My Genealogy Hound

REVEREND FATHER CHARLES V. McGUIRE, whose portrait* we publish on the opposite page, is the pastor of St. Stephen’s Church at Marathon, St. Patrick’s at Whitney’s Point and has charge of the following stations: Chenango Forks, Upper Lisle, Maine and Yorkshire in Broome County. He was born in Leitrim, Ireland, and educated in St. Mel’s College School, Longford, St. Mary’s College, Dundalt. After graduating there he spent three years in the South of France, studying the French language and philosophy. He then returned to Dublin, where he studied theology and taught in the Catholic University School, and later studied in the Catholic University itself. In 1884 he came to the United States and was ordained to the priesthood in the city of New Orleans by Archbishop Le Ray. He then accepted a position as teacher in Jefferson College, New Orleans, and remained in that institution three years. The following three years were spent in the mission service in that city. He then came to his home in Syracuse, this state, where he was made assistant at the cathedral; after a short stay there he was removed to Binghamton, and in a short time back again to Syracuse. In April, 1892, he came to his present charge, and has made many friends since his advent. He is an untiring and devoted worker, and has done much to strengthen the churches under his charge. Regular religious services have been held at Marathon by the Catholic congregation since 1871, at which time Rev. Michael Reunehan was sent to the parish. He was followed in regular order by his brother J. J. Reunehan, now of Marcellus; William Dougherty, deceased; P. J. Brady, at present of Cohoes, N. Y.; J. L. Meagher of New York City; B. A. Smith; P. F. Harrick, deceased; and C. V. McGuire, the present pastor.

A late copy of the Marathon Independent has this to say regarding the church and the improvements made by the present pastor: “Since coming here he has cared well for the interests of his parish, and has succeeded in getting together enough of means to erect a church building that is an honor to his industry, a credit to the parish and a source of pride to our people. We know of no modest country church anywhere, that for the means invested is so tasty in design, so pleasing as to decoration or more convenient for the purposes for which it is dedicated. The history of the building just abandoned for church purposes extends back to the period of the war. It was built for an academy and used for such until a modification of our school laws made private schools unprofitable. After Father Reunehan came to Marathon, he held services in Peck’s Hall, but after a time secured the academy property, consisting of the building and the grounds which extend back from Academy Street to Grove Street. The old church was a long distance back from the street, and difficult of access on account of the grade. The new building is a little distance from the street, and is easily reached by a broad flight of steps. It is eighty feet in length by thirty-six in width, and has a seating capacity of 400 — costing about $5,000.00.”

In addition to the erection of this fine church edifice, Father McGuire has greatly added to the appearance and durability of the church property at Whitney’s Point, having re-roofed it, frescoed it, put in new galleries and purchased surrounding approaches to it. The church at that place consists of about seventy-five families, and the congregation at Marathon of about fifty families.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.