U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- O'Conner, Daniel (b. 1833) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 555-556 RT. REV. DANIEL O'CONNER, pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, at Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia, was born March 27, 1833, in St. Johns, New Brunswick, and is a son of Bernard and Sally (McLaughlin) O'Conner, who came to the United States in 1840. They located at Hancock, Morgan County, Virginia, now West Virginia, where they lived until 1841 and then removed to Doe Bully Tunnell, Morgan County, and in 1846 to Mount Savage, in Alleghany County. In 1852 they located near Fairmont. They died at Parkersburg, the father in 1870, and the mother in 1865, and both are buried there. Father O'Conner was educated at St. Charles College, near Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland, being one of its first students, and is the only clergyman of his class still surviving. He remained at St. Charles from 1848 to 1854 and then spent one year at St. Mary's Seminary of St. Sulpice at Baltimore, the oldest Catholic theological school in the United States, this being succeeded by two years at St. Vincent's Seminary at Wheeling. Two years were then spent at Mount St. Mary's of the West Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio; upon his return to Wheeling he was ordained on September 4, 1859, by Bishop R. V. Whelan. His first work was in the mission at Parkersburg, from September, 1859, to 1861, in the latter year being put in charge of the parish at Weston, with parochial duties covering a very wide territory. On February 14, 1864, he was removed to Clarksburg. Prior to locating in Clarksburg, Father O'Conner had built a small church at Sand Fork, Lewis County, West Virginia. Although his new field was filled with difficulties, he entered upon his duties confident of success. Prior to the establishment of the present church, monthly mass was said in the homes of several devoted parishioners. In the summer of 1864 work was commenced on the present beautiful church edifice. It is located on one of the most desirable sites, on the east side of Elk Creek, on Pike street. The church and grounds cost about $12,000. and the building was completed in 1865. In 1866 the first Catholic school was started in the city by this indefatigable pastor, and, with the willing assistance of those closely attached to him, a fine parochial school followed, supplemented with an academy which still flourishes, second to none in the State. Father O'Conner has never ceased his labors in the direction of the improvement of the church property and the advancement of his people in education and religious life. In 1902 many improvements were made to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, it having become necessary to enlarge the seating capacity. Father O'Conner has proved himself a fine financier, a splendid organizer and is a man who not only is beloved and obeyed by his own parish, but has also gained the very highest measure of esteem in the community. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Harrison County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/harrison/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------