Bishop John Timon (1797-1867)

Today in 1867 marks the death of John Timon, first Bishop of Buffalo. Born in Pennsylvania, he worked in his father’s business before joining the Vincentian Fathers in 1822. He was ordained in 1826 and worked in Missouri and Illinois. A capable administrator, in 1835 he was named first superior of the Vincentians’ new American province. At the same time he was Vicar General of the Diocese of St. Louis. He was considered for superior general of the Vincentians. In 1839 he was named Prefect Apostolic of Texas. He considered for several episcopal posts before he was named Bishop of Buffalo in 1847. (He had been considered for the Archdiocese of Louisville, but he preferred not to go there because of his dislike for the institution of slavery.) During the Civil War he made his support for the Union known. After the war he called for greater attention to the needs of the newly freed slaves. During his episcopate he built numerous schools, parishes, hospitals, colleges and orphanages in western New York.