We find a Patrick Walsh, from the Town of Sligo, in St. Louis in 1820. Having been a merchant, he was commissioned by the governor a justice of the peace for the Township of St. Louis.
Patrick Dillon, from Londonderry, came to the United States in 1809. We find him engaged in the mercantile business in St. Louis as early as 1817. He laid out several additions to St. Louis, and one of the streets is named in his honor.
Patrick K. Dowling, a Waterford man, came to St. Louis in 1817. One of his sons, Richard, who died not many years ago, was a very interesting personage. He possessed a rich fund of historical reminiscences.
Thomas Hanley, who was the first secretary of the Irish Benevolent Society, came to St. Louis in 1816. He was a merchant.
John Finney and his family came to St. Louis about the year 1818. He and his sons acquired prominence and position in social and mercantile life.
Arthur McGinnes, born in County Antrim, Ireland, came to St. Louis in the year 1818. He was a young lawyer of considerable ability and force of character. He pushed his way to the front, attaining much social prominence. He removed to Washington, D. C., about the year 1840, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1848.
William Higgins came with his wife and family from Ireland to St. Louis in 1820. His youngest daughter, Winifred, married a Mr. Patterson. She became noted in later years for her princely gifts to charity. She deserves to have her name perpetuated in marble and bronze.
James Nagle and Hugh Johnson came to St. Louis in 1820. “They were two young Irishmen of good education,” remarks our annalist. They carried on a successful mercantile business for many years. After the death of Mr. Johnson, in 1825, Mr. Nagle entered into the practice of law.
And thus did the exiled children of Erin come to this Key City of the Mississippi Valley to grace every sphere of life. There is one sphere to which I have not alluded—that of the sanctuary. And here let me mention the illustrious name of Most Rev. Peter Richard Kenrick, who was born in Dublin in 1806, ordained for that diocese in 1832, and soon changed the field of his labors for America at the earnest solicitation of his illustrious brother, Francis Patrick, Archbishop of Philadelphia. Bishop Rosati of St. Louis, desiring a coadjutor, his choice fell on this brilliant young Irish priest. He was consecrated coadjutor-bishop of St. Louis in 1841.