went to State Center, in Marshall county, where he remained eight years. While at State Center he interested himself much in school work which he loved. Fr. Loughnane is a versatile scholar, a man of bright mind, and keen sense of discernment. His ability as a priest he has demonstrated by the beautiful new church which will ever remain a monument to his competency and the earnestness and worth of his people. Bearing in mind that the congregation at Marion is not numerically large nor gifted with the possession of any too much of this world's goods, the sacrifices they made for the new church are much enhanced. The greater number of the members of the charge are railroad employees and more or less of a fluctuating class. But the Catholic heart is cold and callous, indeed, that cannot grow eloquent with faith when contemplating the visible, the material evidence of a great personal sacrifice for the faith.
Soon after his advent to St. Joseph's parish the pastor applied all his energy to collect for the new church, and by earnest and energetic effort raised about $5,000, each and every member of the congregation doing his or her duty in a manner truly admirable.