Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher, Galveston, Texas (1846-1918)

GALLAGHER, Nicholas Aloysius, third R.C. bishop of Galveston, Tex., was born at Temperanceville, Belmont co., O., Feb. 19, 1846, son of John and Mary Ann (Erinton) Gallagher. At the age of sixteen he entered Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary of the West at Cincinnati. O., where he was graduated in 1868. He was ordained priest on Dec. 25th of the same year, being appointed assistant pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, at Columbus, O., remained in this charge till 1871, attending at the same time the chapel of St. Joseph’s Cathedral. He was then appointed superior of St. Aloysius’ Ecclesiastical Seminary, Columbus, and five years later was assigned to the pastorate of St. Patrick’s Church in that city. He was administrator of the diocese of Columbus from 1878-80, and upon the installation of Bishop J. A. Watterson was appointed by the latter prelate vicar-general. He held this position until Apr. 30, 1882, when he was consecrated titular bishop of Canopus and made administrator of the diocese of Galveston, to succeed Rt. Rev. Dubuis, who resigned the previous year, nominally, however, retaining the bishopric. On Dec. 16, 1892, Father Gallagher was promoted regular bishop of Galveston, Tex., over which see he has since presided. The territory under his jurisdiction now (1904) contains 67 churches, 70 priests, 38 stations and chapels, 4 colleges for boys, 7 academies for young ladies and 30 parish schools. The Catholic population includes about 40,000 souls, but it constantly increases by immigration, and Bishop Gallagher’s prudence and tact always enable him to meet successfully the difficulties of a position which require both qualities in an eminent degree.

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (Volume XII) (New York: James T. White & Company, 1904), 401.

NOTE
During his 26-year-episcopate, Bishop Gallagher established a seminary, numerous churches and schools, orphanages, and a short-lived diocesan newspaper. He developed a strong outreach to African-American and Mexican Catholics. During the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, the Diocese of Galveston lost three churches and an orphanage. Bishop Gallagher rebuilt them all.