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DUGGAN, Rev. Jeremiah James,
Clergyman.
There is an old proverb which says
"He profits most who serves best." The
truth of this proverb is apparent, particu-
larly among those who devote their lives
and services to the ministering of the
gospel. Their desire to serve emanates
direct from their hearts ; there is no task
too severe, and in countless ways their
aid is given.
Rev. Jeremiah James Duggan, one of
those worthy men who have made the
cause of humanity their work, was born
April 4, 1863, in Cappawhite parish,
County Tipperary, Ireland, son of James
and Elizabeth (Glasheen) Duggan. The
Duggan family is an old one in that par-
ish, and there the great-grandfather of
Father Duggan, Dennis Duggan, was
born. His son, Patrick Duggan, was a
farmer. He married Ellen Lonergan.
Their son, James Duggan, was born in the
same parish in 1799, and died in October,
18S3. He was the owner of a large farm
and made a specialty of dairy farming
and horse raising. The oldest brother of
Father Duggan now occupies this home-
stead. James Duggan married Elizabeth
Glasheen, daughter of Michael Glasheen,
of the parish of Bansha, County Tip-
perary, Ireland. They were the parents
of eleven children, nine of whom grew to
maturity, and three came to America,
namely : Michael, a resident of Bridge-
port, died December 29, 1918, aged seventy-three
years ; Catherine, married
(first) James Donahue, and (second)
William O'Brien; Jeremiah James, of
further mention.
Rev. Jeremiah James Duggan, the
youngest of his family, was educated in
the National schools of his native town,
and at the age of twelve years went to
Rockwell College in the parish of Cashel,
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
218
County Tipperary, which was conducted
by the Fathers of the Holy Ghost. After
three years spent in classical studies
there, he entered St. John's Seminary, in
the city of Waterford, to prepare for his
ordination. He studied rhetoric, philoso-
phy, and theology there, and was or-
dained June 24, 1888, by the Rt. Rev.
Pierce Power. Rev. Father Duggan was
adopted by the Diocese of Hartford by
Rt. Rev. Lawrence S. McMahon. He
started for America, January 24, 1889, on
the steamship "Germanic," and arrived in
New York City, February 1, 1889. Father
Duggan sang his first High Mass in St.
Augustin's Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut,
the following Sunday, and he was
assigned to St. John's Church, Middle-
town, as temporary assistant to Father
Bernard Sheridan. There he remained for
three months, and was then transferred to
St. Mary's Church, Norwalk, remaining
until January, 1896. In the latter year
Father Duggan was transferred to New
Haven as assistant to Father John Rus-
sell at St. Patrick's Church, where he remained
until September, 1900, in which
year he was transferred to the Church of
the Sacred Heart, his first pastorate,
Wethersfield. During his pastorate there,
he was also chaplain to the State's Prison
at Wethersfield and said Mass there every
Sunday. Father Duggan labored with all
his heart in this parish, and succeeded in
clearing the debt of the church and in
renovating the interior of the church edi-
fice. On April 8, 1908, he was transferred
to the Church of the Assumption, West-
port, Connecticut. At that time the
parish indebtedness was $13,000, and dur-
ing the pastorate of Father Duggan this
debt was paid off and many improvements
made inside and outside the church. A
concrete walk was laid all around the
property, and the bank of the river opposite
the church has been filled in and made