Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.248

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History of Cambria County, V.3

248 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

1877; married Harry Given, who is with the Penn Traffic Company, Johnstown. Alexander Hamilton Higson, born in Johnstown, April 20, 1884; a draughtsman living in Elmira, New York.
    THE RIGHT REVEREND JOHN BOYLE, of Johnstown, Vicar General of the Diocese of Altoona and Domestic Prelate of the Pontifical household, was born October 22, 1846, in Court, near Milford, county Donegal, Ireland, and received his education in the schools of his birthplace.
    At the age of eighteen he came to the United States and entered St. Michael's Seminary, Pittsburg, where he studied for the priesthood. February 2, 1872, he was ordained by the Right Reverend Michael Dominic, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburg, and for three years thereafter served as assistant at St. Paul's Cathedral. He was then sent to Ebensburg, where he remained in charge for six years as pastor of the Church of the Holy Name, and in August, 1880, he was appointed to take charge of the congregation of St. Patrick's Church, Gallitzin, where he remained until March, 1891. During his residence at that place, chiefly through his instrumentality, a brick church was, built at a coat of seventy-five thousand dollars, and a convent and school erected. He also, while at Gallitzin, caused a church to be built at Delaney, Pennsylvania.
    In March, 1891, he was transferred to Johnstown, as head of the congregation of St. John's Church, which was then worshipping in a temporary frame structure which had been erected after the destruction of the church by the memorable Johnstown flood. The year of his arrival a new school house was built, followed a few years later by the erection of a convent, and in 1894 was laid the cornerstone of the present magnificent church, the total cost of which amounted to eighty-five thousand dollars. He built a school house in Moxham, secured land there for parochial buildings, and also acquired property in East Conemaugh. A new graveyard was purchased at Geistown. Amid the stress of these multiplied labors Dr. Boyle yet found time to give to every movement having for its object the moral and social welfare of the community a due share of attention and support, manifesting in the temperance cause an especially active interest.
    In 1898 he was appointed Vicar Forane of the eastern part of the Diocese of Pittsburg, and in 1901, when the new Diocese of Altoona was formed, was made its first Vicar General.
    In July, 1905, Dr. Boyle received from Pope Pius the Tenth the appointment of Domestic Prelate of the Pontifical household. The ceremony of his investiture, which was held at St. John's Church, was of a most impressive character, the papal brief being read in Latin and English by the Right Reverend Prothonotary Apostolic Joseph Suht, of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, East End, Pittsburg, and an eloquent sermon being preached by the Reverend Matthew Smith, assistant pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, Altoona. The sermon was followed by a solemn Pontifical Mass, with the Right Reverend Eugene A. Garvey, Bishop of the Diocese as celebrant. The services were held Sunday, November 12, 1905, and were attended by a large concourse of citizens, including representatives of other churches and parishes, among whom were many of Dr. Boyles former parishioners. It was felt, not only by those present, but by everyone familiar with the personality and work of Dr. Boyle, that the high honor conferred upon him was but a fitting recognition of his long and faithful pastoral ministration and of his steadfast loyalty and untiring zeal in the service of the church to which he owed allegiance.

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248	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1877; married Harry Given, who is with the Penn Traffic Company, Johnstown. Alexander Hamilton Higson, born in Johnstown, April 20, 1884; a draughtsman living in Elmira, New York. THE RIGHT REVEREND JOHN BOYLE, of Johnstown, Vicar General of the Diocese of Altoona and Domestic Prelate of the Pontifical household, was born October 22, 1846, in Court, near Milford, county Donegal, Ireland, and received his education in the schools of his birthplace. At the age of eighteen he came to the United States and entered St. Michael's Seminary, Pittsburg, where he studied for the priesthood. February 2, 1872, he was ordained by the Right Reverend Michael Dominic, Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburg, and for three years thereafter served as assistant at St. Paul's Cathedral. He was then sent to Ebensburg, where he remained in charge for six years as pastor of the Church of the Holy Name, and in August, 1880, he was appointed to take charge of the congregation of St. Patrick's Church, Gallitzin, where he remained until March, 1891. During his residence at that place, chiefly through his instrumentality, a brick church was, built at a coat of seventy-five thousand dollars, and a convent and school erected. He also, while at Gallitzin, caused a church to be built at Delaney, Pennsylvania. In March, 1891, he was transferred to Johnstown, as head of the congregation of St. John's Church, which was then worshipping in a temporary frame structure which had been erected after the destruction of the church by the memorable Johnstown flood. The year of his arrival a new school house was built, followed a few years later by the erection of a convent, and in 1894 was laid the cornerstone of the present magnificent church, the total cost of which amounted to eighty-five thousand dollars. He built a school house in Moxham, secured land there for parochial buildings, and also acquired property in East Conemaugh. A new graveyard was purchased at Geistown. Amid the stress of these multiplied labors Dr. Boyle yet found time to give to every movement having for its object the moral and social welfare of the community a due share of attention and support, manifesting in the temperance cause an especially active interest. In 1898 he was appointed Vicar Forane of the eastern part of the Diocese of Pittsburg, and in 1901, when the new Diocese of Altoona was formed, was made its first Vicar General. In July, 1905, Dr. Boyle received from Pope Pius the Tenth the appointment of Domestic Prelate of the Pontifical household. The ceremony of his investiture, which was held at St. John's Church, was of a most impressive character, the papal brief being read in Latin and English by the Right Reverend Prothonotary Apostolic Joseph Suht, of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, East End, Pittsburg, and an eloquent sermon being preached by the Reverend Matthew Smith, assistant pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, Altoona. The sermon was followed by a solemn Pontifical Mass, with the Right Reverend Eugene A. Garvey, Bishop of the Diocese as celebrant. The services were held Sunday, November 12, 1905, and were attended by a large concourse of citizens, including representatives of other churches and parishes, among whom were many of Dr. Boyles former parishioners. It was felt, not only by those present, but by everyone familiar with the personality and work of Dr. Boyle, that the high honor conferred upon him was but a fitting recognition of his long and faithful pastoral ministration and of his steadfast loyalty and untiring zeal in the service of the church to which he owed allegiance.